UPenn Swimmer speaks out against Lia Thomas | The Story of Paula Scanlan

[@wordupmybrotha]

This is NOT a complicated issue! People overthink and wring their hands over such a simple solution. Biological male should compete with the men and biological female should compete with the women. No one is being transphobic or hateful. The open category muddles the issue. There's no need for it. The trans people are not prohibited from competing. They can still compete in either the men's or women's based on their chromosomes. Very simple.

[@noman266]

People lack logic these days. They push political agenda ahead of what common sense is.

[@BBL_Drizzy91]

​@ereed6701 Doesn't really matter lol he's still a man. Just a d*ckless man. But a man nevertheless.

[@carmenmccauley585]

Yes.​@@ERSR2024

[@carmenmccauley585]

​@@ERSR2024yes he does

[@majestic3230]

Not he can't

[@kenthenderson7707]

Thanks for giving this a voice. The protection of female athletes is at stake!

[@austinswims]

Thank you Kyle for giving Paula another platform to voice her concerns with what happened at UPenn. Female athletes were silenced and forced to comply with a rule they were not 100% comfortable with and they couldn't even ask a question and were invalidated for having disagreements. In reality, UPenn and the NCAA will be on the "wrong side of history" when this is all said and done and I am glad that there are female athletes speaking up about this now. The way the NCAA and UPenn handled this situation was disgraceful, unethical, and deplorable. What a shame. I can only hope the powers that be are either replaced by ethical individuals or learned from their actions.

[@frontstreettea]

UPenn violated these woman on several levels but the most egregious, IMO, is the violation of their right to speak freely. This woman should sue the university as fully put them on blast since they seemed to love the attention they were getting from this nonsense.

[@wordupmybrotha]

Do people not acknowledge the science that human being is either XX and XY?

[@mnbr6884]

Google atypical chromosomes

[@thabznss3065]

The amount of mental gymnastics that people have to do to argue this issue. If biological sex doesn’t affect athletic ability, then why did we separate sports to begin with?

[@AllAboutPurple]

Exactly…

[@MollyHealy-j6e]

As a women who plays soccer I don't think it's fair for biological women to have to compete against biological Men in any sport. Because of the biological makeup of men, most men will almost always be taller, faster, and stronger than the average biological women. It's. Just. Biology.

[@louielouiepks]

Freedom of speech ? You must wonder how intelligent the staff of the ivy league schools really are.

[@DataRich2525]

The suicide talking point is not the least bit true. It's emotional blackmail being foisted by the aggressive Trans activists. This has less to do with gender than it does about power.

[@Right_Direction_]

Brave girl, but good to see more speaking out about this.

[@makattak88]

But what?

[@craigmacdonald5352]

If we're all the same, then why aren't women, going into mens sports, i mean, thats where the money is.

[@aaronkelson5960]

Thank you Paula and Kyle for producing and sharing this most important conversation. As a near life-long competitive swimmer, I am deeply committed to fair competition. In our sport, even a small deviation from strict rules can result in disqualification, such as a slightly unlevel touch on the wall for butterfly or breaststroke events. To overlook something that upends fair competition in such dramatic fashion is a threat the viability of our sport at every level. We hope that all people will be able to compete, but that competition must be conducted fairly. The Open category seems like a reasonable place to be. . . . University and NCAA administrators should rethink how they treated Paula, her teammates, and others. She is an extremely articulate and obviously caring person. It was not prudent to silence her voice and others like hers.

[@juli-annb.anderson8816]

It's akin to bullying people into accepting things, policies, beliefs etc. Without giving them a voice much less, a choice. Our feelings are every bit as valid and our instincts are screaming 'foul play'.

[@oldsalt8011]

Who are the people behind this? Can someone make a video of who they are? We need to know.

[@carmenmccauley585]

Refuse to compete against him . REFUSE!!!!

[@amypainter6371]

and how is that fair. just strip all the titles

[@victorybeginsinthegarden]

The school handles the situation badly. Biology matters when it comes to sports. I do support transgender people be facts are facts.

[@KyleMillis]

I think it’s definitely a tricky situation when talking about these subjects to kids in school. Any suggestions on how it should be handled?

[@victorybeginsinthegarden]

@@KyleMillis I think the open category is a good start.

[@wordupmybrotha]

​@KyleMillis why is it tricky? Girls have vaginas, boys have penises. I simplified it for you. 😊

[@Fedsmoker92]

@@victorybeginsinthegarden absolutely. Trans v. Trans. category will be the most watched events in sports. I enthusiastically co-sign this sentiment.

[@victorybeginsinthegarden]

@@Fedsmoker92 trans mixed gender too

[@yolandawilson9852]

Like someone said, this is why there are categories. Lia is banned from a category that she does not qualify for, period. He went from 465th in men swimming to beating 3 Olympic silver medalists???? I don't understand why people can't accept the fact that there are going to be people that will say they are trans to get into certain spaces for their agenda. I haven't heard of any transn men trying to compete in men's sports because they know they would not be able to beat them. This has nothing to do with feelings, this is biological. A male that has gone through puberty has a major advantage over women. We have different categories, so why not have a trans men/women category. Why are trans women trying so hard to get into women's spaces, but trans men are not doing the same??

[@zhuoweiyan1871]

Why would anyone choose a trans life. It’s awful out there.

[@biancawilloughby9980]

Plenty of trans men competing in men's sport including boxing. Sheesh

[@rosablume4346]

I would never underestimate the lure and power of fame, and be it only a short/ tiny one for the moment of the actual anouncing of the winners. Why did folks stick around and work for grifters, despots, dicators? I am about 50 now and have seen stuff that convinced me that for some folks integrety and truth are not all that important @@zhuoweiyan1871

[@zhuoweiyan1871]

@@rosablume4346 how many trans women got money or fame thru transitioning and to do sports my beloved sister. Ppl do sports only while young, and transitioning for lots is a life decision, a painfully difficult one. To at me and say this right after trans day of remembrance is unacceptable. I hope you gain the understanding that ppl gain money and fame disproportionately through capitalism, not through transitioning which is a beautiful but painful process filled with unprecedented marginalizations and oppressions.

[@rosablume4346]

there actually is the weird case in the weight lifter community, a self ID trans gender woman (so, a biological male who identifies female, just to avoid confusion) started competing in the women's division, won medals- and either this person or another self ID trans woman weight lifter then went on to belittle the women's bench press results, but, big but coming, then a trainer of some female weight lifter got involved, self IDed as female, joined a competition and got better result then the first self ID trans weight lifter, just to prove a point. I am not belitteling trans sexual or non confirming or bi or anything, my issue issue is with the loop holes that self ID creates and the bad results of which pop up here and there in the sports news, so far it is always the women who have t pay the price, are told to scoot over, shut up and be a good girl @@zhuoweiyan1871

[@nancybaxter-sj9ge]

Did the women ever think of walking off the team leaving the guy to swim?

[@LAZISH]

6'4 male with broad shoulders in a female locker!!!!!

[@RavenMaven]

He's almost 6'1 ... not 6'4.

[@teresarichardson730]

Please don’t forget the genetically larger lungs AND muscle density. These don’t just go away when the hormone medication is taken these are present at birth.

[@godissass7689]

And a PENIS

[@Vim_Tim]

The issue starts & ends with the NCAA where they set the rules & change the rules. The opinions of the school, coaches, and other swimmers are largely irrelevant because Lia had the right to compete by the rules; as a result, denying Lia the opportunity would likely become discrimination. The challenge for critics was voicing an opinion against the rules without directly hating Lia, which is a very hard line to walk. "Don't hate the player, hate the game." Paula should've been writing & calling the NCAA governing body every week.

[@KyleMillis]

It seems Paula’s and many others cries are still not being heard by the NCAA. I’m sure they’ve gotten their attention by now and it is difficult that many seem to be blaming Lia for this, interesting dilemma.

[@TVAvnger]

Thank you for your support. I participate in two combat sports, and trans women are allowed to compete against females in the women's category. The HEMA championship, Combat Con held in LasVegas in July, changed the only women's category available, which is in the long sword, to the underrepresented genders category. Now, any man needs only claim to be non-binary and compete. There are no restrictions on testosterone. There is no longer a female category. Might as well compete against the men in the open category. There are no differences. If a transwoman has been through male puberty, having zero testosterone will not level the playing field. Males only lose about 12% of their strength.

[@aptorres01]

Can't believe anyone is surprised given the culture of the school, paterno/sandusky.

[@nima6080]

Are you from UC Berkeley???? Thank you for making this video to defend common sense.

[@rodpark442]

This is baisc. Sport has always been separated, mens and womans ..... it has never been about feelings! Its based on science

[@silaslizzie43]

He's a him! You lose credibility when you say 'her' when he is not a female or a woman.

[@vickinosek5970]

we the people have a said what we feel , it in bill right.

[@mjc8281]

I'm in higher education although not in the US, even though I have lived for many years there. It strikes me looking from the outside in that you have two fundamentally opposing positions that are caused by the systems you have at Universities in the US, from a duty of care and inclusion position as a place of higher education, the policies really should look to include as many parts of the community as possible in the most supportive environment. The flip to that is the US Collage system has what is effectively a semi-professional network of athletic programmes, which have completely differing pressures on them and indeed one could argue that the Universities wider inclusion policies, have a negative impact on widening participation for athletes. It is a tricky issue and I'm glad its not something I need to address

[@Mmullis0001]

It’s not tricky though, because Lia was never excluded from the men’s category. If there were enough trans then they would take over the women’s category.

[@mjc8281]

@@Mmullis0001 Yes you are conveniently ignoring the duty of care and inclusion position as a place of higher education aspect. For what it's worth the way I look at it the solution was relatively straightforward and indeed it is kind of what has happened it should have been the national governing bodies that took the lead, not the Universities... so in this case USA Swimming, not taking leadership was a significant error

[@gillianhynes7120]

In Britain a Trans female took part in a Long Distance run the other week they came 3rd in the female race. There was an open race for any sex and no one took part in that category

[@Fedsmoker92]

gay

[@anthonyburke7669]

Thanks, Kyle!

[@KyleMillis]

Glad you liked it!!

[@chasingsunsets87]

What sad is "lia thomas" was good looking man with so much potential named "william". I truly think he has a mental breakdown and was manipulated in the therapy world

[@verastanding]

Has everyone woken up yet about this man being a man swimming in a womans competition, since the Olympics had a man boxing women? It's been a while since I looked at KZbin, so I was wondering if we all know it's a joke now?

[@ConcertShutterbug]

Lia, her......??

[@minnielemon8624]

All he want is to be in the news that's all

[@jimmyz.6956]

There is valid concern about fairness and sound policy-making and communication by the schools and organizations. But it’s a little disrespectful for you Kyle to constantly be highlighting Lia’s genitalia in these videos. Also let’s recognize that Lia surely also spent time trying to go through the process with the school to transition teams, and male swimmers who don’t truly identify as transgender aren’t going to go through those hurdles and put themselves in that scrutinized position just to gain a competitive advantage. The rules can be scrutinized and the higher organizations can be criticized for not doing their part, but let’s be respectful of Lia as just a swimmer herself in all of this. Also the touted open category solution clearly disadvantages these transgender athletes as it would be a less populated and hence less competitive and prestigious category to compete in.

[@joethesimple685]

That's getting out of hand if biological men like Lia or Will keeps on competing with real women like Riley and Paula. Transgender women were NOT real women!

[@rprzpnting]

Nobody cares about your past. We want the tea

[@williamallen3669]

THIS IS NOT

[@amityholloway6434]

I think the way this was habdled was horrible but we should be looking for a solution that will be fare to everyone. . . Maybe rather then woman and men catigories it should be more like greco-roman wresteling or boxing and use weigh classes or something simalar and that way everyone would be on more even footing?

[@andrewb.9814]

He, Him, His

[@zhuoweiyan1871]

trans rights kids!

[@theethinethou]

No one has actual rights to what they’re not entitled to. 🤦‍♀️

[@zhuoweiyan1871]

@@theethinethou trans rights are human rights

[@victorybeginsinthegarden]

I support trans rights but one year of taking estrogen does not change your biology.

[@Somm_RJ]

​@@zhuoweiyan1871Correct, but you don't need to trample women's rights to uphold trans' rights. Women's rights are human rights too.

[@zhuoweiyan1871]

@@Somm_RJ more examples pls, this is like,, first time a trans woman takes the spotlight in sports, and ppl already get scared. The conservative narratives love to use trans jeopardizing women rights as rhetoric so it gets ppl riled up and scared. But the logic behind is extremely misogynistic, as it exaggerated gender differences and depicted women as physically inferior, whereas trans women are mistreated as men pretending to be women, enforcing the trauma already caused by long term coerced masculinity. Pls educate yourself and introduce yourself to trans community. The academia consensus was that trans women cannot and will not overtake general women sports. The tipping advantage was portrayed by media and was a fable and pure fear mongering. Yesterday was international trans day of remembrance. It doesn’t mean nothing. Ps, I replied because I wanna say something. Rip, my dear beautiful trans sisters and brothers

[@STMostajabi]

I mean transphobia is definitely in the room

[@godissass7689]

Yes, XX is afraid of Y punks and cads intruding into our protected areas and events. Here we have Ys who are afraid to enter into Y facilities and events. Has me and my girls been in the locker room, the Y would have lost his member.... Ijs