In the first hours of his second presidential term, 1968 Wharton graduate and President Donald Trump signed an executive order for the United States government to recognize only two sexes, further advancing a political agenda supported by the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of a bill prohibiting biological males’ participation in women’s sports programs last week.
The executive order proclaimed that the two recognized sexes — male and female — are “not changeable” and that “radical and wasteful” diversity, equity, and inclusion programs inside federal agencies will be ended. It also explicitly states that it will “defend women’s rights and protect freedom of conscience by using clear and accurate language and policies that recognize women are biologically female, and men are biologically male.”
While not explicitly banning transgender participation in sports, the order came shortly after Trump said that he “will keep men out of women’s sports” at a campaign-style rally on Jan. 19 in Washington. A bill explicitly prohibiting the participation of individuals who were assigned a biological sex of male at birth in women’s sports programs also passed in the House and was received by the U.S. Senate on Jan. 15.
The controversy surrounding trans women in women’s sports gained national attention after 2022 College graduate Lia Thomas’ participation in NCAA women’s swimming and diving during the 2021-22 season.
Thomas was initially a part of the men’s swimming and diving program during her freshman and sophomore years at Penn. After the cancellation of the 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Thomas returned to practice and competition representing the women’s team after transitioning.
As a member of the women’s team, Thomas collected many accolades, including an NCAA championship in the 500-yard freestyle, fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle, All-American honors, and three Ivy League titles.
Thomas did not reply to a request for comment.
A known friend of Thomas and LGBTQ+ activist Schuyler Bailar posted a video on Instagram on Inauguration Day, stating, “Even if they ban trans athletes from all realms of sport, I can still go outside and go for a run. I can still get in the pool and feel the water against my skin.” Bailar added, “No matter who is sitting in the White House, I will always know that I am trans, and that will always be one of my superpowers.”
Bailar is a former Harvard swimmer who was the first openly transgender swimmer to compete in NCAA Division I swimming and the first trans man to compete in any NCAA men’s sport.
2022 College graduate and Thomas’ former teammate Paula Scanlan — who has built an activism career after her experience with Thomas — reacted to the executive order on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, stating, “All women won today. Thank you to everyone that helped fight so hard for this.”
Former University of Kentucky swimmer and activist Riley Gaines also reacted on X. Gaines also built an activism career after her experience racing Thomas at the 2022 NCAA championships, where she tied for fifth in the 500-yard freestyle with Thomas. “We finally have a true CHAMPION for women in the White House,” she stated on the platform.
Scanlan and Gaines did not reply to a request for comment.
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