Josh Hawley Calls Forced Lockers With Trans Swimmer Unfair

Senate Judiciary Committee member Josh Hawley, R-Mo., questioned a witness at a panel hearing about fairness in women's sports. He asked if Yale swimmers agreed to share a locker room with Lia Thomas of the University of Pennsylvania. Thomas is a biological male who identifies as transgender. She became a major figure in debates over sex divisions after beating Riley Gaines and others from the University of Kentucky.

Hawley addressed Kim Jones, co-founder of the Independent Council on Women's Sports. He said, "Three years ago, Riley Gaines sat right where you're sitting at a hearing in front of this committee." She described being forced to have a biological man in her locker room without consent. That meant undressing before him and watching him undress. Then she had to compete against him. Hawley called it a totally unfair situation.

Jones confirmed her daughter swam competitively at Yale. Yale sits in the Ivy League, just like Penn. Racing against Thomas happened during multiple competitions in the 2021-2022 season. Jones answered "no" when asked if girls on the team were asked about their comfort sharing a locker room with Thomas.

Swimmers had to attend regular mandatory meetings. They learned intersex swimming was a decision made by their schools and league. If they wanted to speak up, coaches and athletic directors cleared their words first. Families got told to keep quiet. The threats were gigantic. Pressure came down on a regular basis.

Hawley called that dynamic incredible but stopped short of unbelievable. He said the situations are believable based on what we know and your daughter's experience.