Lia Thomas’ Former Teammate Demands Apology for Being ‘Forced to Undress’ in Shared Locker Room

A former teammate of Lia Thomas, transgender swimmer from the University of Pennsylvania, says apologies are owed for forcing her and others to undress in the locker room with Thomas up to 18 times per week during their collegiate careers.

“Okay, but is anyone going to apologize for forcing us to undress with him 18 times a week?” former UPenn swimmer Paula Scanlan wrote online.

While Thomas lost a lawsuit attempting to overturn the international ban on transgender women who went through male puberty from elite women’s competitions, the ruling does not impact the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Former Penn swimmers are suing the NCAA for forcing them to compete against and share locker rooms with Thomas as a man.

One swimmer noted the trauma of undressing in front of Thomas was particularly damaging given her past sexual assault, highlighting the indignities female athletes faced in this situation without redress.