A Florida congressman has claimed University of North Carolina swimming star Kylee Alons was forced to change in a closet to avoid having to undress in front of trans swimmer Lia Thomas.
Alons, a state champion swimmer, reportedly revealed the uncomfortable ordeal at the 2022 NCAA championships during a meeting with officials. Greg Steube.
“Today I met Kylee, the most decorated swimmer in North Carolina state history,” Steube tweeted Wednesday.
“She told me how at the NCAA Finals she changed in a closet instead of experiencing the sexual harassment that comes with undressing in front of Will ‘Lia’ Thomas — a physical male who insisted on being in the dressing room for to be women.”
The admission came as Alons met with lawmakers in Washington to lobby for legislation stopping the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Kylee Alons has claimed she changed in a closet to avoid a trans person. She is pictured center right with her teammates (LR) Katharine Berkoff, Sophie Sansson and Abby Arens
Riley Gaines (right) is seen in Atlanta, Georgia in March 2022 after swimming against Lia Thomas (left) at the NCAA Championships
One of Thomas’s biggest critics is former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines
Alons was in her senior year at the University of North Carolina when she qualified for the 2022 NCAA Championships, the most prestigious collegiate swimming competition in America.
That same year, Thomas, a physical man who identifies as a woman, sparked controversy when she was allowed to use the women’s locker rooms.
She made history as the first transgender woman to win a national title that season, sparking a nationwide debate about including transgender athletes in women’s sports.
Alons’ appearance at Capitol Holl came after Steube sponsored and passed the Women and Girls in Sport Protection Act to legislate on the issue of transgender inclusion in sport.
The bill, passed by a 219-203 vote in the House of Representatives in April, would make it a violation of Title IX to allow biological males to participate in women’s athletic programs.
“Thank you @CWforA and @PYNance for working with me to pass the Women and Girls in Sports Protection Act in the House of Representatives,” Steube said in a follow-up tweet.
“The Senate must vote on this important bill to save women’s sports and protect athletes like Kylee from sexual harassment in the locker room.”
The law was also touted by Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville, who said after meeting Gaines and Alons, “Any girl who dreams of becoming the next Riley or Kylee deserves our support.”
“It’s time for the Senate to vote on my bill to save Title IX and save women’s sports.”
Responding to the post about Alons’ ordeal, Gaines condemned Thomas’ presence in female dressing rooms, saying, “She and her teammates changed in a janitor’s closet because it felt safer than changing in a locker room that has an intact man would move out at the same time.” .
“I’ve looked up to Kylee for a long time given how fast she is, but now that she’s speaking up, that’s even more important.”
Current and former athletes say trans athletes like Lia Thomas (left), the swimmer who achieved modest success in men’s categories before transitioning to become a national champion in women’s competitions, emphasize the physical benefits of trans women
Cece Telfer became the first openly transgender woman to win an NCAA title when she placed first in the 400m hurdles at the 2019 Division II National Championships (pictured)
The gathering comes at a time when more and more transgender athletes are finding success in women’s sport.
The issue came under the spotlight when Cece Telfer became the first openly transgender woman to win an NCAA title in 2019 when she placed first in the 400m hurdles at the Division II national championships.
The following year, New Zealander Laurel Hubbard became the first openly transgender woman to compete in the Olympics when she competed in weightlifting at the Tokyo Games.
Veronica Ivy won the 2018 UCI Women’s Masters Track World Championship for women aged 35-44 as Rachel McKinnon, becoming the first transgender track cycling champion.
The problem also exists in amateur sports, where trans cyclist Tiffany Thomas also took first place in a bike race in New York City in March.
Laurel Hubbard of New Zealand became the first openly transgender woman to compete in the Olympics when she competed in weightlifting at the Tokyo Games in 2020
Tiffany Thomas (center) placed first at the Randall’s Island Crit cycle race in New York City in March
The 46-year-old has been criticized by those who argue trans athletes have an unfair advantage in women’s sport
While some argue that sex reassignment procedures such as hormone therapy and surgery are enough to level the playing field, experts believe the physical advantage is irreversible.
Tommy Lundberg, a lecturer in physiology at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute and a leading researcher on the subject, told : “The important thing is whether or not you have benefited from male development and male puberty, and if you have , then you.” “will have benefits that you cannot undo later.”
Nancy Hogshead, a former professional swimmer who won three golds and one silver at the 1984 Olympics, told , “Trans women have an undeniable physical advantage.”
“Their bodies do what male bodies do when they go through puberty and that’s why we’re ubiquitously separating sports around the world…”
“Unless it’s just gaming, just recreational sports.” “All competitive sports are gender segregated.”