An Open Letter in Support of Trans Athletes and Inclusive Sport

To the University of Pennsylvania Administration and the American Public:

We, the undersigned from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and across the country, write to express our strong objection to the University of Pennsylvania’s recent resolution agreement that targets transgender athlete Lia Thomas and rolls back basic rights and recognition for transgender students under the guise of compliance with federal directives.

This agreement — compelled by political pressure and rooted in a discriminatory reinterpretation of Title IX — betrays the values of inclusion, equity, and athletic integrity. By erasing Lia Thomas’ accomplishments, issuing so-called “apologies” to cisgender athletes, and adopting regressive definitions of sex and gender, Penn has not only surrendered to ideological coercion but also legitimized transphobia in collegiate sports.

We reject the false premise that transgender participation threatens women’s sports. Lia Thomas competed in accordance with NCAA rules at the time. She did not "steal" opportunities; she earned her titles through rigorous training, just like any other athlete. The targeting of a single athlete — years after her participation — sets a dangerous precedent of scapegoating and revisionism that chills the participation of other marginalized students in athletics.

Title IX was designed to protect students from discrimination, not to be weaponized to exclude transgender individuals from opportunities and recognition. By aligning with an executive order that explicitly seeks to narrow the definitions of "woman" and "man" based on an incomplete understanding of biological sex, Penn adds credence to a harmful misrepresentation of current biological science and undermines the civil rights of a community they claim to defend.

Let us be clear:

• Trans women are women, and they deserve the same dignity, support, and opportunity in sports as any other student-athlete.

• We oppose the rescinding of Lia Thomas' records and honors, which were earned fairly.

• We condemn the rewriting of athletic policies to erase trans athletes from participation, recognition, and public life.

• We stand in solidarity with trans athletes at Penn and across the nation, who are now forced to navigate a sporting environment made more hostile by this resolution.

We call on the University of Pennsylvania to reverse its harmful concessions, publicly reaffirm its support for all of its students — including trans students — and join other institutions in resisting political attempts to redefine Title IX in exclusionary ways.

Athletics should be a space for personal growth, courage, and fairness, not a tool for advancing ideological agendas or denying people their humanity. We are proud to compete alongside and celebrate all athletes, regardless of gender identity, and we will continue to fight for an inclusive future in sport.

✍️ ADD YOUR NAME: Sign the Open Letter in Support of Trans Athletes and Inclusive Sport

Signed,

1. Jen Leary – Founder of Watch Party PHL

2. Amanda Rabinowitz, PhD - Co-Lead Organizer at Philadelphia Science Action

3. Amanda Therrien, PhD - Co-Lead Organizer at Philadelphia Science Action

4. Marion Leary, PhD, MPH, RN - Co-Lead Organizer at Philadelphia Science Action, Former women’s pro football player

5. Eric Anglero – Director of the LGBT Center at the University of Pennsylvania

6. Russell Richie - Associate Director of MindCORE and Cognitive Science at the University of Pennsylvania, Current or Former College Athlete

7. Jaime Gauthier - University of Pennsylvania (Alum), Philadelphia City Councilmember

8. Jessica Schnaiter – Western Illinois University, Current or Former College Athlete

9. Jeff Haines – Community College of Philadelphia, Current or Former College Athlete

10. Tyler Brown

11. Jaimie Yakaboski

12. Stephanie Ridenour

13. Adel Johnson

14. Carla Tarsitano

15. Henna Storch

16. Holly Brodowski – University of Colorado Boulder

17. Mary Bennewitz – Current or Former College Athlete

18. Frankie Franceschini

19. Elizabeth Burdett - Drexel University/University of Pennsylvania (Alum)

20. Emma Taylor Soiles – Guilford College, Current or Former College Athlete

21. Erin Cross

22. Lydia Orr – Temple University

23. Fen Tampakis

24. Joanna Grim

25. Elizabeth Lester-Abdalla

26. Ashley Ross

27. Samantha Tait – Thomas Jefferson University

28. Daria L. Veccia – Current or Former College Athlete

29. Amanda C Ward

30. Parker Beck Navarro – University of North Carolina Wilmington, Current or Former College Athlete

31. Kelly Cary – University of Pennsylvania

32. Jessica Quiroli

33. Mara Nerenberg

34. Kathy Padilla – Harvard Kennedy School

35. Margaret O’Connor

36. Patricia Teaford – Current or Former College Athlete

37. Sara Morell – The College of New Jersey

38. Charles Vollers – University of North Florida

39. Laura Giles

40. Moira Bohannon

41. Chris Ashton, MD – University of Virginia, Current or Former College Athlete

42. Sarah Harrs

43. Elaine Schellinger

44. Kristie Malloy

45. Sienna Zeilinger

46. Rei Mariman

47. David M Dean

48. Eff McDonald

49. Kyle Munz – Current or Former College Athlete

50. Barrie

51. Lori – University of Pennsylvania – Current or Former College Athlete

52. Gurleen Singh – Drexel University

53. Chris Lombardi

54. Jacqueline Lane – Swarthmore College, Current or Former College Athlete

55. Nicole Ferrari

56. Abigail Kennedy

57. Katie Breiner – University of Pennsylvania, Current or Former College Athlete

58. Sarah-Elizabeth DiBenedetto

59. Caleb Legnini

60. Jill Toomey – Thomas Jefferson University

61. Manuel Wu Chen – Thomas Jefferson University

62. Christa Levko

63. Cait Juliano

64. Simone Fleary

65. Christina Peteraf – Rutgers University (Alum), Former Club Level Athlete

66. Crystal Ciervo

67. Gabby Stacy – Eastern Nazarene College, Current or Former College Athlete

68. Emma Thornton

69. Megan DiTolla – Arcadia University

70. Matt Pasquali – Dickinson College, Current or Former College Athlete

71. Maura Reilly – Dickinson College, Current or Former College Athlete

72. Elizabeth Stokes – Current or Former College Athlete

73. Sarah Warden - Current or Former College Athlete

74. Kathryn Snyder

75. Diep Ganguly - University of Pennsylvania

76. Robin Coyne - University of Pennsylvania (Alum)

77. Lisa Blumenband

78. Emily Kraeck

79. Ilana Cohen - University of Pennsylvania

80. Melina Blees

81. Adrienne Atkins

82. Alice Dallstream - University of Pennsylvania (Alum)

83. Abby Siniscalco

84. Talia Solomon - Current or Former College Athlete

85. Katrin Gross - University of Pennsylvania

86. Elena Cruz-Adames

87. Kassandra Martin-Wells - Ursinus College, Current or Former College Athlete

88. Eleanor Dill, MS - Rutgers University (Alum)

89. Chelsea Cohen - University of Pennsylvania

90. Nate Holt

91. Catherine Vine

92. Chloe Leff -Former Collegiate Club Athlete

93. Mary A Mark

94. Robin Lyons - Delaware Valley University

95. Megan Covert - Current or Former College Athlete

96. Tzvi Pollock - University of Pennsylvania (Alum)

97. Caitlyn Cardetti - Bucks County Community College

98. Amanda Arnold  - Temple University, Current or Former College Athlete

99. Mac Woodburn, PhD

100. Maria Maltepes - University of Pennsylvania

101. Jane-Rebecca Cannarella

102. Cameo Hazlewood - University of Pennsylvania, Current or Former College Athlete

103. Harper Leary - University of Pittsburgh

104. Johanna Mellis - College of Charleston/Ursinus College, Current or Former College Athlete

105. Jess A. Goldberg - Director of the Gender & Women's Studies Program at New Mexico Highlands University 

106. Keila Lopez - University of Pennsylvania

107. Anna Posbergh - Florida State University

108. Jordan Williams - University of Pennsylvania

109. Anne Hanna - Former Athlete at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

110. Aaron Wong - Thomas Jefferson University

111. Ernie Mabrey

112. Emilie Mohler - University of Pennsylvania, Current or Former College Athlete

113. Pablo Cerdera - University of Pennsylvania

114. María Leon

115. Claire Waugh

116. Gideon Morgan - University of Pennsylvania

117. Vicky Borgia, MD

118. Nicole Stone

119. Sarah Rose

120. Leigh Kinczewski - University of Pennsylvania

121. Marie Conti

122. Cori

123. Lindsay Damon - Bryn Mawr College, Current or Former College Athlete

124. Kellie Bowker

125. Lucy Murray

126. Eileen Harris

127. Lauren Thomas

128. Sophia Hofmann - Bryn Mawr College (Alum), Current or Former College Athlete

129. Josie de Leeuw - Bryn Mawr College, Current or Former College Athlete

130. Rae Asbridge - James Madison University, Current or Former College Athlete

131. Nicole Roselli, BSN, RN

132. Laura Oman

133. Eli Bank - American University (Alum)

134. Dempsey Cooper - Current or Former College Athlete

135. Esmeralda Salas

136. Andra Metcalfe - University of Pennsylvania

137. Summer Whelan- Current or Former College Athlete

138. Anna Browne - Michigan Technological University,  Current or Former College Athlete

139. Christopher Denman- University of Pennsylvania

140. Danielle Coellner

141. Maya Satya Reddy- University of Pennsylvania (Alum), Current or Former College Athlete

142. Casey Milliman

143. Jessica Trinh

144. Kc Hill - Humboldt State University (Alum), Current or Former College Athlete

145. Hana Barrett - Cornell University

146. Shannon Reid

147. Michael Stevens

148. Amanda Finn- Current or Former College Athlete

149. Carrie McDonough - Carnegie Mellon University 

150. Chris Runyan - Carnegie Mellon University (Alum)

151. Gina Roose

152. Alexandra Gamburg

153. Lorena Grundy - University of Pennsylvania

154. Robert Newman - University of North Dakota/ University of Pennsylvania (Alum)

155. Keith Runnalls

156. Scout Woodhouse - Trans Swimmer in Non-Collegiate Spaces

157. Lauren Smith - Rowan University, Current or Former College Athlete

158. Tara Oswald - Current or Former College Athlete

159. Justin Sherwood

160. Kristian Novelli

161. Melissa Ruth

162. Amanda Fanniff, PhD - Palo Alto University

163. Jacen Bowman - Delaware State University, President of Philly Black Gay Pride

164. Sarah O'Konski - University of Pennsylvania (Alum)

165. Lizzie - Current or Former College Athlete

166. Ashley Bockman - University of Pennsylvania (Alum), Former Club Level Athlete

167. Sarah Katz - University of Pennsylvania (Alum)

168. Lenya Bloom - University of Pennsylvania (Alum)

169. Karen Kilson

170. Chelsea Anderson

171. Daniel Feshbach - University of Pennsylvania

172. Nicolai Apenes - University of Pennsylvania

173. Riley Alexander - University of Pennsylvania (Alum), Current or Former College Athlete

174. Taylor Miller-Ensminger - University of Pennsylvania

175. Staci Jackson - Tufts University, Current or Former College Athlete

176. Jess Dickson - University of Pennsylvania

177. Ezra Curtis - University of Pennsylvania

178. Debbie Amis Bell Club - CPUSA 

179. Julia E Stone - Thomas Jefferson University, Current or Former College Athlete

180. Heather Frost  - University of Pennsylvania

181. Alice - University of Pennsylvania (Alum)

182. Emily Maroni - University of Pennsylvania/Bryn Mawr College (Alum), Current or Former College Athlete

183. Bramble Heidt

184. Rinnie Hewlett - University of Pennsylvania

185. Sarah True

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✍️ ADD YOUR NAME: Sign the Open Letter in Support of Trans Athletes and Inclusive Sport

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