ATLANTA — State senators seeking to restrict transgender athletes heard from collegiate women swimmers who competed in an Atlanta championship event with a transgender swimmer. It happened two years ago at Georgia Tech.
Five collegiate swimmers said they were among those who competed in a 2022 NCAA championship at Georgia Tech against a transgender swimmer named Lia Thomas – whose presence roiled competitors and spectators at the women’s event, according to Kylee Alons.
"I was surrounded by many who understood this was wrong. And we wondered why those in charge were doing nothing," Kylee Alons, who swam at North Carolina State University, testified.
Alons said Thomas – formerly a male swimmer at Penn State -- “demolished” women competitors in swim meets. Some of the athletes testifying called on the NCAA to change state law to only allow biological women to compete in women’s sports.
"I believe the NCAA should issue a blanket policy that says women's sports are for women," said collegiate swimmer Riley Gaines, who has been outspoken on the issue.
What’s unclear is how Georgia lawmakers might act. Activists for transgender Georgians urged caution.
"I think the moment we start to dehumanize people and make judgments when we don’t know them personally, it becomes very dangerous," said Noel Heatherland of Georgia Equality.
A Georgia Tech spokesman told us the 2022 event was administered by the NCAA. Since then, the organization that runs college swimming and diving events have restricted transgender participation to folks who transitioned prior to puberty.