Lia Thomas' ex-teammate slams John Fetterman for blocking bill banning trans athletes from women's sports

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: Senator John Fetterman (D-Pa) was called out on X (formerly Twitter) after he announced himself as an ally of trans athletes and voted against a federal bill seeking to ban trans women from women's sports at the school level on Monday, March 3, reported Outkick. 

Among those criticizing him was Paula Scanlan, a former teammate of trans athlete Lia Thomas at the University of Pennsylvania. According to the publication, Thomas is the first trans woman athlete to win a women's NCAA Division I national championship.

At the start of his second term, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that the Senate attempted to codify on Monday, March 3, with the "Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act." Brought forth by Senator Tommy Tuberville, it failed to pass on the floor as no Democrats supported it.

Paula Scanlan blasts Senator John Fetterman for voting against anti-trans bill 

John Fetterman took to X on Monday to explain why he voted against the trans exclusionary bill. "The small handful of trans athletes in PA in a political maelstrom deserve an ally, and I am one," he wrote. 

He slammed political ads for depersonalizing trans athletes and added that "empty show votes or cruelty on social media aren’t part of a thoughtful, dignified solution."

The tweet enraged Scanlan, who shared her experience of being on the same team as Thomas and called the trans swimmer a "predator."

"John, the fully grown 6’4, 22-year-old man in Pennsylvania that undressed in my locker room EIGHTEEN times per WEEK was not a ‘schoolchild.’ He was a predator. And no woman should ever experience this. Not even once," wrote Scanlan.

Upon being ignored throughout the day, she posted a follow-up tweet saying, "Hey John Fetterman I’m still waiting for your response… You still stand by fully grown men fully exposing themselves in the women’s locker room? The people of Pennsylvania deserve better than a coward like you."

Conservatives agree with Paula Scanlan as she calls out John Fetterman

MAGA supporters on X joined Lia Thomas' former teammate Paula Scanlan in calling out Fetterman after he voted against the bill banning trans athletes from participating in women's sports at the school level.

"I can't believe in 2025 this is even an issue. The absurdity of people believing it is ok and should be the norm for men to be in woman's sports is mind-blowing," wrote a person.

"@JohnFetterman This vote will not be forgotten. Why do you hate women? We are she/her. We are daughters, mothers, sisters, and wives. YOU WILL NOT ERASE US," posted another.

"Fetterman, you’re on the wrong side of this issue. I knew you were FAKE," shared a social media user.

"Really sad that these senators are so anti girl and woman," noted another.

"Women need to come out strong and vote these losers out in the midterms," one individual remarked.

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