The action comes after a federal investigation found that the university’s previous policies allowing transgender swimmer Lia Thomas to compete in women’s events violated Title IX protections for female athletes.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon announced the resolution during a press briefing on Monday, stating that UPenn will not only issue personalized apologies, but also restore all affected records, placements, and honors to the rightful biological female athletes.

The university has also agreed to adopt biology-based definitions of sex and will formally prohibit biological males from participating in women’s sports or using female-designated locker rooms and facilities.

Lia Thomas, a biological male who competed on the UPenn men’s swim team before transitioning, made national headlines in 2022 after becoming the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I women’s championship.

The decision to allow Thomas to compete against women sparked widespread controversy, with numerous teammates and female athletes accusing the university of ignoring their concerns in order to promote political agendas.

The Department of Education, under President Trump’s administration, launched a civil rights investigation into the university earlier this year. That investigation concluded that UPenn’s actions violated Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

In response, the Education Department froze more than $175 million in federal research funding to the university, prompting negotiations that led to the current settlement.

Secretary McMahon described the outcome as a landmark moment in restoring fairness to women’s sports. “This administration stands firmly on the side of biological women and their right to equal athletic opportunity,” she said. “This agreement ensures that those rights are no longer sacrificed for ideological experiments.”

Former UPenn swimmers impacted by the policy welcomed the decision. Paula Scanlan, who previously spoke out about the issue, said the apology letters represent long-overdue recognition of the harm caused.

Riley Gaines, a national advocate for women’s sports, also praised the Trump administration for taking what she called “decisive and moral action.”

As part of the agreement, UPenn will also issue a public statement acknowledging that its past policies were unfair to female athletes.

The university has not yet commented on when the apology letters will be sent but is expected to begin the process immediately to remain in compliance with the Department of Education’s terms.

The decision is expected to influence future Title IX enforcement nationwide, setting a precedent for how schools manage athletic participation amid ongoing debates surrounding gender identity and sports.

The post VIDEO: University of Pennsylvania to Apologize to Female Athletes Over Transgender Participation Following Federal Settlement appeared first on RwUncut.

Heritage of Pride, the nonprofit behind the parade, confirms that about 20–25% of corporate sponsors—including major brands like PepsiCo, Nissan, and Mastercard—either withdrew or reduced their contributions this year. This trend mirrors a broader pullback by corporations amid rising political and economic pressures.

As a result, NYC Pride faces a $750K funding gap, prompting the organization to initiate grassroots fundraising efforts and seek smaller community-based sponsors to fill the void.

Despite the decline in corporate support, New York City’s Pride remains one of the country’s largest events, featuring over 700 groups and passing historic landmarks like the Stonewall Inn.

Why It Matters

• Heritage of Pride warns the funding shortfall could affect event logistics, such as security and infrastructure, unless supplemented by private donors or smaller sponsors.
• Similar sponsorship declines are being reported in other major Pride cities like San Francisco, where organizers face six-figure budget deficits.

Organizers continue to stress that reliable community funding is essential to preserve the Parade’s size and free admission in the face of diminishing corporate involvement.

The post VIDEO: Sponsorship for NYC Pride Parade Drops 40%, Costing Organizers Nearly $750K appeared first on RwUncut.

The decision centers on the case Mahmoud v. Taylor, in which Maryland parents challenged Montgomery County Public Schools for cancelling its opt-out policy for elementary students after including books such as Uncle Bobby’s Wedding and Born Ready, which feature gay or transgender characters. Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, wrote that revoking the opt-out violated parents’ First Amendment religious rights, stating:

“We have held that those rights are violated by government policies that substantially interfere with the religious development of children.”

The Court granted a preliminary injunction, requiring the school district to notify parents in advance of any LGBTQ+ lessons and allow them to excuse their children during those readings.

Liberal justices dissented. Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned the ruling could lead to chaos in public schools, causing disruptions and undermining the goal of a shared civic education .

Edicts from the decision spell out:

• A requirement for advance notice and opt-out options
• The decision applies while litigation continues, keeping the injunction in place for now

This case follows a broader pattern this term, as the Court has increasingly supported religious freedom claims in objections to public school instruction

The post VIDEO: Supreme Court Allows Opt-Outs for LGBTQ+ Storybook Readings in Schools appeared first on RwUncut.