Amid ongoing debate, Lia Thomas made history for transgender athletes

In honor of Pride Month, NBC Out is highlighting and celebrating a new generation of LGBTQ trailblazers, creators and newsmakers.

In honor of Pride Month, NBC Out is highlighting and celebrating a new generation of LGBTQ trailblazers, creators and newsmakers. Visit our full #Pride30 list here.

Lia Thomas made history this year when she became the first transgender woman to win an NCAA championship.

Thomas, a swimmer at the University of Pennsylvania who has since revealed that she aspires to compete at the Olympics, also set off a worldwide debate about the participation of transgender women in women’s sports. The debate led to a flurry of swimming policy changes that some said appeared to target Thomas, while others said the policies weren’t strict enough, making Thomas’ historic wins unfair.

As Thomas ignited debate in the sports world, state legislatures also began passing bills to ban transgender athletes from participating on school sports teams that align with their gender identities — with Republican legislators in Pennsylvania mentioning Thomas by name during debate. Such measures have become law in 17 states — the majority in just the last year, according to the Movement Advancement Project, a nonprofit think tank that tracks the legislation.

In the heated debate, some of which devolved into transphobic attacks, Thomas largely avoided giving interviews. Then, in March, she addressed the criticism and her plans: “I want to swim and compete as who I am,” she told Sports Illustrated in a cover story.

https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/nbc-out-proud/ongoing-debate-lia-thomas-made-history-transgender-athletes-rcna28798


Post ID: 8de72e67-81a6-4e56-8e8b-a8c4db59caa1
Rating: 5
Updated: 1 year ago
Your ad can be here
Create Post

Similar classified ads


News's other ads