Photo: Hunter Martin/GettyLia Thomasis addressing criticism she’s faced for being atransgendercollege swimmer amid theongoing debateregarding trans women in sports.The former University of Pennsylvania swimmer becamethe first openly transgender athleteto take home an NCAA Division I national championship in any sport in March.“The biggest misconception, I think, is the reason I transitioned,” Thomas said in an interview withABC NewsandESPNpublished Tuesday.Appearing to reference herhistoryof swimming forUPenn’smen’s team for three years before joining the women’s team in her senior year, Thomas added, “People will say, ‘Oh, she just transitioned so she would have an advantage, so she could win.’ I transitioned to be happy, to be true to myself.“She then shared her thoughts on recent legislation that aims to limit trans athletes. Bills like Pennsylvania’sHB 972— which Thomaspreviouslysaid could make trans athletes feel “lonely” — calls for students to play on a team consistent with the sex they were assigned at birth. It is also known as the “Save Women’s Sports Act.““Trans women competing in women’s sports does not threaten women’s sports as a whole,” Thomas told ESPN and ABC News. “Trans women are a very small minority of all athletes. The NCAA rules regarding trans women competing in women’s sports have been around for 10-plus years. And we haven’t seen any massive wave of trans women dominating.“Speaking about her transition, Thomas — who experienced gender dysphoria and mental health issues — said that she started hormone therapy in May 2019. She had just completed her sophomore year and believed she was done swimming for good.By the time she began her senior year last November, she had received 30 months of hormone therapy, surpassing the NCAA’s then-requirement for trans women to have 12 months of hormone therapy before they can compete in a female sport, ESPN said.Months later, in January, the NCAA said that it wouldfollow the lead of each sportwhen deciding if a trans athlete could compete. The following month, USA Swimming called for36 months of testosterone suppressionand an evaluation from a panel of three people for eligibility. The NCAA ultimatelystuck to its previous policy, along with a requirement of no more than 10 nanomoles of testosterone per liter.RELATED VIDEO: How Mj Rodriguez, First Trans Woman to Receive Historic Emmy Nomination, Bonded with a Homeless FanAddressing the argument that trans athletes make things unfair for cisgender women, Thomas told ESPN and ABC News: “If you say, like, you can compete, but you can’t score or you’re in an extra lane nine, that’s very othering towards trans people. And it is not offering them the same level of respect and opportunity to play and to compete.““It’s no different than a cis woman taking a spot on a travel team or a scholarship. It’s a part of athletics, where people are competing against each other. It’s not taking away opportunities from cis women, really. Trans women are women, so it’s still a woman who is getting that scholarship or that opportunity,” Thomas added.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Due to her experience, she is now an aspiring lawyer and plans to go to law school this fall, studying civil rights and public interest law, ESPN said.“Having seen such hateful attacks on trans rights through legislation, fighting for trans rights and trans equality is something that I’ve become much more passionate about and want to pursue,” she said.Thomas concluded and said she has no regrets, explaining in her interview, “I’ve been able to do the sport that I love as my authentic self.”
Photo: Hunter Martin/Getty
Lia Thomasis addressing criticism she’s faced for being atransgendercollege swimmer amid theongoing debateregarding trans women in sports.The former University of Pennsylvania swimmer becamethe first openly transgender athleteto take home an NCAA Division I national championship in any sport in March.“The biggest misconception, I think, is the reason I transitioned,” Thomas said in an interview withABC NewsandESPNpublished Tuesday.Appearing to reference herhistoryof swimming forUPenn’smen’s team for three years before joining the women’s team in her senior year, Thomas added, “People will say, ‘Oh, she just transitioned so she would have an advantage, so she could win.’ I transitioned to be happy, to be true to myself.“She then shared her thoughts on recent legislation that aims to limit trans athletes. Bills like Pennsylvania’sHB 972— which Thomaspreviouslysaid could make trans athletes feel “lonely” — calls for students to play on a team consistent with the sex they were assigned at birth. It is also known as the “Save Women’s Sports Act.““Trans women competing in women’s sports does not threaten women’s sports as a whole,” Thomas told ESPN and ABC News. “Trans women are a very small minority of all athletes. The NCAA rules regarding trans women competing in women’s sports have been around for 10-plus years. And we haven’t seen any massive wave of trans women dominating.“Speaking about her transition, Thomas — who experienced gender dysphoria and mental health issues — said that she started hormone therapy in May 2019. She had just completed her sophomore year and believed she was done swimming for good.By the time she began her senior year last November, she had received 30 months of hormone therapy, surpassing the NCAA’s then-requirement for trans women to have 12 months of hormone therapy before they can compete in a female sport, ESPN said.Months later, in January, the NCAA said that it wouldfollow the lead of each sportwhen deciding if a trans athlete could compete. The following month, USA Swimming called for36 months of testosterone suppressionand an evaluation from a panel of three people for eligibility. The NCAA ultimatelystuck to its previous policy, along with a requirement of no more than 10 nanomoles of testosterone per liter.RELATED VIDEO: How Mj Rodriguez, First Trans Woman to Receive Historic Emmy Nomination, Bonded with a Homeless FanAddressing the argument that trans athletes make things unfair for cisgender women, Thomas told ESPN and ABC News: “If you say, like, you can compete, but you can’t score or you’re in an extra lane nine, that’s very othering towards trans people. And it is not offering them the same level of respect and opportunity to play and to compete.““It’s no different than a cis woman taking a spot on a travel team or a scholarship. It’s a part of athletics, where people are competing against each other. It’s not taking away opportunities from cis women, really. Trans women are women, so it’s still a woman who is getting that scholarship or that opportunity,” Thomas added.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Due to her experience, she is now an aspiring lawyer and plans to go to law school this fall, studying civil rights and public interest law, ESPN said.“Having seen such hateful attacks on trans rights through legislation, fighting for trans rights and trans equality is something that I’ve become much more passionate about and want to pursue,” she said.Thomas concluded and said she has no regrets, explaining in her interview, “I’ve been able to do the sport that I love as my authentic self.”
Lia Thomasis addressing criticism she’s faced for being atransgendercollege swimmer amid theongoing debateregarding trans women in sports.
The former University of Pennsylvania swimmer becamethe first openly transgender athleteto take home an NCAA Division I national championship in any sport in March.
“The biggest misconception, I think, is the reason I transitioned,” Thomas said in an interview withABC NewsandESPNpublished Tuesday.
Appearing to reference herhistoryof swimming forUPenn’smen’s team for three years before joining the women’s team in her senior year, Thomas added, “People will say, ‘Oh, she just transitioned so she would have an advantage, so she could win.’ I transitioned to be happy, to be true to myself.”
She then shared her thoughts on recent legislation that aims to limit trans athletes. Bills like Pennsylvania’sHB 972— which Thomaspreviouslysaid could make trans athletes feel “lonely” — calls for students to play on a team consistent with the sex they were assigned at birth. It is also known as the “Save Women’s Sports Act.”
“Trans women competing in women’s sports does not threaten women’s sports as a whole,” Thomas told ESPN and ABC News. “Trans women are a very small minority of all athletes. The NCAA rules regarding trans women competing in women’s sports have been around for 10-plus years. And we haven’t seen any massive wave of trans women dominating.”
Speaking about her transition, Thomas — who experienced gender dysphoria and mental health issues — said that she started hormone therapy in May 2019. She had just completed her sophomore year and believed she was done swimming for good.
By the time she began her senior year last November, she had received 30 months of hormone therapy, surpassing the NCAA’s then-requirement for trans women to have 12 months of hormone therapy before they can compete in a female sport, ESPN said.
Months later, in January, the NCAA said that it wouldfollow the lead of each sportwhen deciding if a trans athlete could compete. The following month, USA Swimming called for36 months of testosterone suppressionand an evaluation from a panel of three people for eligibility. The NCAA ultimatelystuck to its previous policy, along with a requirement of no more than 10 nanomoles of testosterone per liter.
RELATED VIDEO: How Mj Rodriguez, First Trans Woman to Receive Historic Emmy Nomination, Bonded with a Homeless Fan
Addressing the argument that trans athletes make things unfair for cisgender women, Thomas told ESPN and ABC News: “If you say, like, you can compete, but you can’t score or you’re in an extra lane nine, that’s very othering towards trans people. And it is not offering them the same level of respect and opportunity to play and to compete.”
“It’s no different than a cis woman taking a spot on a travel team or a scholarship. It’s a part of athletics, where people are competing against each other. It’s not taking away opportunities from cis women, really. Trans women are women, so it’s still a woman who is getting that scholarship or that opportunity,” Thomas added.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Due to her experience, she is now an aspiring lawyer and plans to go to law school this fall, studying civil rights and public interest law, ESPN said.
“Having seen such hateful attacks on trans rights through legislation, fighting for trans rights and trans equality is something that I’ve become much more passionate about and want to pursue,” she said.
Thomas concluded and said she has no regrets, explaining in her interview, “I’ve been able to do the sport that I love as my authentic self.”
source: people.com
