Lia Thomas Parents: Who Are They and How Do They Support Their Transgender Daughter?

Lia Thomas is a swimmer who made history by becoming the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship. She has faced a lot of controversy and criticism for competing in women’s events, but she has also received support from her family and friends. Who are Lia Thomas’ parents and how do they feel about their daughter’s transition and achievements?

Lia Thomas’ Early Life and Education

Lia Thomas was born in 1998 to her parents Bob Thomas and Carrie Thomas. She was assigned male at birth and grew up in Austin, Texas. She has an older brother who also attends the University of Pennsylvania. Lia Thomas began swimming at the age of five and competed for Westlake High School in the state high school swimming championships. She was sixth in the boys’ events and received a scholarship to attend the University of Pennsylvania. She started swimming on the men’s team in 2017 and finished second in the men’s 500, 1000, and 1650-yard freestyle at the Ivy League championships as a sophomore in 2019.

Lia Thomas’ Transition and Coming Out

Lia Thomas began to question her gender identity towards the end of high school. She came out as transgender to her family during the summer of 2018, after her freshman year at college. She said that her parents were supportive and accepting of her identity. She also came out to her coaches, friends, and the women’s and men’s swim teams at the University of Pennsylvania. She said that her teammates were also supportive and welcoming of her. She began transitioning using hormone replacement therapy in May 2019 and changed her name to Lia on New Year’s Day in 2020. She said that transitioning was not about winning championships, but about feeling good for herself.

Lia Thomas’ Swimming Career and Controversy

Lia Thomas had to swim for the men’s team in the 2019-2020 academic year as a junior while undergoing hormone therapy. She then swam on the women’s team in 2021-2022 after taking a year off school to maintain her eligibility to compete while competitive swimming was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She met the NCAA hormone therapy requirements to swim on the women’s team, which state that transgender women must undergo testosterone suppression treatment for at least one year before competing in women’s events.

Lia Thomas dominated the women’s swimming events in the 2021-2022 season, breaking several records and winning multiple titles. She won the women’s 500-yard freestyle event in the NCAA Division I national championship, becoming the first openly transgender athlete to do so. She also won the women’s 200-yard and 1650-yard freestyle events, setting new records in both. She was named the NCAA Swimmer of the Year and the Ivy League Swimmer of the Year.

However, Lia Thomas also faced a lot of backlash and criticism for competing in women’s events. Many people, including some fellow competitors, coaches, parents, and celebrities, felt that she had an unfair advantage over biological women, due to her previous male physiology and performance. They argued that she was taking away opportunities and recognition from female athletes, and that her participation was a threat to women’s sports. Some of them wrote a letter to the NCAA, asking for a review of the transgender policy and a suspension of Lia Thomas from competing. They also filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, alleging that the University of Pennsylvania violated Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in education, by allowing Lia Thomas to compete in women’s events.

Lia Thomas defended herself and said that she followed the rules and guidelines of the NCAA, and that she did not have any advantage over other women. She said that she lost muscle mass and strength through hormone therapy, and that she trained hard to achieve her results. She also said that she did not need anyone’s permission to be herself, and that she deserved respect and dignity as a transgender woman. She said that she hoped to inspire other transgender people to pursue their dreams and passions.

Lia Thomas’ Future Plans and Goals

Lia Thomas graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2022 and plans to attend law school, pursuing a career as a civil rights attorney. She said that she wants to use her voice and platform to advocate for transgender rights and equality. She also said that she wants to continue swimming and competing, and that she dreams of representing the United States at the Olympics someday.

Lia Thomas is a trailblazer and a role model for many transgender people and athletes. She has overcome many challenges and obstacles to achieve her goals and express her identity. She has also received support and love from her parents and family, who have stood by her side throughout her journey. Lia Thomas’ parents are proud of their daughter and her accomplishments, and they hope that she will continue to make a positive impact on the world.

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