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Lia Thomas Accepts 'Voice of Inspiration' Honor at LA Event Backed by Dodgers, LAFC

The recognition refocuses attention on evolving eligibility rules alongside active lawsuits over transgender participation in women's sports.

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Lia Thomas swims the 200 free for Penn at the 2022 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships in Atlanta.
Lia Thomas won the women's 500-yard freestyle final during the 20202 Ivy League Swimming and Diving Championships.
Mar 19, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Penn Quakers swimmer Lia Thomas on the pool deck at the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships at Georgia Tech. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Overview

  • Rainbow Labs presented Thomas with its Voice of Inspiration award at the Violet Visionary Awards in Los Angeles on Thursday.
  • The event listed the Dodgers and LAFC as sponsors; a mention of the Dodgers drew light applause, and no representatives from either team spoke during the program.
  • Thomas used her acceptance remarks to reflect on mentorship, online harassment, and a sense of purpose in advocating for trans youth, according to on-site reporting.
  • In a rare WHYY interview published this week, Thomas said people “don’t get to pick and choose” when to see her as a woman and argued hormone therapy reduces athletic advantages.
  • Context for the honor includes World Aquatics’ rules that bar her from elite women’s events after a 2024 legal loss, UPenn’s June decision to remove her women’s records under a federal agreement, and a Riley Gaines-led suit against the NCAA that partially survived dismissal on Sept. 27.