Lia Thomas Accuses Female Critics Of Being Afraid To Express Their ‘Transphobic Beliefs’

Lia Thomas, a former University of Pennsylvania swimmer who identifies as a woman, has accused women athletes who criticize her participation in women’s sports of being “transphobic” but too afraid to admit it. In a podcast with former NCAA swimmer Schuyler Bailar, who identifies as a man, Thomas argued that the idea of seeing men as men and women as women is rooted in “patriarchal ideas.” She also criticized those who claim to support her identity as a woman but oppose her participation in women’s sports, saying that they cannot break her down into pieces. Thomas believes that some people use feminism as a guise to push transphobic beliefs and carry implicit biases against trans people. She concluded that true feminism is about breaking down patriarchal ideals and opening up the possibilities of who can be a woman.

In December, parents of Thomas’ teammates sent a letter to the NCAA, warning against its rules permitting Thomas to participate in women’s sports. Former University of Kentucky star swimmer Riley Gaines, who was deprived of a fifth-place medal at last year’s NCAA championships by Thomas, has also been vocal about protecting women’s sports. Gaines claimed that female athletes who protested Thomas’ inclusion in the women’s division were threatened, intimidated, and emotionally blackmailed into silence and submission.