Lia Thomas: LGBT+ rights campaigners defend swimming champion amid transphobic abuse

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. LGBT+ campaigners defending the swimmer included the Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBT+ civil rights organisation in the US, which praised Ms Thomas by tweeting: “Living your truth is an incredible and powerful feeling.” “We’re in solidarity with Lia and all athletes who compete in the sports they love and on teams consistent with their gender identity.” Many attacking Ms Thomas shared footage of her 2021 Zippy Invitational swims as an example of how fast she was compared to fellow competitors, including teammate Anna Kalandadze, who was 38-seconds behind and finished second in one race. Piers Morgan, an outspoken conservative columnist, added: “If Michael Phelps began competing as a transgender woman, all hell would break loose – so why is nothing being done to stop trans athletes like Lia Thomas from destroying women’s sport? Conservative news outlets including Fox News and the New York Post meanwhile shared complaints issued by 10 University of Pennsylvania parents who asked the NCAA last week to forbid Ms Thomas from competitions in the future because she is a “direct threat to female athletes in every sport.” “The precedent being set – one in which women do not have a protected and equitable space to compete – is a direct threat to female athletes in every sport,” the parents reportedly claimed. Just treated like any other member of the women’s team.” Braden Kieth, the editor-in-chief of SwimSwam, afterwards tweeted: “It’s OK to disagree with Lia Thomas being on the women’s swim team.