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Transgender Swimmer Lia Thomas Honoured with ‘Voice of Inspiration’ Award at Dodgers-Sponsored Event
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On Thursday night in Los Angeles, Lia Thomas, the trailblazing transgender swimmer who made history by winning the NCAA Division I women’s 500-yard freestyle title in 2022, was honored with the ‘Voice of Inspiration’ Award at the 2025 Violet Visionary Awards. The ceremony, hosted at Serra on Vine in Hollywood, brought together LGBTQ+ advocates, athletes, and supporters to celebrate those whose lives and stories have sparked hope and courage within the community. The event was organized by Rainbow Labs, a nonprofit supporting LGBTQ+ youth, and received sponsorship from major Los Angeles sports organizations, including the Los Angeles Dodgers and LA Football Club .
The awards ceremony featured a diverse lineup of performances, including drag artists, and opened with a montage chronicling Thomas’s journey. The video highlighted Thomas’s transition from competing as William Thomas on the University of Pennsylvania men’s swimming team to competing as Lia Thomas in NCAA women’s swimming events. The narrative emphasized Thomas’s resilience in the face of intense scrutiny and backlash, and her ongoing advocacy for transgender inclusion in sports .
As Thomas took the stage to accept the award, she expressed gratitude to Rainbow Labs and reflected on her own journey toward self-acceptance. “It makes me very emotional because I remember all too well not that long ago being 18 and just realizing that I’m trans,” she said, underscoring the personal courage required to live authentically and the importance of visibility for young transgender people .
According to Rainbow Labs, the ‘Voice of Inspiration’ Award is presented to individuals whose stories and actions ignite hope and courage within the LGBTQ+ community. The organization lauded Thomas not only for her athletic achievements but also for her role as a visible advocate for inclusion and fairness in sports. “Lia made history in 2022 as the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I national championship. Beyond her groundbreaking achievements in the pool, Lia has become a powerful voice for inclusion and fairness in sports, inspiring LGBTQ+ youth and communities nationwide,” Rainbow Labs stated in a profile of this year’s honoree .
The Los Angeles Dodgers’ sponsorship of the awards event drew attention, as the team has previously participated in LGBTQ+ outreach initiatives and Pride events. While no Dodgers officials spoke during the program, their involvement was acknowledged during the evening, and the gesture was met with light applause from attendees .
Thomas’s presence at the awards show and her recognition as an inspiration come amid continued national debate over transgender inclusion in sports. In 2022, Thomas’s NCAA victory made headlines across the country and triggered a wave of discussion and, at times, controversy about fairness, policy, and the rights of transgender athletes. Supporters have praised Thomas for her courage and for challenging stereotypes about gender and athleticism, while critics have questioned the rules governing transgender participation in women’s sports .
Despite the polarized discourse, LGBTQ+ advocates emphasize that Thomas’s visibility has had a tangible positive impact. “Lia Thomas’s story has provided a beacon of hope for young transgender people navigating their own paths in sports and in life,” said a Rainbow Labs spokesperson during the event .
The event’s organizers and attendees also underscored the need for ongoing advocacy and education to ensure that transgender athletes are treated with dignity and respect. “It’s easier to fight the whole world than to fight yourself,” Thomas said during her acceptance speech, reiterating her commitment to authenticity and inclusion .
Lia Thomas’s recognition as a “Voice of Inspiration” reflects a broader movement within sports and culture to uplift the stories of transgender athletes and LGBTQ+ individuals. At a time when anti-transgender legislation and rhetoric have increased in some parts of the United States, events like the Violet Visionary Awards provide both visibility and affirmation for the community.
Advocacy organizations point to the significance of such public recognition in challenging stigma and fostering acceptance. “Awards like this don’t just honor individual achievement—they send a message to every young person watching that they are valued and that their dreams are possible,” said a leader from an LGBTQ+ youth organization in attendance .
As debates about transgender inclusion in sports continue at the national and international level, Lia Thomas remains a focal point in the conversation. Her receipt of the ‘Voice of Inspiration’ Award underscores both the progress and the challenges facing transgender athletes. While the path forward remains complex, the recognition of Thomas’s contributions and the support of organizations like Rainbow Labs and the Los Angeles Dodgers serve as reminders of the ongoing push for equality and representation in all arenas of public life .
