In the emotionally charged clip released Tuesday, Thomas addresses the controversy that has followed her since becoming the first openly transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I women’s swimming title in 2022.

“I’m not a man,” she says firmly, looking directly into the camera. “I’m a transgender woman. I’ve followed every rule and every regulation. What more do you want from me?”

The video has already gone viral on all social media platforms, garnering millions of views and thousands of passionate responses from both supporters and critics.

A lightning rod for debates

Since her rise to national prominence, Thomas has become one of the most polarizing figures in modern sports. While some celebrate her as a pioneer for transgender rights and inclusion, others accuse her of an unfair physical advantage over cisgender athletes.

Critics argue that Thomas’s past as a male swimmer gives her a biological advantage, even though NCAA rules require transgender women to undergo at least a year of hormone therapy before competing. Critics see her record-breaking performances as evidence of the system’s weaknesses.

But Thomas emphasizes in her recent statement that science—and scrutiny—has become a deeply personal and political matter.

“People talk about fairness, but they ignore my humanity. I train just as hard, I fight just as hard. I’m not a threat—I’m an athlete,” she says in the video.

Public and political reactions

The reaction was immediate. Conservative commentators sharply criticized the video as “gaslighting,” and one prominent pundit even called it “an insult to every woman who has ever competed fairly.” LGBTQ+ activists, on the other hand, rushed to Thomas’s defense, praising her courage in facing a nationwide storm of hostility.

Olympic swimmer Erica Williams (name fictitious) tweeted:

You don’t have to agree with everything. But you should respect a person’s right to exist without being dehumanized on a daily basis. Lia demonstrates strength under fire.

Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers intensified their calls for a ban on transgender women in women’s sports, citing Thomas as a prime example of why such federal legislation is “urgently needed.”

What’s next for Lia?

Although Thomas has largely withdrawn from public competitive sports in recent months, sources close to her say she remains committed to transgender inclusion in sports and may be preparing to take legal action against future restrictions.

As the culture war surrounding transgender athletes rages on, Lia Thomas—whether she wants to or not—remains at the center of the storm. But one thing is clear: her voice is no longer silenced.

“You don’t have to share my identity,” she says. “But you can’t erase it.”