Former University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas, who won the 2022 NCAA women’s swimming championship, is set to receive the “Voice of Inspiration Award” at Rainbow Labs’ Violet Visionary Awards on Thursday, as reported by Fox News.

Thomas, a biological male who identifies as transgender, drew national attention after winning the women’s 500-yard freestyle championship two years ago.

The victory ignited nationwide debate over fairness and biological advantages in women’s athletics and became a key flashpoint in the broader discussion surrounding transgender participation in female sports.

Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas is being celebrated in Los Angeles Thursday with a “Voice of Inspiration” award — but not everyone’s applauding. pic.twitter.com/2NafVSTo1Q

— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) October 15, 2025

According to Rainbow Labs’ website, the “Voice of Inspiration” award “honors an individual whose story and actions ignite hope and courage within the LGBTQ+ community.”

The group’s annual Violet Visionary Awards celebrate “individuals and organizations that embody the spirit of empowerment, resilience, and joy.”

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The organization says the event will “uplift the power of LGBTQIA+ expression – in fashion, art, dance, voice, and story – as a revolutionary force fueling queer joy and collective freedom.”

The event is sponsored by the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Football Club, among others. Both organizations did not respond to requests for comment from OutKick regarding their support for honoring Thomas as a “voice of inspiration.”

Riley Gaines, a former NCAA swimmer who tied Thomas in the 200-yard freestyle during the 2022 championships, criticized the recognition.

“Voice of inspiration? The only people Will Thomas inspires are other men who realized you can take everything from women – our records, our spaces, our opportunities – and still get a standing ovation,” Gaines told OutKick, using Thomas’ birth name.

“It’s 2025, not 2020. We’re done pretending that’s courage.”

OutKick was the first to report on Thomas’s recognition at the event. The award comes as the debate over transgender participation in women’s sports continues nationwide. Currently, 29 states have laws or regulations restricting biological males from competing in girls’ and women’s sports.

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order prohibiting transgender athletes from competing against females at federally funded schools and universities. The administration has emphasized that the order is designed to protect fairness and opportunity for female athletes.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have faced similar controversy over the past two years for their participation in Pride-related events.

In 2023, the team honored the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence — a group of drag performers dressed as “nuns” that has drawn criticism from Catholic groups — with a “Community Hero Award.”

The team initially rescinded the invitation following backlash from fans and players but later reversed its decision and issued an apology.

The Violet Visionary Awards will take place on Thursday evening in Los Angeles.

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