Photo: Facebook (@tia.thompson.9)
Tia Thompson is a 32-year-old professional Volleyball player from Kahuku, Hawaii and is ready to make history. She's been given permission to compete is the USA Volleyball League as a woman, the first trans person to do so.
The USAW rules state that for Tia to compete in an all women's league, she had to undergo hormone replacement therapy consistently for at least one year and legally change her gender on all of her identification documents to female. It took Tia three years to comply and she's all set to compete in the Haili Volleyball Tournament on Hawaii's Big Island later this month.
While Tia is ecstatic, there has been criticism from her community. Some people believe Tia has an unfair advantage over the other players and shouldn't be allowed to play. "It's a touchy subject because volleyball is a main sport here," she told Hawaii News Now.
Photo: Facebook (@tia.thompson.9)
Not everyone thinks that way. In an interview with OutSports, she explained that "many uneducated people do have negative comments, which I understand because of the lack of education and information that people see on trans issues. However I received so much support, love and well-wishes from the volleyball community, my friends and, most importantly, my family and husband.”
Tia hopes that she can be a role model for other trans athletes and even has her sights set on the 2020 US Olympic volleyball team.
“This is going to be wonderful journey," said Tia. "I am living my truth, and if this can help other trans athletes, then it's worth it.”
