Hey, Sam, it's Amara. Welcome to the TransLash podcast, where we tell trans

stories to save trans lives. We talked a lot about the legislative attacks on trans people

in the past few months, especially the bills targeted to keep trans

people out of sports.

Sadly, this conversation has turned all the way up, though, with Leah Thomas becoming

the first out transgender athlete to capture a Division I national title in any sport when

she won the women's 500 freestyle and swimming last month.

That's a mouthful.

The reaction to the UPenn swimmer's ability to compete has been swift and downright mean.

Those trolling Leah by protesting outside of the venues where she competes include Barbara E. Hart.

Barbara is the Idaho state legislator who authored the first anti-trans sports bill to pass in America. We profiled Barbara

and our anti-trans hate machine podcast last summer. But what surprised me is that this meanness

isn't only limited to the extreme right. My social media timeline

and those of countless others in our community who we thought were allies, demeaned Leah with

terrible comments and memes. Now, understandably, Leah isn't talking to the press, but last year,

two incredible athletes, Chris Mosier,

the first trans man to compete in Olympic trials, and Cece Telfor, the first trans woman to ever

win an NCAA title, spoke to us about the reality of what it's like for trans athletes.

Because this conversation separates out fact from

fiction, we thought it was critical to bring these two powerful voices and perspectives to you again.

But like always, we begin with trans joy.

One thing lifting my spirits this week is people in our communities who are creating new spaces for us to thrive.

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