Liam Lazore: Trans Advocate, Athlete, and Influencer

Liam Lazore was born and raised in Syracuse, New York, where he grew up navigating the complexities of identity, faith, and community. From a young age, he struggled with his gender identity while simultaneously growing up popular among peers—a contrast that created internal conflict that wouldn’t be resolved until his twenties.

Raised in a religious household, Liam attended church regularly and was deeply embedded in that community. This faith-based upbringing created additional layers of complexity as he worked to understand his identity in an environment that didn’t always align with how he felt inside.

Basketball Refuge: Throughout childhood and into college, basketball became Liam’s safe space. The court offered him an escape from internal struggles, a place where he could channel his competitive energy and find temporary relief from the questions about identity that plagued him privately.

His family, however, proved to be supportive. Backed by strong, outspoken, and loving parents, Liam’s family created a foundation of support that would later prove crucial when he began his transition journey.

Quick Bio: Liam Lazore Overview

College Basketball Career and Identity Struggles

Liam attended St. John Fisher College (now St. John Fisher University) in Rochester, New York, where he played on the women’s basketball team. As a lifelong competitor and former athlete, basketball had been his refuge throughout childhood, but playing on the women’s team while struggling with gender dysphoria created immense internal conflict.

During his college years, Liam spent much of his time as an athlete struggling not just with his identity but also with mental health challenges and an eating disorder. The disconnect between how he was perceived externally and how he felt internally took a significant toll on his well-being.

The Turning Point: Liam’s passion for basketball eventually took a backseat as he made the conscious decision to pursue his transition. This difficult choice meant stepping away from competitive basketball—a sport that had defined much of his life—to focus on becoming his authentic self.

After graduating from St. John Fisher College, Liam later served as Team Manager for the women’s basketball program, maintaining his connection to the sport while living authentically as a transgender man.

Read More: Liam Starnes: Jeopardy Champion and Academic Prodigy

Liam Lazore Birth Name: Privacy and Respect

Liam Lazore makes it clear that he doesn’t share his birth name and considers it inappropriate for anyone to ask a transgender person that question. According to sources, he has stated that everything he was before his transition is very personal and private.

This boundary is important for several reasons:

Deadnaming is Harmful: Using a transgender person’s birth name (often called “deadnaming”) can cause significant emotional harm and invalidate their identity. It’s considered disrespectful in LGBTQ+ communities and by mental health professionals.

Privacy Rights: Liam has every right to keep aspects of his pre-transition life private. His current identity is Liam Lazore, and that’s the only name that matters to his followers, fans, and the public.

Educational Stance: By explicitly stating this boundary, Liam educates his followers about appropriate behavior toward transgender individuals. His stance helps thousands of people understand why asking about birth names is invasive and unnecessary.

Liam’s openness about his transition journey doesn’t obligate him to share every detail of his past. He shares what he’s comfortable with—hormone therapy experiences, surgeries, mental health struggles, fitness journey—while maintaining boundaries around aspects he considers deeply personal.

Coming Out in 2017: The Beginning of Transformation

In 2017, Liam Lazore came out as transgender, marking the beginning of a journey that would span nearly a decade. This initial coming out was just the first step in what would become a comprehensive personal and medical transformation.

The coming out process wasn’t easy. Liam had to navigate changing his name and pronouns, dealing with reactions from friends, family, and his college community, all while managing the internal work of accepting himself.

College Support System: Liam has emphasized how vital it was to have a support group in his college friends to help ease the transition period. These friendships provided emotional support, validation, and practical help as he began living openly as a trans man.

However, coming out in 2017 didn’t immediately lead to a medical transition. Liam spent two years in therapy, working through the complexities of gender dysphoria and preparing for the significant medical steps ahead.

Medical Transition Journey: 2019-2025

After going through therapy and receiving letters confirming that he was dealing with gender dysphoria, Liam began hormone therapy in 2019—two years after his initial coming out in 2017. This marked the official start of his medical transition.

Hormone Therapy (Started 2019): Testosterone hormone replacement therapy (HRT) caused dramatic changes over several years. Liam has shared videos documenting his voice change, facial hair growth, body composition changes, and other effects of testosterone.

Top Surgery: Liam underwent top surgery (double mastectomy) to remove breast tissue and create a masculine chest contour. This surgery significantly reduced his gender dysphoria and allowed him to live more comfortably in his body.

Bottom Surgery (2025): Liam’s most recent and final major procedure was bottom surgery (phalloplasty), which he completed in 2025. This extensive multi-stage procedure involves creating male genitalia through complex surgical techniques.

Stage 1 Challenges: Liam has been remarkably open about the difficulty of bottom surgery. Stage 1 involved taking a skin graft from his forearm—a painful process that left open wounds, rendered his arm unusable for weeks, and required an inpatient hospitalization five days post-operatively.

By 2025, after nearly half a decade of personal evolution, Liam completed his medical transition. He now describes himself as the happiest, strongest, and most confident he’s ever been.

Building a Social Media Platform

Liam started posting on TikTok in 2021 with a “before and after” video showing how he looked when he was younger compared to how he looked post-transition. He thought it was sad but funny to do the challenge, not realizing this video would launch a massive following.

His authentic, educational approach resonated with audiences hungry for honest conversations about transgender experiences. Liam answers questions about being trans, shares his lifestyle, demonstrates workout routines, and provides glimpses into his daily life as a trans man.

Content Strategy: Unlike many influencers who carefully curate a polished image, Liam’s content is raw, real, and deeply personal. He doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, uncomfortable questions, or vulnerable moments.

Educational Mission: By being open about his transition in his personal life, on social media, and beyond, Liam’s hope is to both inspire and help others who may be questioning their gender identity.

Social Media Presence: Reaching Hundreds of Thousands

Liam Lazore has built an impressive social media following across multiple platforms, making him one of the most prominent transgender advocates online.

Official Social Media Accounts:

• TikTok: @liamlaz23 — Approximately 600,000-630,000 followers with millions of likes across his content. His TikTok bio identifies him as a trans advocate and fitness enthusiast. His videos cover transition updates, fitness content, Q&A sessions, and personal life moments. Popular videos include voice change updates, bottom surgery education, dating life discussions, and fitness routines.
• Instagram: @liamlazore — Approximately 183,000 followers with 1,625 following and 478 posts. His bio reads: “Your local trans bro @legion | code LIAM for $ off 1 on 1 Coaching💪🏼 | link below⬇️” He shares fitness content, transition updates, personal reflections, and promotional content for his coaching services.
• LinkedIn: Professional profile showing location as Chicago, Illinois, with education at St. John Fisher College and work experience at US Foods. His LinkedIn emphasizes his professional background beyond social media.
• Podcast Appearances: Featured on multiple podcasts, including “Nurse Converse” (July 2025), where he discussed his transition journey in depth with host Colton Lord.

Liam’s combined social media following exceeds 780,000 across platforms, giving him significant influence in the transgender advocacy space and fitness community.

Liam Lazore Twitter: Clapping Back at Criticism

While Liam Lazore’s Twitter (X) presence appears less prominent than his TikTok and Instagram, he has used the platform to address criticism and engage in conversations about trans issues.

One of his TikTok videos titled “Self-Made Man Claps Back at Criticism on Twitter” shows Liam responding to negative comments and hate he receives on Twitter. This willingness to confront criticism directly demonstrates his resilience and commitment to advocacy.

Combating Negativity: Liam deals with negativity and hate daily, both online and in real life. His approach involves educating critics when possible, setting firm boundaries, and refusing to let hateful comments deter him from his mission.

His social media strategy acknowledges that “people will continue to talk negatively about us, no matter what we are doing,” but demonstrates that when you persevere and continue despite the noise, beautiful things can happen.

Fitness Coaching and Physical Transformation

After leaving competitive basketball, Liam focused his love of exercise on fitness and the gym—a place where he works to grow and improve both mentally and physically, and helps others do the same.

1-on-1 Coaching: Liam offers personalized fitness coaching through Legion Athletics, using the code “LIAM” for clients. His coaching draws on his personal transformation journey and understanding of body image struggles that many transgender individuals face.

Body Image Journey: Liam has been remarkably candid about his relationship with his body. Pre-transition, he would completely dissociate from the body he was living in, which affected his sex life, relationships, and mental health. He experienced anxiety going out in public due to fear of people seeing him as a woman due to physical characteristics like having breasts.

Post-Transition Confidence: Through his medical transition and fitness journey, Liam has achieved alignment between his internal identity and external appearance. He now helps others—both trans and cisgender clients—build confidence and strength through fitness.

Chicago Marathon: In 2025, Liam ran the Chicago Marathon while wearing his Samsung Galaxy Watch8 & Galaxy Ring, partnering with Samsung Health as a brand ambassador. This achievement demonstrates his athletic abilities and commitment to physical wellness.

Mental Health Advocacy and Vulnerability

Beyond physical transformation, Liam’s platform emphasizes mental health, resilience, and authenticity. He openly discusses:

Gender Dysphoria: The distress caused by a disconnect between assigned sex at birth and gender identity. Liam describes how clothes could “only do so much” to help with gender dysphoria and body dysmorphia before medical transition.

Eating Disorder: During his college athletic years, Liam struggled with disordered eating, a common issue among athletes and individuals experiencing gender dysphoria.

Therapy Journey: Liam underwent extensive therapy before and during his transition, receiving professional support to navigate gender identity questions and prepare for medical steps.

Social Media and Mental Health: He discusses both the positive and negative impacts of social media on mental health, acknowledging that while his platform helps thousands, it also exposes him to hate and criticism.

Healthcare Experiences: Educating Medical Professionals

Liam has become an important voice in educating healthcare professionals about transgender patient care. His podcast appearance on “Nurse Converse” provided real talk for healthcare pros on what true support for trans folks should look like.

Positive Surgical Experiences: Liam has highlighted positive experiences with his surgeons, emphasizing the importance of finding gender-affirming healthcare providers who treat transgender patients with dignity and expertise.

Patient Perspective: By sharing detailed accounts of hormone therapy, top surgery, and bottom surgery experiences, Liam helps medical professionals understand what transgender patients go through and how they can provide better care.

His willingness to be vulnerable about hospitalizations, pain management, healing processes, and emotional challenges provides invaluable insight for nurses, doctors, and other healthcare workers.

Life in Chicago: New Chapter

Liam currently resides in Chicago, Illinois, where he has embraced a new chapter of his life post-medical transition. His TikTok and Instagram content frequently features Chicago locations, and he’s mentioned entering his “dating era” in the city.

Apartment Decorating: Liam has shared content asking followers for help decorating his Chicago apartment, giving glimpses into his personal space and lifestyle.

Chicago Marathon: His participation in the 2025 Chicago Marathon demonstrated his integration into the city’s active community and commitment to fitness goals.

New Beginnings: Moving to Chicago post-transition represents a fresh start where Liam can live fully as himself without the weight of his pre-transition past.

Impact and Legacy

At his relatively young age, Liam has already made a significant impact:

Thousands Inspired: His transparency has helped countless individuals question their gender identity, providing representation and practical information about transition.

Education: He’s educated millions about transgender experiences, breaking down stereotypes and misconceptions through honest storytelling.

Healthcare Improvement: By sharing his medical experiences, he’s contributed to a better understanding among healthcare professionals about transgender patient care.

Visibility: As a visible, successful transgender man, Liam provides crucial representation in media spaces where trans voices have historically been absent.

Personal Philosophy: Truth and Authenticity

Liam’s personal philosophy centers on self-identity and authenticity. As he states, “What I learned most is the weight that self-identity and how we see ourselves matter. As humans, we all battle with knowing and loving ourselves.”

He demonstrates that when we take control of our own lives and can silence the noise and listen to our own inner knowing, what lies on the other side is our truth.

Transformation is Powerful: Liam’s story shows that transformation isn’t just possible—it’s powerful. His journey from struggling college athlete to confident, successful influencer proves that living authentically, despite obstacles, leads to fulfillment.

FAQs About Liam Lazore

Who is Liam Lazore?
Liam Lazore is a transgender social media influencer, fitness coach, and advocate from Syracuse, New York, now living in Chicago. He has over 600,000 TikTok followers and 183,000 Instagram followers. He shares his transition journey, fitness content, and educational material about being transgender.

What is Liam Lazore’s birth name?
Liam Lazore does not share his birth name and has made it clear that asking a transgender person their birth name is inappropriate. He states that everything he was before his transition is very personal and private. His current name is Liam Lazore, and that’s the only name relevant to his public identity.

When did Liam Lazore come out as transgender?
Liam came out as transgender in 2017. He began hormone therapy in 2019 after two years of therapy and receiving confirmation of gender dysphoria. He completed his medical transition in 2025 after undergoing hormone therapy, top surgery, and bottom surgery.

Does Liam Lazore have a Twitter?
Yes, Liam has a Twitter (X) presence, though it’s less prominent than his TikTok and Instagram. He has used Twitter to engage in conversations about trans issues and has addressed criticism on the platform. One of his TikTok videos shows him “clapping back at criticism on Twitter.”

What college did Liam Lazore attend?
Liam Lazore attended St. John Fisher College (now St. John Fisher University) in Rochester, New York. He played on the women’s basketball team during his time there and later served as Team Manager for the women’s basketball program after graduating.

Where does Liam Lazore live now?
Liam currently lives in Chicago, Illinois. He frequently features Chicago locations in his social media content and ran the Chicago Marathon in 2025. He moved to Chicago after completing his medical transition.

What does Liam Lazore do for work?
Liam works as a social media influencer and fitness coach. He offers 1-on-1 fitness coaching through Legion Athletics and has brand partnerships with companies like Samsung. He also works or has worked at US Foods, based on his LinkedIn profile.

How many followers does Liam Lazore have?
Liam has approximately 600,000-630,000 followers on TikTok (@liamlaz23) and about 183,000 followers on Instagram (@liamlazore), giving him a combined following of over 780,000 across both platforms.

What surgeries has Liam Lazore had?
Liam has undergone top surgery (double mastectomy) and bottom surgery (phalloplasty). He completed his bottom surgery in 2025, which involved multiple stages, including a skin graft from his forearm. He has been very open about his surgical experiences to educate others about the transgender medical transition process.