Megan Rapinoe intends to retire, but she is not leaving quietly.
U.S. women’s soccer legend Megan Rapinoe has been a public supporter for the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s athletics, so just prior to her last World Cup before she rides off into the sunset, the former Golden Boot recipient stated she would “definitely” endorse having a trans woman on the USWNT lineup.
“‘You’re taking a ‘real’ woman’s place,’ that’s the aspect of the debate that’s still profoundly transphobic,” Rapinoe told Gregory. “I perceive trans women as genuine women. What you are implying automatically in the discussion—you’re sort of exposing yourself already—is that you don’t recognize these individuals as women. Consequently, they’re occupying the other spot. I don’t share that perspective.”
“We as a nation are attempting to legislate away individuals’ complete humanity,” she explained to Time.
Rapinoe was among 40 professional athletes who co-signed a letter to House lawmakers earlier this year in opposition to the Protection of Girls and Women in Sports Act, contending that the legislation would exclude women and girls from receiving “mental and physical health benefits.”
“It’s especially disheartening when women’s sports is used as a weapon,” Rapinoe remarked in the interview. “Oh, now we care about fairness? Now we care about women’s athletics? That’s utter nonsense. And show me all the trans individuals who are nefariously exploiting their identity in sports. It’s simply not occurring.”
Rapinoe will make her concluding World Cup appearance this month as the United States Women’s National Team travels to Australia and New Zealand aiming to make history as the first women’s or men’s squad to achieve a three-peat.
It was over the weekend when the 38-year-old soccer star revealed her intentions to retire at the end of the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League season.
An Olympic gold medalist and two-time World Cup victor, Rapinoe will participate in her fourth and final World Cup commencing on July 20.
