Megan Rapinoe, a professional American Soccer player, has defended transgender athletes around the globe. This comes as a rise in criticism for transgender athletes has dominated headlines regarding sports across the world.
The soccer player has come out against the decision to exclude transgender athletes from women’s sports events, which comes after the swimming’s governing body has made the choice to exclude trans people from competing in the women’s category.
In recent years, transgender swimmer, Lia Thomas, has found herself under a lot of heat as she competed against female swimmers. Many people branded it as unfair competition, and other swimmers said they didn’t feel they’d stand a chance. Other trans swimmers have experienced the same criticism along the way.
Eventually, after a lot of controversy surrounding the topic, FINA, the Olympic federation, banned the inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s elite swimming competitions.
Rapinoe, who’s worked hard to advocate for the inclusion of transgender people in sports, was not happy…
Talking to TIME, the soccer player said: “I’m 100 percent supportive of trans inclusion. People do not know very much about it. We’re missing almost everything,” as per SportBible.
“Frankly, I think what a lot of people know is versions of the right’s talking points because they’re very loud. They’re very consistent, and they’re relentless,” Rapinoe continued.
Rapinoe said that there is always regulation no matter what the level of sport is…
“It’s not like it’s a free-for-all where everyone’s just doing whatever.
“And I think people also need to understand that sports is not the most important thing in life, right? Life is the most important thing in life. And so much of this trans inclusion argument has been put through the extremely tiny lens of elite sports,” she explained.
“We’re talking about kids. We’re talking about people’s lives. We’re talking about the entire state government coming down on one child in some states, and three children in some states. They are committing suicide because they are being told that they’re gross and different and evil and sinful and they can’t play sports with their friends that they grew up with. Not to mention trying to take away health care. I think it’s monstrous,” Rapinoe continued.
She also made it clear that she does not think that compared to the life of a person, sport is all that important.
“I would also encourage everyone out there who is afraid someone’s going to have an unfair advantage over their kid to really take a step back and think what are we actually talking about here.
“We’re talking about people’s lives. I’m sorry, your kid’s high school volleyball team just isn’t that important. It’s not more important than any one kid’s life,” she said.
“Show me the evidence that trans women are taking everyone’s scholarships, are dominating in every sport, are winning every title.
“I’m sorry, it’s just not happening.
“So we need to start from inclusion, period. And as things arise, I have confidence that we can figure it out. But we can’t start at the opposite. That is cruel. And frankly, it’s just disgusting,” Rapinoe expressed.
Many people’s opinions have varied on the ban…
“Good News. Transgender athletes are MOSTLY banned from women’s sports. Swimming’s world governing body FINA has made the historic decision to ban transgender athletes from competing in elite women’s races but with a bombshell twist that could change the international sport forever,” one person wrote on Twitter.
While another didn’t agree: “Transgender athletes aren’t banned – a woman who IDs as a man and hasn’t started testosterone can compete in the women’s class… this only stops males who have been through male puberty from female sports… it’s not a ban, everyone can compete in the appropriate class,” they wrote.
What do you think?