FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: USA star Megan Rapinoe wants trans athletes to play elite football

US superstar Megan Rapinoe says anyone claiming trans inclusion ‘damages the sanctity of women’s sport’ is transphobic as she calls for more athletes to play elite football.

Megan Rapinoe has called for trans inclusion

US super star Megan Rapinoe has called for transgender athletes to be included in international football on the eve of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Days after announcing she will retire from all formats of the game after the World Cup, Rapinoe, an outspoken LGBTQI advocate, has opened up on her views on the trans issue which continues to divide opinion across the globe.

Rapinoe says those who claim trans inclusion “damages the sanctity of women’s sport” are just as transphobic as anyone else.

“’You’re taking a ‘real’ woman’s place,’ that’s the part of the argument that’s still extremely transphobic,” Rapinoe told Time magazine.

“I see trans women as real women. What you’re saying automatically in the argument—you’re sort of telling on yourself already—is you don’t believe these people are women. Therefore, they’re taking the other spot. I don’t feel that way.

“We as a country are trying to legislate away people’s full humanity.

TIME’s new cover: Megan Rapinoe (@mPinoe) won’t go quietly https://t.co/DBOGKy8m43pic.twitter.com/ALBVdtfSxt

— TIME (@TIME) July 10, 2023

“It’s particularly frustrating when women’s sports is weaponised,’ she continued. ‘Oh, now we care about fairness? Now we care about women’s sports? That’s total bulls***. And show me all the trans people who are nefariously taking advantage of being trans in sports. It’s just not happening.”

Trans participation in sport and the debate that surrounds the ethics and science involved is nothing new and it will continue to dominate the news cycle ahead of the Paris Olympics in 2024.

In August the UCI will vote on whether or not to change its transgender policy after a male-bodied athlete won a women’s race earlier this year sparking outrage.

Megan Rapinoe will retire after this World Cup

In America, Penn transgender swimmer Lia Thomas’s success made headlines around the world and prompted a global change in FINA policy’s forcing the governing body to introduce the strictest framework to ban male to female trans swimmers from competing unless they had transitioned before turning 12.

Rapinoe feels that the global attention on the topic and public commentary from those who are perhaps not well informed on the science has only heightened the resentment towards an already marginalised group.

“I don’t want to mince words about it,’ Rapinoe continued. “Dave Chappelle making jokes about trans people directly leads to violence, whether it’s verbal or otherwise, against trans people.

“When Martina (Navratilova) or Sage (Steele) or whoever are talking about this, people aren’t hearing it just in the context of elite sports. They’re saying, ‘The rest of my life, this is how I’m going to treat trans people’.”