Megan Rapinoe Says Sports 'Aren't Fair' Anyway and She Is 'Okay' With Transgender Athletes Who Are Good at Them
On W. Kamau Bell's podcast, the retired soccer star said she cannot wait to see an elite transgender athlete in pro sports. Breitbart objects that she took the position only after her playing career ended.
A retired U.S. women's soccer star is back in the debate over transgender athletes, Breitbart reports.
The remarks. Megan Rapinoe, the former captain of the women's national team, appeared on W. Kamau Bell's "Who's With Me?" podcast. Asked about concerns that transgender women hurt women's sports, she said she was "appalled" by the "lack of basic humanity and empathy" and by the fear and hate she sees, and that athletes' silence is notable. When Bell raised the example of LeBron James declaring himself a woman and joining the WNBA, she said it is not happening and will not, and that a person cannot simply say one day they are a woman and play.
The argument. Rapinoe said sports are not fair in any case and pointed to San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama, who is 7 feet 4 inches. She said fairness is not the most important thing compared with people's rights and being treated without cruelty. "I'm okay if God forbid a trans person play sports and they're halfway decent at it," she said, and added, "I can't wait to see an elite, elite trans person play sports. That would be great."
The criticism. Breitbart's Warner Todd Huston writes that Rapinoe did not take this position until her last year or two as a pro, when she would never have to compete against a transgender player. The article offers no reply from Rapinoe to that point.
Note for readers: the quotes come from Breitbart's account of the podcast and we have not heard the full episode. Breitbart's piece is written from a critical view and uses sharp language that we have left out. Rapinoe's remarks are her own opinions and not a finding on competitive fairness.