Recently retired USWNT midfielder Megan Rapinoe strongly responded Wednesday to anti-LGBTQ content reposted on TikTok last week by new USWNT midfielder Korbin Albert.
“Wake up TF,” Rapinoe wrote in part in an Instagram story on her personal account, directing the note to “people who want to hide behind ‘my beliefs'” and saying that “whatever you believe in is hate”.
When asked for comment by Athleticism, Rapinoe said the post was a response to Albert’s social media activity, but emphasized that it focused on queer lives at stake, whether they are in danger from anti-trans comments in line or targeted legislation. She also wanted to share her specific concerns about how online discussions around trans people have real – and often dangerous – consequences.
She signed her note on Instagram: “To all my trans friends who endure this horrible treatment day after day, I see you and hear you and I am WITH YOU.”
Albert had already reposted on his TikTok account a sermon given in a Christian place of worship explaining how being gay and “feeling transgender” was a mistake. These replays and others resurfaced online earlier this week.
Thursday, after his Champions League match against the Paris Saint-Germain team, Albert published an apology on his Instagram account.
“I want to sincerely apologize for my actions on social media,” she wrote in part. “Liking and sharing offensive, insensitive and hurtful posts was immature and disrespectful, which was never my intention.”
The U.S. Soccer Federation, PSG and representatives for Albert did not respond to requests for comment.
Who is Korbin Albert and what did she post?
Albert, 20, is a midfielder for French Women’s Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and was recently called up to the USWNT squad starting in friendlies in late 2023. She was most recently a regular starter in America’s winning streak. in the inaugural W Gold Cup and was included in the USWNT roster for the SheBelieves Cup, a series of two friendlies that will begin on April 6.
Videos shared publicly by Albert include a sermon delivered at a Christian place of worship explaining how being gay and “feeling transgender” is wrong. The activity caught the attention of women’s soccer fans, but it was not unusual on Albert’s profile.
Among the posts Albert made on his TikTok profile was one from the July 4 weekend in 2023, showing his family taking turns declaring that “their pronouns are USA.” with Korbin participating in the video. The message no longer appears on his profile since Thursday afternoon.
Fans had already discovered one of Korbin’s likes on Instagram here we go for the screenshot, with a message from a meme account that read “God is taking time to work miracles to make sure Megan Rapinoe sprains her ankle in her last match.” The screenshot shows Albert’s Instagram account, although as of March 28, the original post appears to have been deleted entirely. It is unclear when it was posted on Instagram.
Albert currently wears the No. 15 jersey for the United States, which was made available when Rapinoe retired from professional practice last fall. USWNT players select their jersey numbers based on their seniority.
Albert started for PSG in their Champions League match against BK Häcken on Thursday, scoring his side’s second goal in the 70th minute. PSG qualified for the next round of the Champions League with this victory, where they will face Lyon and USWNT teammate Lindsey Horan in the semifinals.
After the match, she posted her apology.
“I am truly disappointed in myself and deeply sorry for the harm I have caused to my teammates, other players, fans, friends and everyone who was offended,” she said. writing. “I truly believe that everyone should feel safe and respected everywhere and on every playing field. I know my actions fell short and I sincerely apologize. It is an honor and privilege to play this sport on the world stage and I promise to do better.
How did Megan Rapinoe react?
On Thursday, Rapinoe posted her reaction to Albert’s replays via an Instagram story, which read: “To the people who want to hide behind ‘my beliefs,’ I would just ask one question: make every moment of space safer , more inclusive, more whole, a semblance of better, bringing out the best in everyone? …because if you’re not everything you believe in, it’s hate. And kids are literally killing themselves because of this hatred. Wake up TF! Best regards, #15.
Becky Sauerbrunn, Rapinoe’s longtime USWNT teammate, shared the post on Thursday, captioning it: “Well said.” Other former teammates have also shared the position, including Lynn Williams, Sam Mewis and Kristie Mewis.
Rapinoe retired from the USWNT and her final match will be in September 2023. In her final match as a professional, the 2023 NWSL Championship, Rapinoe was forced to leave early in the first half after s being torn the Achilles tendon.
Rapinoe has a long history of supporting the trans community, including oppose federal legislation proposed in 2023 titled the “Protecting Girls and Women in Sports Act,” which would have banned transgender and intersex women and girls from women’s sports.
“Much of this argument about trans inclusion has been made through the extremely narrow prism of elite sports. » Rapinoe told Time Magazine in 2022. “This is not how we should frame this question. We are talking about children. We talk about people’s lives. We’re talking about the entire state government going after one child in some states, three children in others. They commit suicide because they are told that they are disgusting, different, bad and sinful and that they can’t play sports with the friends they grew up with. Not to mention trying to take away health care. I think it’s monstrous.
Has the USWNT ever addressed LGBTQ+ rights?
The USWNT has previously supported trans rights, both on an individual basis – particularly long-time captain Becky Sauerbrunn – and as a collective. During the final match of the 2022 SheBelieves Cup, hosted in Texas, the players all wore bracelets taped with the words “Protect Trans Kids”. The action came on the same day that Texas Governor Greg Abbott called on state officials to report parents of trans children to Texas authorities, and called “elective gender transition procedures » of “child abuse”.
Sauerbrunn also wrote an opinion piece for a Missouri newspaper in favor of allowing transgender girls and women to play sports, opposing the Save Women’s Sports Act bill. She is an ambassador for Athlete Ally, a nonprofit LGBTQ+ advocacy group.
– United States Women’s National Soccer Team (@USWNT) February 16, 2023
Since 2017, the USMNT and USWNT have shown their support for the LGBTQ+ community by sporting rainbow numbers and captain’s armbands for matches played during Pride Month, which takes place in June in the United States .
The USWNT has two matches scheduled against South Korea this month, with Emma Hayes’ first matches in charge taking place on June 1 and 4 in Denver and Saint Paul, respectively.
Is there any precedent for this situation?
This is reminiscent of the case of Jaelene Daniels (née Hinkle), who largely stopped appearing in the USWNT after expressing anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs that she said were rooted in her religion.
However, there are significant differences between the two situations. Hinkle was named to a USWNT roster in 2017, two years later she posted: “This world is moving further and further away from God…All believers can do is keep praying” moments after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples have the right legal to marry.
More than Athleticism
Daniels then refused to participate in these games because they were during Pride Month, with the team prepared to wear rainbow numbers for the first time for these games.
Daniels revealed his decision to reject the 2017 USWNT appeal in an interview with The 700 Clubsaying “I felt so convinced in my mind that it wasn’t my job to wear that jersey.”
Albert, on the other hand, has not declined a call-up to the USWNT and has not publicly expressed any desire to do so. She is expected to report to USWNT camp next week for the SheBelieves Cup.
Daniels continued to receive senior USWNT call-ups after 2017, notably for a training camp for the 2018 season Tournament of Nations under former head coach Jill Ellis, where she was eliminated when the tournament roster was named.
Daniels also opted out of participating in a Pride Match for the North Carolina Courage, her club team, in 2022 after the Courage opted to re-sign her despite considerable fan pushback.
And after?
It’s unclear if US Soccer will address Albert’s social media activity, but she was named to the SheBelieves Cup roster. The first match will be played in Atlanta on April 6.
Tuesday, the Georgia Senate Passes House Bill 1104initially intended to provide mental health resources to young student-athletes, but which now includes language prohibiting transgender girls from competing on public school girls’ teams, and also prohibits them from accessing locker rooms corresponding to their gender identity. gender.
US Soccer will also break ground on the federation’s new national training center and headquarters in Fayette County, Georgia, on April 8.
(Photo: Brad Smith/Getty Images for USSF)