‘I’m 100% supportive of trans inclusion’ – Megan Rapinoe hits out at treatment of trans community

Megan Rapinoe says the debate surrounding transgender inclusion should not be framed by elite sport. The topic of transgender eligibility has come into focus once more following decisions by swimming's world governing body FINA to restrict participation of transgender athletes from elite swimming events and cycling's governing body, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), to tighten the eligibility criteria in recent days. Ad/> Rapinoe said in a wide-ranging interview with TIME that she was 100% supportive of transgender inclusion, telling the publication that a sense of perspective is required when discussing the topic.

FootballBuck to step down as Chelsea chairman2 HOURS AGO “I’m 100% supportive of trans inclusion. People do not know very much about it. We’re missing almost everything,” began Rapinoe.

“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. “At the highest level, there is regulation.

In collegiate sports, there is regulation. And at the Olympic and professional level. It’s not like it’s a free-for-all where everyone’s just doing whatever.” Rapinoe, capped 187 times by the United States national team, added that the trans inclusion argument should not be framed by elite sport.

“And I think people also need to understand that sports is not the most important thing in life, right?" she added. “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.

Like that is not the way that we need to be framing this question. We’re talking about kids. We’re talking about people’s lives.