Megan Rapinoe’s impassioned response to Roe vs Wade underlines the power of sports

The growth of the women’s football game is down in no small part to its popularity and success in the United States.

The US Women’s National Team (USWNT) is the most successful women’s national team in history, having won the Women’s World Cup four times as well as the Olympic gold medal four times and eight CONCACAF Gold Cups.

Football is the biggest female team’s sport in the US, so it’s no wonder that they lead the way when it comes to women’s rights.

Front and centre over the past few years has been Megan Rapinoe, outspoken, determined, passionate and never afraid to speak her mind.

Rapinoe has used her profile to campaign for workers rights; LGBTQ+ rights and equality; police brutality and systemic racism; and equal pay for the women’s game.

The decision by the Supreme Court in late spring to confirm that it was reviewing the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, which ensured the rights of women to make abortion a fundamental human right for half a century, sent shockwaves around the world.

Last week, the Supreme Court formally overturned Roe v. Wade, a decision which is expected to lead to a flurry of abortion bans across conservative-leaning states.

Rapinoe was put up for interview ahead of the USWNT’s match against Colombia and used her platform once again to express her concern for the developments

“It’s hard to put into words how sad a day this is for me personally, for my teammates, for all of the people out there who this is going to affect.

“Pro-choice means that you get to choose. Pro-choice allows other people to be pro-life, if that is what works for them, or that is what their beliefs are, or if that is where they’re at in their life.

“Pro-life doesn’t allow anybody to make a choice. Obviously, you can understand from an individual perspective how difficult it is to live in a country where you have a constant, unrelenting, violent tide against you and onslaught as a woman.

“And it would be as a gay person and as a non-binary person, as a trans person, whoever this is going to affect because it affects a lot more than just women, or cis women,” she continued.

“I am a cisgender, rich, white woman that lives in two of the most progressive cities in the world with the protection of not only myself and my resources, but this resource and this protection, as are all of my teammates. Not everyone is afforded that.

“We know that this will disproportionately affect poor women, black women, brown women, immigrants, women in abusive relationships, women who have been raped, women and girls who have been raped by family members, who, you know what, maybe just didn’t make the best choice. And that’s no reason to be forced to have a pregnancy.”

Rapinoe explained that overturning women’s healthcare provisions is not a “pro-life” decision, but about hurting women, who already have few support systems to keep their children safe, including high-cost healthcare.

“This way of thinking or political belief is coupled with a complete lack of motivation around gun laws. It comes with a pro-death penalty. It comes with anti-healthcare, anti-prenatal care, anti-childcare, anti-pre-K, anti-food assistance, anti-welfare, anti-education, anti-maternity leave, and anti-paternity leave. This is not pro-life.

“It’s very frustrating and disheartening and frankly just infuriating to hear that be the reason that people are wanting to end abortion rights and end this vital aspect of a woman’s not only healthcare and general basic safety in this country, but [also] her bodily autonomy, and the right to freedom and the pursuit of happiness and liberty is being assaulted in this instance.”

“The entirety of the US government say to people’s faces — to women’s faces: “We do not care. We are going to force our belief system, which is deeply rooted in a white supremacist, patriarchal Christianity. We are going to force that upon you.” First of all, your religion is a choice, and it is a belief that you have.”

“Pro-life does not allow anything other than one very strict religious view and belief system to be forced upon everyone else.”

Rapinoe ended the statement by reminding us that no one can obligate another person to succumb to their view, and the key to solving everything is love, respect, and autonomy.

“I encourage people to take a step back and come from a place of compassion and humanity and understand that just because I believe something doesn’t mean everybody else has to.

“We all get to make our own choices, but ultimately we need to come from a place of love, respect, and autonomy to do what we feel is best for us,” Rapinoe said at the end of the press conference.”

OL Reign, Rapinoe’s team, were swift to post their own supporting statement: ““OL Reign fiercely opposes the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and believes that every person should have access to reproductive health care.

“We are heartbroken by this decision and stand in solidarity with all of those impacted. By overturning this basic human right to body autonomy, our most vulnerable communities are impacted. This directly opposes our values at OL Reign and we are committed to fighting for equality.”

The NWSL followed suit, with Commissioner Jessica Berman saying: “The Supreme Court’s ruling today denies individuals in this country the full liberty and equality that is the cornerstone of a just society. Reproductive rights are human rights.

“Until every individual has the same freedoms as their neighbor, our work is not done. We will continue to make our voices heard. The NWSL is more than just a soccer league; we are a collective who will stand up every day for what is right.”

Other teams including NJ/NY Gotham FC, Racing Louisville FC and Angel City FC expressed their horror on Twitter and vowing to fight the decision until it is reversed.

The Supreme Court’s decision came a day after the 50th anniversary of Title IX being signed into law as part of a landmark education bill which sought to bring gender equality to education by barring educational institutions that receive federal funds from discriminating on the basis of sex.

Rapinoe was one of over 500 women athletes that submitted a brief to the Supreme Court last year arguing that the effectiveness of Title IX was intertwined with the Roe decision remaining in place.

The USWNT beat Colombia last Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado and released a statement before the game: “As our women’s national team represents the US on the field today in Colorado, the occasion serves as a reminder of the rights and freedoms that women and their allies have fought for, earned and deserve.

“The Supreme Court ruling on 24 June is counter to the freedoms promised as a nation and as a people. US Soccer will advocate at every opportunity for human rights, including the right to make personal healthcare decisions as there is no equality without bodily autonomy.”

Rapinoe entered the game as a substitute to loud cheers with 15 minutes to go and admitted afterwards that she will continue stand up for the disadvantaged.

She said: “I think, as you guys have seen, the most powerful thing we can always do is show up and not only express our supreme skill and talent and joy on the field, but to be able to have that platform.”

Few can argue that she is fighting for those without the power of voice she enjoys — and all credit to her for doing so…

This was first published on the Calacus PR website.