U.S. women's soccer star Megan Rapinoe said Monday she would "absolutely" support and welcome transgender athletes onto the U.S. Women's National Team, even if that athlete replaced a biological woman.
"Absolutely," Rapinoe, a two-time Women's World Cup winner, said ahead of this summer's tournament, according to a report.
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"‘You’re taking a 'real' woman’s place,' that's the part of the argument that's still extremely transphobic," she added. "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."
Rapinoe has long advocated welcoming transgender athletes into women's sports, and she called on the United States to continue the fight against anti-transgender legislation.
"We as a country are trying to legislate away people’s full humanity," she said.
In April, Rapinoe, along with 39 top athletes, co-signed a letter to House lawmakers opposing the popular Protection of Girls and Women in Sports Act, the report noted.
"It's particularly frustrating when women’s sports is weaponized," the former Golden Boot winner said.
"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," she added.
Rapinoe, 38, has stated that this will be her last appearance at the Women's World Cup, and she plans to retire at the end of the 2023 National Women’s Soccer League season, according to the report.
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"I'm just really grateful to be able to do it in this way," she said.
"I understand that it is incredibly rare for athletes of any stature to be able to go out in their own way, on their own terms, at the time that they want, in a way that feels really peaceful and settled for them," she added.