Queer Role Models: Megan Rapinoe
Dani Glass
It’s easy to look up to athletes for their accomplishments on the field, or court, or arena. And those accomplishments are certainly deserving of credit and admiration. However, I believe that what sets some athletes apart as role models for children – and adults, for that matter – is what they choose to accomplish off the field. That’s what’s at the heart of my admiration for Megan Rapinoe. While she is an incredibly talented soccer player and her presence on the field has helped lead the US National Team to so much success, it’s her actions and choices off the field that truly set her apart. She has chosen to use her platform to create and support necessary changes in our society. She doesn’t hold back – and while occasionally that has landed her in hot water (for example, with a former president) – her principles always hold strong. Simply put, she walks the walk.
Megan Rapinoe is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to standing up for what’s right. She is unapologetic, strong, and seemingly fearless. When she began kneeling during the anthem in support of Colin Kaepernick and the Black Lives Matter movement, she was benched as a result, and missed no small number of international matches. Even when it was her career on the line, she maintained her principles, integrity, and support. However, even more important is the way she looks at those sacrifices: not as personal sacrifices that earn her some sort of credit or accolade, but rather, simply, as the right thing to do. With Megan, it is never about her; it is about using her platform to support and uplift voices that have previously been silenced by our society. She practices what she preaches: white allies must use their privilege, even if there are risks. In interviews, podcasts, and even her own memoir, it’s never about her or what she’s given when it comes to social justice. She makes it about moving forward as a society, doing what she can to contribute to the process.
As all great teammates – athletic and otherwise – know, we all must find the balance of stepping up to a leadership position and deferring leadership to others, depending on the situation. No form of social justice is a one-size-fits-all approach. Megan balances these types of leadership beautifully; sometimes she leads with her voice and sometimes she leads by listening. In the case of supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, Megan knew better than to raise her own voice above those in the Black community. When asked, she talked not about her own role but rather about supporting Black athletes who had long been fighting this battle. It was never about her; it was about supporting those who were leading the movement.
When it came to fighting for equal pay in women’s soccer, Megan became one of the loudest voices in the fight. Without getting into all the details, she was influential in gaining equal pay, which took six years, and no small amount of legal battle, to finally reach a settlement. This win has begun to create change not just in the US, but around the world, as other countries look to the example set by the US team and begin their own fight for equal pay.
Megan Rapinoe’s willingness to use her voice and stand up against injustice in all forms is part of what sets her apart from others. Unsurprisingly, she showed powerful support for her fellow women’s soccer players who came forward regarding abuse from several coaches in the National Women’s Soccer League. When she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022, she used the platform to bring attention to Britney Griner, who at the time was still being held in Russia. She has been unapologetically “out” since early on in her career and has always shown support for the queer community, through her voice and simply through refusing to be anyone but exactly herself.
Megan Rapinoe isn’t just an example of someone who is capable – and willing – of standing up for what is right. She’s an example of how to do that. She’s an example of someone who is able to reflect on their experiences and their privilege. She’s an example of someone who is willing to take a step back, to listen and to learn, and to move forward thoughtfully and intentionally. She’s an example of someone who understands how to use a platform to create positive change and support the right movements and the right people. For all these reasons, and so many more, she is an incredible role model from whom we can all stand to learn.
