The U.S. forward netted both of her teams goals against France, clinching a place in the World Cup semifinal
Megan Rapinoe has said her two-goal performance against France carries extra meaning for her because it was during LGBTQ pride month.
Rapinoe hit France for a pair of goals in a 2-1 World Cup quarterfinal win, taking the U.S. into the competition's last four.
The 33-year-old came through under intense scrutiny, as her feud with U.S. President Donald Trump has dominated headlines this week.
Rapinoe, an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ rights, has said that Trump's administration "doesn't fight for the same things that we fight for."
The USWNT star delivered the perfect riposte to Trump on Friday and after the game, she emphasized that her performance meant even more having come in June.
“Go gays!" Rapinoe exclaimed while flashing a peace sign. "You can’t win a championship without gays on your team, it’s pretty much never been done before ever. Science, right there," she said with a laugh.
Rapinoe insisted that her feud with Trump didn't give her extra motivation, but fighting for those who are on her side did.
“I’m motivated by people like me and people who are fighting for the same things," she said. "I take more energy from that than trying to prove everyone wrong all the time. That’s sort of draining to me.
"So yeah, to be gay and fabulous during pride month at the World Cup is nice.”
Rapinoe's manager Jill Ellis was full of admiration for her team's star and unlike Rapinoe, Ellis believes that the forward was indeed extra motivated by the controversy surrounding her spat with Trump.
"She's a very experienced, eloquent person," Ellis said of Rapinoe. "I would just point to the performance tonight and say if anything this stuff just ... pushes her forward."
Throughout the entire controversy, Rapinoe has continued to have the backing of her teammates. After a performance like Friday’s, it’s easy to see why.
“Megan is an absolute baller,” defender Kelley O’Hara said. “She does all she needs to do, she gets the job done and she rises to the occasion every time.”
Lilbaby✈️
178
I know every one has their rights but it’s stupid to fight for gays and lesbians..we are the same ones that claim to be Christians,Muslims and holy people and then we do the most abominable and despicable thing..I will never be for gays and lesbians..I will commit any other sin but never will I ever be or support gays and lesbians
samsclashin
94
man this is why I hate womens football before when we had only mens football men didn't talk about being gay or women are weak ..they didn't say that but now women started playing football and brought gay and feminism into football ..#STOPWOMENSFOOTBALL
Dadbcertuy
68
if her parents were to be gay /lesbian...would she have come to this world... Very useless fellow,she has imprison her self to her father Satan,...no gay or lesbian in two religion....it's end time cyndrome
Ruhabcdips
61
It's a shameful act for whom God created in his own image and identity, with the command to go and multiply, but turn against him. With the impression that God made mistakes in creation and creating them in the form they're today.
Misacimrsy
58
am not against free will but gay people are selfish and wicked because they don't care about the innocent child or children they will adopt and deprived of father or mother (proper family) Spoile the life of the child with their ideology, and they never talk about the other dangers of it like destroying a man anus etc
Ryan83
56
I love sports but when it comes to politics in especially football it really disgusts me dont care about whose gay or straight just want to watch good football who am i to judge leave all judgment to God
garydennis25
55
create another fifa world cup for..and let them enjoy it.. women world cup only for women right?
suncipuy
50
All of you guys are just hypocritical because that same bible said judge know so please stop judging the gay or lesbian communities as it’s not in our position and let God our Creator judge us all simple as that
Kubdios
42
if they don't respect their own gender than they don't deserve to be a human being
Lilbaby✈️
14
Lmao backward human being,u will never be for gays bla bla bla Ur opinion doesn’t really matter,coz they’re already here and everywhere....some of the celebrities you like are bisexual or even gay and you don’t know....stop making noise,..they’re not disturbing you,so dont come here and rant like theyre some kind of abomination,in the end...gay people are 100 times better than rapists!
It’s better to rape a female than rape another man..I may be backward like you said,but I bet you feel so wise after what you just posted 😂😂...if you were a real human you’d understand..live life and not the other way round..so just because they are everywhere you want me to like them,better still,you want me to take it like being gay or lesbian is normal...??My opinion doesn’t matter that I know for sure but it still doesn’t change the way I feel about them