Megan Rapinoe’s gender identity has sparked curiosity and controversy for over a decade. Despite rumors, the soccer icon has made it clear she identifies as a cisgender lesbian woman. Her groundbreaking advocacy for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports has also put her personal life in the spotlight. This article explores the rumors about Rapinoe’s gender, her responses, and her high-profile relationships with Sue Bird and other partners.
Internationally renowned for her crafty play and fearless activism, Megan Rapinoe has become an icon both on and off the field. She has propelled women’s soccer into mainstream popularity while championing equal rights.
However, Rapinoe’s gender identity has been subject to misinformation. Rumors that she is transgender have circulated since 2012 despite her repeatedly confirming she is not trans. As an openly gay athlete, her personal relationships have also garnered attention. This piece investigates the speculation about Rapinoe’s gender and provides insight into her dating history.
Examining the Origins: Where Did the Rumor Megan Rapinoe is Trans Woman Come From?
In 2012, an obscure blog post claimed Rapinoe is transgender, but offered no evidence supporting this assertion. Soccer message boards and forums began circulating the rumor, which spread from there. The original blog and initial posters provided no proof, or even many details, to validate the claims about Rapinoe’s gender identity.
Since then, the rumor has been perpetuated most aggressively online in transphobic corners of the internet. Critics of transgender participation in sports have seized on the theory about Rapinoe to further their agendas. However, credible media outlets and journalists have not discovered any confirmation Rapinoe is trans.
Rapinoe’s Repeated Refutations: What Has Megan Rapinoe Said About the Transgender Rumors?
Rapinoe has directly addressed and refuted the rumors on several occasions. In multiple interviews over the years, Megan Rapinoe has clearly stated she is not transgender.
In a 2017 interview with Katie Nolan, Rapinoe expressly said “I’m not transgender, I’m a woman.” She denounced the assertion as offensive, explaining “I think it’s pretty disgusting.” Rapinoe went on to say that nonsupporters use the rumor to demean her as “not a real woman.”
More recently in 2021, Rapinoe called the rumors “ridiculous” on the podcast Laughter Permitted. She revealed that she sometimes laughs off the bizarre theory and joked that people must think she’s “so damn good” at soccer they assume she must have been born male.
Rapinoe has been candid that she identifies as a cisgender lesbian woman. She came out publicly in the July 2012 edition of Out magazine while dating Australian soccer player Sarah Walsh.
Rapinoe’s Trailblazing Advocacy and Activism for LGBTQ+ Inclusion
As an openly gay athlete, Rapinoe has become a face of LGBTQ+ advocacy in sports. She kneeled during the national anthem in 2016 to support Colin Kaepernick and protest racial injustice. Rapinoe said she wanted to call attention to the fact that “not all liberties are protected” for marginalized groups like gay Americans.
Rapinoe has also urged sports leagues to end their exclusion of transgender athletes. In 2021, she slammed legislative bans on trans participation as “trying to legislate away people’s full humanity.” Rapinoe has characterized shutting out transgender athletes as the antithesis of the values of diversity and inclusion.
Some critics have speculated Rapinoe’s staunch support for inclusion means she must be transgender herself. However, her advocacy stems from her experiences as part of the LGBTQ+ community, not from her own gender identity.
Sue Bird: Megan Rapinoe’s Fiancée And Partner in Advocacy
Since 2017, Rapinoe has been in a relationship with WNBA legend Sue Bird. They met at the 2016 Rio Olympics and bonded over both being gay professional athletes. Bird and Rapinoe use their platforms to speak out for LGBTQ+ rights and gender equity in sports.
Bird has been no less adamant that her fiancée is not transgender, joking that she would “know better than anyone.” She also shuts down inappropriate speculation about Rapinoe’s body, calling it “bizarre.”
Together, Rapinoe and Bird represent a trailblazing queer couple in professional sports. They became the first same-sex couple to appear on the cover of ESPN’s Body Issue in 2018. The power couple announced their engagement in October 2020.
People Also Read
Before Sue Bird, Megan Rapinoe’s Previous High-Profile Relationships
Prior to Bird, Rapinoe had several noteworthy relationships with well-known partners.
She dated Sub Pop recording artist Sera Cahoone, with the couple announcing their engagement in August 2015. However, Rapinoe stated in January 2017 that their wedding plans were on hold, indicating the end of their relationship.
From 2009 to 2013, Rapinoe was in a long-term partnership with Australian soccer player Sarah Walsh. She came out publicly while dating Walsh, with the two athletes starring in a Gap campaign titled “Love Conquers All.” Rapinoe and Walsh frequently used their profile as an openly gay couple to advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports.
Conclusion: Despite Speculation, Megan Rapinoe Identifies as a Cisgender Lesbian
In conclusion, Megan Rapinoe has definitively denied she is transgender, consistently identifying as a cisgender lesbian woman. While rumors originated in 2012, they remain completely unsubstantiated.
Rapinoe has leveraged her platform to advocate for marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ and transgender athletes. But she speaks out as an ally, not from personal experience with gender transition.
Her high-profile relationships with Sue Bird and others provide further evidence of Rapinoe’s authentic gender identity. While speculation may continue in some corners, Rapinoe’s own words make it clear she is not a trans woman.
- Rumors claiming Rapinoe is transgender emerged around 2012 but lacked any proof. She has directly refuted them.
- Rapinoe identifies as a cisgender lesbian, coming out publicly in 2012 while dating Sarah Walsh.
- She advocates for inclusion of trans athletes but as an ally, not from personal experience with gender transition.
- Rapinoe has been in a relationship with WNBA star Sue Bird since 2016, affirming her gender identity.
- Despite ongoing speculation in some spaces, Rapinoe has definitively confirmed she is not a trans woman.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Megan Anna Rapinoe transgender?
No, Megan Rapinoe is not transgender. She has directly addressed and refuted longstanding rumors that she is trans. Rapinoe identifies herself as a cisgender lesbian woman.
2. What evidence is there that Rapinoe is transgender?
There is no actual evidence that Rapinoe is trans. The rumor seems to have originated from an unfounded blog post in 2012. She has categorically denied the rumor several times over the years.
3. Is Megan Rapinoe Cisgender lesbian?
Yes, Rapinoe came out publicly as cisgender lesbian in 2012 while dating Australian soccer player Sarah Walsh. She has been in a relationship with WNBA star Sue Bird since 2016 and is engaged to Bird.
4. Has Megan Rapinoe ever confirmed she is transgender?
No, Rapinoe has repeatedly and explicitly identified herself as a cisgender lesbian woman. She has never claimed or confirmed that she is transgender.
