Women's soccer star Megan Rapinoe reacts to her goal during the first half of SheBelieves Cup soccer match against the Japan on February 27. Rapinoe told Yahoo Sports she will no longer sing the National Anthem
Women's soccer star and lesbian trailblazer Megan Rapinoe is the 'American hero' who proudly sang 'Born in the USA' into a microphone after scoring a decisive point in a 3-0 win vs. Colombia during a FIFA World Cup qualifying match in 2011.
Over the span of eight years, however, the outspoken Rapinoe, part of the beloved 2015 women's World Cup-winning team, has gone from patriotic national champion to 'woke' US cultural critic, becoming as famous for her activism on and off the field as she is for her electrifying play and once-plentiful charismatic displays of love for her country.
The Redding, California native and American poster girl recently became the first openly-gay woman to pose for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and she's set to help the US women's team compete for another FIFA World Cup trophy this summer with a qualifying match against Thailand scheduled for June 11.
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Megan Rapinoe (center) and her teammates celebrate their second goal during the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup 2011 Group C match between USA and Colombia in Sinsheim, Germany. Rapinoe became famous for proudly singing 'Born in the USA' after scoring a goal during the match
Megan Rapinoe (second from left) kneels during the playing of the US National Anthem before a match against Thailand on September 15, 2016 at MAPFRE Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. In response, the United States Soccer Federation created a rule requiring players to stand 'respectfully' during the playing of the anthem
In a lengthy interview with Yahoo Sports, Rapinoe explains why she most likely won't be singing or honoring the Star Spangled Banner, her nation's most famous patriotic tune, the way she has in the past, not this summer, or anytime in the foreseeable future.
'I'll probably never put my hand over my heart. 'I'll probably never sing the national anthem again,' she definitively stated during an interview published Monday.
In 2016, Rapinoe took a knee during a pre-game National Anthem performance in solidarity with former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who used the gesture as a means of silent protest against racism and police brutality after a string of high-profile fatal shootings of black Americans by law enforcement officers.
'I know what it means to look at the flag and not have it protect all of your liberties,' Rapinoe told reporters at the time.
An Instagram photo of Megan Rapinoe, who recently became the first openly-gay woman to pose for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Rapinoe previously said she would abide by the soccer
