Police Are Investigating Hate Crime Slurs Involving US Women’s Soccer Star Megan Rapinoe
Despite the world becoming more open and receptive of the LGBTQ community, certain individuals still portray homophobic behavior, even publicly. Sadly, The United States is not exempted from acts of hate-fueled crimes against the LGBTQIA+ communities.
In New York, an investigation was launched after several posters of Megan Rapinoe were vandalized. Megan Rapinoe, the star player of the United States Women’s National Soccer team, is openly gay.
Police officers reported that several posters with Megan Rapinoe featured on them were vandalized, with homophobic slurs written on them. The incident happened inside a subway station in Manhattan late July 8th.
The crime occurred a day after the Women’s National Soccer Team won the World Cup title for the fourth time, a record-breaking moment. Detective Sophia Mason of the NYPD stated that they found eight of Megan Rapinoe’s posters along the mezzanine of the 42nd Street subway station with permanent derogatory marks on them.
The posters have since been taken off the subway station and an investigation was launched by the Hate Crimes Task Force of the NYPD. Megan Rapinoe was named the World Cup MVP after they bagged the World Champions title. Rapinoe has always been outspoken about her advocacy for LGBTQ inclusion and gender equality.
On July 10, a ticker-tape parade was held in honor of the soccer team’s win, and Megan Rapinoe delivered an inspiring speech at City Hall. In her speech, she talked about becoming better as a whole, loving more, hating less, listening more, and talking less.
She went on to say that it was everybody’s responsibility to become better, and their responsibility to make the world a better place. Megan Rapinoe has been featured on news channels due to her public feud with President Trump, as she stated that she would not visit the White House if ever she was invited over.