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Megan Rapinoe still stands by White House comments

Trump extended an invite to the women’s soccer team win or lose

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Megan Rapinoe
Megan Rapinoe
Megan Rapinoe (Photo by Erica McCaulley)

Out U.S. women’s national team co-captain Megan Rapinoe is standing by her comments she made about the White House following President Donald Trump’s responding tweets.

On Tuesday Rapinoe was asked if she planned on going to the White House if the U.S. won the World Cup. Rapinoe responded she was “not going to the f-ing White House.”

Trump responded to her declaration with a series of tweets inviting the team to the White House whether they win or lose.

“Womenā€™s soccer player, @mPinoe, just stated that she is ā€œnot going to the Fā€¦ing White House if we win.ā€ Other than the NBA, which now refuses to call owners, owners (please explain that I just got Criminal Justice Reform passed, Black unemployment is at the lowest level in our Countryā€™s history, and the poverty index is also best number EVER), leagues and teams love coming to the White House. I am a big fan of the American Team, and Womenā€™s Soccer, but Megan should WIN first before she TALKS! Finish the job,” Trump tweeted.

“We haven’t yet invited Megan or the team, but I am now inviting the TEAM, win or lose. Megan should never disrespect our Country, the White House, or our Flag, especially since so much has been done for her & the team. Be proud of the Flag that you wear. The USA is doing GREAT!” he concluded.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday Rapinoe doubled down on her comment.

“I stand by the comments that I made about not wanting to go to the White House, with the exception of the explicit – my mom will be upset about that,” Rapinoe said. “Obviously entering with a lot of passion considering how much time and effort and pride we take in the platform that we have and using it for good and for leaving the game in a better place and hopefully the world in a better place.”

She continued: “I don’t think that I would want to go (to the White House), but I would encourage my teammates to think hard about lending that platform or having that co-opted by an administration that doesn’t feel the same way or fight for the same things that we fight for. I’ll just leave it at that and I’m not interested in answering any of those questions. We can get to the real reason we’re here, which is a huge game.”

Rapinoe was also asked why she chooses to protest during the national anthem by standing with her hands behind her back, instead of one hand over her heart, and not singing.

“I prefer to keep it about the game for now,” Rapinoe said.

USWNT coach Jill Ellis also made it clear that she and the team support Rapinoe.

“The personality of our players, that’s part of the makeup of the players,” Ellis said.”They’re elite people that live on a stage that are always under scrutiny. This team has a remarkable focus. We all support Megan. She knows that. We know we have each others backs in there. For our players, there’s only one purpose, one mission that we’re here. Comments, media, whatever – that’s always been something we can block out pretty easily.”

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More than 1 million people attend Madonna concert in Rio

Free event took place on Copacabana Beach on Saturday

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Madonna performs on Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach on May 4, 2024. (Screen capture via Reuters YouTube)

An estimated 1.6 million people on Saturday attended Madonna’s free concert on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach.

The concert, which was the last one as part of Madonna’s Celebration Tour, included a tribute to people lost to AIDS.

Bob the Drag Queen introduced Madonna before the concert began. Pabllo Vittar, a Brazilian drag queen and singer, and Anitta, a bisexual pop star who was born in Rio’s HonĆ³rio Gurgel neighborhood, also joined Madonna on stage.

Congresswoman Erika Hilton, a Black travesti and former sex worker, and Rio Municipal Councilwoman MĆ“nica BenĆ­cio, the widow of Marielle Franco, a bisexual Rio Municipal Councilwoman who was assassinated in 2018, are among those who attended the concert.

“Madonna showed that we fight important fights for the human rights of Black (people), young (people), women and LGBTQIA+ people, and against all injustice, discrimination, and violence,” saidĀ AssociaƧao Nacional de Travestis e Transexuais (National Association ofĀ TravestisĀ and Transsexuals), a Brazilian trans rights group known by the acronym ANTRA, on itsĀ X account.Ā “What they call identitarianism’ is our subversion to the retrograde and conservative tackiness that plagues the country.”

The Associated Press reported the concert was Madonna’s biggest ever.

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PHOTOS: Gay Day at the Zoo

Smithsonian observs International Family Equality Day

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Gay Day at the Zoo (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The DC Center for the LGBTQ Community, SMYAL and Rainbow Families sponsored Gay Day at the Zoo on Sunday at the Smithsonian National Zoo. The Smithsonian observed International Family Equality Day with special exhibits and an event space.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

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PHOTOS: Taste of Point

Annual fundraiser held for LGBTQ youth scholarship, mentorship organization

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Taste of Point DC (Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)

The Point Foundation held its annual Taste of Point fundraiser at Room & Board on May 2.

(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)

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