USA Women's Soccer star Jaelene Hinkle has stated that she had decided not to play for the U.S. women's national team last year because she did not want to wear a jersey that promoted LGBTQ Pride Month.
In June last year, Hinkle had been invited to play for the national team in games against Sweden and Norway.
The national team announced in a press release last year that she would not be able to participate in the games for personal reasons. The team did not provide any more details about Hinkle's withdrawal.
In an interview released by CBN's The 700 Club on Wednesday, Hinkle explained that she prayed for God's guidance before she made her decision to turn down the offer.
"I gave myself three days to just seek and pray and determine what He was asking of me to do in the situation," Hinkle said. "I'm essentially giving up the one dream little girls dream about their entire life, and I'm saying no to. It was very disappointing. I knew in my spirit I was doing the right thing. I knew I was being obedient. But just because you're obedient doesn't make it easy".
Hinkle, a defender for the North Carolina Courage of the National Women's Soccer League, had been vocal about her views on homosexuality prior to her decision to withdraw from the national team.
Following the legalization of same-sex marriage in the U.S. in 2015, Hinkle posted a message on Twitter denouncing the decision.
"This world is falling farther and farther away from God... All that can be done by believers is to continue to pray," she wrote.
The 25-year-old athlete acknowledged that her withdrawal from the national team might have ended her career, but she indicated that despite that disappointment, her priorities were clear and she trusted God would guide her career and life.
"If I never get a national team call-up again, that's just part of his plan and that's ok," she said. "And maybe this was why you were meant to play soccer. Just to show other believers to be obedient".
Hinkle was first invited to play for the U.S. women's national soccer team for the World Cup Victory Tour in 2015. The Christian soccer star picked up her first cap during the game against Brazil and went on to play three more Victory Tour games.
During a game against the Portland Thorns on Wednesday, Hinkle was reportedly booed by LGBT supporters in the crowd when she was announced in the starting lineup. Some of those spectators were reportedly waving rainbow flags at the time. The match ended up with Courage winning against the Thorns 4-1.
Courage coach Paul Riley defended Hinkle in an interview after the match, saying her religious beliefs do not affect anybody on the team. Hinkle has also been offered widespread support on social media platforms, with many saying the way in which she conducted herself in withdrawing from the national team due to her religious beliefs was admirable, and she had not offended anyone.
