
(Screenshot via YouTube.)
U.S. Women’s soccer player Jaelene Hinkle’s withdrawal from a recent soccer match has led to speculation she objects to USWST’s Pride jersey.
The 24-year-old defender cited “personal reasons” as to why she would be missing the match in Gothenburg, Sweden on June 8. However, her social media posts have resulted in a theory from Outsports that her Christian beliefs are the reason for skipping the trip.
Hinkle has pinned the tweet, “If you live for people’s acceptance, you’ll die from their rejection” to her Twitter page. On the day the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage nationwide Hinkle tweeted, “This world is falling farther and farther away from God.”
This world is falling farther and farther away from God… All that can be done by believers is to continue to pray.
— Jaelene Hinkle (@JaeHinkle_15) June 26, 2015
Hinkle also posted a photo of the cross in place of the equality symbol with a caption that detailed her faith.
“I believe with every fiber in my body that what was written 2,000 years ago in the Bible is undoubtedly true. It’s not a fictional book. It’s not a pick and choose what you want to believe. You either believe it, or you don’t. This world may change, but Christ and His Word NEVER will,” Hinkle writes. “My heart is that as Christians we don’t begin to throw a tantrum over what has been brought into law today, but we become that much more loving. That through our love, the lost, rejected, and abandoned find Christ.”
Hinkle has declined to elaborate on the personal reasons that prevented her from playing in the match.
I was able to briefly speak with @JaeHinkle_15 after @TheNCCourage training today re. her withdrawal from current @ussoccer_wnt friendlies: pic.twitter.com/4u4TKLcJWA
— Neil Morris (@ByNeilMorris) June 8, 2017
The U.S. Women’s Soccer team will continue to wear their Pride jerseys against Sweden on Thursday and Norway on Sunday.