Jaelene Hinkle, a footballer for North Carolina Courage, received vocal abuse in May after having refused to play for the United States national team in 2017 because her Christian faith prevented her from wearing a shirt honouring LGBTQ Pride Month.
The North Carolina Courage defender, 25, was selected for games against Sweden and Norway in June 2017 when the shirt numbers were rainbow coloured.
In an interview broadcast on the Christian Broadcasting Network, she said: ‘I gave myself three days to just seek and pray and determine what [God] was asking me to do in this situation. I felt convicted in my spirit that it wasn’t my job to wear it. I’m essentially giving up the one dream, and I’m saying no to it. It was very disappointing. That’s where the peace turns to disappointment, because I knew in my spirit I was doing the right thing. Just because you are being obedient, it doesn’t make it easy.’
At the time, no formal reason for her absence was given by the national team. Her decision was supported by team-mates and her club manager, Englishman Paul Riley.
But, when her name was read out at a Courage game following the broadcast interview, the crowd booed. Riley commended her for battling through the game, and said that her beliefs don’t affect the team.
Hinkle has not been named in a US squad since her decision not to wear the rainbow shirt.
