Roy Exum
Last Tuesday one of the best female soccer players in the United States quietly withdrew her name from the U.S. Women’s National Team citing only “person reasons.” Jaelene Hinkle, a speedy defender, neither traveled nor played in “friendlies” matches in Sweden and Norway last Thursday and Sunday. Further, US Soccer buried the announcement she would not play with the team deep in a press release.
The U.S. women won both games by a 1-0 score in each but, as they did, the U.S. women wore rainbow-colored jerseys in honor of Gay Pride Month. Hinkle is a devout Christian and, while she will never say anything negative about the jersey choice or the Gay Pride movement, it is widely believed her personal belief in the Holy Bible is the reason she did not play or don the jersey with the numbers in rainbow design.
In 2015 after the Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage was legal, Jaelene had just finished an All-American career at Texas Tech and was in her first year as a professional player. The very day the Supreme Court ruling was announced, Hinkle posted an Instagram with the words,
"Jesus didn't come to save those who already believed in Him. He came so that the lost, rejected, and abandoned men and women would find Him and believe. I believe with every fiber in my body that what was written 2,000 years ago in the Bible is undoubtedly true."
After fashioning a cross made of rainbow colors, Hinkle wrote beside it two years ago, “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.
“My heart is that as Christians we don’t begin to throw a tantrum over what has been brought into law today,” she continued, “but we become that much more loving. That through our love, the lost, rejected, and abandoned find Christ.
"The rainbow was a covenant made between God and all his creation that never again would the world be flooded as it was when He destroyed the world during Noah's time. It's a constant reminder that no matter how corrupt this world becomes, He will never leave us or forsake us. Thank you Lord for your grace, even in times of trials and confusion. Love won over 2,000 years ago when the greatest sacrifice was made for ALL of mankind.”
To be fair, it wasn’t until after Hinkle had been summoned to join the National team – she is a standout for the North Carolina Courage – that US Soccer announced on May 26 that both the men’s and women’s national teams would wear the rainbow jerseys in June, which is LBGT Month. According to USA Today, USWNT coach Jill Ellis is an open lesbian and has coached openly lesbian stars such as Abby Wambach and Megan Rapinoe.
Obviously, if Coach Elis invited Hinkle to join the team she knew the Denver native’s deep religious convictions and Hinkle, now age 24, had to know about Ellis’ personal decisions. Whether or not Hinkle is still a member of the National squad after taking herself off the roster is unknown.
A number of gay activists chided Hinkle after the Pride jerseys were announced, sending her messages they were eager to see her wear one of them and how pretty she would be, according to several publications.
Hinkle has made no public comments but she is known to be intensely loyal to her faith in Jesus Christ. She tweets Scripture, such as Colossians 3:23, "Whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord," and adds this tag on Twitter, "If you live for people's acceptance, you'll die from their rejection."
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“When you fight yourself to discover the real you, there is only one winner.” – Stephen Richards
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