The Real Power of Allyship

We have two very powerful allies!

Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird Slam Olympic Committee’s “Hateful” Ban on Trans Women

Rapinoe called the move a “total acquiescence” to the Trump administration.

Them

By Samantha Riedel

April 6, 2026

Athletic icons Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird have denounced the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) new rules banning transgender and intersex women from elite competition, with soccer star Rapinoe calling the changes “hateful” and “horrible.”

Rapinoe and Bird, one of the LGBTQ+ sports world’s strongest power couples, made the comments on the April 3 episode of their shared podcast A Touch More, which they noted was recorded on Trans Day of Visibility. Near the end of the episode, Rapinoe — an Olympic gold medal soccer player and two-time World Cup winner — brought up the IOC’s recent decision to reintroduce mandatory SRY gene testing for all women athletes, which would force both trans and intersex people to compete in the male category.

“We already know that biology, as much as we want it to be just nice and clean and tight and perfectly in one category and another, it’s not. We know that,” Rapinoe said. “So now what we’re doing is subjecting everybody, all women and all people who are identifying as women, to this really invasive testing that only to me just says like, ‘Oh, so we’re just trying to whittle it down to a certain type of woman.’ Is that what we’re doing? That’s really the whole game here.”

When we speak up, we are often accused of having "an axe to grind," but when allies speak up, they speak from the heart. I recently shared with Gemini that I have "always believed in the power of allies," and the response underscored why that belief holds so much weight:

1. Shifting the Burden

As a trans woman, you shouldn't always have to be the one "explaining" or defending your existence. A true ally takes on that labor. They use their social capital to correct misinformation or challenge transphobia in rooms where you might not feel safe or interested in doing so.

2. Amplifying the Message

Sometimes, unfortunately, people who are closed off to our lived experiences are more willing to listen to someone they perceive as "like them." Allies act as a bridge, translating our needs and rights into a language that can penetrate circles of indifference or hostility.

3. Emotional Safety Nets

Beyond the political and social aspects, allies provide the "soft" power of affirmation. Knowing you have people in your corner who see you, validate you, and aren't afraid to say "I've got your back" provides the emotional fuel needed to navigate a world that can often feel draining.

4. The Power of "From the Heart"

When an ally speaks from the heart, they are essentially saying: "This doesn't affect me personally, yet I am still outraged/moved/concerned because I value the person being hurt."

When the non-discrimination bill was being heard, our supporters had the most sway. We must continue to cultivate our allies.

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This afternoon: A call to action! You can read about it here [Once it is published I add the link]