North Carolina Courage defender Jaelene Daniels was not allowed to play at Friday’s soccer game after refusing to wear an LGBT jersey for “pride night.”
Before the game, a team spokesperson made a statement saying, “Jaelene will not be rostered tonight as she has made the decision to not wear our Pride jersey. While we’re disappointed with her choice, we respect her right to make that decision for herself.”
The team’s Coach, Sean Nahas, said his reasoning behind the jersey was because he wanted the LGBT players to be celebrated, and Daniel’s choice wasn’t a distraction, according to The Washington Post.
“What we have to remember is, it’s the second time that they’ve worn those jerseys, and I know how powerful it was for them, and how much it means for them. And my number one thing was nothing is going to come in between that, because that’s important to them and that means something to them, and I stood by that,” he said.
Galatians 1:10 says, “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
This is not the first time that Daniels, a Christian, has stood up for her beliefs.
In 2017, she refused to play wearing a pride-themed jersey for the U.S. women’s national team.
In a statement on her Twitter in Dec. 2021, Daniels wrote that while her beliefs cause her to “live differently” her “love runs deep for all.”
Sincerely, Jae 🤍 pic.twitter.com/LeF6Jq39hj
— Jaelene Daniels (@jaelenedaniels) December 23, 2021
“My love for each of these women is rooted in who they are as a person — I believe everyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity, beliefs or abilities is worthy of dignity, value and love. They make me a better person, a better player, and a better teammate.”
Continuing, she wrote, “I remain committed to my faith and my desire for people to know that my love for them isn’t based on their belief system or sexuality. I pray and firmly believe that my teammates know how much I cherish them, respect them, and love them.”
Daniels also pinned a lyric by Rapper Lecrae on her Twitter which reads,
“If you live for people’s acceptance, you’ll die from their rejection.”
She ended her tweet with the word, “Unashamed.”