U.S. Olympic silver medal skier Gus Kenworthy rallied behind gay figure ice skater Adam Rippon, who has publicly questioned Vice President Mike Pence’s role as leader of the US delegation in the 2018 Pyeongchang, South Korea Winter Olympics due to his alleged former support for gay conversion therapy.
“The #OpeningCeremony is a wrap and the 2018 Winter Olympic Gaymes are officially under way!” Kenworthy wrote on Friday. “I feel incredibly honored to be here in Korea competing for the US and I’m so proud to be representing the LGBTQ community alongside this amazing guy! Eat your heart out, Pence.”
According to The Hill, Kenworthy said earlier this month that he didn’t agree with the choice of Pence to lead the US delegation in Korea.
“To have somebody leading the delegation that’s directly attacked the LGBTQ community, and a Cabinet in general that just sort of stands against us and has tried to do things to set us back, it just seems like a bad fit,” he said.
The feud began last month when USA Today asked Rippon about his thoughts on the vice president’s participation in the Olympic games.
“You mean Mike Pence, the same Mike Pence that funded gay conversion therapy? I’m not buying it,” Rippon responded.
Rippon’s opposition stemmed from a statement on Pence’s 2000 congressional campaign website: “Resources should be directed toward those institutions which provide assistance to those seeking to change their sexual behavior.”
Many, including Rippon, have interpreted the statement to mean Pence supported gay conversion therapy.
The vice president called the allegation “fake news.”
Headed to the Olympics to cheer on #TeamUSA. One reporter trying to distort 18 yr old nonstory to sow seeds of division. We won’t let that happen! #FAKENEWS. Our athletes are the best in the world and we are for ALL of them! #TEAMUSA
— Vice President Mike Pence Archived (@VP45) February 8, 2018
Pence has offered to meet with Rippon personally, but has been refused. The ice skater has said he will not go to the White House’s post-Olympics celebration hosted by President Trump.
As expected, liberal athletes are really bad sports.
One way feud. Pence wanted to meet the gay Olympians. Kenworthy and Rippon refused. They'd rather grandstand.
— Daniel Breban (@DBreban) February 10, 2018
This kind of behaviour is so unwarranted. It is very unprofessional for an athlete to sink to this level. #GusKenworthy You are at the #WinterOlympics to represent ?? not to pick a fight with @VP
— BrwnGrl? (@MizzyII) February 9, 2018
I doubt the Vice President has any idea who this Guy guy is, or cares. pic.twitter.com/ax7xMGvIzl
— ? The PissedOffTreeRat ? (@PissedTree) February 9, 2018
Classless.
— Ken Bourne (@215keb) February 9, 2018
The militant left demands that everyone think like they do & even support their causes. If not, you’re labeled a bigot, homophobe, white nationalist, etc. Those of us who believe in marriage as God defines it, will not bow to their threats, criticism, and labels.
— Ramblin’ Man (@RamblinManNC) February 9, 2018
So why didn’t he meet with Pence when he was offered the chance? Oh right because it smashes his Pence being anti-gay narrative.
— Nick (@nph19) February 10, 2018
How about you fight for a better cause like violence, abuse, our veterans. Who cares about your sexuality??
— shale (@jaxadd08) February 9, 2018
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