Says VP “Doesn’t Send the Right Messageâ€
Olympic silver medalist and professional skier Gus Kenworthy, the second openly-gay man competing for the U.S. at the 2018 Winter Olympics, said this week that “it’s unfortunate†Vice President Mike Pence will lead the U.S. delegation at this year’s event.
Kenworthy announced that he would return to the Olympics this week before being interviewed by USA Today:
Speaking with the outlet, he was asked about fellow out Olympic competitor Adam Rippon’s commentary on Pence’s involvement in the games. As NCRM has reported, Rippon told UAS Today that he wouldn’t try to meet the vice president, citing his support for gay conversion therapy.
“If it were before my event, I would absolutely not go out of my way to meet somebody who I felt has gone out of their way to not only show that they aren’t a friend of a gay person but that they think that they’re sick,†Rippon said. “I wouldn’t go out of my way to meet somebody like that.â€
“I actually found out about [Mike Pence’s involvement] from Adam Rippon’s quote about it,†Kenworthy told USA Today. “I feel the same way as him. I think it’s not the person I would have expected, and I think it sends mixed messages because this is the first time we’re seeing out U.S. Olympic athletes competing in the Winter Olympics, and then we have someone leading the delegation that doesn’t support that, and doesn’t support the LGBT community, and has spoken against it.â€
“I think it doesn’t send the right message,†Kenworthy continued. “It’s unfortunate, but it is what it is.â€
Following Rippon’s comments on Pence, the vice president felt the need to respond. His office advised that Pence “is proud to lead the U.S. delegation to the Olympics and support America’s incredible athletes.â€
They further labeled Rippon’s commentary as “misinformed,†though he was spot on. Mike Pence has worked for his entire political career to defeat the LGBT community, as NCRM has reported.
The vice president has yet to weigh in on Kenworthy’s words.