Gay Marriage Foe Peter Vidmar Steps Down From Olympic Post

Peter Vidmar on Friday resigned from his appointment as chef de mission for the 2012 U.S. Olympic team after it was brought to light that he attended two anti-gay marriage rallies in 2008.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist and chairman of USA Gymnastics was appointed to the post last week by the U.S. Olympic Committee. His position, which he was to share with Aimee Mullins, was to provide overall leadership to Team USA.

Response to reports that Vidmar supported passage of Proposition 8, California's gay marriage ban, with a $2,000 donation was mostly negative.

The 49-year-old told the Chicago Tribune on Thursday that his views on gay marriage would not affect how he treated gay athletes.

“I fully respect the rights of everyone to have the relationships they want to have,” Vidmar said. “I respect the rights of all our athletes, regardless of their race, their religion or their sexual orientation. I will cheer and do all I can, passionately, for every athlete on the U.S. Olympic team.”

Two-time Olympian and three-time U.S. National Figure Skating champion John G. “Johnny” Weir, who came out gay in his memoir Welcome to my World, called Vidmar's appointment “wrong.”

“It's wrong,” Weir said. “I certainly wouldn't want to be represented by someone who is anti gay marriage. It isn't just about marriage, it is being allowed equal rights as Americans.”

“The fact this man who is very publicly against something that may be represented on the American team is disgraceful,” he added.

Vidmar said in a statement that he was sorry that his personal religious beliefs had become a distraction.

"I have dedicated my life to the Olympic movement and the ideals of excellence, friendship and respect. I wish that my personal religious beliefs would not have become a distraction from the amazing things that are happening in the Olympic movement in the United States. I simply cannot have my presence become a detriment to the U.S. Olympic family. I hope that by stepping aside, the athletes and their stories will rightly take center stage,” Vidmar said.