Out figure skater Adam Rippon says he
will skip a visit to the White House.
The 28-year-old Rippon is one of two
openly gay men on Team USA competing at the Winter Olympics in South
Korea. The other athlete is skier Gus Kenworthy, 26.
Rippon and Kenworthy have criticized
the White House's selection of Vice President Mike Pence to lead the
2018 U.S. Olympic delegation. Pence is opposed to LGBT rights,
including marriage equality.
(Related: Gus
Kenworthy, Adam Rippon to Mike Pence: “Eat your heart out.”)
“No, I have no desire to go to the
White House,” Rippon told the
Daily
Mail after winning a bronze medal in the team figure skating
event. “But I would like to do something to help my community.”
Rippon said he would want to do
“something positive and not just stay at home” and suggested an
event in support of LGBT rights.
Rippon previously said that he would
not visit the White House if invited as an Olympian because he
believes he would not be “welcome” as a gay athlete.
(Related: Openly
gay skater Adam Rippon: I would not feel welcome at White House.)