Happy Friday! Some news stories for you as we head into the weekend:
• Outsports: There will be at least 44 publicly out LGBTQ athletes (including Gus Kenworthy – lead photo) competing at the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics starting Feb. 6, a record for the Winter Games.
3-time Olympic medalist Danell Leyva (screen capture) Gymnast Danell Leyva, who represented Team USA at two Olympic Games, came out to his 52,000+ followers on Twitter earlier this month on National Coming Out Day. “For a long time I’ve known that I wasn’t straight,” began the 28-year-old Cuban-American. “But because of certain very personal reasons, I always rejected that side of me.” Leyva added, “Earlier this year I finally understood that I’m bi/pan (still trying to figure that one out) but I also realized that, as of now at least, I’m not attracted to cis men.”
For a long time I’ve known that I wasn’t straight. But because of certain very personal reasons, I always rejected that side of me. Earlier this year I finally understood that I’m bi/pan (still trying to figure that one out) but…
One of the main reasons why I’ve never come out publicly is because throughout my life, for whatever reason, other people’s perception of my own sexuality have always been imposed onto me and it has always made me reject it even more. It made me uncomfortable. Not because…
A reminder to check the way we say certain things to people. Because sometimes our hearts and intentions may be in the right place, but we never truly know what they’re dealing with.
Speaking to Olympic Channel, Leyva shared that stereotypes about men in his sport, plus his own determination to not give homophobes “the satisfaction of being right,” slowed his coming out process in some respects. “[The stereotypes were] such a big factor in it, just not giving those people the satisfaction of being right because it doesn’t come from a good place,” said Leyva. “It wasn’t somebody that was trying to help us understand [our sexuality]. It was just somebody pointing at us and that doesn’t feel good.”
The Olympic champion also noted that, as he was growing up, he would “always somewhat reject” his sexuality. “And especially coming from Hispanic family, it’s very much rejected,” he added. Leyva says he had been thinking about coming out for a while and almost shared the news this past June during Pride Month. But with Black Lives Matter protests happening across the nation in the aftermath of George Floyd’s homicide, he reconsidered. “I was like, ‘No, I’m not really that important,’” said Leyva. “And so I decided to just kind of forget about it, and I did forget about it.” Until, that is, until this year’s National Coming Out Day and those five empowering tweets. Since sharing his authentic self with the world, Leyva says the response he’s received has been overwhelmingly positive and supportive. Among the many who have sent messages of support were fellow Olympic gymnasts Aly Raisman, Simone Biles, and out figure skater Adam Rippon.
Congratulations Danell. Happy #NationalComingOutDay. Incredible for you to share something so personal. Don’t be so terrified, it gets easier. Really happy for you. You just have to be yourself & people who matter will still love you. Sending u socially distanced hugs ❤ 🏳️🌈 🌈
Glad you feel comfortable enough to share, and like other mentioned, don’t bother with exact labels. Feel free to explore and change your mind at any point, the only person you have an obligation to I that regard is yourself. 🏳️🌈
Also comforting to the 2011 World parallel bars champion were messages giving him space to not worry about this label or that label. “In the post, I said that I’m still trying to figure out between whether I’m a bi or pan. It was nice to have people be like, ‘You don’t have to label it. You don’t have to just be ‘a thing’. It’s an ever-changing fluid thing, so you don’t have to worry about that,’” explained the world-class athlete. “That was nice because that was certainly reassuring.” “You know, it’s such a non-issue,” he continued. “It literally means nothing that if you’re just like, ‘Oh, you’re left-handed? That’s cool. Oh, you’re bi? That’s cool.’ Like, it’s really nothing.” “Everybody’s different, you know?” said Leyva before adding, “And at the same time, we’re not.” Leyva hopes that his coming out might offer some inspiration to those considering coming out themselves. “If I get help one person be brave enough to live in their truth, then I feel like that that was the entire point of that post.” And speaking of ‘inspiration,’ let’s flashback to Leyva’s exhibition performance on the parallel bars at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Out Olympic silver medalist Gus Kenworthy is making one more run at the Olympics, but this time he’ll be skiing Brit-style. After two Winter Olympics competing for the United States, Kenworthy, 28, says he will switch to represent Great Britain after his application to switch to GB Snowsport was approved Tuesday by the International Ski Federation. The handsome Gus says the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing will most likely be his last. Born in Chelmsford, England, his family relocated to Colorado in the US when he was three. His mother is British and he holds a British passport. He currently resides in Los Angeles. Kenworthy shared with his Instagram followers: “I am very excited to announce that I will be competing for Team GB on the road to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. “Although I was raised in the US I was born in the UK and my mum is British through-and-through. She has been my #1 fan for my entire life and has proudly stood at the bottom of the mountain waving the stars and stripes in support of me for two Olympic cycles. “Now, in what is sure to be my last Olympic appearance, I’d like to return the honor by proudly holding up the British flag for her.”
Kenworthy told the BBC: “I think for sure 2022 is my final Olympic Games, and I decided I wanted to do it for my mum.” “I have no doubt in my mind that I could go back for the US, but this is definitely going to be a much smoother approach for me. This gives me a path where I’m not taking a place away from one of my friends in the US.”
A post shared by Lou Moreira (@loumoreira) on Feb 7, 2017 at 10:56am PST
Bobsled push athlete Lou Moreira is not only a member of Team USA but a former Mr. Texas and saved a puppy during his time serving in the military in Afghanistan. Oh, he also has trouble finding pants that fit.
Pita Taufatofua, the now famous Olympic athlete from Tonga who broke the internet when he marched into the opening ceremonies for the 2016 Summer Olympics wearing not much more than body oil and a gorgeous smile, recently met up with Today Show hosts Hoda and Jenna Bush.
The Tongan was too much to resist as Hoda broke out the body oil and went to work.
Seriously, that smile.
Pita also gave a short lesson on Taekwondo to the Today Show team.
Olympic silver medalist freeskier Gus Kenworthy received what looks to be almost universal support when he recently came out.
But, you know, there’s always going to the occasional troll. Check the dumb-ass question posed to Kenworthy on Twitter, and then his oh-so-perfect” answer.
Just to recap – Olympic medalist, handsome, smart, amazing abs and not afraid to go toe-to-toe with an internet troll.
Man, Kenworthy rocks.
Are you the man or the woman in the relationship? That’s all I need to know right now. https://t.co/9dvbwLBaCX
