Gus Kenworthy kissed his boyfriend on live TV during the Olympics, and we hope Mike Pence was watching
This might be the cutest thing, like, ever. When Olympic freestyle skier Gus Kenworthy won a silver medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, the first thing he thought of was sharing a kiss with his then-boyfriend. However, the Team USA skier had yet to come out as gay, so he decided to hold off.
But that all changed this year. At the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, the Olympian decided to share a quick kiss with his boyfriend, actor Matt Wilkas, before heading off to his final slopestyle run. Luckily, the cameras managed to capture — and broadcast — the entire thing, while the world watched in a collective “awww” moment.
The silver medalist previously told ESPN he “never got to be proud” of his accomplishments in Sochi because he “felt so horrible” that he couldn’t be his true self. But after his kiss with Wilkas, the reality of the historic moment set in.
“To be able to do that, to give him a kiss, to have that affection broadcast to the world, is incredible," Kenworthy told reporters after the slopestyle event. "The only way to really change perceptions, to break down barriers, break down homophobia, is through representation. That’s definitely not something I had as a kid. I never saw a gay athlete kissing their boyfriend at the Olympics. I think if I had, it would’ve made it easier for me.
We couldn’t agree more. See the sweet-but-casual moment for yourself:
The kiss that @guskenworthy planted on his boyfriend @MattWilkas was one of the most significant things broadcast by @NBC so far these #Olympics https://t.co/WlAgM5edYb
— Outsports (@outsports) February 18, 2018
The LGBTQ community has historically faced struggles at the Olympics, and this year — with a record 14 publicly “out” athletes — is a small but important step in the right direction. We’re proud to see Kenworthy leading the charge, and we think it’s adorable (and important) that Kenworthy’s kiss with his boyfriend was broadcast live on national television.
Plus, Gus Kenworthy and Matt Wilkas are just too cute together.
My Seoul mate! So happy to have my bf, my family and some amazing friends here in Korea to cheer me on! Tomorrow's the big day (tonight for y'all in the US) and win or lose I just wanna thank you all SO much for your support and encouragement. I wouldn't be here without you. pic.twitter.com/XwqWKldwbN
— Gus Kenworthy (@guskenworthy) February 17, 2018
Kenworthy, along with out gay figure skater Adam Rippon, both say they won’t be visiting the White House after the 2018 Winter Olympics. Their decision is in protest of Vice President Mike Pence’s record on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ issues.
Broke my thumb yesterday in practice. It won't stop me from competing (obvi) but it does prevent me from shaking Pence's hand so… Silver linings! Will be giving my teammates (and literally everyone else) an enthusiastic "thumbs up!" of encouragement the rest of the trip. pic.twitter.com/XylPPGAq9P
— Gus Kenworthy (@guskenworthy) February 15, 2018
We’re so proud of Gus Kenworthy for being an inspiration, both on and off the slopes. It’s wonderful to see athletes speaking up about the politics that impact their countries and the world. We can only hope a certain *someone* in the White House saw the kiss and remembers that love is love. Go Team USA!
