Pyeongchang, South Korea – . Gay Star News reports that Adam Rippon and Gus Kenworthy shared the cutest photo together at the Pyeongchang Olympic opening ceremony. The openly gay winter Olympic athletes posed in a total of four cute photos together. Kenworthy posted three photos with the caption: “We’re here. We’re queer. Get used to it.” And Rippon also posted one with his new pal. He captioned his photo: “Representing the USA is one of the greatest honors of my life and being able to do it as my authentic self makes it all so much sweeter.” Rippon came out in 2015 and Kenworthy came out in October of the same year. Kenworthy competed in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games but wasn’t publicly out.

Rippon is representing the US in figure skating and Kenworthy is in the same team but as a freestyle skier. Over the past few weeks, animosity rose between Adam Rippon and US Vice President Mike Pence. According to reports, Rippon refused to meet with the politician in the run-up to the games. Rippon has previously denounced Pence’s poor record on LGBT rights. He also refused to go to the White House to meet Donald Trump. So Pence tweeted Rippon to assure him he’s on his side. He wrote: “I want you to know we are for you. Don’t let fake news distract you. I am proud of you and all of our great athletes and my only hope for you and all of #TeamUSA is to bring home the gold. Go get ’em!” Rippon did not respond.

Only 0.3% of the athletes at the Winter Olympics identify as gay or bisexual. Out of the 2,952 Olympians competing in Pyeongchang, Korea, there are only nine who will be flying the rainbow flag. Four years ago, in homophobic Russia, there were six openly gay or bi athletes. In Rio, there was a record 53 openly LGBT athletes, comprising of 11 men and 42 women. Of those 53, 19 of them won a medal solo or in a group. (Gay Star News – James Besanvalle at Gaystarnews.com)