Adam Rippon honoured with the Human Rights Campaign’s Visibility Award

Mar 11 2018
Written by Joseph McCormick

(YouTube/theellenshow)

The first out gay male figure skater to compete at Olympic level received the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Visibility Award at the organisation’s Los Angeles Dinner.

Rippon, who won a bronze medal at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, has become a media sensation since returning to the US after the games.

He was also the first out gay US American male figure skater to compete at the Olympic Games.

Rippon took to the stage last night at the Los Angeles Dinner, which included his new bestie Gus Kenworthy, an Olympic skiier.

The event saw 1,000 HRC supporters come out to attend the event.

Speaking ahead of the event, the HRC’s president Chad Griffin, said: “By being out and proud, Adam is bringing LGBTQ visibility to a whole new level while capturing the hearts of millions around the world with his incredible talent and personality.

“He isn’t afraid to use his global platform to speak out for equality, and we are proud to honor him with the HRC Visibility Award at the 2018 HRC Los Angeles Dinner.”

Also speaking ahead of the event in an exclusive interview, Rippon said he hesitated to come out at first “but at the end of the day, I felt like it was important, and it was an opportunity to shine a light on a subject that was bigger than me. I know when I was coming out I drew strength from learning about other people’s stories and hopefully my story will do the same for others.”

The figure skater had a spectacular Winter Olympics on and off the ice while becoming – as he put it – “America’s sweetheart.”