But instead, the small U.S. delegation for the opening and closing ceremonies will include a FU message in the name of three openly gay athletes and a diplomat still hiding behind the closet door. Those athletes, tennis legend Billie Jean King and hockey player Caitlin Cahow, will be joined by the recently coming out figure skater Brian Boitano, and former cabinet secretary Janet Napolitano, a presidential advisor, and the U.S. ambassador to Russia.
Obama mouthpiece Jay Carney was asked at the daily White House press briefing whether the delegation was intended to make a obvious political point. While he said such a message would not be sent “through this manner,” his response also repeatedly referred to “diversity” — a word Carney mentioned seven times in his answers.
“Every member of that delegation is extremely accomplished, either in government service or in civic activism or, most especially, in sports. So he’s very proud of the delegation and the diversity it represents. And he looks forward, as every American does, to the competition and to the effort that American athletes will demonstrate when they compete in Sochi.”The announcement prompted an enthusiastic response from the Human Rights Campaign, which recently sent a letter urging Obama to include gays and lesbians in the U.S. delegation, which they seemed to have gleefully agreed as if this was to be his revenge for being upstaged at the recent G20. The U.S. Olympic Committee has so far made no comment about the sexual orientation of the delegation.
Anyone up for making Duck Hunting an Olympic sport?