Rippon: ‘I don't want my Olympic experience being about Mike Pence

The Hill  . . . "Last month, Rippon said he disagreed with the Trump administration's values. He added that Pence — who has long been seen as a top adversary to LGBTQ rights — "doesn't really stand for anything I believe in," asserting that the vice president supporter "gay conversion therapy."

 

"Pence's office has denied the vice president believes in "gay conversion therapy."

 

"USA Today reported earlier this month that Rippon refused a meeting with Pence after the vice president's staff reached out to the figure skater following his criticism.

 

"Rippon's mother earlier this month defended her son's interactions with Pence amid the controversy. She said her son didn't "refuse" to meet with Pence, but that he preferred not to do so before the competition.

 

"Rippon also said earlier this week he would boycott a visit to the White House. He added that he would hope to do "something positive and not just stay at home" instead." . . .