The Opening Ceremony of the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang on Friday night was one for the history books as an openly gay athlete marched with Team USA for the first time in the history of the Winter Games.
And it was not just one out-and-proud American who entered the newly constructed stadium in South Korea for the kick-off to the 16-day affair, but three: freestyle skiier Gus Kenworthy, figure skater Adam Rippon and speed skater Brittany Bowe.
This was reason for celebration, and celebrate Kenworthy and Rippon did as they posed for a number of photos together and even shared a kiss.
History in the making: Gus Kenworthy, 26, posted photos of himself and figure skater Adam Rippon, 28, at the Opening ceremony for the 2018 Winter Olympics (pair above on Friday)
Let the games begin: The pair are the first openly gay male athletes to compete for Team USA in the Winter Games, and have been lauded by Hillary Clinton and Tyler Oakley
Three’s company: Team USA also has a third out athlete at the Games this year, speed skater Brittany Bowe (above earlier this week in PeyongChang) , who also competed in Sochi back in 2014
‘We’re here. We’re queer. Get used to it,’ wrote Kenworthy on Friday, including three photos of himself and Rippon.
The figure skater meanwhile took a far more sentimental approach when posting his image from the big night.
‘Tonight I walked in the #OpeningCeremony and got to watch my old friend [Yuna Kim] light the Olympic flame,’ wrote Rippon.
‘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.’
Not picture with the two was Bowe, whose role in this historic group is already being erased from the history books by the likes of Hillary Clinton and Tyler Oakley.
Both the ‘I’m-with-her campaigner and young LGBT activist have released comments over the past week applauding Kenworthy and Rippon while ignoring Bowe, who is competing in her second Olympics.
That accomplishment is even more impressive given that she only picked up the sport back in 2010.
Sweater weather: ‘We’re here. We’re queer. Get used to it,’ wrote Kenworthy on Friday, including three photos of himself and Rippon.
‘Proud of Adam & Gus!! two incredible humans with other-worldly talents that i’m honored to call my friends, competing to prove they’re some of the best on earth. couldn’t pick a better duo to be the first openly gay US winter olympians ever. WE STAN!!’ wrote Oakley on Twitter.
That came just days after Clinton said: ‘I’m excited that Adam Rippon and Gus Kenworthy will be the first openly gay Olympians for the American team.’
Bowe has made no comment about this slight, and instead celebrated her big moment on Friday by posting an image of the athletes standing behind the flag, writing: ‘WE ARE @TeamUSA.’
That photo did not include her teammate Shani Davis however, who opted to sit out the event after his quest to the flag bearer at the ceremony was derailed by a coin toss.
Bowe will be hoping to medal in either the 500 m, 1,000 m or 1,500 m races after falling just short in Soochi, while Kenworthy is hoping for a repeat appearance on the medal; stand after snagging Silver in the Slopestyle competition.
Kenowrthy is also hoping to make new friends, specifically the ,embers of the US men’s bobsled team he revealed in an amusing tweet earlier this week featuring the mean in their spandex uniforms.
And when asked about being a gay Olympian, Rippon said ‘it’s exactly like being a straight athlete. Lots of hard work but usually done with better eye brows.’
One thing the two will not be seen doing however at the Games this year is meeting with Vice President Mike Pence.
Both men have made it clear that they have no interested in meeting the former Indiana governor, who back in 2000 endorsed a bill in support of gay conversion therapy and hoped to use federal fiundis for HIV / AIDs treatment goiven to his state for those facilities.
A comprehensive list of out athletes at the 2018 Winter Olympics and past games can be found of Out Sports.