Brian Boitano & Brian Orser are both gay; however, both were skaters first and great skaters at that rather than prefacing everything they did with their sexual orientation. No comments were made about their sexual orientation during any of the commentary or analysis of their performances that I ever heard.
Rippon is a flamboyant, activist gay first, throwing it up in everyone’s face & everything is supposed to follow on for him because of his sexual orientation. His “gay struggle” is the excuse used by all defending Rippon for his lack of results on the ice. If Rippon were straight, he’d get very little attention, especially since his routines do not contain the more risky, technical content as performed by the other skaters who are outscoring him.
Exactly. Everybody knew about Boitano, we didn’t care, because he never made a big deal out of it.
Exactly. Nathan Chen didn’t get nearly the attention but he owned that last routine like a boss. Adam Rippon is certainly above average but nothing spectacular - never would have gotten the media hype which was nonstop but for his stated sexuality and the fact he apparently doesn’t like the Vice President.