Adam Rippon to Skip White House Visit, Plans LGBT Fundraiser Instead

Olympic medalist Adam Rippon wants to host a bash supporting gay rights rather than partying with President Trump at an event for Olympic champions. "I have no desire to go to the White House," Rippon told the Daily Mail. "But I would like to do something to help my community."

Rippon previously stated he would not accept an invitation to the White House, which he has branded as a homophobic administration. "I won't go because I don't think somebody like me would be welcome there," the gay Olympian previously stated. "I know what it's like to go into a room and feel like you're not wanted there," he told the BBC. But that was an empty threat before Monday, when the U.S. won a bronze medal in the Team Figure Skating event in part on the strength of Rippon's clean free skate. Since the White House typically invites athletes who won medals on behalf of the United States, Rippon's bronze medal put him on a guest list for a bash he won't attend.

Another out Olympian, freeskier Gus Kenworthy, also told The Advocate that while he was proud to attend a White House four years ago he wouldn't accept an invitation from Trump. "I was so incredibly honored to do that when Barack was president," Kenworthy told The Advocate. "I have no interest in going now."

Of course, Rippon also made headlines for not meeting with Mike Pence in Korea in advance of the games, after weeks worth of public sparring between the skater, who questioned whether Pence should lead the Olympic delegation, and Pence's press office, who quibbled with Rippon's suggestion Pence once wanted to fund conversion therapy. Pence told The Advocate before the games, though, that "To be honest, I don't think about Mike Pence very often."

Rippon trains in Los Angeles and originally hails from Pennsylvania. No word yet on where his counter-Trump bash will take place.