The Threshold (the right attacking athletes who express feelings)

[Nevilledog]

https://www.readtpa.com/p/the-threshold

On Sunday, Amber Glenn won an Olympic gold medal in the team figure skating event. She wore an LGBTQ+ pin on her team jacket at the medal ceremony. That same day, she announced she was stepping back from social media after receiving what she described as “a scary amount of hate/threats.”

Her offense: she’d told reporters a few days earlier that the queer community is going through “a hard time” under the current administration. “I hope that I can use my platform and my voice throughout these Games to try to encourage people to stay strong,” she said.

Megyn Kelly had already quote-tweeted a clip of Glenn’s comments and written: “Another turncoat to root against.” Glenn hadn’t even skated yet.

“I was disappointed because I’ve never had so many people wish me harm before, just for being me and speaking about being decent,” Glenn said Sunday night.

Also on Friday, at a Team USA freeski press conference, a reporter asked the athletes how it feels to represent the country given what’s happening back home. Hunter Hess, a 27-year-old freestyle skier from Bend, Oregon, said this: “It brings up mixed emotions to represent the U.S. right now, I think. It’s a little hard. There’s obviously a lot going on that I’m not the biggest fan of and I think a lot of people aren’t.” He said he sees himself as representing his friends and family, the athletes who came before him, and the things he believes are good about the country. “Just because I’m wearing the flag doesn’t mean I represent everything that’s going on in the U.S.”

*snip*