Skater Defends Speech Amid Olympic Hate

Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn is standing by her decision to share her personal beliefs during a press conference. While representing Team USA, Glenn, who identifies as pansexual, was asked about her role in representing the LGBTQIA+ community. She acknowledged that it has been a challenging period for the community and emphasized the strength found in mutual support during difficult times.

Glenn has faced a significant amount of hate and threats for expressing her views, which she anticipated but still found disappointing. She stated that she will not remain silent on issues that affect everyone, asserting that politics have a real-world impact on daily lives. The athlete shared her intention to use her platform to encourage people to stay strong during hard times, despite some suggesting athletes should avoid political commentary.

Despite the backlash, Glenn plans to limit her social media use for her well-being during the Olympics but remains committed to using her voice for her convictions. She is the first openly LGBTQIA+ figure skater to compete for Team USA in the Winter Olympics, having publicly come out in 2019. Glenn has previously spoken about the fear of not being accepted and the challenges faced by bisexual and pansexual women, but feels embraced by the figure skating community.