The U.S. Olympic Committee has named Peter Vidmar, a 1984 gold medalist in gymnastics, as its chief of mission for the 2012 U.S. Olympic team in London. In this job, Vidmar will be the liaison officer for the U.S. team in dealing with the International Olympic Committee and London organizers.
Vidmar, a Mormon, is an active opponent of gay marriage. In the 2008 fight for Proposition 8 in California, Vidmar donated $2,000 to pass the ballot initiative and also protested in public. From the Orange County Register:
Peter Vidmar stood with other demonstrators in favor of the Nov. 4 ballot initiative that would define marriage as being between one man and one woman, undoing a California Supreme Court ruling that allowed same-sex marriages in the state.
Vidmar, who won two gold medals and one silver in the 1984 Olympic Games, says that he is in favor of equal treatment for homosexuals and in favor of Prop 8.
“It’s good for our society to stay with a traditional definition of marriage,” said Vidmar, a Coto de Caza resident.
This is not the first time the USOC has made a decision antagonizing the gay community. When Dr. Tom Waddell started an international multisport event for LGBT people in 1982, he wanted to call it the “Gay Olympic Games.” But he was successfully sued by the USOC, which hounded him for $96,000 legal fees as he was dying of AIDS. The event was renamed the Gay Games. The USOC at the time had no problem with there being events called the “Rat Olympics” or “Dog Olympics.”
Thanks to a reader for this tip.
on Apr 29th, 2011 at 3:31 PM
This is a boneheaded move on the part of the USOC. The 2012 Olympics will be much more inclusive of LGBT people than the Olympics have been in the past-I mean, the London Committee is even selling a gay pride pin, for crying out loud. And yet, the USOC chose an unapologetic BIGOT to represent US athletes-gay and straight-at the first LGBT inclusive Olympics. This choice just screams STUPID.
on Apr 29th, 2011 at 4:13 PM
Well said, Doc Marten! Again, the US shows how hypocritical it is. “Liberty and Justice for all”????????
on Apr 29th, 2011 at 4:25 PM
One interesting side note: the attorney for the USOC against the Gay Olympics was Vaughn Walker. The same Vaughn Walker that declared that Proposition 8 was a violation of the US Constitution.
on Apr 29th, 2011 at 9:57 PM
Thank you for covering this issue!
Guess what? As long as Peter Vidmar is Chef de Mission for the U.S. Olympic team, I will be rooting for other countries.
He can be Chef de Mission for his LDS temple’s Capture the Flag team.
on Apr 29th, 2011 at 9:58 PM
“he is in favor of equal treatment for homosexuals and in favor of Prop 8.”
Please.
on Apr 29th, 2011 at 10:16 PM
@ Jodi-I totally understand your confusion at that statement. I’m trying to wrap my head around it as well. And what’s this about the use of the word “homosexuals”? Once again, people like Vidmar reveal what they really think of us-they regard us as things, not people.
This is NOT the guy to represent the US Olympic Team in London.
on Apr 29th, 2011 at 10:41 PM
Canada’s Chef (Chief) de Mission for the 2012 Summer Olympics is openly gay gold-medallist swimmer, Mark Tewksbury. The United States Chief is anti-gay Peter Vidmar. That pretty much mirrors the state of gay rights in the two countries.
on Apr 30th, 2011 at 12:40 AM
I’m an American who will be cheering for Canada at the Olympics. Land of the Free my @$$.
on Apr 30th, 2011 at 7:38 AM
I think when a person perceives that his or her sport is most “gay” that person is more likely to be homophobic as a means of overcompensation.
Mr. Vidmar obviously may have insecurity issues about the appearance of the sport of men’s gymnastics.
He should have more confidence in the notion that the exquisite refining of a beautiful body in motion can be a heterosexual thing.
on Apr 30th, 2011 at 11:51 AM
So apparently, the LGBT, do not have any tolerance for anyone that disagrees with them.
on Apr 30th, 2011 at 12:02 PM
I really do not understand why at a time when everyone tries to be more open about gay and sports, the US closes the closet again. It really makes me angry. Can’t we mail the USOC? I mean, I am a European, not an American, but this is so contrary to the entire Olympic spirit!
on Apr 30th, 2011 at 12:50 PM
As I guess can be expected, most of the commenters above miss the issue totally. It isn’t about homosexuality. I agree with Vidmar: Let the homosexuals be treated equally, but oppose their perversion of the word “marriage.”
It’s a time honored word that represents an institution of antiquity, tradition, and a certain secular sacredness. It does not need to be redefined. Let the homosexuals have all the other rights of heterosexuals, except the inaccurate use of the word.
on Apr 30th, 2011 at 2:44 PM
Um, excuse me. It IS about homosexuality. You basically advocate seperate but equal. That’s the “principle” that segregationists used to keep from having to “mix” with black people. And no, you anti gay bigots are NO different from the segregationists.
on Apr 30th, 2011 at 3:36 PM
“It’s a time honored word that represents an institution of antiquity, tradition, and a certain secular sacredness.”
Oh please – over 50% of marriages end in divorce. Don’t use words like “honoured” and “sacredness” to mask your personal bigotry. The sanctity of “marriage’ ended decades ago and you know it.
on Apr 30th, 2011 at 4:29 PM
Britney Spears getting married for 48 hours was very sacred. Charles cheating on Princess Diana was also so sacred. Imagine how many of the 50% of people who’ve actually stayed married cheated on their spouse.
Maybe divorce should be illegal. Divorce is too big of a tradition though.
on Apr 30th, 2011 at 7:40 PM
Yay! The right-wing trolls have arrived!
on May 2nd, 2011 at 10:34 AM
Do right wingers get a woody when they troll gay websites?
on May 2nd, 2011 at 1:23 PM
“he is in favor of equal treatment for homosexuals and in favor of Prop 8.” –>”Please”….
As someone who also believes in equal treatment under the law but also supported Prop 8, perhaps I can explain how someone can hold both views at once.
I believe that God created people both Male and Female for a reason. I believe that there are eternal blessings that can only be achieved through marriage, with marriage being defined as the union of male and female. Male and female complete each other.
This is my religion and I do not insist that anyone else believe it or be required to follow it. HOWEVER… based on recent history, I am certain that if legal codes and constitutions are changed to define marriage as the union between any two people and if marriage is defined as a civil right and sexual orientation as a protected class… then the very next step will be lawsuits insisting that my church’s buildings be open to all and that my minister’s legal authority to perform marriages will be withdrawn unless he agrees to perform marriages for any couple presenting themselves.
So, in response to Derek’s “Land of the Free my @$$.” I couldn’t agree more. I fully support the right of anyone to visit a loved one in the hospital, to cohabitate, to own property together, to pass on an estate, and (unlike some Traditional Marriagists) even to adopt children. Existing restrictions of these are all symptoms of excessive government intrusion into our lives.
But I also want to be supported in my right to teach my children as I will, to preach the doctrines of my church on Sunday without being accused of hate speech, and for my church to be able to choose the recipients of its services and religious observances at it sees fit in accordance with our doctrine.
I have gay friends and I was a primary mover in getting our company to offer benefits to all couples.
But doctrinally, I believe that “Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.” In any case, we’ll all find out when we get there.
My vote for Prop 8 was more about protecting my rights than taking away anyone else’s. I’m hopeful we’ll come to a compromise that protects everyone’s rights, but we’ve got to move away from the polarization and caricatures.
on May 2nd, 2011 at 5:04 PM
@”I believe that God created people both Male and Female for a reason.”
Maybe the reason was to teach us to treat all humans as we wish to be treated regardless of differences.
Any two idiots with a dick and pussy can make a child.
It takes something more to teach that child to be a good person.
on May 2nd, 2011 at 6:29 PM
He cannot possibly be for equal treatment for Gays, and still support prop8. Prop 8 is all about denying Gays the fundemental right to marry. The USOC needs to find someone more in tune with the reality, that we don’t live in a society with liberty and justice for all. At least we should have someone that treats EVERYONE equally.
on May 2nd, 2011 at 7:20 PM
@Wurzel Cows are a sacred animal in the Hindu religion but you don’t see the Hindus protesting outside Outback and Mcdonald’s. Nor do you see Jews proclaiming that Red Lobster is the great Satan. If you want to teach kids that a person’s purpose in life is to produce crotchfruit, that’s your right. But that doesn’t mean you get to tell others what to do with their lives.
on May 2nd, 2011 at 7:50 PM
@Khaleesi, @sportinlife…
Language aside, I agree with much in your posts, but I think you’re disagreeing with my doctrine and not my main point.
Please tell me honestly if you don’t believe that the next logical step after achieving legal provisions for same-sex marriages is for some couple to ask a Catholic Priest or Mormon Bishop to marry them, be denied, and then file a lawsuit? There have already been lawsuits against a doctor who refused to perform services for a lesbian couple, even though there were other doctors available who could have performed the same service.
I don’t know you personally, but I do have gay friends for whom this is essentially a crusade, not just to achieve the same legal rights, but to use the force of law to ensure that anyone who disagrees is punished. And that’s what I feel this issue is really about.
I would happily vote for a measure that does the following:
1) Removes government entirely from the process of granting marriage licenses.
2) Allows anyone to download the marriage certificate form as a PDF and get it filled out by whomever they wish, religious, civil, or otherwise.
3) Leaves the decision about what marriages to recognize up to individuals, churches, and businesses as they see fit.
4) For tax purposes, treats any marriage just like any other corporation.
5) Ensures that the educational system takes a neutral stance on this issue.
We all know that you can’t legislate morality, whether it’s my vision of it or yours.
As for Hindus protesting (and BTW I’m vegan) I agree that they don’t happen to be doing that, but I 100% support their right to do so peacefully if they so choose. I would NOT support them if they tried to use the force of law to enforce veganism on everyone, as much as I believe that would be better for the planet, the animals, and all of us. At the same time, I think it’s abhorrent that the gov’t uses our tax dollars to subsidize the beef industry. That’s got to stop.
If the US Government would get back to its basic mission of protecting ALL of our rights and not trying to enforce particular views or financially reward certain behaviors, this whole thing would be a Non-Issue.
on May 3rd, 2011 at 3:31 AM
Government doesn’t give a shit about its people, it just cares about passing inane bullshit bills and spending money we don’t have. For fucks sake, there are families starving in this economy and all they give a damn about is passing bills and what not to limit the rights some groups deserve. We’re a nation run by incompetent fools. The end.
on May 6th, 2011 at 1:54 PM
Mr. Vidmar not only promoted a bigoted “law” written to take civil rights away from a minority, he also used his status as an Olympic athlete and gold medalist to do so. That is a CLEAR violation of the Olympic Charter. This is hardly a “non issue”. Considering the fact that this site is for LGBT athletes and sports fans, it’s VERY important. If you don’t like this, then stay away from this site. It’s very simple.
on May 6th, 2011 at 8:14 PM
Mr. Vidmar chose to do the right thing, and stepped down from his position as Chef De Mission for 2012. It’s really sad that this had to happen, but the USOC made a wrong decision. Mr. Vidmar’s resignation is for the best.
on May 6th, 2011 at 9:22 PM
I want to clear up the additional post information about the old lawsuit between the USOC and the FGG (Federation of Gay Games).
This post could give the impression that there is still a problem with USOC and FGG. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Federation of Gay Games mended fences with the USOC back in the 1990s in meetings with Gay Games Presidents and the USOC. The old lawsuit was a horrible event that is well documented, however the reality of today is that the FGG has a good relationship with the USOC and the IOC. It gets better!
Built upon the principles of Participation, Inclusion and Personal Best™, for nearly 30 years the Gay Games have empowered tens of thousands of LGBT artists and athletes through fellowship and friendly competition.
Celebrating Human Rights through Sports and Culture
Gay Games Change The World!
on May 8th, 2011 at 4:07 PM
Wurzel, are you as dumb as you pretend to be? No one has ever forced a church in this country to marry anyone they didn’t want to marry. No Jew has ever sued the Roman Catholic Church for refusing to marry him or her? No divorced person has ever sued the Roman Catholic Church for refusing to marry him or her (a lot have, however, paid the RCC a lot of money to call their divorce an “annulment” so they can remarry in the Church). IN other words, your whole premise is nonsense.
The real religious issue here is why should your Church’s rules take precedence over my church’s rules. My church conducts same-sex marriages, but in 45 states no government recognizes them; and in 5 states and D. C. they are recognized by the states and the district, but not by the federal government. This violates the religious establishment clause by privileging some religions over others.
on May 19th, 2011 at 2:31 PM
Jay,
As a Mormon, let me say that Wurzel *is* just as dumb as he portrays himself.
He’s spouting the logic we’ve been taught.
It’s flawed logic, but it’s all we’ve got.