Trump Mocks Paralympians At White House Reception

During a ceremony meant to honor U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes on Friday, Trump awkwardly told the press that he found the Paralympics "a little tough to watch" but he watched “as much as I could.”

TRUMP (talking about Paralympians): It's a little tough to watch, but I watched as much as I could.

Imagine losing your legs then fighting your way to the top of a new sport only to be INSULTED by the President of the United States.pic.twitter.com/algPdZL4Sb

— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel_Jollett) April 27, 2018

The Paralympics organization took the high road reminding the president that billions of people, including myself, enjoy watching the games.

“Record numbers around the world are not finding @Paralympics tough to watch. Billions of viewers now take in the Paralympics in hundreds of countries around the world. We hope the US President continues to watch and be inspired by the Paralympics,” the organizers tweeted.

If you follow me on Twitter, you know I'm a big supporter and fan of the Paralympic Games.

I'm horrified that Trump could sink this low.

It seems I'm not alone.

All US Olympians and Paralympians are invited to visit the White House and meet the President after the Games. Today is this year's visit and USOC spokesperson says he's never seen so many athletes turn down their invites. The resistance is real. https://t.co/6mKJGicWDS

— Gus Kenworthy (@guskenworthy) April 26, 2018

Olympians from the 2018 Games have been invited to go to the White House today. I will not be going. I will not stand with people who discriminate against those that they perceive as different. In lieu of going to DC, I have donated to a few of my favorite causes 🙆🏼‍♂️❤️ https://t.co/qDXqswTHdF

— Adam Rippon (@Adaripp) April 27, 2018

Current mood: Having no regrets about missing this trip. https://t.co/xxcKxKz6NL

— Adam Rippon (@Adaripp) April 28, 2018

I miss the days when the Team USA White House visit didn't include a part where the President made fun of our Paralympic team... pic.twitter.com/4QJ5B7kQ58

— Gus Kenworthy (@guskenworthy) April 28, 2018

Record numbers around the world are not finding @Paralympics tough to watch. Billions of viewers now take in the Paralympics in hundreds of countries around the world. We hope the US President continues to watch and be inspired by the Paralympics. https://t.co/3jhr5Fd8tT

— Paralympic Games (@Paralympics) April 28, 2018

Podcast: Catch Up On This Week's LGBTQ Headlines In Less Than 20 Minutes

Hit play below - you know you want to hear me chat :)

In this week’s podcast:

• The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals handed down an important ruling for transgender protections in the workplace

• Should we boycott Bermuda for taking away marriage equality?

• An out high school football star is targeted by the haters of Westboro Baptist Church but his classmates aren’t having it

• A gay couple found their wedding photo used in a political attack ad by the Tennessee state Republican Party #WTF?

• Take two - Starkville, Mississippi, is getting it's first Pride parade

• The 2018 Paralympics have begun and there’s at least one out and proud Paralympian this year

• Mindy Kaling's new series Champions on NBC features a 16-year-old out character who's never seen the inside of a closet

• VICE follows gay married couple Rick & Griff in Atlanta to learn how folks are monetizing their social media following

• NBC's "The Voice" made history this week with the series' first transgender contestant

• Randy Rainbow takes on the NRA with his parody of "Kids" from the 1960s Broadway hit Bye Bye Birdie

At Least One Paralympian In PyeongChang Is Out & Proud

Canadian Paralympian Cindy Ouellet

I've been meaning to remind folks to watch the 2018 Paralympics which began yesterday in PyeongChang and last to March 18.

It's not just the Olympics that offer up amazing physical achievement and inspirational stories. I've been watching the Paralympics for years and you should, too.

On the community level, Outsports is reporting that there is at least one out and proud Paralympian competing this year.

Cindy Ouellet didn’t know if she would qualify for these Olympic Games, pinning her hopes on cross-country skiing at the 2022 Winter Olympics. Yet here she is, competing in three events in Pyeongchang: the women’s 1.1km, 5km and 12km sitting cross-country skiing events.

Ouellet competed in women’s wheelchair basketball in the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Summer Paralympics. Her Canadian team lost in the semifinals of the most recent Summer Paralympics in 2016.

She has a gold and a bronze medal in the World Championship of wheelchair basketball, but a Paralympic medal has eluded her.

According to the Winter Paralympics Web site, Ouellet was “diagnosed with bone cancer in her hip at age 12. She suffered nerve damage from the chemotherapy treatment she received.”

A Summer AND Winter Paralympian? Jeez, what a slacker...

In all seriousness, what a true inspiration Ouellet is. You can learn more about her athletic achievements here.

Wishing her the best in her quest for gold.

Regarding Team USA, we're already off to a strong start as Lt. Cmdr. Dan Cnossen, the only double-amputee Navy SEAL in history, has won gold in the men's sitting 7.5km.

The US won 18 medals in Sochi, so who knows how we'll fare this year?

Here's a schedule of events you can watch on NBC's range of networks including NBC, NBCSN, and the Olympic Channel.

Lt. Cmdr. Dan Cnossen, the only double-amputee Navy SEAL in history, has won gold for @TeamUSA in the men's sitting 7.5km! #Paralympics pic.twitter.com/NpkssenoBX

— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) March 10, 2018

Team USA wins Gold over Russia in Sled Hockey at 2014 Paralympics

Team USA won Gold against Russia in Sled Hockey today at the 2014 Paralympics.

This makes back to back Gold for Team USA in the event.

You can watch the Games on YouTube by clicking here.

USA!  USA! USA!

2014 Paralympics opens in Sochi today

Team USA enters the Opening Ceremonies of the 2014 Paralympics

Today Sochi saw the opening of the 2014 Paralympics, which will run from March 7-16, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.

The Games will feature 72 medal events in five sports, and will see the debut of snowboarding at the Winter Paralympics.

For news and video of the games, make sure you visit Paralympic.org

I watched much of the London 2012 Summer Paralympics and it's more inspiring than you can imagine.  These are true athletes sharing in the spirit of competition just like out Olympic athletes.

You can watch Team USA enter the opening ceremony here.

US Paralympics team "Call Me Maybe"

Ok, just ONE more...

I love these guys. Great athletes, great Americans. Wow, do they do us proud.

Our team finished with 96 medals overall - 30 Gold, 29 Silver, 37 Bronze - at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.

USA! USA! USA!

Navy lieutenant swims to gold at London Paralympics

Only months after being blinded in Afghanistan, U.S. swimmer Bradley Snyder has won a gold medal in the men's 100m freestyle at the 2012 Paralympics. He also set a new Paralympic record during a qualifying heat earlier Friday.

A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in 2006, Synder was lost his sight working with a bomb disposal squad last year.

His qualifying time of 57:18 would have put Snyder in first place in one of the early men's 100m freestyle heats at the London Olympics.

He may not get the recognition of Michael Phelps or Ryan Lochte, but this US athlete makes me just as proud.

Snyder has a full schedule in London, where he'll swim the 50m, 100m and 400m freestyle, the 100m butterfly, 100m backstroke, 100m breaststroke, and the 200m individual medley.