This gay American finds himself cheering for LGBTQ athletes first

I’m as patriotic as they come. I love America. I wave the flag proudly and defend American ideals at every turn. I believe in America.

Yet during the Winter Olympics I find myself cheering for another team: Team LGBTQ.

Yes I want Team USA to win every medal they possibly can, except when there’s a publicly out LGBTQ athlete competing as well. In those moments, whether it’s snowboarder Simona Meiler or bobsledder Sophie Vercruyssen, I’m cheering for them to win gold above all else.

In the figure skating team event I got the best of both worlds, as out skaters Adam Rippon and Eric Radford both took home medals, and Team USA came out of the event with a bronze as well. Cheering for out Americans Brittany Bowe and Gus Kenworthy is the best.

Yet at the end of the day, cheering for people who represent the hopes of a minority has to be one of the most American things you can do. So ultimately I’m being patriotic all the way around.

You can find complete Winter Olympics 2018 coverage on SB Nation, and Outsports will have the LGBT angle.