Ni Agencé France Presse
HINDI inakala ng baklang freestyle skier na si Gus Kenworthy na makukuhanan siya ng camera at maipalalabas sa telebisyon ang pakikipaghalikan niya sa kanyang karelasyon sa kasagsagan ng Winter Olympics sa South Korea.
Itinuring ito ng ilan bilang makasaysayang sandali sa buong history ng Games at naging viral din sa social media.
Tumapos ang 26 na taong gulang na Amerikano sa ika-12 puwesto sa slopestyle nitong Linggo, ngunit naging laman ng balita makaraan niyang halikan ang kanyang nobyo sa ibaba ng slope habang nakatutok sa kanya ang mga TV camera.
Dahil sa natatanggap na pandaigdigang atensiyon, nag-tweet si Kenworthy nitong Lunes ng litrato ng kanyang ngayon ay popular na halik, at sinamahan ng caption: “Didn’t realise this moment was being filmed yesterday but I’m so happy that it was.
“My childhood self would never have dreamed of seeing a gay kiss on TV at the Olympics but for the first time ever a kid watching at home CAN!
“Love is love.”
Nakatanggap ang tweet ng daan-daang mensahe ng suporta at nagkomento ang baklang American figure skater na si Adam Rippon: “Wow okay I just whimpered to myself ‘so beautiful’”.
Makaraan ang halik, nagpahayag naman si Kenworthy ng kanyang mga dinanas na pagsubok, at kung gaano kalaki ang mga nagbago sa kanyang buhay, sa loob lamang ng ilang taon.
“The only way to change perceptions, break down barriers, break down homophobia is through representation,” aniya.
“And that is definitely not something I had as a kid. I definitely did not see a gay athlete at the Olympics kissing their boyfriend.
“If I had it would have made it a lot easier for me.”
Dugtong pa niya: “That was something I wanted at the last Olympics, to share a kiss with my boyfriend at the bottom and it was something I was too scared to do.
“To be able to do that, give him a kiss, have that affection broadcast for the world is incredible.”
Una rito, sa Games sa South Korea, si Canadian figure skater Eric Radford ang unang baklang Winter Olympic gold medalist na nagwagi sa team event.
