close
close
news

Gus Kenworthy blows out his birthday candles during a brutal party

Gus Kenworthy’s birthday is off to a brutal start.

😉😉😉

The Olympic hunk celebrated his 33rd birthday on Tuesday with a large piece of cake, complete with rainbow sprinkles and mini Peppa Pigs.

“Take a piece of Gus’ birthday cake,” the frosting read.

We would like that! (Go to photo two.)

Kenworthy, who often uses his platform to raise awareness for LGBTQ+ issues, also added a birthday call to action. The three-time Olympian is participating in the AIDS Life Cycle 2025, a seven-day, 545-mile tour from the Bay Area to Los Angeles.

Next year will mark the final ride of the iconic event.

“It’s my birthday today and in lieu of affirmations, gifts or n*des (or in addition to them) if you’d like to wish me a happy birthday you can do so by clicking the cute little link in my bio and one of the first people to make a tax-deductible donation to my @aidslifecycle ride!” he wrote.

The last time Kenworthy competed, he raised more than $250,000. This time he calls on his fans to “🔝” that total.

Besides conjuring up delightful images in our little gay minds, Kenworthy’s sassy innuendo is an important part of his personality. He is unabashed gay gay gayand it’s refreshing!

Gay male athletes have historically downplayed their identities for obvious reasons. Because there are so few athletes competing at the pro or college level, coming out is still considered a risk. Agents and advisors worry that their clients are ruining their commercial careers. Horror stories about losing Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova all of their messages of support in the aftermath of their outings are still fresh.

But that’s just not the reality today. For example: our Olympians flaunt their strangeness and make money. From Tom Daley to Megan Rapinoe to Adam Rippon, LGBTQ+ Olympic icons are gaining major recognition as their true selves.

Kenworthy has also been a commercial hit, starring in campaigns for Visa, Monster Energy, Samsung and other major brands. The freestyle skier and 2014 silver medalist is probably one of the best-known American Olympians of his generation.

And it doesn’t filter itself… at least almost as much as many of its sporty predecessors. Kenworthy goes beyond the thirst quenching (although there are plenty of those) and goes straight for the jock-ular.

His photos from Burning Man were a visual feast (sorry, you’ll have to scroll)!

In a now iconic photo from the festival, Kenworthy cycles on the desert sand… with his butt out! The image in question is depicted on his birthday cake.

As Kennedy learned, there is power in showing up.

“Being a queer athlete has been a very isolating experience for much of my life,” he wrote on Instagram after the Paris Games.

But as Kenworthy embraced more aspects of his queer identity, his discomfort turned to elation. He realized that his fear of deportation was unfounded.

“Not only did my fears prove to be unfounded, but in fact the reaction was quite the opposite. I received so much love and support,” he writes in an essay Out. “The following season was the best of my career. I think it’s true what they say: ‘The truth will set you free.’”

That is indeed the case! Now time for a piece of cake! 🍰

Register for the Queerty newsletter to stay up to date on the hottest stories in LGBTQ+ entertainment, politics and culture.

Related Articles

Back to top button