Head of 2012 Olympic Team Resigns after Criticism from Gay Activists

Who's really intolerant here?

WNS - It’s apparently not very popular to support marriage these days — even though 31 states have affirmed the one-man, one-woman definition through popular vote.

In late April, gay activists convinced a top-tier law firm to stop defending the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

And in early May, two-time gymnastics gold medalist Peter Vidmar resigned as head of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team after scathing criticism from gay athletes and activists. His crime? He donated $2,000 to support Proposition 8, the 2008 ballot initiative that amended California’s Constitution to protect marriage.

Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir, who is gay-identified, called Vidmar’s position on marriage “disgraceful.” Jessica Mendoza, a gold medalist in softball, said she was “very disappointed.” And Aimee Mullins, the head of the 2012 U.S. Paralympic team, said she was “concerned and deeply saddened.”

For its part, the U.S. Olympic Committee said it supported Vidmar’s “right to religious freedom.” But Vidmar said he didn’t want his religious beliefs to become a distraction.

Maggie Gallagher, chairman of the National Organization for Marriage, said it’s clear the gay activist network was at work.

“Simply because he donated to Prop. 8, he was declared by the gay rights movement to be unacceptable for public office,” she said. “This is a campaign to stigmatize, marginalize and repress faith communities’ views on marriage.”

Gallagher said Vidmar faced little choice but to resign. “Peter Vidmar is one of the leading corporate motivational speakers. That’s how he makes a living,” she said. ““When the gay rights movement decided to go after him, he recognized that his entire career, his entire livelihood, could be severely damaged.”