When Dutch speed skater Ireen Wust won her Olympic medals, the press didn't focus on her sexuality at all. Same with Swedish alpine skier Anja Paerson. Wonder if there is some differences b/t women vs. men in this regard.
There likely is difference in men and women. Generally LGBTQ women in the Olympics either don't get mentioned as being so or are mentioned just in passing. From my time at a very conservative college, I would surmise to say that's because (a hopefully small subset) some men think of lesbians as desirable, as if they exist for their fantasies, but being a gay man is disgusting.
It is also probably a societal thing. The US is completely hung up on this, whereas the Dutch and Swedish probably aren't- or maybe they are for men? I don't really know. But because the US has such a religious culture, there are so many people, many in our government, who think being gay is WRONG.
Also, in general, gender non-conforming women are accepted in US society, when gender non-conforming men are less so. We hear a lot about where trans-women should be going the bathroom. No one seems to care about the trans-men (mostly in that they don't think about it. Probably the same people would think that is "icky"). We hear tons about how little girls can play with trucks, and should be outdoorsy and rough and that's awesome and great; little boys are rarely encouraged to play with Barbies or have dance parties in tutus.
People, even in this thread, boil this issue down to who you have sex with. It's not. It's about not having to hide who you are. Everyone I work with knows I'm straight. I have photos of my husband at my desk. Until a few years ago, gay coworkers likely didn't feel comfortable doing the same. Growing up, Adam felt he had to hide who he was. He wants to be a role model for little boys hoping they don't do the same thing. I know a skater who was not out when I knew him. When he came out, his mother blamed a gay coach for making her son gay. He and the coach never had any sort of relationship, it was just that the coach was out and secure in who he was. My understanding is the mother has since come around and supports her son; but people still have to deal with this. So coming out is a big deal. Maybe some day it won't be, because it will just be a norm, so no one needs to know it is OK to go public. But for now, there are children, and adults, who do need that.