The announcement comes as Kenworthy declined to attend the Winter Olympian White House visit last week

Following his refusal to attend the Winter Olympian visit at the White House, Gus Kenworthy announced he will attend the Democratic National Committee’s annual LGBTQ gala as a “Special Guest” this Pride season. In addition, Kenworthy will also headline a kick-off call with DNC donors and activists to highlight the importance of this event and discuss the upcoming midterm election.

The 19th annual gala will take place on June 25^th in New York City.

Last year, the resources raised from the gala went to critical investments in races and state parties, which helped elect Ralph Northam in Virginia, Doug Jones in Alabama and helped flip control of the Washington state Senate, enabling the now-Democratic-controlled state government to ban conversion therapy earlier this year.

“I couldn’t be more excited to join the DNC at their LGBTQ Gala this Pride season,” said Gus Kenworthy. “Over the last year, the Trump-Pence administration has pushed our community to the sidelines, attacking us for who we are and who we love. It’s time we take a stand against this administration by electing representatives this upcoming November who actively support and believe in equality for everyone.”

“Gus has been a tireless advocate for his community, standing up to hate and a Trump-Pence administration that has repeatedly attacked and demeaned LGBTQ people,” said DNC Chair Tom Perez. “The 2017 elections were a landmark moment for the LGBTQ community. Not only did we elect the first openly transgender state legislator, but LGBTQ candidates broke barriers from Palm Springs and Seattle to Minneapolis and New York.  This year, we want to celebrate that success and refocus the LGBTQ community on just what is at stake in the coming 2018 midterms. With the help of people like Gus, Democrats will win up and down the ballot, from the school board to the Senate.”

“Gus Kenworthy is part of the next generation of LGBTQ activists that are helping lead the resistance against the Trump-Pence administration”, said DNC Finance Chair Henry Munoz. “We will not tolerate the attacks from this White House on the rights and protections of LGBTQ Americans across the country. Standing together in the face of hate and bigotry, we’re going to bring sweeping change to Washington by electing Democrats this November.“

The LGBTQ gala began in 1999 as a small dinner held by Andy Tobias, former DNC Treasurer, and has grown to one of the DNC’s biggest and most successful events. This annual gala is among the DNC’s marquee events. In 2017, the gala took place at Gotham Hall in New York City, with Joe Biden as the keynote speaker.