Arts & Entertainment
Adam Rippon introduces the world to his new boyfriend on Instagram
the Olympic figure skater revealed he met his beau on Tinder
Adam Rippon and Jussi-Pekka Kajaala (Photo via Instagram)
Adam Rippon went public with his new boyfriend Jussi-Pekka Kajaala in an Instagram post on Monday.
Rippon, 28, shared a snap of he and Kajaala, who is from Finland, going for a run in Runyon Canyon in Los Angeles.
“Good boys Finnish first,” Rippon captioned the photo along with a Finland flag emoji.
He told People he met Kajaala on Tinder around seven months ago. They recently “started to hang out a little bit more” and made their relationship official last week.
“It’s fresh! I’m fresh,” Rippon described the relationship.
Ever since Rippon competed in the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games, the figure skater has attracted plenty of suitors including Sally Field’s son, Sam Griesman, who went public with his crush.
Rippon, who is currently on tour with Stars on Ice through May and will be competing on the all-athlete edition of “Dancing with the Stars,” had stated that he’s too busy for dating at the moment.
“I think that even right now, even the idea of dating, doesn’t even sound super appealing because I’m so busy right now,” Rippon told Us Weekly in March. “So I have this master plan that goes as follows: that I’ll be doing this stuff and I’ll magically meet someone who is funny, who’s smart, who goes to the gym and can keep me on my toes when it comes to giving me a hard time and being witty, and basically anybody who can make me laugh is one step closer to winning the crown.”
It seems that Rippon decided to make an exception for Kajaala.
“Now that I’m even busier, I thought it was a better time [for us] to hang out,” Rippon joked.
2025 D.C. Trans Pride was held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, May 17. The day was filled with panel discussions, art, social events, speakers, a resource fair and the Engendered Spirit Awards. Awardees included Lyra McMillan, Pip Baitinger, Steph Niaupari and Hayden Gise. The keynote address was delivered by athlete and advocate Schuyler Bailar.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ Pride in Washington, D.C., the Washington Blade team combed our archives and put together a glossy magazine showcasing five decades of celebrations in the city. Below is a sampling of images from the magazine but be sure to find a print copy starting this week.
The magazine is being distributed now and is complimentary. You can find copies at LGBTQ bars and restaurants across the city. Or visit the Blade booth at the Pride festival on June 7 and 8 where we will distribute copies.
Thank you to our advertisers and sponsors, whose support has enabled us to distribute the magazine free of charge. And thanks to our dedicated team at the Blade, especially Photo Editor Michael Key, who spent many hours searching the archives for the best images, many of which are unique to the Blade and cannot be found elsewhere. And thanks to our dynamic production team of Meaghan Juba, who designed the magazine, and Phil Rockstroh who managed the process. Stephen Rutgers and Brian Pitts handled sales and marketing and staff writers Lou Chibbaro Jr., Christopher Kane, Michael K. Lavers, Joe Reberkenny along with freelancer and former Blade staffer Joey DiGuglielmo wrote the essays.
The magazine represents more than 50 years of hard work by countless reporters, editors, advertising sales reps, photographers, and other media professionals who have brought you the Washington Blade since 1969.
We hope you enjoy the magazine and keep it as a reminder of all the many ups and downs our local LGBTQ community has experienced over the past 50 years.
I hope you will consider supporting our vital mission by becoming a Blade member today. At a time when reliable, accurate LGBTQ news is more essential than ever, your contribution helps make it possible. With a monthly gift starting at just $7, you’ll ensure that the Blade remains a trusted, free resource for the community — now and for years to come. Click here to help fund LGBTQ journalism.
The fourth annual Equality Prince William Pride was held at the Harris Pavilion in Manassas, Va. on Saturday, May 17.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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