When the president named the delegation, and I read in the news what his message was of tolerance and diversity, I thought, I have to take this opportunity. I think the message is so strong. I’ve always wanted to represent my country as best I could, and I knew that I had to go past my comfort zone and reveal a private side of my life that I’ve never done before because I felt that the message is so strong. … I think that we have to be careful once we go over there. I think the statement is already being made by us being on the delegation and Billie Jean [King] and Caitlin [Cahow], and us standing together united as gay people showing that there is freedom of speech, and we are successful human beings and athletes. I think that speaks measures.”
— Retired Olympic figure skater Brian Boitano speaking with Today’s Matt Lauer about being named to President Obama’s Olympics delegation
TVC 15
I didn’t remember him being that cute.
DonW
@TVC 15: Boys who are out and proud are cuter!
Cam
Gee, I guess all the fools who came shrieking on here that Boitano was already out and that we were all assholes for calling him out for never coming out.
Funny, if he was out, then why is he saying that he just came out. 😉
Scribe38
@TVC 15: my first thought was “what a good picture of him”
Caleb in SC
Meh . . . I love how closeted athletes are coming out because of the anti-gay hate that has taken over Russia; however, where were these same athletes, like Boitano, when scores of LGBT teens in THIS country committed suicide, or states were passing anti-marriage equality laws?
ray68
I think his coming out a little earlier in his career would have been braver. Now, it just appears like a desperate attempt to stay relevant.
CCTR
@ray68:Probably not a desperate attempt to stay relevant. It seems like after being named by the president to the delegation along with other out gay athletes, he then made the decision to come out publicly.
Tackle
I’m glad he sat the record straight, and proved us to be correct about his coming out.Being part of the Olympic delegation was Brian’ s “public” coming out/ announcement. His personal coming out was done over 20 yrs ago. And no, I don’t want a bone.
Dixie Rect
Another example of a Z list celebrity coming out to become a D list celebrity.