We love Johnny Weir not because he is an entertaining figure skater (though he is), nor for his love of Lady Gaga (which we share). We love Johnny Weir because every time the issue of sexuality and figure skating are discussed, he sticks a giant middle finger up at the naysayers.
Says Weir of any effort to make figure skating more butch: “I don’t think any facelift for my sport will change the viewers who are watching. I don’t think turning figure skating into some kind of X-Games event will promote figure skating to the male population of especially North America, but also the world. This kind of talk has been going around for some time, about making the men more masculine and the women more feminine. But it’s not figure skating if you don’t have the freedom to express yourself and make something beautiful. That’s my goal every time I get new music and get new costumes: to tell a story and to put on a show. To butch up figure skating is a ridiculous idea, because there’s no putting me in some two-piece pants suit to skate in. [Laughs.] I love my glitter, I love my prettiness, I love getting my hair done before the events, I love putting on makeup because I’m going to be on TV.”
dgz
let’s make a deal: they can butch-up figure skating if we can gay-up hockey.
tavdy79
@dgz: I was going to add “or rugby”, but then I realised you can’t really gay up rugby much more than it is already – the only activities I know of that involve getting more physically intimate are sex and dancing.
Cam
Skating has always tried this line of bullshit. Rudy Galindo wrote a book about his life, and in it said he was gay. This was after he had lost his partner, and his career was basically over. Then…Horror of horrors he went and shocked himself and everybody else by winning nationals. What was one of the FIRST things he comes out and says? Oh, yes, I’m gay, but the other guys in skating aren’t. I mean look at Todd Martin. So basically he got the word to de gay as much as possible, and in his little comment he mentions like the one obviously straight skater out there. It’s RIDICULOUS! It’s the same on So You Think You Can Dance. they keep using code words to the male ballroom dancers, they have to be more “Masculine” i.e. less gay. Come ON! It’s BALLROOM DANCING for shits sake!
Cynedd
If Mr. Weir keeps saying things like that people will start rumours that he might possibly, maybe be gay! Hahahahahahaha!
Rick
@dgz:
Gaying up hockey.
Yes, please!
anonyous
So when you yourself happen like someone for whatever reason they do get a pass on not commenting on their sexuality, no sneering or faux-concern? Double standards, Queerty.
Anyway, I love him too, whether he discusses his sexuality or not. He actually got me interested in figure skating, his performance on “pokerface” is pretty awesome, and he seems like a really nice guy.
scott ny'er
There are ways to make ice-skating look more masculine. When Weir takes the ice he does bring a very feminine vibe. But that’s his style. Unlike a Alexei Yagudin or Philippe Candeloro, which are more masculine in style.
But I don’t think people, and more so, men are going to care either way. Ice-skating will never be looked at as a masculine sport or even a sport. And unless another Michelle Kwan comes into the sport, that sport is dead and dying. Even with great new talents like YuNa Kim, it’s just not gonna happen unless there is a big scandal on the level of tonya harding and the knee bashing thing.
merkin
I wasnt a fan of Weir–and couldn’t care less about figure-skating–until i saw his documentary, Pop Star on Ice. I found him to be a funny, witty, bitchy, introspective person and a consummate athlete who invests just as much of himself as some basketball star who gets a trillion-dollar salary. I dont need him to come out–he lives “out,” in the best sense of the word.
RainaWeather
@anonyous: I agree on the Double Standards. Although I thought he was out, but i just did a bit of quick researching.
schlukitz
I agree with Johnny Weir. “Butching-up” figure skating would be like butching-up ballet. Both are about form, fluidity and graceful body movement.
Who would want to watch either artist, performing like a stiff, rigid broom?
Fitz
There is something so endearing, and even sexy, about someone who has the guts to be unabashedly themselves.
Phoenix (Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star)
@ Rick & DGZ,
Hockey doesn’t need gaying up. Don’t you know what those guys get up to when they’re on the road?
M
@Phoenix (Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star):
Start pouring that tea, Phoenix!
What do they get up to?
Phoenix (I'm Clutching My Pearls...And My Lube)
@ M,
You know how none of them seem to have front teeth….?
M
@Phoenix (I’m Clutching My Pearls…And My Lube):
HA HA HA HA!
So that explains it!