Johnny Weir Criticized For Not Being Out

Everybody (still) wants Johnny Weir to be gay! The 3-time U.S. National Figure Skating Champion has become the evil step kid of the figure skating world. Some claim it's his vocal nature and eccentric style that critics just can't ignore, but most hone in on his flamboyant speech and mannerisms. During a recent episode of Nancy Kerrigan's World of Skating "Countdown to Nationals," Mark Lund, founder of International Figure Skating magazine, was supposed to be analyzing the competition for the upcoming 2007 U.S. Figure Skating Championship, but instead spent the entire segment bashing Johnny Weir at every turn. Ironically, none of his comments focused on Weir's skating. He said,

"I cannot wrap my head around how overly out [Weir] is without saying he's out... I just don't think he's representative of the community I want to be a part of... And who designs his outfits?"

Whether Weir is in fact gay or not is entirely his business. And at the very least, his skill should be the highlight of his successful skating career, not how out he is.

I have to consider what would happen if Weir were gay and decided to publicly come out? Would Mark Lund and the other figure skating figureheads embrace him with support? Or does Weir's talent coupled with his "flamboyant" style bring up an internal and external homophobia that people like Lund never dealt with at that age.

How can a sport like figure skating be so intolerant? Lund continued his anti-flamboyant rant while discussing his favorite pick, Evan Lysacek:

"[Lysacek] has a classic elegance and masculinity on the ice that I think we need to see in male figure skating. I'm sorry I don't need to see a prima-ballerina on the ice. [Referring to Weir]"

Sorry Lund. No matter how butch male figure skating becomes, the sport will never be seen as a masculine man's competition. And if masculinity is what the sport needs, how about we start the feminine purge with the critics themselves.

If Weir wins the 2007 U.S. Figure Skating Championship, he will be the second person in history to earn four consecutive U.S. national championship titles.

Watch the Video: Countdown to 2007 US Figure Skating Nationals (runtime 7:24)
Previous Blogs: Everybody Wants Johnny Weir to be Gay
What Johnny Weir Says:

"People talk. Figure skating is thought of as a female sport, something that only girly men compete in. I don't feel the need to express my sexual being because it's not part of my sport and it's private. I can sleep with whomever I choose and it doesn't affect what I'm doing on the ice, so speculation is speculation. I like nice things, and beautiful things, so if that is the only way people are determining that I swing one way or the other, then to me, that's sad. You can't judge a book by it's cover, ever. I never get angry about things because it's human nature to be jealous and rip people to shreds if you don't like them, regardless of the subject. I am who I am, and I don't need to justify anything to anyone."

More Figure Skating: Figure Skating at About
Other Readings: Fear of Effeminate Men