Is Johnny Weir gay?

February 17th, 2010 · 34 Comments

It’s funny to me that we still get asked the question: “Is Johnny Weir gay?” People started asking during the 2006 Winter Olympics, when Weir was all over NBC, including segments titled “Weir eye for the straight guy” and “He’s hear, he’s Weir.” That was when he talked about listening to Christina Aguilera and his outfit was designed to look like a swan, which he named Camille.

Over the last four years, Weir has been the gayest thing in sports. He walked in the Heatherette show and appeared in Black Book in high heels. In his documentary, “Pop Star On Ice,” he’s in a bubble bath with his best friend, Paris and he lies on the couch with a Hello Kitty doll. When ESPN asked him for an interview, he took the reporter for a mani-pedi. When I interviewed Weir last summer and asked him how many sequins are too many, he answered: “What kind of question is that? There are never too many.”

During his stint in Torino back in 2006, this is what I wrote:

My guess is, he’s gay as balloons and he keeps coming out to us in just about every media interview he does. To come out, you don’t have to call a press conference and say to the world, “Yep, I’m gay.” I think if you got Johnny to talk off the record he’d probably say, “Are you an idiot? Did you not see the outfits I’ve been wearing? Did you not see me on NBC? What, do I have to spell it out for you?” Just because he hasn’t said the words doesn’t mean he hasn’t told us. Weir seems completely comfortable with everyone else talking about his sexuality. He just isn’t interested in talking about it. He’s much more interested in shopping, listening to Christina Aguilera and trying on sunglasses.

If you have watched Weir, last night wearing a black-and-pink corsett with pretty pink frills down his arm, and you are still asking whether Weir is out or not, you need to check the prescription on your contact lenses. Actions speak louder than words, and whether or not Weir says the words “I’m gay” to a reporter, he is the outest, proudest man in sports!

By Cyd Zeigler jr.

Tags: Figure Skating · Gay · Johnny Weir

34 responses so far ↓

1 Taylor Siluwé // Feb 17, 2010 at 1:39 pm

I so agree. And that’s why I love him. He’s our princess on ice.
2 Jim Buzinski // Feb 17, 2010 at 2:49 pm

The interesting thing is how the mainstream media deal with this: Until he says “I am gay,” they feel they can’t say he’s gay, so they dance around it using all sorts of euphemisms. It’s rather comical.

What’s also comical is when a gay guy last week told me he was looking forward to the Lysacek-Weir skates since it would pit a straight against gay skater.
3 czvande // Feb 17, 2010 at 3:04 pm

I think this is called “Liberace syndrome.”
4 Druggybear // Feb 17, 2010 at 3:52 pm

Johnny is fabulous! bring the bronze home baby!
5 Gianni // Feb 17, 2010 at 4:42 pm

he is the outest, proudest man in sports!

Sorry but I beg to differ. He may be a big athlete and artist, ok but for being out and proud it takes to courage to actually say and spell it.
Exatcly like the many talented people listed in this website , both men and women, have done.
With his refusal to say the g-word he sends the message that sexuality is something to be hidden unless, of course, you are straight.
The australian diver is an out and proud gay man and a source of inspiration for many people, both in and outside of sports world, Weir isn’t.
6 Mike // Feb 17, 2010 at 5:06 pm

Well said Gianni.

Outsports, why do you continually celebrate this guy’s inability to say the words, “I’m gay”.

You tell us he already has come out and said he’s gay by his actions. That is to equate acting like a diva, taking bubble baths, wearing outrageous costumes, skating to Lady Gaga, etc. with actually standing up proudly and saying, “I’m gay”.

How can you not see how wrong that is?

Go read your own articles about Matthew Mitcham, Brendan Burke and the lacrosse player from Oneota. Then tell us again that Johnny Weir is as out and proud as any of them.
7 Patricia Nell Warren // Feb 17, 2010 at 5:06 pm

I’m with you, Cyd. How could anybody miss that head toss and campy “kiss, kiss” that he gave the crowd?
8 iHeartSocks // Feb 17, 2010 at 7:38 pm

@Giani, @Mike: Why should Diva Weir (and I mean that in a “Girl, you are fierce!” good way) have to say that he is gay?? Do you two tell everyone that you’re gay?? Must the first word to come out of a gay person by “I”m gay.”?

You can be “out and proud” w/out having to say “I’m gay”, and Johnny Wier is just that. Anyone can see that…well, almost anyone, as evident by you two.

And, Cyd, the gayest thing is sport is saying that “working out counts” as a sport Outsports Clubhouse members should count as a sport they participate in Girl, please!
9 Justin Taylor // Feb 17, 2010 at 10:55 pm

Johnny is just too f*cking HOT to NOT talk about. OMFG, I wished I could just wrap my mouth around all that muscle.
10 Justin Taylor justyly@aol.com // Feb 17, 2010 at 10:56 pm

OMG, he’s too hot!
11 Dennis Schleicher // Feb 18, 2010 at 12:08 am

So who cares? Gay, Straight, Bisexual, We’re All the Same. I had the pleasure of knowing Johnny as he trained in Connecticut in 2004 as he stayed with my best friend Joanne Tinervia. Johnny is an amazing human being with a heart of gold. He was so inspiring that I couldn’t resist to write about him in my explosives and controversial memoir. “Forbidden Love with a Married Man,” by Dennis Schleicher.
Bottom line: Johnny’s a great person, no matter what he is.

Be safe, be yourself!!!
Dennis
12 Joe Guckin // Feb 18, 2010 at 12:08 am

I’d still prefer celebrities to actually say “I’m gay” or at least acknowledge publicly that they’re romantically involved with someone of the same gender before we say they’re “out.” I guess we’ll see what happens re: Johnny Weir if and when he’s dating someone.
13 George // Feb 18, 2010 at 12:33 am

Don’t care about his sexual preferance(s) !
Just want to know if was wearing butt pads @ his olympic performance. BTW.. the best I’ve ever seen him do, too !

To many he is a clown.. and he can be.. but he is also a great ice performer..
14 Chad // Feb 18, 2010 at 3:00 am

I guess today is obvious day! lol
15 Enigma // Feb 18, 2010 at 3:03 am

I’d say the reason the mainstream media is hesitant to call him gay is because he hasn’t come out and said it.

You and I both know that he’s as gay as they come but until he actually says it, it’s still speculative. No MSM outlet is going to come out and say he’s “gay” out of fear that in some weird way he’s not… could lead to a defamation lawsuit.
16 JoeyOh // Feb 18, 2010 at 4:53 am

This Kid is great. Give it to em’ Johnny!
“Sell It”
17 MB // Feb 18, 2010 at 2:37 pm

If Johnny were to come out and say that he’s gay, he’d be a fantastic role model for the gay community (in my opinion). He’s talented, funny, outspoken, smart, kind — to make it simple, he’s just Johnny, all day, every day. He’s a fascinating person who is not afraid to be himself - even straight people can learn from him in that regard.

He’s said in interviews that he wants to be judged for who he is, not what he is, and I can totally see where he’s coming from. While I’m straight, I by no means see my straightness as my defining characteristic. It’s a part of who I am, but it’s not who I am.

I for one see it as his personal business, and I think that its almost as unfair of the gay community to force him to declare himself (although perhaps with better motives) as it is for the media to do so. Let’s all focus on who he is as a person, rather than whether or not he’s come out, and give the man a break.

Good luck tonight, Johnny! xo
18 George // Feb 18, 2010 at 8:43 pm

No doubt.. he was seriously underscored in the short program… really bad ’cause he has not done well in the long ! Really needed a just score.

But lets see later tonight.

Meanwhile.. any opinions on his wearing butt pads ??????
19 I. M. Cold // Feb 19, 2010 at 12:34 am

i disagree, i think it’s bs to say someone’s DEFINITELY gay, because he acts or dresses a certain way. Yes, his outfits and personality might point to being gay, but i think he’s just special and thats why i love him. i dont like people who says he’s a freak and it’s disturbing to see him wearing stuff like that; i think it’s good that he’s totally comfortable and that he can do his own thing without worrying.
and btw, im 13 (f) so it’s not like im some lgbt activist or anything, i just think he’s great and the way someone dresses is no way to decide on his sexuality or whatever. i think because it’s so weird (his outfits and stuff), you could say hes NOT gay because he doesnt talk about it, but its so out there hes gotta know its unusual. so that’s my opinion and don’t be hatin’ because johnny weir is awesome!! and he shouldve gotn a WAY better score, wtf were those judges thinking
20 maddie // Feb 19, 2010 at 3:24 pm

who cares if he’s gay or straight–noe of our damn business. I don’t want to know what a gay or straight iceskater does in their bedroom with their partner. It’s disgusting how some of these commnetators have behaved. Even Scott Hamilton was dismissive after Weir’s short program. Weir skated very well diring his long program so hamilton finally had to giv him due respect. Russian men don’t seem to have a problem with being graceful (Alexi Yagoudin, plushenko (to an extent)–why are western men so uncomfortable with their sexuality? I’m a straight, female, by the way.
21 Johnny are you Queer? « The NLGJA Blog // Feb 19, 2010 at 4:31 pm

[...] and Cyd Ziegler Jr. are on the record in saying that Weir is gay, suggesting “you need to check the prescription on your contact [...]
22 Justo // Feb 20, 2010 at 5:06 am

OMG, of course he’s gay, he doesn’t need to say it, really….except for all these female posters who seem to need to check those contacts on their lenses…
23 Justo // Feb 20, 2010 at 5:08 am

I also think that given their are so many “out” gay sportspeople, and Olympians, that it can definitely help gay kids who might need positive role models - to see people who are obviously gay, or self declared homosexual, to be out there achieving.
24 Justo // Feb 20, 2010 at 5:09 am

Whoops, I meant to say so “few” out gay sportspeople.
25 MCinema // Feb 20, 2010 at 3:38 pm

I think he’s reluctant to actually say it cause then the media could actually refer to him as such and his scores and sponsorships would be even worse. It takes about $90,000 a year to compete at the level Weir does, and figure skating is a counter-intuitively homophobic sport. Plus, as many of the previous comments have said, him coming out is his own business. Political implications aside, coming out is still a very personal thing. I think we’d all be lying if we said we know how it feels to have all that attention on you. That kind of pressure plus the personal conflicts of coming out would be enough to drive the average person mad.
26 Nippledad // Feb 21, 2010 at 3:50 pm

This male has a problem!!
27 Johnny Weir Is Gay! | This is Queer // Feb 22, 2010 at 9:16 am

[...] face it: He posed in high heels, he feels there can never be too many sequins, and he won’t answer whether he’s gay or [...]
28 JT // Feb 24, 2010 at 2:12 pm

I think there is a very good chance that he is homosexual. My thoughts are that if he does come out that he will lose a lot of sponsorship. Take a look Adam Lambert . He was the hot new thing in music everyone knew that he is gay but when Lambert actually came out he lost millions of fans I’m not say it was right or wrong just it happens. So my theory is that he can’t afford to loose his sponsorship base and he makes up for it in well you can see the way he acts.
29 TG // Feb 26, 2010 at 9:27 pm

I won’t pretend I don’t want Johnny to be gay. I think he’s fabulous. He’s kind of pretty but he seems also to be thoroughly masculine, and I like that about him. Very androgynous - perhaps a better term than ‘gay-’ or ’straight-’ seeming. If I were his age I’d want to be his boyfriend, but I have no idea if he would like that for himself. That has nothing to do with categories. If he were straight he’d still be gay at heart and I would have no trouble blowing him kisses, giving him flowers (or shoes!), and flirting with him. I imagine there are a lot of straight men out there who would feel and do the same, so now do you really, *really* want to know? Would it make any difference? Then that would be about you, not Johnny. If I were gay and a championship athlete would I want people to prattle on about my sexuality, as if *that* had anything to do with your enjoying my performance, my beauty, my charisma? I would love for Johnny to be gay, but it wouldn’t bother me at all if he weren’t.
30 MN // Feb 27, 2010 at 6:50 am

Perhaps he’s never flat out said he’s gay because his sexuality is more complex than just gay or straight. And wouldn’t it just confound you all if he were a highly androgynous asexual? Though perhaps he’s used the phrases “take to bed” and “sleep with” a bit much for that to be the case. I suspect his silence on the matter may be more an issue of his efforts to at least keep some of his personal life private… or perhaps it’s a publicity stunt. Whatever the reason, it sure doesn’t seem to me like it’s because he’s afraid or ashamed to say the words.
31 EJ // Mar 3, 2010 at 3:13 pm

If the shoe fits . . . . .
32 Dennis Schleicher // Mar 3, 2010 at 7:42 pm

Who, can you all have somthing to say! It’s funny to me that we still get asked the question: “Is Johnny Weir gay?” People started asking during the 2006 Winter Olympics, when Weir was all over NBC. When he talked about listening to Christina Aguilera and his outfit was designed to look like a swan, which he named Camille.

So, as I’ve said in post “11″ on Feb 18th. “Who cares if he’s gay, bi, or straight, as weir-all the same….”

Dennis Schleicher (best-selling author) “Forbidden Love with a Married Man; E-mail Diaries.”
33 Dew // Mar 4, 2010 at 12:55 am

Johnny is the epitome of a generational shift in the gay community. In decades past, coming out was seen as a statement as symbolic as Tommie Smith and John Carlos raising their fists at the ‘68 Olympic Games. In my opinion, Johnny’s refusal to give a straight answer (pardon the pun) to the question of his sexuality is actually rather symbolic for our times. An athlete should not be defined by his or her sexuality. No one saw a need to ask Tiger Woods if he was straight when he first came to prominence. It wasn’t until scandal was involved that we even cared about his sexuality. What I find really offensive is the need-to-know mentality of the MSM and the viewing public. It’s as if they’re waiting to be able to explain JW’s “flamboyant” antics by simply saying, “Oh, I get it, he’s gay”. It shows how uncomfortable some of us are with ambiguity vis-a-vis sexuality and gender identity. Coming out would be seen as self-serving and an attention-seeking activity for Johnny (like Adam Lambert waiting to come out until a Rolling Stone interview). I guarantee there is a new generation of young people out there who identify with Johnny and who don’t want to be seen solely as “the gay kid”. I prefer Johnny being fabulous Johnny, telling all the kids out there not to fear individuality. A wink is enough for those of us who don’t need to ask.
34 Mawmaw // Mar 25, 2010 at 4:18 pm

George: No. His ass? Completely natural. I should know. I’ve seen it —

Okay, only on T.V. But, he was videotaped entering his shower. That bootiage is the result of, oh, 10+ years of elite-level excercise. Every male figure skater has that, it’s just more obvious on Johnny because his clothing is usually tight and the rest of him is really little by comparison.