Evan Lysacek may have won the Gold Medal for Men's Figure Skating in this year's Winter Olympics but Johnny Weir has won my heart. Even though he skated well and still ended up in sixth place, Johnny is my kind of guy.
I don't know why I was not aware of him until this year. But since the Olympics I have been watching him on his Sundance Channel TV Reality series "Be Good, Johnny Weir" and I have fallen in love with him.
What I love about him is that he is flamboyant, outrageous, effeminate, and proud of it. That and he has an eerie resemblance to my ex. Whether he is super femme or she is super butch, somehow they meet in the middle in a sexy androgynous kind of way. They are also both temperamental artists with a wicked sense of humor who are moody and endearingly cocky as hell.
By showing his real nature both on and off the ice, Johnny Weir is true to himself. For years, male figure skaters have hid any signs of feminism for fear of being ridiculed as gay. Let's get real. Figure skating is basically a feminine sport. In fact, some sportscasters have gone so far as to say it is not a sport but an art form. To me, it is both. And Weir exemplifies the artistic side of the sport.
Even with displaying the courage to be himself, Weir in 2007 was mocked on a newscast by publicly gay former figure skater, Mark Lund as he called Johnny a "prima ballerina" while praising Lysacek for his use of "masculinity." Strange words coming from one who sounds quite effeminate himself. Lund and sportscaster Lou Tilley then proceeded to make fun of Weir's swan routine which they called a "bad idea."
When asked about it later at a press conference, Johnny called the remarks "mean spirited" but that he wasn't going to let it bother him. The fact that he called Lund out on his ignorance made me respect him even more.
I recently heard a local woman TV newscaster here in Philadelphia comment on Lysacek's performance at the Olympics saying it was good to see a manly guy win. Was that sly reference chiding Johnny and others that are not afraid to show their gentle side?
I'll take the artistic, elegant guy who wears makeup, pink feathers, and sequins and glides like a ballerina on the ice than one that hides his true nature from the world anytime. Go, Johnny, go! You have a true fan in me.