Johnny Weir- Macho Man?

[+ Lucky]

Gay blogger Andy Towle (http://www.towleroad.com)today has this item, about the figure skater Johnny Weir and his views on what macho men want to watch:

 

http://towleroad.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c730253ef0128777db459970c-800wi

In an interview with HBO Sports, Johnny Weir cracks some sarcasm at straight men who won't watch figure skating because it's too gay.

Says Weir: "I am an effeminate person. I like sparkly things. I like the theatre of figure skating. But in no way does that make me less macho than someone in a muscle shirt and tattoos with grease stains or whatever. I know for the men's population of the United States, figure skating is a gay sport — and that's a misconception. There are so many straight athletes in figure skating. But I think it's the music and costumes that turn most men off, cause they want to see spandex men hitting each other's ass and throwing a ball. It's very different."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

 

 

As for me, I am having a difficult time with his thought that effeminacy and sparkly things make him as macho as someone in a greasy muscle shirt...

From Justjared:

Ryan Gosling is a Muscle Man

 

http://cdn.buzznet.com/media-cdn/jj1/headlines/2009/08/ryan-gosling-muscle-man.jpg

Read more: http://justjared.buzznet.com/2009/08/05/ryan-gosling-muscle-man/comment-page-2/#ixzz0f3RTFMmR

[Guest greatness]

I love

 

Figure skating used to make me excited when I was young and I wanted to be a figure skater. I used to emulate figure skaters on ice but I couldn't jump at all.

 

Gay blogger Andy Towle (http://www.towleroad.com)today has this item, about the figure skater Johnny Weir and his views on what macho men want to watch:

 

http://towleroad.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c730253ef0128777db459970c-800wi

In an interview with HBO Sports, Johnny Weir cracks some sarcasm at straight men who won't watch figure skating because it's too gay.

Says Weir: "I am an effeminate person. I like sparkly things. I like the theatre of figure skating. But in no way does that make me less macho than someone in a muscle shirt and tattoos with grease stains or whatever. I know for the men's population of the United States, figure skating is a gay sport — and that's a misconception. There are so many straight athletes in figure skating. But I think it's the music and costumes that turn most men off, cause they want to see spandex men hitting each other's ass and throwing a ball. It's very different."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

 

 

As for me, I am having a difficult time with his thought that effeminacy and sparkly things make him as macho as someone in a greasy muscle shirt...

From Justjared:

Ryan Gosling is a Muscle Man

 

http://cdn.buzznet.com/media-cdn/jj1/headlines/2009/08/ryan-gosling-muscle-man.jpg

Read more: http://justjared.buzznet.com/2009/08/05/ryan-gosling-muscle-man/comment-page-2/#ixzz0f3RTFMmR

[Guest TBinCHI]

I agree, Lucky, that being effeminate and liking sparkly things is not as "macho" as being a muscle bear. But, what I think Weir is trying to say is that just because someone is effeminate and likes sparkly things does not make him less of a man than someone who is all muscle and rides a motorcycle. Society loves labels and it is easy to put one on figure skaters, but just because men love to skate and even if they wear frilly costumes, that doesn't make them less of a man than the guy in the muscle shirt. All of us gay men are still men, whether we are light in our loafers or not.

[justaguy]

TB you are right on point. Labels kill, especially those labels we pin on ourselves, because they limit how we see other people and how we see ourselves.

 

As far as figure skating is concerned, I tend to ignore the glitz and focus on the athleticism. How many of us won't kill to have butts and legs half as powerful as the "effiminate" skater who launches himself into the air, rotates four times, and lands on one foot?

[+ Lucky]

I agree, Lucky, that being effeminate and liking sparkly things is not as "macho" as being a muscle bear. But, what I think Weir is trying to say is that just because someone is effeminate and likes sparkly things does not make him less of a man than someone who is all muscle and rides a motorcycle. Society loves labels and it is easy to put one on figure skaters, but just because men love to skate and even if they wear frilly costumes, that doesn't make them less of a man than the guy in the muscle shirt. All of us gay men are still men, whether we are light in our loafers or not.

 

 

Well, the very definition of a "man" is what is being discussed here. Surely having the right genitals is a start, but what Weir is complaining about is that he is considered less of a "man" in a more colloquial sense. Effiminate behavior is by definition feminine, and sparkly things are not usually associated with masculinity. Why can't Johnny just accept who he is without needing to be considered just as macho as the tough guy with the greasy muscle shirt?

[Guest TBinCHI]

Well, the very definition of a "man" is what is being discussed here. Surely having the right genitals is a start, but what Weir is complaining about is that he is considered less of a "man" in a more colloquial sense. Effiminate behavior is by definition feminine, and sparkly things are not usually associated with masculinity. Why can't Johnny just accept who he is without needing to be considered just as macho as the tough guy with the greasy muscle shirt?

 

Well I totally agree that he's just being silly if he wants people to consider him as macho as a muscle dude in in a greasy shirt. But people do equate machismo with manliness and those who are less macho are considered to be less of a man. Rubbish. Personally, I think it is very manly to be comfortable in your own skin and not care whether people label you as macho or effeminate. But, I do sympathize with Weir in that people react to him rather viscerally. I was reading some very vile posts about him following an article about Weir placing third in the nationals and going to the Olympics to represent America - proof that hatred and bigotry against homosexuality most certainly still exists.

[+ Lucky]

Weir got a nice write-up in today's Wall Street Journal. I find myself rooting for him, but at the same time his gender bending is testing my own bias on the subject.

 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704140104575057680782371978.html?mod=WSJ_LifeStyle_Lifestyle_5

 

http://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/WK-AS819_weir1_D_20100210151848.jpg Getty Images Johnny Weir at the U.S. Figure Skating Championship

[bomerrang]

Since we are into resurrecting Lucky threads, how about Weir's divorce?

 

http://img2-1.timeinc.net/people/i/2014/news/140331/johnny-weir-1-300.jpg

 

Johnny Weir's divorce from estranged husband Victor Voronov is getting messy.

 

One day after the Olympic figure skate announced he and his lawyer beau had split up after less than two years of marriage, Weir is opening up about their rocky relationship in a dramatic new interview.

 

"I've been having a tough time at home for a long time now and it's something that I've kept from the public," Weir, 29, told Access Hollywood. "I was losing myself by being married to my husband I was losing my objectives in life I was very isolated from the world."

 

Weir says that although Voronov quit his law firm job to be a supportive husband, Voronov wasn't OK with Weir's busy work schedule. "He was not super accepting of the fact I work and I have to work this week in Russia, this week in Los Angeles, next week in Tokyo and that's something that's hard to wrap your head around," Weir said. "I was supporting two people and whether it seems like a big deal or not, I come from a lower middle class family that has to work no matter what."

 

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/Johnny_Weir_Divorce_Drama__Skater_Opens_Up_About_Domestic_Violence_and_Nude_Photos__Ex_Victor_Voronov_Responds-251331931.html

[Phil_musc]

Geez, what did these guys talk about when they were dating before the marriage? Did any thought whatsoever go into how they were going to make a life together? It's great that they got married and could do so legally, but a little commons sense coupled with a clear-eyed view of life would seem to be something that never crossed their minds. Sparkly things notwithstanding. . .

[+ friendofsheila]

Did any thought whatsoever go into how they were going to make a life together? It's great that they got married and could do so legally, but a little commons sense coupled with a clear-eyed view of life would seem to be something that never crossed their minds. .

 

Zee gayz, zey can be just as stoopeed as zee straights...

[Phil_musc]

Zee gayz, zey can be just as stoopeed as zee straights...

 

May weeeeee.

[actor61]

Gay blogger Andy Towle (http://www.towleroad.com)today has this item, about the figure skater Johnny Weir and his views on what macho men want to watch:

 

http://towleroad.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c730253ef0128777db459970c-800wi

In an interview with HBO Sports, Johnny Weir cracks some sarcasm at straight men who won't watch figure skating because it's too gay.

Says Weir: "I am an effeminate person. I like sparkly things. I like the theatre of figure skating. But in no way does that make me less macho than someone in a muscle shirt and tattoos with grease stains or whatever. I know for the men's population of the United States, figure skating is a gay sport — and that's a misconception. There are so many straight athletes in figure skating. But I think it's the music and costumes that turn most men off, cause they want to see spandex men hitting each other's ass and throwing a ball. It's very different."

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...

 

 

As for me, I am having a difficult time with his thought that effeminacy and sparkly things make him as macho as someone in a greasy muscle shirt...

From Justjared:

Ryan Gosling is a Muscle Man

 

http://cdn.buzznet.com/media-cdn/jj1/headlines/2009/08/ryan-gosling-muscle-man.jpg

Read more: http://justjared.buzznet.com/2009/08/05/ryan-gosling-muscle-man/comment-page-2/#ixzz0f3RTFMmR

 

Lots of people think Weir is typical of figure skating - effeminate and sparkly - but what they need to consider is that even the least macho of these skaters takes off backwards, turns 3 or 4 times in the air, and then lands on 1 foot. Enough said.