I do have several friends who have skated or are skating with the “big name” show on ice where the skaters wear cartoon character costumes.

According to them the people under those costumes are gay men for the most part. Even a lot of the women’s parts.

It make sense though, as the costumes are heavy and it’s hard to find straight people that will travel on the road for months on end. Most gay men enjoy the travel, and the work is relatively easy skating for a couple of hours per day, with lots of free time to explore cities and Grindr on the tour.

u go evan u we e forgotten tomorrow
johnny weir will be remebered forever

As to their sexual orientation, I always assume the best in people, so I assume they’re gay, lesbian, bi or transgender.

As I once asked a publicist from an ice show that was appearing at the AA Arena, “Are any of the skaters out?”

He said, “I really don’t know if any of them are gay or not.”

I said, “I saw the pictures. I didn’t ask you if any of them were gay. I asked if any of them were out.”

He laughed, checked for me and none was.

I don’t expect the media to point out or proclaim anyone’s sexual orientation.

Acting feminine doesn’t mean a man is gay. Acting masculine doesn’t mean a man is straight.

Abbott always says he is busy and/or between girlfriends.

Lysacek has actually had girlfriends and is now rumored to be dating Nastia Liukin. Plus, he has that wonderful story about how he wanted to play hockey, but his parents saw his figure skating talent and insisted. NBC and US Figure Skating have played that story like a broken record.

But who knows in reality? I”ve been around the rink since for over 30 years now and have yet to meet a straight male figure skater. But I suppose it’s possible.

The real reason is the direct sponsors and the media worried about their sponsors. There is tremedous pressure from sponsors to make it more masculine. The uber-homophobic IOC and most country’s Olympic committees are all too willing to go along with it.

Sadly, even the liberal countries like Canada and France play along with this also. Canada pushed aside it’s best hope for a male figure skating medal at Vancouver, Jeffrey Buttle, because he was too feminine. France’s Brian Joubert was married to a woman (former Miss France) who later said he was gay and it was arranged by his sponsor’s insistence. Howevery, Joubert later sued her for slander and won, so who knows what is true or not.

The most insulting part is to see the closeted flaming ice queens hired by NBC to sit at the table and complain that Wier is too feminine. Have they ever looked at a video of themselves skating?

He has singlehandedly redefined men’s skating. It will never be quite the same.