http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaOe0_hkqAI&feature=player_embedded

This young man is an Olympic Athlete, for sure.

By those standards, Johnny Weir is one hell of a man.

Not everyone has Eric Partridge stuck up their arses.

The issue here is not whether Johnny Weir is gay or straight. The issue is this…

1) These two commentators clearly think calling him gay is an insult, because they perceive a gay man as less of a man than a straight one. Long way to go still for reall acceptance of gays as equal to heteros!

2) They clearly thought these comments were aceeptable and permissable on the radio. In an age when putting a man down for race or something of that sort would surely mean dismissal, having a pop at a man’s sexuality merely results in an investigation.

3. Whether it was a joke or not, how do we educate children to accept that gays are not freaks or abominations or something to either fear or point fingers at if people in positions of perceived authority do this? They aren’t a pair of plonkers in a pub. They’re on national radio presenting a sports commentary. They have an example to set.

As part of its “Safe Schools Campaign”, EGALE Canada (www.egale.ca) launched a national school climate survey called “Youth Speak Up about Homophobia and Transphobia in Canadian Schools”.

Out of 1,700 participants, nine out of ten transgender students, six out of ten LGB students, and three out of ten straight students were verbally harassed because of their EXPRESSION OF GENDER.

Moreover, the “Face of Hate Crimes in Canada” reveals that Sexual Orientation was one of the top three motivations for hate crimes; 56.3% of all hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation were violent; and the second most likely place for hate crimes to be committed was in educational facilities.

Support Egale Canada: become a member. It’s free!

You seen to have a problem with this guys sexuality. Not everyone wants to ‘come out’ and shout they are gay from the rooftops. Even more, if he is gay, what business is it of yours??

If the guy were actively condemming gay people, yet hiding his own homosexuality, then it would be a different matter. That is not the case here.

The guy doesn’t talk about his sexuality, and that is his choice. He is an ice skater, and that is what he does and importantly, what he talks about.

The silly remarks made by the commentators were just odious, and not what you expect from adults. I’m sure there are plenty other people who would happily do their job, with more style, more skill, and without deliberately trying to offend those participating.

By those standards, Johnny Weir is one hell of a man.

SimonM requires every gay person to be out of the closet, no excuses, but as for assisting them to die with dignity, no way!

I’m beginning to wonder if simply requiring the opposite of what people wish is what Simon is all about!

You wanna stay in the closet? Simon says NO.

You wanna die with dignity? Simon says NO.

I’ve heard his press conference and I think he dealt with the issue masterfully and gracefully. He wasn’t fazed about the attack on himself but saddened about the effect that these words can have on people who are not as strong, or as protected as he is by the support of his fans.

I think he’s given a great example of maturity which I can’t say about some of the comments on here. Why would gay people always have to account for who they sleep with? Where does it say that we have to pigeon-hole ourselves into defining our sexuality in a way that makes it manageable and easy for casual homophobes to comment on?

I give 100% support to gay activists, and that includes Australia’s Gary Burns. I hope McGuire and Molloy get the sack, and that whoever chose them to be Olympic commentators is ‘encouraged’ to apologize to the ICO 2010.

As for Johnny Weir, his attitude is nothing short of surprisingly mature, but then Johnny Weir is an Olympic Athlete, and a champion, isn’t he.

He seems a nice boy, with no ax to grind