Johnny Weir on Critic's Gender Remark: “Masculinity & Femininity is Something That's Very Old Fashioned”

U.S. men's figure skater Johnny Weir held a press conference on Wednesday in Vancouver responding to homophobic remarks made two Canadian broadcasters.

"I'm not somebody to cry over something or to be weak about something. I felt very defiant when I saw these comments," the skater said referring to homophobic comments made by two Canadian commentators, one of which suggested Weir should have to take a gender test. "It wasn't these two men criticizing my skating… it was them criticizing me as a person, and that was something that really, frankly, pissed me off.

"I hope more kids can grow up the same way I did and more kids can feel the freedom that I feel to be themselves and to express themselves and that's the most important thing," the skater, who placed sixth at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics in Men's Figure Skating, continued. "Out of ugly, I think the most important thing to do in life is make something beautiful."

As for his outlandish performance theatrics and extravagant costumes on the ice, Weir said the public doesn't get to see his true self.

"I'm always thought of [as] the sparkly flamboyant character that wore a crown of roses… Nobody knows me, nobody knows what makes me tick," he said. "I think masculinity is what you believe it to be. To me, masculinity is all my perception. I think masculinity and femininity is something that's very old fashioned."

And the skater said he believes the younger generation is evolving when it comes to gender roles.

"There's a whole new generation of people that aren't defined by their sex or their race or who they like to sleep with," he told reporters. "I think as a person you know what your values are and what you believe in and I that's the most important thing."

Following the press conference, the skater asked his Twitter followers to spread their love to others, Tweeting, "Why can't we all just get along? Seriously? Love everyone like they deserve to be loved. Goodnight lovers."

http://twitter.com/Johnnygweir


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