Weir/Lund Controversy

Going into the Nationals next week, Johnny Weir has again spurred controversy. This time, however, very little of it was his own doing.

A few weeks ago, during a cable program about the upcoming Nationals, Johnny was basically “outed” by Mark Lund, the openly gay figure skating commentator, journalist, and “Skating With Celebrities” judge. Unlike the Rosie O’Donnell/Donald Trump thing, this controversy quickly downed down, in spite of it occurring almost immediately before a major American figure skating competition.

Here's a clip of the above-mentioned program:


The attention it has drawn has come, it seems, exclusively from the gay internet media and bloggers. I probably wouldn’t have heard about it if it weren’t for my Google alert, since although I had Tivoed the program where Lund made his outrageous comments about Weir, I deleted it after about two minutes because I found its tone patronizing and not worth my time. As far as the mainstream media was concerned, it was a non-event.

Perhaps that should cause those of us who care about the sport of figure skating some concern. Perhaps it shouldn’t, since it involves something that should stay private—the sexual orientation of another human being. Regardless of what anyone thinks about homosexuality (and remember folks, this is a Catholic site as well as a figure skating site), the few articles I was able to find about this incident—all gay-oriented—agreed that Lund’s comments were inappropriate and came out in overwhelming support of Weir and in condemnation of Lund.

I applaud that, because although I admit I’m confused about my views on homosexuality, one thing for me is certain: I believe that it’s inappropriate to force someone out of the closet. I’m no expert on the gay community or even on gay psychology, but I understand that “coming out” is an extremely personal process. Weir is only twenty-one years old. Lund, in his defense, wrote, “Mr. Weir is an individual who enjoys all the rights of the gay community without coming out to support the gay community.”

As a straight person, my response to that is, “So what?” I’d think that Lund would rejoice that someone like Weir, in the current cultural environment, for better or worse, has the freedom to investigate his sexual orientation. He’s a public person, so much of that is being done publicly. Other gay celebrities have had the freedom and opportunity to do the same, so my question is: Why not allow Weir the same?

To be fair to Lund, though, there are some issues that have come up this season that much of the gay press isn’t aware of. I’ve already written in this blog that I felt that Weir is confused. For example, he began the season stating that he wanted to “change his image.” He said that he wanted to be less offensive and to “change his look.”

My response at the time was that those statements and his actions contradicted each other. Weir said that he didn’t want to be as controversial this year, but he chose to portray Jesus Christ in his long program. I agree with the gay blogger who stated, in response to Lund’s complaints about Weir’s long program, that portraying Christ in a skating program is different than identifying with Christ. However, Weir has said that he does identify with Christ. In the ESPN broadcast of Cup of Russia, Paul Wylie quoted Weir as saying that he understood feeling persecuted but loving your enemies anyway.

I admit that I responded in a similar fashion to Lund. As an elite American athlete, Weir has had very little opportunities to suffer like Christ, or like the millions of people in the world who have legitimately suffered. As a Christian, though, I applaud Weir’s depth of feeling about Christ’s sufferings, enough that he commissioned an original piece of music about it and had it choreographed. Identifying with Jesus is never a bad thing. At the same time, though, Lund’s ridicule of Weir is unfair (and as the gay issues writer over at About.com states, most likely homophobic), especially since Evan Lysacek, whom he fawned over during his commentary, is also portraying Christ in his short program this year.

Speaking of short programs, Weir’s own short program represents his “change of image.” His lines are less fluid; his movements are sharper. He’s using the program to present a more “masculine” image; you can even see it in his choice of costume. The problem, though, is that it simply isn’t working. As I’ve stated before, I believe that it’s not working for the simple reason that he’s trying to be someone he’s not. He’s simply not a “masculine” skater. (Whatever “masculine” means.)

Even when attempting a more “masculine” program, Weir still has the beautiful fluid lines. He’s still, as Dick Button so aptly describes him, skates like “liquid gold.” Figure skating has always been full of “effeminate male figure skaters”—and again, I ask what does that mean? I’m not so sure that anyone, even the straightest of figure skating fans (I’m including myself in that), cares very much.

I’ll tell you what I care about, though. I want to be touched at a deep level; I want to catch my breath in amazement at what these athletes can do. Johnny Weir, as inconsistent he can be in competition (especially this season), has done that time and time again. Like Lund, I’ve complained about Weir’s costumes, especially his swan one from last season. However, I can’t deny that it’s a spectacular program. As Weir was told during the Marshall’s showcase, it’s his “signature piece.”

I can also tell you what I care about in regards to Johnny Weir, especially this season. I care about him doing his job and delivering the goods, and that’s not something, for all kinds of personal reasons, he’s done consistently this year. I really care less if he’s gay, or if he’s investigating his sexuality. That’s none of my business. It shouldn’t be anyone’s business.

So my personal message to Johnny Weir is: If you’re gay, be gay. Be outrageous; be over-the-top, be as controversial as you want to be. But be brilliant and continue to amaze me with your liquid-gold. I guess what I’m saying is be yourself. It’s obvious from your “King of Chess” short program that being anything other than yourself simply doesn’t work. It doesn’t work for any of us.