Thaindian News

Jan 7 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Although he admits that he is not a fan of labels, Champion Figure Skater Johnny Weir has stepped out of the closet to give himself one, he is gay. In his new book, “Welcome to My World” is acknowledges his sexual preferences, but adds, “being gay is the smallest part of what makes me me.”

In the excerpt of his book, which was posted in the issue of ‘People’ magazine for January 17, Weir states, “I’m not ashamed to be me. More than anyone else I know, I love my life and accept myself. What’s wrong with being unique? I am proud of everything that I am and will become.”

He is scheduled to begin a book tour in New York on Tuesday, which is the same day that his autobiography is to be released. After repeatedly avoiding the questions about his sexuality, with the reasoning that he “didn’t wish to be defined by labels” the skater answered refused to answer the derogatory remarks about his masculinity which were made by broadcasters who were on the French speaking RDS last year in Vancouver’s Olympics. He only said that he wanted people to see him “for him I am not what I am.”

He wrote, “All the gay websites couldn’t figure out why I was such a jerk that I wouldn’t talk about it. But pressure is the last thing that would make me want to ‘join’ a community. … The massive backlash against me in the gay media and community only made me dig my ‘closeted’ heels in further.”

Now that he has decided to tell all, Weir says, “With people killing themselves and being scared into the closet, I hope that even just one person can gain strength from my story.”