For the love of God! I am gay as a goose but I am sooo sick of hearing about Equality and Gay Rights in every aspect of our day to day lives! Can we not even enjoy The Olympics without making it a platform for politics? It's ok to be ourselves and express ourselves freely but one doesn't have to act like a complete clown 24/7 like Weir. It seems he is an attention seeker that worries more about his image than his skating skills. Rudy Galindo was eccentric and flamboyant but he knew when to behave. Gay or not people who act like court jesters will get on anyone's nerves after a while.
It's not a political platform to want equal treatment. With Russia's stance on LGBT people -- outlawing public same-sex displays of affection or pro-gay displays, it
wouldn't be okay to be oneself and express oneself freely. And yet, the Olympics are supposed about diversity and inclusiveness. If you go to an Olympics and there is a risk of being persecuted for who you are -- Munich 11, anyone? -- then there is a serious problem with that.
I actually think Weir is a relevant person to speak about this seeing as how he's gay but also loves Russia. Russia saying no to a Pride House is basically saying that LGBT athletes aren't welcome at the Olympics and are essentially second-class visitors -- unless, of course, they hide who they are which would be as cowardly as the IOC is on this issue. "When they choose a country that's homophobic, they send a message to the world and to gay athletes, among those messages is, 'if you're not out, stay in the closet.'" So true, but ironically, it's not as if the same couldn't be said about Salt Lake City, eh...
TonyaHardlyEver, as a gay person to say you're so sick of hearing about equality and gay rights is homophobic, ignorant, and kind of pathetic. That's something that might not directly affect you but it does affect many people like you... it's like a well-to-do person of colour saying "I'm so sick of hearing about racism, does that even exist anymore?". I don't see anything wrong with Weir speaking out about it, and he's hardly a clown (sorry if he's not masc, or 'straight-acting' enough for you...). You're essentially saying you hate that Weir is a gay who's getting involved in a gay issue just because he's being his flamboyant, gay self ... but "Rudy knew when to behave", as if that was by his choosing. It's hilarious that you're denouncing Weir for not "toning it down" so to speak when that's exactly what he's advocating against gay athletes having to do in Sochi!
The Olympics are a venue for political issues, too. What, you think Beijing thought they could have a nice, little old sporting event without anyone bringing up China's human rights issues? It's important not just for LGBT people but the world progressing as a civilized society in accepting all people of all creeds, races, genders, orientations. If that's not something that is inherently fundamental to the Olympics, I don't know what is.
:thumbsup: 
I am sure athletes will be busy with their competitions. I seriously doubt that any of them are bringing costumes and banners for gay parades in front of Iceberg to test how Russian law works. It's just journalists are writing their nonsense, same as usual.
