Johnny's photo in Out magazine's "Out 100" gallery,
in which he was named "Diva of the Year." Love this!
So on Friday Out magazine revealed its December cover for its special "Out 100" double issue, and there among the five cover stars was Johnny! Right alongside Rachel Maddow, Julianne Moore, Ricky Martin, and Nate Berkus!
Out.com also was kind enough to post this video about the five cover stars:
And they offered this behind-the-scenes look at the production of the special Out 100 double issue. Watch for Johnny briefly from about 3:25 to 3:29 (still need to make a .gif of this ...).
In their profile of Johnny, Out notes:
[T]he skater’s growing media empire ... exponentially expanded in 2010 with a reality TV show, Be Good Johnny Weir, on the Sundance Channel, the recording of his first single, “Dirty Love,” which he’s been told “sounds a bit like Depeche Mode,” and starring on ABC's Skating With The Stars as a judge.
Topping off the banner year, which also saw Weir winning the 2010 Logo NewNowNext Award for Most Addictive Reality Star and the U.S. Figure Skating’s 2010 Readers’ Choice Award for Skater of the Year, was his acceptance of the Visibility Award from the Human Rights Campaign Seattle in September.
So three things:
(1) "STARRING on ABC's Skating With the Stars." Yes! Starring! He's a star! (Well, of course we in Weirlandia already knew that, but it's so exciting to read it / hear it from other people who are just joining the party!)
(2) I love that of the achievements listed here, Johnny's fans helped with both the NewNowNext Award and the Readers' Choice Award. :)
(3) Immediately on the heels of Out.com's news came comments on several sites asking why Johnny was chosen for the Out 100 when he's never officially "come out." Same thing happened with the HRC Visibility Award.
So on the one hand Johnny is too gay for the USFSA and Stars on Ice and a lot of people with whom I used to occupy pew space, but he's not gay enough for this type of recognition. Or not openly gay enough. Or something. (Although Julianne Moore and some others on the list are not gay, but are fervent supporters of LGBTQ rights and equality. Which is very cool.)
I understand that there is legitimate frustration behind the resentment sometimes directed at Johnny, that there are many who feel that he's too coy about himself, that a formal "coming out" is a necessity, and that celebrities have a unique responsibility to clearly "come out" because their very celebrity status affords them a platform from which to help less-celebrated community members, and to fight for the rights of all in the community.
In the behind-the-scenes video, Out editor-in-chief Aaron Hicklin explains that "the Out 100 is an annual roll call of men and women who live their lives out and confidently, and who, in their particular field, have achieved something that we feel is worthy of recognition."
And in the Out profile piece, Johnny says: "I never think of myself as an activist in any capacity, but I am glad that people can find strength and inspiration in my triumphs and defeats. ... I hope that I can continue to inspire individuality in people regardless of age, sex, race, sexual orientation, or religion."
And I am reminded that in order to "come" out, first you'd have to be, you know, "in."
And Johnny's always been ...
Not "in." Not "out."
Just ... Johnny.
Which is his whole point.
He resists labels not because he's ashamed of anything about himself and not because he doesn't want to be part of any particular group, I think, but because labels are stupid. And limiting. And dehumanizing. And if he's an activist about anything, it's about moving our society to a place where labels aren't important--or at least, only important as casual descriptors, like what color your shoes are, not as reasons to discriminate against or bully or deny rights to certain people.
I realize that sounds really idealistic, and many in the trenches point to the fact that he couldn't take this no-label stance with any kind of credibility had not so many gone before him defiantly and loudly and very admirably declaring themselves to be most definitely "out." True. And to all those who paved the way for someone like Johnny to be someone like Johnny, our society owes a deep debt of gratitude.
I like ideals. They give us something to strive for, even though we generally fall short. And the ideal of a society where everybody is just a person, all of us equal no matter what our various qualities--straight, gay, short, tall, thin, fat, man, woman, black or white or any color in between--is something I personally would very much like to see become a reality. A society where each individual is inspired and free to be fully himself or herself, "regardless of age, sex, race, sexual orientation, or religion."
A society where someday an Out 100 list won't even be necessary. And our grandchildren will look at our dusty copies of Out magazine and ask, "What does this mean? Where did they come out from?"
Well, the Dark Ages, honey. And we're so glad that a lot of people who were full of light helped bring an end to all that. Let me tell you about one of them, that young man there in the gold pants on the cover ...
So congratulations, Johnny! Can't wait to buy my copy of Out when it hits newsstands on November 23! (the day after the Skating With the Stars premiere! Gaaaaaaaaaaaah!)
Designer T. Rains and Johnny have teamed up to raise money and awareness for The Trevor Project! This organization is "determined to end suicide among LGBTQ youth by providing life-saving and life-affirming resources." Proceeds from the "Army of One" t-shirt sales will go to The Trevor Project foundation. Order yours today! Your support is greatly appreciated!
For more information, please visit www.thetrevorproject.org.
For more information, please visit www.thetrevorproject.org.
They have great tidbits to offer,
and you get a special sneak peek at an exclusive photo
from the Artbook when you sign up!
In exchange for a donation to Toys for Tots,
Trish Aaron-Misiura will send you one handmade,
Johnny-inspired Christmas ornament! More info here!
