^^ I should think that this kind of documentation is incomplete. I didn't notice a mention of Rudy Galindo. Granted that Rudy never had the opportunity to compete at an Olympics. But Rudy came out at a time when it was considered very un-PC to do so. Rudy's honesty, outspokenness and his entertaining pro career certainly made a difference toward more acceptance and relaxing of conservative attitudes toward gays in figure skating. But there was still a long way to go.
What I question in some of the article takes on this topic, is the insistence by journalists and some LGBT advocates on making it all about the Olympics in regard to coming out. I do understand the idea behind this take is that the Olympics has a more global, far-reaching spotlight which receives huge media coverage.
Another point is that Johnny Weir was very outspoken. He was always being asked questions about 'gays in skating.' He didn't shy away from answering, although he never took the leap of giving the media what they wanted: verbal confirmation that he himself was gay. But it was obvious, and I never felt Johnny was hiding anything. It was the sport and some of the people around him who were nervous and felt it necessary e.g., in 2006 - 2007 to steer Johnny toward a 'macho' profile and away from programs like
'The Swan' that it was 'feared' made him seem 'too effeminate,' and opened him up for backlash, particularly after he didn't do as well as expected in his
Otonal fp at 2006 Olympics.
Many people knew Johnny was gay and he did not really hide who he was as he was maturing and coming into his own. His maturation and becoming more outspoken was a process that began to happen while he was U.S. champion. By posing for
BlackBook, Johnny certainly made a statement without actually calling a press conference and making a statement.
Even before then, there was a contingent among USFS who were opposed to what they considered Johnny's 'flamboyant' and so-called 'Russian-looking' costumes and his nonconformity. Who Johnny was and the way he carried himself for his generation and following generations of skaters certainly made a difference on many levels, including the levels of being more comfortable with expressing one's gay identity and/or simply being true to oneself in general whether gay or straight, and not being afraid to explore one's unique expressiveness on the ice. And of course, Johnny came up during a time in which strictured attitudes within our global culture regarding sexual orientation, were changing.
I think it's important to point out that what every gay athlete or non-athlete endured over the years should not be diminished or go uncredited simply because they were not out, or they didn't participate in the Olympics while out. It's cool and very deserving to celebrate Kenworthy and Rippon at this Olympics for their courage, their outspokenness and their athletic achievements, but Eric Radford and John Curry were certainly courageous as well in speaking out after their respective Olympics (especially Curry, and also Cranston, having endured the restrictive and biased era in which they came of age). What Curry, Cranston, Brian Wright, Robert Wagenhoffer, Rudy Galindo, Brian Boitano, Brian Orser, Johnny Weir and so many other gay skaters contributed and endured (whether they were out or not) certainly helped make it possible for athletes like Radford, Rippon, Kenworthy, et al to take the step of being open in order to set an example that might encourage and motivate everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or athletic ability.
