Kaitlyn Weaver hopes her coming out story finally breaks figure skating's female archetype

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Oopsie I think I read the Paul article too quickly. He’s not out as LGBT? Just voicing his support for us? I think I was reading the article too fast. I think I misinterpreted. I don’t know

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Or I don’t know maybe he is out as queer. All I know is I’m having one hell of a queer day here. Lol

 

[Sylvia]

Paul came out publicly in the interview - link to his own GSD thread: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...the-next-generation-of-queer-athletes.108371/

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Paul came out publicly in the interview - link to his own GSD thread: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...the-next-generation-of-queer-athletes.108371/

I love love love Paul. All mine. Lol

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Kaitlyn coming out is so huge. Kaitlyn talks about this in the article, but skating has so much gender conformity baked into it for women. It doesn't feel like a space for queer women in the same way that many sports seem as "macho" don't seem like a space for queer men (that being said, skating has also been hard on queer men over the years).

What Kaitlyn, Fumie, Amber, and Karina have done is so important for other queer girls and women in skating. It tells them there is a space here for them. I am so proud of Kaitlyn for speaking up this month!

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

You go, girl!

Always loved her skating. Now, I can't help but admire Kaitlyn even more.

 

[Lanie]

I'm glad skaters are feeling more comfortable coming out and being themselves and being open about being themselves.

I'm a boring AF straight woman - what does queer precisely mean? I always understood it to be an umbrella term or in use as opposed to saying you are gay or lesbian? I don't mean to be disrespectful, I've always been confused by it as a usage of sexuality.

 

[ioana]

What did Andrew say?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZkpbCHGWIo&t=1264s

Part that got me was he's proudest of her now

'I am proud of your strength and vulnerability to share your story as you become the best version of Kaitlyn Weaver. I will be here and support you however I can because you share an important message. As humans we need to lean more into who we truly are. I cannot wait to continue our journey as partners as you step into this new chapter of your life. Our partnership has been filled with its ups and downs that have created many, many proud moments. But the most proud moment is right now. Thank you from me and on behalf of those that need the strength and inspiration'

 

[kittysk8ts]

The interview is extremely powerful.

A must see.

Kaitlyn’s discussion of the pressure to be a certain way in FS is heartbreaking.

The discussion of Andrew, his support and the wonderful statement he made got me in the feels.

Kudos to them both.

Still one of my favourite teams.

I ugly cried, lol.

 

[Jay42]

I'm glad skaters are feeling more comfortable coming out and being themselves and being open about being themselves.

I'm a boring AF straight woman - what does queer precisely mean? I always understood it to be an umbrella term or in use as opposed to saying you are gay or lesbian? I don't mean to be disrespectful, I've always been confused by it as a usage of sexuality.

It is generally an umbrella term. Some people are more comfortable with the umbrella term of queer as opposed to something more specific. I go between queer and bisexual depending on how I feel at any given point.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Sexual identity is such a personal (and often, painfully private journey towards self-acceptance).

I'm reminded of the time a former friend introduced me to a group of her colleagues, and then added, "Oh, and he's gay."

So I responded, "This is so and so, and she's an idiot."

 

[ryanj07]

Kaitlyn has always been one of my favorites. How wonderful and brave of her to share a part of who she is with us! I’m glad that Andrew has shown such support for her, they’ve always seemed to have a wonderful relationship.

 

[nyrak]

Kaitlyn is a beautiful person on and off the ice. I've been a fan of hers & Andrew's for a long time, I wish her (& him!) nothing but the best. Will be cheering extra loud at SOI this fall!

 

[Frau Muller]

I'm glad skaters are feeling more comfortable coming out and being themselves and being open about being themselves.

I'm a boring AF straight woman - what does queer precisely mean? I always understood it to be an umbrella term or in use as opposed to saying you are gay or lesbian? I don't mean to be disrespectful, I've always been confused by it as a usage of sexuality.

Also my question. So is Kaitlyn lesbian? What are the other specific possibilities under the term “queer” for a woman, eg, bisexual, pansexual (like Amber Glenn), other??? I thought that part of Pride was being clear in one’s declaration.

 

[giselle23]

I'm glad skaters are feeling more comfortable coming out and being themselves and being open about being themselves.

I'm a boring AF straight woman - what does queer precisely mean? I always understood it to be an umbrella term or in use as opposed to saying you are gay or lesbian? I don't mean to be disrespectful, I've always been confused by it as a usage of sexuality.

Queer used to be a disparaging term for gay. I assume it still means gay or bisexual. But feel free to correct me.

 

[escaflowne9282]

Also my question. So is Kaitlyn lesbian? What are the other specific possibilities under the term “queer” for a woman, eg, bisexual, pansexual (like Amber Glenn), other??? I thought that part of Pride was being clear in one’s declaration.

Well, one can be gay, bisexual, pansexual ,asexual, transgender, gender queer, non binary , trans masc/femme ,and/or intersex and identify as queer.

She wasn't terribly specific, but her video interview implied she was attracted to other women (whether it be exclusively or not)

 

[dramagrrl]

Also my question. So is Kaitlyn lesbian? What are the other specific possibilities under the term “queer” for a woman, eg, bisexual, pansexual (like Amber Glenn), other??? I thought that part of Pride was being clear in one’s declaration.

Being "clear in one's intention" can mean different things for different people. Many LGBTQ+ people do not like to choose a specific label to describe their sexuality, so "queer" can be a term that means many things.

From the things Kaitlyn said in the interview that is linked upthread, my guess is that she is attracted to both men and women. (Someone upthread also commented on the fact that many people have gossiped about whether or not she and Andrew were ever romantically involved, and from some of the things she said in the interview, my take on that is that the answer is not definitively "no" because of this recent revelation.)

 

[Theatregirl1122]

Queer means not straight and cisgender. As Kaitlyn identified as a queer woman, I assume that she is most likely not identifying as not straight.

That being said, someone choosing to identify as queer rather than choose a label such as bisexual, lesbian, etc is generally an intentional choice. Kaitlyn told us her truth and used the word that was most comfortable for her.

If someone has a problem with Kaitlyn's word choice, that says more about them than it does about her. To be clear, I'm not calling out people for asking what the word means. Just people who are saying she is doing something wrong for not picking a word that gives you more information. Why do you need it? She told you the word she identifies with. It is a word many people identify with.

 

[skategal]

What I took from the interview is that she’s still on her journey and doesn’t know yet (beyond being attracted to same sex) if she is lesbian, bisexual, pansexual so is identifying as not straight or queer.

 

[olympic]

I saw Kaitlyn's coming out yesterday on Twitter. Jackie Wong also referenced Fumie Suguri as an 'out' skater (??) Did anyone catch her coming out??

 

[Lanie]

Thanks for the explanation, everyone. I want to make sure I know all the right terms, to be respectful of people and who they are!

 

[Sylvia]

@olympic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fumie_Suguri
"In November 2014, Suguri came out as bisexual." (linked reference is a Japanese article)

ETA a follow-up article by Gemma Karstens-Smith of The Canadian Press:

Former Canadian ice dancing champion Kaitlyn Weaver comes out as queer woman

Pride month means a little bit more to Canadian figure skater Kaitlyn Weaver this year. The two-time Olympian and former Canadian ice dancing champion publicly came out as a queer woman on Friday in . . .

www.timescolonist.com

 

[VICK B.]

Jason Brown! Happy Pride month.

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ETA: Sylvia posted this in the Jason Brown thread.

Jason did it right

I pretty sure the US Nationals on the Men side has a lot more who are out or bi or finding their truth...

Happy Pride Month

 

[AJ Skatefan]

I saw Kaitlyn's coming out yesterday on Twitter. Jackie Wong also referenced Fumie Suguri as an 'out' skater (??) Did anyone catch her out??

That happened a few years ago

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

I saw Kaitlyn's coming out yesterday on Twitter. Jackie Wong also referenced Fumie Suguri as an 'out' skater (??) Did anyone catch her coming out??

Yes, a long time ago

 

[VICK B.]

Jason Brown! Happy Pride month.

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ETA: Sylvia posted this in the Jason

Amber Glenn also came out as Pansexual on December 2019

 

[AxelAnnie]

I do not have a problem with a person's sexuality, color, or religion (unless they are trying to shoot me because of my religion.

I do find her statement:

"hopes her coming out story finally breaks figure skating's female archetype" ​

to be self-serving and, well vain. Why should her declaration break skating's female archetype?

To me, it sounds like she thinks she has more impact than others who have declared their sexuality. And that is just silly.

Let's review: I did not say she should not have declared her sexual preferences. I did not say she is wrong or bad. I did not say she should be restricted or shunned because of her sexual preference.

 

[Sparks]

 

[Debbie S]

Kaitlyn didn't write the headline, either the reporter or copy editor did. There is nothing in her quotes that suggests what you describe.

 

[overedge]

Why should her declaration break skating's female archetype?

To me, it sounds like she thinks she has more impact than others who have declared their sexuality. And that is just silly.

Since I can count on the fingers of both hands the number of elite-level female skaters that have come out as not straight, in a sport that is literally built on stereotypes of heterosexuality - yes, her declaration does have more impact.