Figure skater John G. “Johnny” Weir
says he gets called miss and ma'am but pays no mind to such comments.
The 3-time U.S. National Figure Skating
Champion with a knack for being flamboyant says being unique is
something that should be celebrated.
“People have respected me for being
an individual and thinking outside the box. I dance to the beat of
my own DJ,” Weir told gay networking website dot429.com.
“People will respect me and follow me
in any way I want. The public's respect can't be bought. I am so
respected and loved around the world, Olympic champion or not.”
And he adds that people who are unique
should “be brave.”
“Stand up and be whoever you are and
whatever you want to be,” he says. “Never be afraid because
there is a whole community of people who love you and accept you.
Look to Lady Gaga and what she has created for people who are
unique.”
“I still get called miss or ma'am,
but I am a strong person with a thick skin,” he adds.
Weir is expected to reveal more about
his personal life in
his upcoming memoir Welcome
To My World,
which is set for a January 11, 2011 release.