Gay iceskater

gay iceskater

John Curry

From Ondrej Nepela in ’72 to Timothy LeDuc and Adam Rippon today, a look at ice skating’s rainbow stars

COY COVINGTON | Contributing Writer
covingtoncoy@gmail.com

There is the perception that the world of figure skating is crowded with queer men. But is that really true?

If you subscribe to the “one in 10 people is gay” theory, then statistically, there would have to be a good many straight men in figure skating. Of course, that statistic works in opposite, so there must also be a proportionate number of gay people in the sport.

In the past, many LGBTQ people in ice skating own felt that coming out would harm their careers, so almost all stayed in the closet until their competitive careers were over. The sport seemed to agree that this perception was a liability to reaching a broader audience.

The figure skating world is indeed a bit staid and stuffy, but doors are existence nudged opened. This was especially true during last June’s Pride month. Jason Brown, one of the most beloved skaters on the planet, French singles skater Kevin Aymoz and Canadian ice dancers Kaitlyn Weaver and Paul Poirier all came out as queer — and practically all at once it seemed.

Total Engagement Consulting by Kimer

I got to meet one of my all second favorite skaters, the strikingly handsome and current US champion Adam Rippon, when I won the US Figure Skating trip to Champs Camp in 2013.

HOT!! – on January 23rd I published my third and most recent installment of this series – Seven more fabulous out LGBTQ+ athletes of figure skating.

Important Note: this blog only features athletes who voluntarily, personally and publicly disclosed themselves as gay.

NOTE January 2018: Since this blog is almost two years old and this being an Olympic year, I have now written and published “Seven More Fabulous Out Homosexual Men of Figure Skating (and One Bisexual Woman.)” Do check it out. LINK

Important New Blog! Please read “Five Key Messages on The Importance of Out Gay Olympic Athletes”

UPDATE December 2016: Please accept the time to hear to this outstanding and marvelous radio interview with 2016 US National champion Adam Rippon from WVIA Public Media of Northeastern Pennsylvania (24 minutes). Adam takes us on his journey of personal expansion up to his inspiration for his musical decision for his 2017 program, which he is

International Gay Figure Skating Union

  • 07/14/2025: ISI (Ice Sports Industry) memberships: Please note that you must own a valid ISI membership to rival at Gay Games in Valencia. Membership year is 1 September - August 31, you can finde more knowledge here. 
  • 07/14/2025: ISI RULES/PROGRAM DURATIONS: Please notice program durations and many more details about the required elements here. 
  • 07/14/2025: HOTEL INFO FOR GGVLC: The ice arena where we will have our events is called Pleasurable on Ice and is located neighboring the airport. There are some hotel options near the rink. Book your hotel through the official Gay Games travel agency to receive Gay Games to get distinct rates. We advise Hotel Xon's.
  • 05/15/2025: Wonderful website about male lover figure skating and all its challenges. 
  • 05/08/2025: Registration for Valencia 2026 is off to a excellent start with registrations from 6 countries. Be part of it and register!
  • Some impressions on matching sex couples

IGFSU and the Gay Games

IGFSU was founded in 1991 by Arthur Luiz and Laura Moore, as part of a flourishing bid to fetch figure skating into the Gay Games in New York.
In 1999, we became a member nonprofit of the Federation

This is not a knock on Adam - he had an amazing skate last night (judging issues aside). I just can't help but go to youtube and watch some of the ones that came before Adam. They in many ways paved the way. Point being: without the ones that came before, Adam most likely could not include broken down that ultimate barrier. I don't assess we'd be seeing him stick his tongue out suggestively at the judges in an Olympic season without the likes of Boitano, Galindo (who did not make it to the Olympics, but certainly deserves credit), Goebel, Savoie, and of course Weir.

I'm not going to list all of them, and since the media is focused on him existence the first US dude, I'll just share a few of my favorite Olympic moments by acknowledged (out) gay men because I think they demand a shout out.

Probably most notable is our 1988 Olympic Champion Brian Boitano. If you grew up with skating in the 90's you know who Brian is. Brian only came out in 2014, but I'm fairly certain most fans "knew". It just wasn't something we cared about. As Brian said in a recent interview it is a part of who he is, but it's only a part. He's also a figure skater, chef, etc. The incredibly confidential Boitano just did not feel the n

1869 - Callie Curtis caused a stir when he masqueraded in Victorian kingly as 'Miss Godbout, the lady from New Brunswick' to compete in a women's skating rivalry in the declare of New York.

Jackson Haines

1871 - Jackson Haines took to the ice at Wenceslas Square in Prague, dressing as a woman in one program and doing a minute same-sex ice dancing with his Austrian protégé Franz Bellazi in another. Haines' flamboyant performances, coupled with the reality he left his wife and children behind in America, have led some to ponder his sexual orientation.

1905 - Gustav V, then Crown Prince of Sweden and Norway, showed a unique interest in figure skating, awarding Society Champion Ulrich Salchow a special prize. During his reign as King of Sweden, Gustav V was embroiled in a scandal when the Royal Court paid off a man who claimed he was the King's lover.

1938 - Virginia sportswriter Gayle Talbot complained that Sonja Henie should be "charged with having a made a lot of... fancy Dan's out of this country's ice skaters." Over the years, many gay men skated in Henie's Hollywood Ice Revue.

Bobby Specht

1942 - U.S. Champion Bobby Specht connected the cast of the Ice Capades. Bob Turk