Gay Games Week: Cowboy Figure Skating

I am taking some time off work later in the week to watch some of the games, but today is a work day for me, so I have not yet been able to see any of the figure skating competition. I mention figure skating, of course, because more than most any other of the Gay Games competitions, it is so difficult for me to imagine gay guys competing in such a butch sport. I mean, let's be honest, Johnny Weir is not someone you would want to meet walking alone in a dark alley, you know? So, in honor of gay figure skating, I am posting this video clip of figure-skating cowboys that I found linked to from Queerty (think Brokeback Mountain on Ice). It is safe for the office, but your Kinsey Scale rating will increase by at least 2 points just by watching it. As the Queerty blog comments, it may be the gayest video clip you will ever see, even gayer than gay porn. The comment at the beginning is classic: "I think the women in the audience are gonna like this one." Yeah, that's it, just the women....right.

By the way, here's a great quote from a reporter writing for the Northwest Herald newspaper, commenting on his attendance at the rowing competition in Crystal Lake Sunday (you may remember that Crystal Lake was the place where people put up such a fuss a few months back about having the Gay Games competition held there). Reporter David Brown states:

The athletes (many of whom were gay and some of whom were not) went in and out of the blue-green water. When they climbed into the boats, they put their oars in the water much like anybody would – like you'd see during any rowing competition, gay, not or undeclared.

The scene was peaceful and organized but not too intense (until the rowing started, certainly). It didn't look like the snippets you might see on TV from a gay pride parade.

Nobody in a diaper. Not a whole lot of flamboyance, period. The most conspicuous-looking folks were the fire and brimstone [protesters], who were dressed nicely but not for the beach. Them, and the cops – nobody from the Village People – but actual peace officers on duty.

Most everyone else left their costumes at home, if he or she had one to start with.

To realize that a "gay regatta" was occurring on Crystal Lake, the lake, you had to know it was gay going in.

Nothing appeared forced, or forced-upon, in any way. Just some folks rowing their boats for fun and for prizes. Being athletic. Being a teammate. Supporting each other. Being themselves. Having fun.

Very cool. It's nice when someone in the media gets it.

And, speaking of hot cowboys....