Russian 'Spokesperson' Johnny Weir Tells Gay Olympic Athletes to Tone Down the Flamboyance or Suffer the Consequences

Figure skater Johnny Weir is a self-described 'Russophile' so the country's proposed ban on gay "propaganda" (already passed in St. Petersburg) won't stop him from competing in the Sochi Winter Olympics, but he's warning other gay athletes not to do certain things or suffer the consequences, USA Today reports:

If he makes the Olympic team, Weir doesn't want to make an issue of his sexuality, he said. For him, the Olympics should be about sport and competition. But he does have advice for gay athletes unfamiliar with the culture.

"My advice would be: Watch what you do when you leave the Village, don't be aggressive, don't wear a big rainbow flag fur coat. If you don't call attention to yourself, attention won't come to you."

Then Weir added, in a way only he can, "I'm not going to be having sex in a Metro station. And if you are doing that, then maybe you deserve to be caught."

Added Weir: "I love Russia and there is nothing that will change that. I'm a true patriot and spokesperson for their country. It's appalling they can censor their public, but I try to do everything I can. I have been in talks with different LBGT organizations in Russia with how I can help."

Out speed skater Blake Skjellerup is more hesitant: "I don't want to have to tone myself down about who I am. That wasn't very fun and there's no way I'm going back in the closet. I just want to be myself and I hate to think that being myself would get me in trouble."

St. Petersburg's restrictive law bans and impose fines ($16,000 on individuals and up to $160,000 on legal entities) on all Gay Pride events, LGBT organizations, and anything considered to be "promotion" of homosexuality.

The federal law, if passed, would enact similar penalties.

Johnny Weir Returns to Competitive Skating with Eye on Olympics

With an eye on the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Johnny Weir announced he would be returning to competitive skating, yesterday, ESPN reports:

"I wanted to do this while I still have the time," the three-time U.S. champion said at a news conference in Manhattan. "I didn't want to be 50 years old and look back and say, 'Oh, those last two years before Sochi and I kind of let them go doing other things."

Weir said he will give up drinking and attending movie premieres for serious practice, mostly at a rink in Hackensack, NJ:

He plans to work hard on his quad, the all-important element in men's skating these days. Not only are all the top men doing quads, but world champion Patrick Chan has two in his free skate.

Weir has tried them in competition but struggled to land them cleanly.

"So I can actually be a real threat and not show up as just kind of a face of figure skating," Weir said of perfecting the four-revolution jump. "I want to show up and be competitive and actually have people take this seriously. This isn't a publicity stunt."

(photo by Andrew Werner)

Out Ice Skater Johnny Weir Ties The Knot On New Year's Eve

Johnny Weir started his new year off right by marrying his boyfriend this weekend.

"I'm married," the Olympic ice skater tweeted on New Year's Eve after making it official with his boyfriend Victor Voronov, a graduate of Georgetown Law.

Weir, who officially came out last year after years of speculation, met Voronov years ago, but the men reconnected sometime last year.

"We've known for a long time and we reconnected over the summer, and it's just been a whirlwind," Weir said in an interview.

They're now having their honeymoon in the Dominican Republic's Punta Cana and will have a larger, more formal wedding later this year.

"Wedding in summer! But all the official stuff is done now! No more livin' in sin!" he wrote. The pair will live in New York City.

News: Blackbeard, Glee, Johnny Weir, Gay Sports Bars

Conservative radio host Mark Levin wants to sue all of MSNBC's hosts.

Blackbeard's sword discovered?

Julianne Margulies on gay and lesbian characters and storylines on The Good Wife: “I don’t think about it. I don’t feel like it’s a presence. I feel like it’s a part of life…. If it was gay and lesbian just to be gay and lesbian, that would make me uncomfortable because that wouldn’t be truthful.”

Gay man and straight woman marry "for art."

First look: The Real Housewives of NYC, season four.

Ryan Murphy to executive produce the Glee Project, where the winner gets to appear on an episode of Glee.

California elementary school teacher targeted with anti-gay graffiti.

President Obama eases travel restrictions to Cuba.

Homophobia is not only hateful but costly.

Don't call Johnny Weir's book his coming out. Says the skater: “I was never in.”

Owen Wilson is a dad.

The recent popularity of gay sports bars explained: "The bars are profiting from a rare demographic group with a growing amount of disposable income. Market research firm Witeck-Combs Communications puts the buying power of the adult lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender (LGBT) population at $743 billion, up from $732 billion in 2009. With large populations in metropolitan areas and more households without children, gay sports fans are actually the perfect customers to catch a game on a Wednesday night."

Arnold Schwarzenegger has no regrets that being governor of California cost him $200 million.

Towleroad Guide to the Tube: #815

JOHNNY WEIR: His visit to the Howard Stern show.

MT ETNA: Italy's volcano erupted last night.

STOP8: Matt Baume takes apart NOM's Rhode Island ad.

4 TRAIN: Rat wakes up homeless man on the subway.

For recent Guides to the Tube, click HERE.

Listen: Johnny Weir's New Single 'Dirty Love'

Johnny Weir would obviously prefer you be naughty this Christmas.

Listen to his freshly-dropped single, AFTER THE JUMP...