var addthis_config = {“data_track_addressbar”:true};Brian Boitano came out just after President Barack Obama announced that the Olympic gold medal figure skating superstar had been named to the U.S. Olympic delegation to the Sochi, Russia Winter Games.
In an interview with MSNBCs Thomas Roberts yesterday, Boitano, 50, acknowledges that he is a very “private” person, but knew he couldn’t stand next to fellow openly-gay Olympic delegates Billie Jean King and Caitlin Cahow and not be out.
“It was really all about President Obama’s message of diversity and tolerance, and I knew that to stand next to Billie Jean and Caitlin, I had to reveal some, the private side of my life, and I didn’t want to step off the plane and not being a team player and not representing the country and the message, President Obama’s message in the best way that I could.”
Boitano said he never felt there was a need to come out, and that he’s always shared who he is with the important people in his life.
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“I was so honored to be asked by the White House,” Boitano said earlier in the day on NBC’s “Today” show. “When the president named the delegation and I read in the news what his message was of tolerance and diversity, I thought, ‘I have to take this opportunity.’ I think the message is so strong and I’ve always wanted to represent my country as best I could. I knew I had to go past my comfort zone and reveal a private side of my life that I’ve never done before, because I felt that the message is so strong.”
“I think that we have to be careful once we go over there. I think the statement has already been made by us being on the delegation — Billie Jean and Caitlin — and us standing together, united as gay people, showing that there is free speech and we are successful human beings and athletes and I think that that speaks measures.”
“I encourage everybody to do what they feel is best for themselves,” Boitano said. “I never thought that I would be coming out in this way and in a matter of 10 hours, I decided to do it. That was what was right for me at this time. I tell everyone I think they should do what’s right for them.”
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640
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