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Johnny Weir to be honored with Visibility Award

September 16, 2010 6 Comments

The Human Rights Campaign Seattle will honor Johnny Weir with the Visibility Award. He will receive the award at the 11th Annual Pacific Northwest Dinner, September 25, at the Westin Seattle.

“I am so flattered to be honored by the Human Rights Campaign,” said Weir, who was honored in April with a similar award by Equality California. “I never think of myself as an activist in any capacity but I am glad that people can find strength and inspiration in my triumphs and defeats.  I hope that I can continue to inspire individuality in people regardless of age, sex, race, sexual orientation or religion.”

Janice Langbehn will receive the Equality Award.

To purchase tickets to dinner, visit www.hrcseattle.org/dinner/.

In 2010, Weir made the U.S. Olympic team for the second time and represented his country in the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, where he finished sixth. Post Games, Johnny has put his fame to good use, appearing at various benefits and charity events across the U.S., including the 88 for AIDS event in New York City and Skate for Hope in Columbus, Ohio, while also performing in skating shows throughout the world.

He is the star of his own reality series, Be Good Johnny Weir, on the Sundance Channel, for which he won the 2010 NewNowNext Award for Most Addictive Reality Star. Most recently, he won U.S. Figure Skating‘s 2010 Readers’ Choice Award for Skater of the Year (Michelle Kwan Trophy). He is the only skater other than Kwan to be honored with the award more than once.

Founded in 1980, the Human Rights Campaign advocates on behalf of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans, mobilizes grassroots actions in diverse communities, invests strategically to elect fair-minded individuals to office and educates the public about LGBT issues. The organization represents a grassroots force of over 750,000 members and supporters nationwide.

Past recipients of the coveted National Visibility Award include WNBA star Sheryl Swoopes and “Young and the Restless” star Thom Bierdz, among others. At the National Dinner in October, the Campaign will honor Lee Daniels, the producer and director of Precious and Monster Ball, with the Visibility Award and Grammy winner Pink with the Ally for Equality Award.

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Photo courtesy of Leah Adams

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6 Comments »

  • Gail said:

    I like to hear about Johnny being recognized for not being afraid to be who he is! It’s about time he received respect for doing that like he is here and like he was with the EqCa award; because it isn’t easy to go against the grain and to not conform the way so many people have wanted him to do over the years!

    # 16 September 2010 at 12:09 am
  • Judith said:

    Mazel Tov to the HRC for recognizing that the personal is political and Mazel Tov to Johnny for his ongoing commitment the integrity of self.

    # 16 September 2010 at 1:51 am
  • cybercitizen said:

    Thank you, Johnny, for having that rare combination of sensitivity and courage that constitutes personal and artistic integrity.

    # 16 September 2010 at 10:08 am
  • Ruth said:

    Congratulations Johnny! You make a wonderful representative of the world of talent, compassion, uniqueness, beauty and love of humanity.
    You face the world with a brave face and teach us all how to be proud to just be ourselves. God bless!

    # 16 September 2010 at 12:13 pm
  • Chris said:

    There aren’t many people who will stand up for individuality and proudly stand up for it. Johnny does all of that…and he deserves this award for his artistic contributions to charitable causes. It’s hard to name how many times he’s skated his heart out for a wonderful cause.

    # 16 September 2010 at 2:18 pm
  • Debora said:

    How wonderful that such a respected and active organization as the Human Rights Campaign has honored Johnny Weir with this recognition!
    He has become the very public face of defiance and courage for those in society who are targeted by ignorance and bigotry every day.

    As a dedicated and accomplished athlete, and artist, Johnny is an outstanding example of what belief in one’s self can achieve; but his determination to live his life on his own terms under constant public scrutiny is perhaps his greatest contribution. His free and unencumbered personality has garnered love and respect from around the world, and helps advance the cause of equality and fairness not just in the United States, but globally.

    # 24 September 2010 at 1:11 pm