US ice dancer Joe Johnson says it’s unfortunate LGBT people have to come out
The ice dancer came out on social media over the last couple of years
By Steve Brown
US ice dancer Joe Johnson said LGBT people having to come out to “legitimise ourselves is unfortunate”.
The 24-year-old ice dancer – who is partnered with Karina Manta, who came out as bisexual this month – has been out on social media for the last couple of years and admitted to OutSports that he didn’t feel obliged to come out.
He said: “I just kinda started talking about it on social media one day because it stopped being convenient to skirt around. I certainly didn’t feel obligated.
“I do think that LGBTQ people having to come out to legitimise ourselves is unfortunate, because being both LGBTQ and a private person is like… a think that some people are.
“I think visibility is vitally important, but it should be noted that not every LGBTQ person feels the need, and that’s their right.”
Johnson revealed he has known he was gay from the age of 11 and came out to a “select few people” back in 2013.
For National Boyfriends Day this month, Johnson posted a photo to his Instagram account with a photographer he has been dating since March.
He said: “His name is Zac, he’s my boyfriend and he’s adorable.
“We met in March and it’s been a happy few months. He’s a wonderfully gifted photographer, chef, ‘Legend of Zelda’ prodigy, handyman, sweetheart, you name it.”