Sports Watch: Don't Lutz, Don't Tell

Gay Guy,

Did you see the photo of figure skater Ryan Bradley in this morning's Washington Post sports section? After his "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" routine, he's in the lead at this year's national championships.

Haven't seen the routine, only the photos. I don't know if I'm giving him too much credit, but I immediately wondered if this was meant as commentary on the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" debate. And if so, what was he trying to say? And if not, is he just incredibly naive about how this might be received?

Here's his quote: "With all that's happening in the country, I wanted to do a military program; obviously I could have chosen any military piece. I watched an intermediate lady do ["Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"], and she was so cute. I thought, it would be hilarious if I did this. Then I thought, 'Why not? Who's going to stop me?"

I guess I'm glad that he didn't just say it was something he thought might be fun. But, boy did the reporter drop the ball on this one. "All that's happening in the country"? What exactly does that mean?

I have no idea whether Brady is gay or not. But we've discussed figure skating's gay/straight image problem before [link, link]. (Bradley's performance was dramatically delayed because of a jewelry malfunction by the guy before him, by the way.)

OK. I'll just say it. When a male figure skater modifies a woman's routine and gives a finger-wagging performance in a spandex version of a military uniform as a reflection of "what's happening in the country," I have to assume that he knows he's embodying the worst fears of everyone who opposes the repeal of DADT.

I'm just not sure whether that's ballsy, mean-spirited, or perhaps, both. The only other option is that this guy actually has absolutely no idea what's happening in the country, and I'd like to give him more credit than that.

GG, I know we're both for the repeal of DADT. Can you help me break down the code here? Is this guy really trying to help, too?

--Straight Guy