Gay Twist (Skateboardg)

Contents:

• BRIAN ANRSON, SKATEBOARDG STAR, COM OUT AS GAY
• A BRIEF LOOK AT SKATEBOARDG'S GAY PAST
• GAY TWIST
• WHAT IS GAY TWIST?
• 'QUEER SKATEBOARDG': PHOTOGRAPHER DOCUMENTS GAY SKATER CULTURE

BRIAN ANRSON, SKATEBOARDG STAR, COM OUT AS GAY

“My name is Brian Anrson, I’m a profsnal skateboarr, and we are here to talk about the fact that I am gay, ” Mr. Anrson, who liv Queens, beme skateboardg’s most proment pro star to e out as gay, jog the steady trickle of athlet om other sports who have done so over the last few years.

Anrson said an terview Wednday all s untercultural ol, skateboardg has historilly been party to the same kds of homophobia found other male-domated stutns.

A BRIEF LOOK AT SKATEBOARDG'S GAY PAST

Until fairly recently, many skate parks had a certa locker-room feel, wh gay slurs and sensive jok. There is even a 1980s-era trick lled the Gay Twist, a homophobic reference to beg “the gay way” of performg a particular kd of recently, skateboardg culture has shifted. There have been skateboard graphics celebratg gay marriage and magaze articl qutng why so few skaters are out.

“All the kids who were stg there at home thkg, like, ‘Wa, my favore skater is gay?

GAY TWIST

Friends and dtry sirs have been aware for more than a , and mors that he may be gay have been a equent topic of discsn skateboard rners of the March, durg a skate ntt Tampa, Fla., Gvanni Reda, a iend and director, asked Mr.

WHAT IS GAY TWIST?

“At first he was a ltle apprehensive, and I was like, ‘Du, there is probably a kid here right now who is gay, ” Mr.

'QUEER SKATEBOARDG': PHOTOGRAPHER DOCUMENTS GAY SKATER CULTURE

” Rpect and sponsorships followed, but he kept his sexualy a Anrson told Vice that hearg gay slurs all the time ma him thk at a young age that was “really dangero” to talk about his gay may be easier today, he add the terview, but ’s still not easy.