With its edition on newsstands today, the Falls Church News-Press, for 21 years an award-winning Washington DC-area general interest weekly, began exclusively hosting a new column by two-time Olympic figure skater and three-time U.S. figure skating champion Johnny Weir.
Weir has returned to competition this fall, after a hiatus following his sixth-place finish in the 2010 Winter Olympics, seeking to qualify for the 2014 Olympics in Russia.
His first column out today, which is entitled, “Johnny’s World,” begins, “As a gay man, I find myself constantly surrounded by women.” It can be found on the Falls Church News-Press website, fcnp.com.
“I am delighted to have Johnny on board,” said News-Press owner and editor Nicholas F. Benton, a recent recipient of Equality Virginia’s “OUTstanding Virginian” award. “I have known him since 2004 and have constantly encouraged him to do this, because in addition to being a world-class athlete, he is incredibly articulate, has a very good heart, and has a lot to say.”
Benton and his News-Press drew attention by retaining veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas as a columnist in January 2011. Thomas, age 92, wrote a weekly column in the News-Press for over a year before finally taking a break.
In addition to in-depth local news and Benton’s own national affairs column, since 2004 the News-Press has also carried an original weekly column on LGBT issues by Wayne Besen entitled “Anything But Straight.”
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