Darin Hosier
(1967 - living) U.S.A.
Figureskater coach
As an eligible growing up in Virginia, Darin Hosier was coached by Audrey Weisiger, who is also Michael Weiss' coach. After winning the bronze medal as a novice in 1984, he competed for three years as a junior before finishing his competitive career at the senior level in 1988, as an alternate at sectionals.
Hosier has been an audience favorite for years at Team Seattle's annual gay sports festival, "Slide for Pride". He is currently coaching at the Highland Ice Rink in the Seattle area, and is a member of Seattle Ice Theater under the direction of Becky Saffi.
In a March 1996 interview with Seattle gay publication Beyond 2002, Hosier said of homophobia in skating,
"Since we live in a fairly misogynist society, it's the fear of being feminine - which is pretty sad. In Europe, for a male to skate in a graceful, balletic style is looked at as wonderful! It's seen as a sign of strength and agility and not as a sexual preference or orientation. Here, you're until proven otherwise."
One of the things he does as a coach is help maintain "very much an open environment," one in which his students know he is gay and know they can come to him for support and advice as needed. The issue might come up, for example, if a student inquires about the ring on Hosier's finger, he says, or meets his partner of five years. The openness must be working, because Hosier reports that "I really haven't had a backlash at the rink."
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