Being a gay activist doesnt make you a gay icon...do you people know the definition of icon???
Beyonce & Britney are the black and white gay icons easily and will continuously be. When Single Ladies/Bey's Current Single or Toxic/Brit's Current Single come on at clubs/parties the kids GET THEIR LIFE...it just isnt the same for GaGa's songs, including BTW, it'll come but GaGa needs more time in...she just had a massive hit that empowered gays, We R Who We R, Raise Your Glass or anything other "we're different" anthem could've been just as massive but she had the anticipation...if it and she stands the test of time and gays still love her and wanna be her in 5 years then yeah
I think some of you are still confused on what an icon is. Activism really has JACK **** to do with being an icon, if Gaga never spoke a word about gay rights she would still be an icon based on the impact she has had on gay culture alone. Gay men impersonate her, they dress like her, they sing her songs, they sit in their bedroom and imagine being her. Not one or two boys, millions of them around the world from every background.
The same goes for Beyonce, Britney, and the legendary gay icons of the past.
I still don't agree. Times change - we don't live in the 80s/90s where a large gay community would discretely follow a female performer, who was just as discrete as letting the public know of her gay following.
Now, the issue is all over the place. I think a large fraction of LGBT people want their icons to do more than just what they had been doing. Some demand more.
Edit: And I'm not saying, gays secretly followed them - but it wasn't as socially prevalent as it is now.
This is all important but with homosexuality and the equal treatment of homosexuals becoming such a major issue as of late it's important to be an activist or at least speak on homosexuality occasionally. It takes more now.
Exactly, and the only one who has been putting the effort in to raise awareness is Gaga as far as current pop stars go. Britney & Beyonce have a gay following but I don't look at them as icons for the gay community, as I said earlier in the thread all female pop stars have a gay following.
Being a gay activist doesnt make you a gay icon...do you people know the definition of icon???
Beyonce & Britney are the black and white gay icons easily and will continuously be. When Single Ladies/Bey's Current Single or Toxic/Brit's Current Single come on at clubs/parties the kids GET THEIR LIFE...it just isnt the same for GaGa's songs, including BTW
lol oh please, the kids "get their life" from all pop songs that's played in the top 40. It's ****ing commercial pop music and our generation eats that **** up. That's to be expected in any gay club really.
I know, according to you, the girls run the world - but what do you think about the girls and the gays teaming up and running the world together? Well, that's what I meant when I said girls. (Laughs) Sure - we could all be one.
Yes, exactly! We are all one. Do you know enough gay people so that we could successfully pull this off and take over the world?
Absolutely. I think it's happening already. I remember my friends were telling me when the song "Run the World (Girls)" first came out in the clubs the kids were going crazy, and I thought it was so wonderful and I was so excited to know that the reception was so positive. You don't do a lot of gay press, but you have to know that you have a huge gay following.
Yes, I do. When did you feel a real connection with your gay fans?
I've always had a connection. Most of my audience is actually women and my gay fans, and I've seen a lot of the younger boys kind of grow up to my music. It's great when I'm able to do the meet and greets, because I'm able to really connect and have conversations. People look at some of the artists that I admire - like Diana Ross and Cher - and they identity that glamour with Sasha Fierce, and I've been really inspired by the language. I have my (gay) stylists and my makeup artist, and all of their stories and the slang words I always put it in my music. We inspire each other. Like I said, we're one. What do gay people tell you when you meet them? I have so many stories; I don't even know where to begin. I know that I just recently had a contest where I had everyone reenact my artwork. Just seeing some of the guys who dressed up - like my hairstylist dressed up as Sasha Fierce from "Single Ladies" for Halloween, and I saw so many people dressed up in that glove and bodysuit - really makes me feel like I'm doing my job and some of the fashion is making its mark. To know that people can be free and confident and do what they want themselves, and I can be the person they want to look like (laughs), is really such a blessing for me, and it's very inspiring. I'm very happy and proud of that. Yes, you've inspired lots of drag queens out there. What tips can you give them to be a better Beyoncé?
I have many different looks, so find what works best for your silhouette and your face. I've had every kind of hair style and I know for me there are certain things that I love to wear and there's certain makeup and colors - bright colors on my eyes - that just don't compliment my features. So I think just figuring out which Beyoncé works best for your figure and features. "I Was Here," a song on "4" written by Diane Warren, is all about you changing lives. What do you hope is the affect you've had on your gay fans over the years? I hope that I've given them confidence, and I hope that I've given them inspiration. I just want everyone to become a better person, and I hope that when they see me perform they can live out their fantasies and see my work ethic and apply it to their lives and be confident and proud. If they're bootylicious, be proud; whoever they are, be proud. On this album, I really focused on making people feel good and feel love and know that there is love out there and goodness exists. I wanted to make a body of work that took risks - to be brave and be myself, and not focus on being cool. That's what I love about this album - you did what you wanted to do. Through that, you've taught gay fans how to stay true to themselves. What have you learned from them, though?
If anyone is brave and true to themselves, it's my gay fans. The amount of confidence and fearlessness it takes to do what maybe is not what your parents expect you to do or what society may think is different - to be brave and be different and to be yourself - is just so beautiful. It's the most beautiful thing you can be, and it's what we all want to be at the end of the day. And not worrying about satisfying or becoming what other people think you're supposed to be, that's like the ultimate dream - to just be that brave.
Rihanna isn't a gay icon, either, but to say she doesn't have a large gay following is kind of a lie.
I kinda feel like she doesn't, though. I mean, sure, every pop star is gonna have gay fans, but her lack of association with the gay community is probably one of the biggest things she has going for her as a commercial artist. Straight guys can listen to her and have her songs on their iPod without getting looked at twice.
lol oh please, the kids "get their life" from all pop songs that's played in the top 40. It's ****ing commercial pop music and our generation eats that **** up. That's to be expected in any gay club really.
Lies...people dance to everything in all clubs...when you see a bunch of queens and lesbians running to the floor its usually icons like Bey, Brit, Madonna or Janet...i could go as far to say that if GaGa wasnt such an activist that she wouldn't even be brought up...she'd be in the same class as Rihanna, a pop superstar with a gay following just because of the star she is...she's not in the same class as the previously mentioned 4
Quote:
Originally posted by B3NK3V1N
I still don't agree. Times change - we don't live in the 80s/90s where a large gay community would discretely follow a female performer, who was just as discrete as letting the public know of her gay following.
Now, the issue is all over the place. I think a large fraction of LGBT people want their icons to do more than just what they had been doing. Some demand more.
Edit: And I'm not saying, gays secretly followed them - but it wasn't as socially prevalent as it is now.
No, I think gays follow GaGa because she is an activist and she seems like she cares more than any other popstar but i honestly dont think gays care whether or not their icons carry the torch for the community...Beyonce doesnt do much of anything besides having gays on payroll but she arguably has the largest gay following
AP on first page by you, but thank you for that contribution again.
Quote:
Originally posted by csybeyking
No, I think gays follow GaGa because she is an activist and she seems like she cares more than any other popstar but i honestly dont think gays care whether or not their icons carry the torch for the community...Beyonce doesnt do much of anything besides having gays on payroll but she arguably has the largest gay following
Your first statement contradicts your second statement. I don't think all gays want an activist like I said, but it certainly helps an artist cement themselves as a gay icon to others.
I kinda feel like she doesn't, though. I mean, sure, every pop star is gonna have gay fans, but her lack of association with the gay community is probably one of the biggest things she has going for her as a commercial artist. Straight guys can listen to her and have her songs on their iPod without getting looked at twice.
Couldn't it be possible that she has a huge gay following but isn't directly associated with the gay community? Sort of like the best of both worlds?
I think some of you are still confused on what an icon is. Activism really has JACK **** to do with being an icon, if Gaga never spoke a word about gay rights she would still be an icon based on the impact she has had on gay culture alone. Gay men impersonate her, they dress like her, they sing her songs, they sit in their bedroom and imagine being her. Not one or two boys, millions of them around the world from every background.
The same goes for Beyonce, Britney, and the legendary gay icons of the past.
Do people forget that women like Marlene Dietrich, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Barbra Streisand, Donna Summer, to name a few are all considered to be gay icons, and none of them were ever gay activists? I think having a strong association with the gay community is enough to be considered a gay icon.
Do people forget that women like Marlene Dietrich, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Barbra Streisand, Donna Summer, to name a few are all considered to be gay icons, and none of them were ever gay activists? I think having a strong association with the gay community is enough to be considered a gay icon.
In my opinion, though, times have changed drastically enough that being associated with the gay community doesn't cut it anymore.
Lies...people dance to everything in all clubs...when you see a bunch of queens and lesbians running to the floor its usually icons like Bey, Brit, Madonna or Janet...i could go as far to say that if GaGa wasnt such an activist that she wouldn't even be brought up...she'd be in the same class as Rihanna, a pop superstar with a gay following just because of the star she is...she's not in the same class as the previously mentioned 4
Long before Gaga became known as a big activist for the gay community she was still fighting for their equality and it was the gays who help support her, she performed in several well known gay clubs and when she became a big pop star she still didn't forget about them because she went right back to the community who supported her long before she became a household name.
In my opinion, though, times have changed drastically enough that being associated with the gay community doesn't cut it anymore.
They haven't though! As long as gay men look to straight women for validation/love/acceptance, the standards for what the community accepts will be ... low. So no activism is needed!
Couldn't it be possible that she has a huge gay following but isn't directly associated with the gay community? Sort of like the best of both worlds?
I don't really see it. Like I said, obviously she has gay fans (she's a pop star, it comes with the territory), but I haven't observed rabid interest in her or impact in that community on the level of artists like Gaga/Britney/Madonna/Beyonce.
I don't really see it. Like I said, obviously she has gay fans (she's a pop star, it comes with the territory), but I haven't observed rabid interest in her or impact in that community on the level of artists like Gaga/Britney/Madonna/Beyonce.
I can concur with this though. I mean, has Rihanna even made mention of her gay fans even once? even if it was subtle?
