Vox Pop: Out In Pop (Rainbow Network)Time of publication: 31.10.2003 |
Vox Pop: Out In Pop
Does being gay help or hinder a career in pop these days? Lesbian Alex Parks recently won Fame Academy, gay boy Will Young was the winner of Pop Idol and last week Andrew Kinlochan, a member of the boyband Phixx, came out! So does being gay matter any more in the pop industry?
Here`s what you said:
“Elton John, the Pet Shop Boys, Freddie Mercury, Andy Bell, Boy George and the Village People have always been flamboyant enough to be gay. How could they hide it when it was so obvious? George Michael was effectively forced ‘out’, it wasn’t a choice he made. It’s the people we wouldn’t know were gay that are needed to reveal their homosexuality. Why don’t they come out? Because they, or their record companies, know it would effect sales. It’s the same in the film industry and the sporting world. Cynical? Yes, But true,”
Colin, London
“It’s seen as trendy as fashionable to be gay these days (god knows why!) and I think a lot of people are riding of the back of this. Take TATU for example and the Madonna and Britney lesbian snog. It’s nothing to do with being gay itself, just cashing in on the shock value and getting pictures in the papers. Works the same with the recent Corrie gay kiss. Now we hear that EastEnders is going to do the same. How original (yawn).”
Terry, Stratford
“All the people who have come out recently have all been from the reality talent shows on TV. This isn’t really the same thing as a major A-list celeb revealing all. Stephen Gately’s career can hardly be described as taking off after he announced he was gay. Now if Robbie came out….
Stevie, Bristol
“It’s a brave thing to, ‘just be yourself’ when you’re launching a new career - and not just in pop when you’re so in the public eye. I’d like to think it doesn’t matter, but it does. Will Young, Alex and Andrew will all be around for a little while but they wont make it into the hall of pop fame. When you’ve really made it – thinking George Michael – it then won’t hurt to say you’re gay because people already respect your music and frankly you’ve got the millions in the bank so who cares if your career does nose dive. You can afford to be ‘out an proud’ when there’s money in the bank. Not before.”
Anon
“It’s interesting but we’ve had a lot of women publicly flirting with the idea of being a lesbian recently – Christina Aguilera, Alex Parks, Angelina Jolie. It seems more to be that people are coming out as Bisexual! Again, think of the old favourites, Bowie, Jagger. It’s all bisexuality!”
Sonia, Birkenhead
“The music industry is so commercial and throw away these days that the PR companies need as much helps as they can to make the papers. A person’s sexuality is unfortunately seen as fair game. It’s media necessity and hype not gay tolerance.”
Stella, Edinburgh
“It’s like buses. You wait around for ages for one gay singer to come out and then three come along at once!”
Alex (no relation) Brighton
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Source - Rainbow Network
Thanks to I_Love_Yulia |
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