Earlier this month, artist and songwriter Frank Ocean took to his blog to announce something extraordinary. He is bisexual, and shared with his fans a love story between himself and another man.
Of course, there is nothing unusual about two men falling in love, but there is something unique in Ocean’s bravery. The sought after songwriter, who has penned hits for artists like Justin Bieber and Beyonce, is one of the first mainstream figures to come out of the closet in the hip hop and R&B community, a world marked by its homophobia. But equally momentous to coming out as a bisexual man in the very industry responsible for the phrase “no homo” is Ocean’s age. At 24, Frank Ocean is one of two openly gay or bisexual “current” stars under the age of 25.
If such a tiny number seems outrageous and shocking in an industry that has always (jokingly) been said to be run by liberals and homosexuals, it’s because it is.
Asking why young entertainers are staying closeted can only be rhetorical. The obvious bottom line is the lining of Hollywood executives and the recording industry handler’s pocketbooks; it is believed that being gay and making money is yet to be congruent. In truth, these entertainment big wigs are not entirely incorrect. A mediafrenzied America has only recently had it’s first true case study of what is accomplishable by an “out and proud” from the get-go artist via reality television contestant, Adam Lambert. And it’s a little disparaging.
Though Lambert, 30, was closeted (rumoredly) by American Idol’s executives during his time on air, the guyliner-sporting vocalist announced his sexuality in an issue of Rolling Stone magazine prior to the release of his first album. For Your Entertainment, Lambert’s debut effort, landed on the November 2009 Billboard charts behind a string of Christmas albums despite an impressive 250,000 sold in its first week. At this time, however, Lambert was still playing fairly coy when the spotlight was turned on his sexual orientation. In a 2010 segment of 20/20, Adam Lambert told ABC, “I wanted the focus on my ability as a singer and an entertainer– not on my private life.” Though not unusual for a popular figure to request minimal attention be paid to their private lives, in the case of gay celebrities, it is fair to wonder if such a demand is made to avoid the damage traditionally said to be done to one’s career by being publicly out as a gay person.
In fact, as Lambert’s tune on transparency in his personal life changed before the release of his superior sophomore album, Trespassing, so did the public’s support and enthusiasm for the performer. Trespassing did debut at number one on the Billboard charts in May, but saw a significant decrease in album sales from his first record. Pollo Del Mar, a San Francisco-based drag artist and LGBT entertainment journalist (Del Mar recently wrote a rave a review of Trespassing and interviewed the pop star for Gloss Magazine), wonders if Lambert’s new “LGBT-centric focus” is the culprit. “Trespassing sold less than 80,000 copies its first week, approximately one-third of his previous set’s tall, "Del Mar said, "Where is he on the radio? …Does it seem like his [or any gay artist’s] situation is improving?”
Adam Lambert, right, was the first openly gay artist to have a number one album on the Billboards. Pictured with boyfriend Sauli Koskinen.
With the trends considered, it makes sense that coming out is typically reserved for those pop culture figures who have already achieved notable fame and money for themselves (and their managers… record labels… etc.). It is still risky. And yet, there is reason to be optimistic that an artist could have a lucrative career as an openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, or trans* person. The irony, however, is that very hope lies within the hands of today’s Generation Z teens– the very group swooning over the under 25 pop icons who just won’t inch out of the closet. Generation Z, or the Net Gen, is composed of those born between 1995 to present. Socially and politically, these kids are wholly more affirming of LGBT people than previous generations. Net Geners are the first to see an increase in peers with same sex parents, and more relevant to the world of entertainment, they are the very generation who make shows like Glee popular (the highest rated episode boasted over 39.5 million viewers). Glee, a show about high school drama students, features openly gay characters and couples. The show’s star Chris Colfer is, alongside Frank Ocean, the other notable out-under-25 celebrity.
In other words, today’s teen is ready for openly gay pop figures. “I think… [we, teenagers]… are fine with listening to gay artists,” a Denver-area high school student, Shaye, said. In fact, the 16 year-old thinks speculation surrounding both closeted and out gay artists will reap rewards in terms of number of fans and lined pocketbooks.
“Being thought of as a gay artist,” Shaye explained, “…it always makes [them] more popular.” More than illustrating Gen Z’s possible receptiveness for LGBT stars, Shaye’s theory also touches upon something not to be forgotten by either young celebrities or their management– the spending power of teenagers.
A 2009 Piper Jaffray report revealed that teens accounted for upwards $125 billion in spending that fiscal year. And while these Net Gen kids did feel the effects of the limping economy, money spent on entertainment (music downloads, DVDs, etc.) stayed almost consistent with the years leading up to the recession. But teenaged fans spend something even greater than money on movies and music, they invest an abundance of loyalty in actors and artists. Unlike adults, teens are willing to spend their expendable incomes on limited edition magazines, books, and tee shirts that feature their favorite stars. These youngsters also spend a considerable amount of time on YouTube, leaving them prime meat for advertisers. Therefore, teen interests influence and set trends in music, movies, and, of course, heartthrobs.
And Generation Z has spoken; today’s teens are into actors like 20 year-old Taylor Lautner and musical acts such as the popular boy band One Direction, among other notably “sexually ambiguous” young stars.
One Direction is “hands down” summer 2012’s hottest musical act.
A “sexually ambiguous” image for a young pop star, and sometimes a fresh-faced actor, is usually more apt to appearing desexualized and sanitized than heterosexual or homosexual. Such prepackaging has always been true of the boy band modus operandi, from The Jackson 5 to The Backstreet Boys. “The success of a ‘boy band’ hinges on a nonthreatening sexual identity,” Del Mar explained, “The primary audience for these groups tends to be the ‘tween’ to teen set, with crossover appeal for adults. An overtly sexualized image would probably create parental outcry and, thusly, negatively impact record sales.” However, it could be argued that relaxing standards in regards to sexual expression extends to more than just LGBT individuals. Whether or not sex seems to be less of a taboo within our culture now than it did the last time “sexually neutered” pop stars were being mass marketed, sexuality is ingrained in our media now more than ever before..
Twilight star Taylor Lautner, of “without tee shirt” fame. It is of note that the young adult star has been subject of gay rumors since the glittery vampire film franchise’s debut.
It makes sense, then, that record label and Hollywood executives would lessen their hold on the reigns of Generation Z’s heartthrobs– and to an extent, they have. In 2007, before the premiere of High School Musical 3, star Zac Efron posed semishirtless for Rolling Stone. Taylor Lautner, one of the hunks of the wildly successful Twilight franchise, is less famous for his acting chops than he is his six-pack abs and penchant for going sans shirt. These photos, of course, reveal nothing of these boy’s sexualities other than they might have one. Or, are at least capable in acting in a way that is slightly erotic. In the music industry, this summer’s boy band resurgence has brought with it some surprising twists. UK’s The Wanted might be one of the most “sexually aggressive” groups in all-male pop ensemble history, their biggest hit being the double entendre laced “Glad You Came.” The Wanted’s greatest rival, One Direction, is perhaps the entertainment industry’s most interesting in terms of sexual expression and chastity-as-marketing.
One Direction, comprised of five clean cut men between the ages of 18-20, is the music world’s boy band formula exemplified. The boys appear remarkably young for their ages and sing of puppy love and kisses. Rumors have even gone so far as suggesting the young men were forced by their American record label to sign a contract prior to the band’s summer tour– no girlfriends, and absolutely no sex. By the same token, One Direction, known affectionately by their ‘tweenaged fan base as "1D," are a first of their kind. The boys, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Zayn Malik, and Louis Tomlinson, are exceedingly “handsy” with one another; so much so that their “bromance” has become integral to their popularity. One Direction frequently makes headlines for sharing kisses on stage and for making homoerotic comments to each other during interviews (a fan favorite being an interview in which Tomlinson says he “couldn’t handle” Malik if they were to engage in any after dark activities). Quite frankly, the boys seem gay rather than “sexually ambiguous."
And in truth, so do more and more of their entertainer peers.
Though, as coming out at the height of success remains an astonishing act of salient courage (and defiance), it would be notable and noble if any of these acts were to actually admit to being anything other than heterosexual.
In the July 2012 email in which he revealed himself to be gay, news anchor and talk show host Anderson Cooper asserts that, “In a perfect world, I don’t think it’s anyone else’s business, but I do think there is value in standing up and being counted.”
It is in one line that the 45 year-old journalist has summed up why coming out still matters. The truth is, as reminded by this election year’s Republican presidential candidate and the 2010 string of LGBT youth suicides, we still live in an environment that is hostile to gay and bisexual people– with the community’s children suffering with the greatest intensity. And the entertainment industry is only further propagating such rancor. Worse still, these shut closet doors foster further self-loathing for the people within the gay community. By managers and publicists keeping their star clients closeted (and by the diffident gay stars letting them) it is communicated that, even in the 21st century, one cannot be openly gay and achieve fame, fortune, success, or their very dreams.
What it breaks down to is a need for Hollywood and the music world to open up closet doors. While the idea that we as a culture need to experience a level of greater acceptance to embrace a gay artist so that very celebrity can turn around and increase society’s love and compassion for LGBT people may seem like a catch-22, it is easily broken bearing in mind that the media has always served as a tremendous catalyst for social change.
And as always, change starts with the young people.
Artists under 25 more than any other demographic need to vow to live openly, honestly, and proudly, as Frank Ocean should be commended for. Though many (mostly middle-aged) celebrities have come out of the closet and participated in efforts like the “It Gets Better” campaign, a slew of videos made by famous faces and everyday people alike imploring LGBT kids to stay strong, it is isolating for these children to not have any immediate role models close to their peer group's age. Straight adolescents have their high school years, puppy love, sex lives, and friendships mapped out for them by 20-something “hot” celebrity couples and teen-oriented romcoms. Gay kids are not only alienated by peers (Generation Z’s empathy is still plagued by a lack of information, due in part to poor LGBT media visibility), but truly still have very little to turn to for inspiration or encouragement by ways of music, movies, television, and magazines. At this point, it would not only be revolutionary to see a young gay star navigating through life and love, it may be life saving for some confused and scared pre-teen kid who has been told this is not possible.
1D’s Louis Tomlinson, 20, and Harry Styles, 18, affectionately dubbed “Larry Stylinson” by fans, are frequently speculated to be in a relationship with each other. The men usually laugh off the “rumors,” but have occasionally responded aggressively when asked about the nature of their “bromance.”
And as it is the very selfish desire for money that has perpetuated this "closeted public figure syndrome," coming out does come bearing additional incentives (other than feel-good heroism). History does not have the capacity to remember every cheesy (albeit catchy) summer pop hit with a “nanana” breakdown or a teenage “hottie’s” attempt to cross over into adult acting through an action blockbuster flop. It will, however, remember and mark as “icons” those who break down barriers.
Lest we forget entertainment history’s most unforgettable teen heartthrob was a fearless, boundary-breaking, and unapologetically bisexual man…James Dean.
In a display of pre-Stonewall bravery, screen legends James Dean and Marlon Brando share a kiss. Golden Age giants, especially Dean, did so much to pave the way for future stars to be “out.”
Dean’s setting the stage for future stars to come out has been imperative for LGBT pop culture, but equally important are the stars utilizing such bold efforts and continuing to pave the way– Artists like Frank Ocean, who, as of July 18, has debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200. His album, Channel Orange, is not even available on shelves until next Tuesday, but boasts nearly 131,000 in digital sales. Ocean’s success comes not off the heels of a tremendous publicity or advertising campaign, but after an endearing Tumblr tale of his first love with another man went viral. This is a tremendous victory, one that announces (especially to the stars close in age with Ocean) that the time to be courageous and honest, to be a hero, to make a difference, to matter, to be out, is right now.
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