All of these men have made music that I’ve loved, and I’ve celebrated when they were finally able to come out, while also clocking the marked downturn many of their music careers took after they did so. I do not blame any of these men for making these choices, if indeed it’s even possible to call them choices given the pervasive homophobia of the music business at the time and the world at large. See: Elton John, George Michael, Michael Stipe, Mika and, again, Ricky Martin. Instead, historically, gay men who’d reached a similar career pinnacle at roughly the same age have either had to stay in the closet and sing about women - see: New Kids on the Block’s Jonathan Knight, NSYNC’s Lance Bass, Ricky Martin - or come out after establishing themselves and keep their sexuality in vaguely PG territory (if that).
Screengrab from Lil Nas X video for 'Montero (Call Me By Your Name).' (YouTube screen grab)
