LGBT people in Rock music

[Sabbabbath]

https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/music/2015/03/25/18-stars-who-prove-queer-people-can-rock#article-content

I admit there's a part of me that hopes OID and Ronn (or the group of people who use his name) come around, simply because it might be fun to watch them freaking out about this.

Anyway, even without that possible extra bit of entertainment, I like the topic.

[Zzzptm]

Can't forget the wild man himself, Little Richard.

“Elvis may be the King of Rock and Roll, but I am the Queen.” - Richard Penniman aka Little Richard

https://scholarsandrogues.com/2017/08/27/little-richard-the-ecstasy-of-cognitive-dissonance/

As one reads The Life and Times of Little Richard, what emerge poignantly are the conflicts in Richard Penniman’s psyche. Torn between his love of rock and roll and his love of religion, torn between his “homosexuality” (though more likely he is bi-sexual given his own descriptions of his relationships with men and women) and his desire to be “normal,” torn between his love of public adulation and his desire to be a good son and brother, torn between his status as a major star and the prejudice and mistreatment he encountered as a black man, Little Richard is the victim of enough cognitive dissonance for at least three people.

For me, a rocker's orientation often has little or no effect on my being able to enjoy the rocker's music. Sometimes I wonder, and then I figure it's not any of my business, really, how about another song... But for people who need to know who else out there feels the way that they do, being able to see how someone else deals with inner struggles - successfully or unsuccessfully - helps to provide triangulation for making it through life.

What must be most difficult for most people is the sheer fluidity of so many musicians. People like to be able to toggle someone into one category or the other. Not just straight people, a lot of gays I've talked with feel the same way. Bisexualism and the idea of sexuality as a spectrum and even as a variable that can change over time challenges a lot of definitions that depend on there being a sort of "well are you or aren't you?" determination and then proceeding from there. Most people don't want a "yes" answer to that question or a "well, mostly...".

[Thelemech]

When Rob Halford "came out of the closet" I was like  big secret!! LOL
What someone does with another consenting adult in the bedroom has little to do with how hard they can rock.

Freddie Mercury and Rob Halford    Enuff Said!!!

[Thelemech]

Oh and not to forget the great Elton John!!

[Billy Underdog]

I just love the fact that alot of the Metal fashion is due to Halford using "mr. leather" gay paraphernalia.
And that alot of the Queen songs that people read into that it's Mercury talking about his emotions, I Want To Break Free, You're My Best Friend, Spread Your Wings, etc actually was written by John Deacon.

[Thelemech]

I just love the fact that alot of the Metal fashion is due to Halford using "mr. leather" gay paraphernalia.

  That is pretty funny when you think about it.

[Zzzptm]

I just love the fact that alot of the Metal fashion is due to Halford using "mr. leather" gay paraphernalia.

  That is pretty funny when you think about it.

And makes sense why my mom was mortified when I said I wanted a black leather jacket with metal studs. I HAD NO CLUE, MAN!!!

[Sabbabbath]

I just love the fact that alot of the Metal fashion is due to Halford using "mr. leather" gay paraphernalia.

  That is pretty funny when you think about it.

And makes sense why my mom was mortified when I said I wanted a black leather jacket with metal studs. I HAD NO CLUE, MAN!!!

 

[Zzzptm]

Another funny moment... I was in high school 1983-1986. It was 1985 and word was going around that someone in Hüsker Dü was gay.



We took a look at the band photograph and figured, "Yep. It's the guy with the mustache. What is he, the bass player? He is? Oh yeah, he's the gay guy."

Imagine our deep shock and realization that our gaydar was either broken or non-existent when we realized he was actually the straight guy in the band...

[Billy Underdog]

Another funny moment... I was in high school 1983-1986. It was 1985 and word was going around that someone in Hüsker Dü was gay.



We took a look at the band photograph and figured, "Yep. It's the guy with the mustache. What is he, the bass player? He is? Oh yeah, he's the gay guy."

Imagine our deep shock and realization that our gaydar was either broken or non-existent when we realized he was actually the straight guy in the band...

That WAS the typical "gay guy mustache" in the 80's, though, so i can understand how you "reasoned".

[Charger]

That WAS the typical "gay guy mustache" in the 80's, though, so i can understand how you "reasoned".

There was such a thing???

[Sabbabbath]

That WAS the typical "gay guy mustache" in the 80's, though, so i can understand how you "reasoned".

There was such a thing???

Indeed there was! You missed that? 

[Billy Underdog]

That WAS the typical "gay guy mustache" in the 80's, though, so i can understand how you "reasoned".

There was such a thing???

A nice mix of a stereotype and an actual fad in the New York club scene. Just look at any photo of The Village People.

Or the Queen himself.

[Charger]

Well I have to say I obviously have not paid enough attention to gay men's facial hair....pardon my ignorance.

[Sabbabbath]

Well I have to say I obviously have not paid enough attention to gay men's facial hair....pardon my ignorance.

Man, too busy with your cars to look out of the window from time to time? 

EDIT: I guess that the "gay mustache" of the 1980ies was the predecessor of what became the "hipster mustache" a while ago:


...and finally developed into the fill-blown "hipster beard":


But I might be wrong - it's just a theory, I didn't really look for evidence.