gay icon: noun (plural gay icons)
A celebrity who is much admired by gay men and/or lesbians. Description: Modern gay icons, who are predominantly female entertainers, typically garner a large following within LGBT communities over the course of their careers. The majority of gay icons fall into one of two categories: the tragic, sometimes suicidal figure or the prominent pop culture idol.
Some past and mostly infamous gay icons have included women of very strong or sometimes overbearing and dramatic demeanour such as Judy Garland, Bette Davis, Lucille Ball, Cher, Madonna and Cyndi Lauper. When the subject of modern gay icons in the African-American community today the finger is continuously pointed at Beyonce Knowles, former member of Destinys Child. She is able to be the definition a performer. She sings, she dances and she performs. While I don't take away from her ability to be an excellent performer. I personally think that her gay icon status should be in probation if not revoked.
In the days where mainly Caucasian homosexual Americans discovered their gay icon, the battle in that period was identity which put the big gay spotlight on people like Judy Garland in which her daughter Liza Minelli inherited her huge fan base and Bette Davis for her androgynous appearance on film. The battle then shifted to the fight against HIV/AIDS in which Madonna became the fiercest of advocates.
Today we are fighting a completely different battle in all communities regardless of race, income and status and that is gay marriage and equal rights. While we have the normal icons out showing their support 100% We also gained a few one notably being Charlize Theron who announced on ABC The View quote "...I have very close gay friends that really want to get married and can't and I wouldn't feel right getting married right now knowing that they can't. It's just not fair".
My question really is where are our African-American heterosexual female entertainers when we are fighting this war on equal rights and gay marriage. The question I should be asking is "Are we smart enough to really give a damn"? Since I personally do not go to New York City clubs anymore. I took this question to many social gatherings throughout the the city asking folks what does it mean to have Equal Rights? Many of the answers that I received were extremely blazay. I was even more disappointed when I saw that the attention from the conversation diverted to either sex or who the cute boy across the room was. When the Beyonce Knowles came up as Single Ladies was playing in the background, I asked "Do you think Beyonce loves her gay fans?" and one lovely queen, I'll never forget his/her answer "...of course she does honey we buy her albums, we support her, we live for her" I through to myself 'that's not what I asked you'. I tried again by asking the same question but in a more direct way "How come Beyonce hasn't spoken out about gay issues that affect our community, particularly black community?" and the answer I was given by quite a few were "Beyonce's job is to entertain me not educate me" I was actually blown away by this being that "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" is teaching MEN to put a ring on their WOMEN'S finger, not women put a ring on their women's finger or men put a ring on their men's finger. Need I need remind people that Gay Marriage is still not legal in all 50 states and "domestic partnership" comes with tons of compromises.
I am willing to give Beyonce the benefit of the doubt by saying possibly, just possibly, she is a product of being a Type A African-American female. Most African-American women have not so much gay friends but they have people that they know are gay and are cool with but won't necessarily hang out with them on any given weekend. I can give her the benefit of the doubt by saying maybe she doesn't feel comfortable talking about LGBT issues not only to her predominately African-American gay fan base but her gay fan base in general. Like her contemporaries such as Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson and Madonna, their gay fan base isn't a color however, it sure would feel nice if there was a female figure in the R&B community that would stick up for the gays.
I could also easily point to the fact that she is married to the ideal modern day über-masculine African-American male and though Jay-Z has in the past been very verbal with his use of the world fag in his lyrics, he has not verbally showed any deliberate hatred towards the LGBT community, unlike his contemporary Busta Rhymes. The incident I speak about is an incident a couple of years ago on Miami Beach where a crowd rushed Busta who's legal name is Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr. to get his autograph. One member of that crowd was an visibly and openly gay male who praised Busta Rhymes work as an artist. Busta became very belligerent and attacked the man while uttering "Don't touch me you faggot". It doesn't make big news because well this is common and we accept it.
I guess the last argument in her defense I can give her is that, maybe she didn't ask to be a gay icon and maybe she doesn't want that title. If she doesn't does that mean she is obliged to give the gays back their money for the albums they bought and the concert that they went to? Please, where in who's fantasy world would that happen? While she may not have asked for the title of gay icon, she sure is doing everything in her power to milk it for everything it's worth and more.
The gays, particularly the men have given Beyonce great choreography. The gay community gave Beyonce a strong fan base that will potentially never go away. The gays have even fought on her behalf in the face of fans of other female contemporaries. I haven't seen that love being reciprocated and therefore, I am absolutely convinced that we as gay men are invisible to her.
In the light of Equality for the LGBT community, when it comes to Gay Marriage, when it comes to workplace discrimination very far and few in between men and women of color are taking the stand for us. It's one thing to have a gay icon who's gay speak up. In the media, it looks biased and damn near a given that a gay person will speak up for members of the LGBT community. However, a heterosexual either male or female speaking up well, that speaks absolute volumes. It's like a lions roar in a room full of nerds playing chess. It's loud, it's crystal clear and it shows people hey, I'm listening and I'm watching and I got their backs.
I am definitely not saying that her showing her absolutely vocal support for the LGBT community would change legislative and reverse laws regarding people like myself and my friends however, I don't think it's right that "we" support people that will use us and milk us for everything it's worth and not give a little back. Personally, even if she did a small commercial like she did for World Hunger, I think I could appreciate her a little more however, she's an icon that won't therefore she's what I call an "Icant".
In a time when Lady Gaga is participating in marches an protests in Washington D.C., in an time when Mariah Carey allows a gay man to open love his partner by proposing to him on her stage, Now is the time to be that African-American heterosexual female gay icon. Now is not the time to be an "Icant".
I want people to think about this in closing, when you are buying that next album, downloading that next single on itunes, when you are looking to dip into your savings account for the good seats at Madison Square Garden. Ask yourself, besides making you feel good, what has she done on behalf of you? What has she done on behalf of your lover? What has she done on behalf of your friend, colleague, associate that died due to complications of HIV/AIDS? What has she done on behalf of your right to live in The United States of America as a man, woman, transgendered male/transgendered female or bisexual male/female, to have the ability to be protected by law against brutality and discrimination. Think about this also when she is laying in bed naked with Shawn Carter while you can't legally be seen by the Justice of the Peace in your own city as a gay couple because it's illegal. Just think about it, Is she an icon or an "Icant"
