Strength, Vulnerability, And Activism Are The Qualities That Turns An Artist Into A Gay Icon | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Strength, Vulnerability, And Activism Are The Qualities That Turns An Artist Into A Gay Icon

There have been gay icons for as long as you can imagine. But there are a few qualities that make a gay icon.

121
Strength, Vulnerability, And Activism Are The Qualities That Turns An Artist Into A Gay Icon
commons.wikimedia.org

Gay icons have been well known for centuries. The earliest gay icon most people remember is Judy Garland. Gay icons have become such an important part of the community's history. Some of them have entertained us and some have gone further. From campy performances to commendable activism, gay icons come in many different forms. However, there are a few qualities that comprise a gay icon.

Strength is a quality that so many gay icons posses. Madonna is one of the biggest gay icons of all time. When people describe Madonna, strong is an adjective that always comes up. Despite the male dominated music scene, she paved the way for an entire generation of female performers. She also stuck her neck out for gay rights and AIDS research when it was unpopular to do so. Not to mention the fact that she has provoked controversy without apologizing or backing down. Her strength is what makes her a gay icon.

When an artist can express their vulnerability through their work, it speaks to people. For the gay community, it can offer us a voice we can relate to. Vulnerability, therefore, is a very important quality a gay icon must posses.

In 1997, Janet Jackson released her album, "The Velvet Rope." Jackson wrote and recorded the album during a period of depression. She also wrote songs that spoke directly to the LGBTQ community. On "Free Xone," Jackson tackles the issue of homophobia. On her cover of Rod Stewart's "Tonight's The Night," she changes the pronouns to portray bisexuality. Jackson also dedicated "Together Again" to several of her friends who passed from AIDS. The album went on to win a GLAAD Media Award and cemented Jackson's status as a gay icon.

It also helps if you engage in activism to support the LGBTQ community. Lady Gaga is a brilliant example of someone who uses her platform to shine a light on these issues. Even though she had already earned her gay icon status, it was cranked up when "Born This Way" was released. The song included lyrics that specifically mentioned the LGBT community. She also launched her Born This Way Foundation to change the conversation around bullying and mental health. Gaga also spoke out against the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy before it was repealed.

Without possessing these qualities, these artists wouldn't be gay icons. We're inspired by their strength, vulnerability, and their ability to stand up for what's right. Even though we've always had gay icons, much has evolved over the years. The one apparent change is these artists are more open and comfortable with their gay icon status. Who knows what the next gay icon has in store? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Gilmore Girls
Hypable

In honor of Mother’s Day, I have been thinking of all the things my mom does for my family and me. Although I couldn’t write nearly all of them, here are a few things that moms do for us.

They find that shirt that’s right in front of you, but just you can’t seem to find.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Reasons To Thank Your Best Friend

Take the time to thank that one friend in your life you will never let go of.

6367
Thank You on wooden blocks

1. Thank you for being the one I can always count on to be honest.

A true friend will tell you if the shirt is ugly, or at least ask to borrow it and "accidentally" burn it.

2. Thank you for accepting me for who I am.

A best friend will love you regardless of the stale french fries you left on the floor of your car, or when you had lice in 8th grade and no one wanted to talk to you.

Keep Reading...Show less
sick student
StableDiffusion

Everybody gets sick once in a while, but getting sick while in college is the absolute worst. You're away from home and your mom who can take care of you and all you really want to do is just be in your own bed. You feel like you will have never-ending classwork to catch up on if you miss class, so you end up going sick and then it just takes longer to get better. Being sick in college is really tough and definitely not a fun experience. Here are the 15 stages that everyone ends up going through when they are sick at college.

Keep Reading...Show less
kid
Janko Ferlic
Do as I say, not as I do.

Your eyes widen in horror as you stare at your phone. Beads of sweat begin to saturate your palm as your fingers tremble in fear. The illuminated screen reads, "Missed Call: Mom."

Growing up with strict parents, you learn that a few things go unsaid. Manners are everything. Never talk back. Do as you're told without question. Most importantly, you develop a system and catch on to these quirks that strict parents have so that you can play their game and do what you want.

Keep Reading...Show less
friends
tv.com

"Friends" maybe didn’t have everything right or realistic all the time, but they did have enough episodes to create countless reaction GIFs and enough awesomeness to create, well, the legacy they did. Something else that is timeless, a little rough, but memorable? Living away from the comforts of home. Whether you have an apartment, a dorm, your first house, or some sort of residence that is not the house you grew up in, I’m sure you can relate to most of these!

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments