Opinion: Pandering Popstars?

Featured image credit: http://missbutterfly.livejournal.com

Upon hearing the term ‘gay icon’, we usually think of female singers with a fabulous and outrageous wardrobe, an ‘I don’t take any shit’ diva attitude, a feminine and flamboyant personality, open views on sex and sexuality, the use of sexual and sometimes homosexual imagery, and of course, advocacy for LGBT rights. Most of these singers have had loyal gay fanbases since the beginning of their careers or even before they started, and many have repeatedly thanked us for sticking by them.

But now they know how popular they are within the LGBT community, do they just ‘pander towards’ us with everything they do? And do they do so intentionally or not? Cher, Madonna, Kylie, Britney, Christina, P!nk and Lady Gaga are just a few of the many women in music who have not only heavily influenced the industry, but also the LGBT community through their songs, videos and their stances against homophobia and for our rights. Some people have praised them standing up for us, while others accuse them of ‘exploiting’ us. So what’s the real deal?

Back in the Eighties and early Nineties, when open expressions of sexuality were still very much regarded as ‘taboo’, Madonna took the lead in shocking many people with several explicit and candid music videos such as ‘Justify My Love’, ‘Erotica’ and ‘Secret’. Some critics slammed her for such controversy while others and the gay community loved them. In recent years though, many are torn between being shocked or just bored by LGBT-friendly music videos. Christina Aguilera, for example, won praise for 2002′s ‘Beautiful’ (see below), whose music video was one of the first ever to show two males kissing. Lady Gaga, by contrast, was heavily criticised as well as loved for her ‘Alejandro’ video, which had a number of semi-naked men writhing about together.

Live performances by artists (especially straight ones) who openly flaunt homosexuality on stage have also received mixed reactions – back in 2003, the world gasped with disbelief when Madge locked lips with Britney and Christina, but when Rihanna wanted a piece of Miss Spears earlier on this year, not many were so taken aback by such behaviour. As Madge herself might put it, we’ve seen it all before; it’s fair to ask, then, if it’s losing its impact on public perceptions of gay and lesbian people.

It’s also fair to ask what motivated Madonna’s stage kisses; was it to make their LGBT fans, especially lesbians, love her even more, or was she just pandering to the heterosexual male population? After playing tonsil tennis with Britters and Xtina, Madonna stated she understood that her gay fans would love pretty much everything she did but explained that the kissing was actually all very spiritual, saying: ‘I am the mommy pop star and she is the baby pop star. And I am kissing her and passing my energy onto her. Like, kind of a mythological fairy tale.’

Left: Madonna 'passes her energy' to Britney. Right: Rihanna = bandwagon jumper?

It is likely that many LGBT people feel more ‘empowered’ when celebrities, no matter what sexual preference they are (the majority of these women are mainly straight), stand up and speak out for them. Most of these pop stars have vowed they will not stop talking about gay rights until there is nothing left for which to fight. Perhaps they serve a useful function in pointing out that while progress over the last few decades has been substantial, there is still a lot of inequality throughout the world.

However, it does seem reasonable to suggest that the stage-friendly LGBT love might be going a little too far. Lady Gaga is a prime example. Many people are divided between loving her for campaigning like a fierce politician, and wondering if she is actually taking things too far. Gaga has complained that claims that she tries to exploit the LGBT community are ‘ridiculous’. Instead, she has strenuously stated that she genuinely loves and cares for her gay fans and feels ‘connected to their struggles as someone who is a part of their fight’. Yet there are a lot of people who accuse her simply being a businesswoman, wondering if gay people are just part of a niche market susceptible to her sharp business acumen.

Kylie has always been known for putting on extravagant and overly camp shows, complete with nearly-naked and effeminately dressed male dancers.

Ultimately, the LGBT community must surely be grateful that so many celebrities want to lend their star power and influence to help fight for equal rights, whether they are extremely active in doing so or not, and whether they really do care for their gay fans or are just jumping on to the bandwagon. It is hard to justify the claim that they are truly ‘exploiting’ gay and lesbian fans, ‘pandering’ to please them or make them feel more accepted, intentionally or not, as part of modern society.

Whether we as gay fans love these big queens just because they stick up for the LGBT community, because they are so damn ‘fabulous’, or because they regularly surround themselves with naked men and cavort with other women, there is no denying how strong and loyal a gay fan base can be. Perhaps instead of emulating us, they should be thanking us; in an elegant symbiosis, they would have less success without LGBT fans, and fewer LGBT fans if they had nothing left to fight for.