No, artists, nor any celeb, nor anyone has an obligation to anyone to be OUT.
Myself, I'm OUT to those I chose to be. I don't need to fly the Rainbow flag all the time.
I will fight for our "rights" and for tolerence for who we are and add my voice to the masses when needed. But my obligation is to myself and no one else.
I got slammed once for responding to an article on AfterElton in a similar manner.
Let me put it in a way so that folks may finally get it.
In the movie "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner", Sidney Poiter's charecter says to his father, "You think of yourself as a black man, I think of myself as a man"
My sexuality does not define who I am, any more than my brown eyes or gray hair.
I drank a strong cup of coffee while I watched this interview and the long version below. Still, watching him weave his dreadful, self-involved rationalization for staying in the closet made me sleepy. Aren't there intriguing - and brave - out people to interview?
Who the hell does he think he is that he can completely completely separate himself from politics? Even if he were straight as an arrow he would still be intwined in politics local, national, sexual, and how ever else. No musician, actor, business man, or artist is free from politics including sexual.
Staying mum is actually just as strong a political statement as carrying a sign, thats why he is getting the press that he does.
He has no obligation to be an out gay man, but he should at least not try to cover his ass by saying he's not political. It's just either intellectually lazy or cowardly, no matter his sexual orientation.
He sings a song about sucking on a lollipop too hard and another about a man leaving his wife and running away to Mexico with his male lover.
Why he won't just come out and say yes, I am gay? It is disappointing. He is handling this very badly and his gay audience will tire of his deliberate stance on not taking a stance. By refusing to say, "yes, I am gay," he is effectively saying I am ashamed to admit who I am. One last point, yes he does have an obligation to come out. It is the price he pays for seeking fame and fortune and being a gay man.
It seems to me that Mika's mindset is he tries to please everybody and so pleases no one. The music industry, his fans and the public will not allow him to talk about his orientation while many fans have been speculating for some time. Of course he has the right to come out or stay in the closet. Regardless of what we do or don't do, you behavior is liked by some and disliked by others. On some level I feel sad for him that he can't find the courage to set the record straight but we all have been in that place in our lives...maybe time to show our support until he is ready.
I think that people expect too much from artists who become celebreties. My opinion on this matter has evolved over time, and what I try to understand is that these people--Like Mika--are individuals first, public figures second. Of course I WANT someone like Mika to come out and say, Hey, I'm a gay artist, and we could hail him as a role model. But not everyone can, or even should, be that open about things they consider private.
If you look at non-celebrity gays, some take several years--even decades--to come out, but the important thing is that they do it when they are ready and comfortable.
If you love Mika's music, it shouldn't matter whether he's truly gay, bi, or whatever. Just love his music.
Thank you Jousha. You hit it right on the head and I think it's a generation thing.
Not that you commented on my post, but YOU DO GET IT when you write sometimes it takes decades and come out when you feel comfortable.
I'm 54 and I'm just now starting to come out to family.
But I'm at a point in my life, that when I do come out and if the folks I tell have a problem with me being a man who happens to be gay, PEE ON THEM !!!
If I were in my 20's I could understand the attitude that others have on various sites about coming out. Today it's so much easier than my generation.
The younger generations never had to go to gay bars in the 70's and pray to God no one would see your car.
I still stand by my earlier post but, good for you Joshua, you are more tolerent of my generation who stay longer in the closet than many of your counterparts.
Sometimes people forget that the person on stage is a character geared to entertain/educate/stimulate etc....why are artists chastised when they try to keep their stage persona (job) separate from their personal life, especially since THAT is what is required from most jobs? To mix your personal life with your work would be consider unprofessional, sometimes you can even get fired for it...but I guess music is pretty personal isn't it? But how personal does it have to be? How about as personal as the artist allows him/herself to be...the audience shares with his audience what he/she is ready to share at the time.
I think the bigger issue is not that Mika may or may not be a good GAY ROLE MODEL but that people try to make entertainers their role models.
Is the gay community that hungry for role models that we dismiss a young man for simply not coming out of the closet?
Well, in that case then how about we tell Mika to redirect those gays looking for role models to a book by Robert Adrich called Who's Who in Gay and Lesbian History...after they buy Mika's album of course. After all his songs are really fun...and gay!
I have to agree with Adrian's statement: "is the gay community that hungry for role models that we dismiss a young man for simply not coming out of the closet?"
When I first saw Mika's video for Grace Kelly on LOGO, I said to myself: "YAY! A nice looking young gay artist!" Then, as time rolled on, I noticed that there was "questions" about him. -And I realized at that moment... I LOVE HIS MUSIC! It doesn't matter if he's gay or straight or even if he's a necro! I enjoy his music. I will advocate the point that young gay teenagers need role models... but, do the role models need to be gay?
I, come to think of it, don't really have any gay role models or favorites. I have to say the people around me while I was going through high school played a huge role on me (because I was the only person out for the four years)- we kind of set the bar together. I'd like to think I am well-rounded, even though I am extremely opinionated.
If Mika can't handle (or isn't ready to) being a role model for gay teens, leave him be. We look to him for entertainment... not advice on growing up. The people who are looking to stand up for their fellow homo (Rosie? I guess, she's my role model on what NOT to do)... that's where we look to role models... not people who just want to sing and dance and not advocate for either group.
Once again, I've said way too much and I am ending this blog early before I say anything else.
I don't think it makes a difference whether Mika is gay or not. I really love his music, and that's all that matters to me. In fact, I tend to like gay artists more than straight male artists, simply because they seem to touch more often on the subjects that I enjoy hearing about.
I haven't really determined my sexuality. I'm only fourteen. I don't want to close doors. I don't descriminate based on sexuality. One of my best friends recently came out, and I've stuck by her side, even though people think I'm a lesbian because of it. My sexuality is my business, and they can assume whatever they want. That doesn't mean it's true. And I think Mika has remained quiet for the same reason. Not because he is scared of coming out (if he is gay), but because of the negative connotations of being gay. I wouldn't call that the same as trying to please everyone. I just think that Mika's worked so hard to get where he is. Maybe he doesn't know how coming out will affect his newfound success.
Well, that didn't make much sense. But I'm sure Mika has his reasons, and I respect him no less for his decision.
To add onto that, now that I've seen the video, I think that Mika is perfectly reasonable. Because he hasn't said anything, he has given everyone the chance to accept him. Some artists are, in fact, defined solely by their sexuality. Personally, I would try to avoid that. All my gay friends are different. It would be tantamount to crime to describe them only by their sexuality.
God, i dont get why he just wouldnt say if he's gay or not, it doesnt really matter at all...they are all people. Im gay, i dont really tell anyone but whatever. Gays rule.
Mika is an artist. He didn't write his songs to be a role model. Sure that's nice. It's great even but Mika just wants to make music to perform to be an artist. It's unfair but it's true if Mika said he was gay he would probably lose alot of fans and if he says he isn't he loses a bunch of gay fans and if he doesn't answer at all, no one trusts him. It isn't fair to even ask him if he is or isn't. It's his business and i could care less if he was gay. I love his music. HIS MUSIC. Not that fact that he could possible mayby be gay. Just leave him alone and turn Life in Cartoon Motion up real loud please? And just dance.
first of all, I didn't use my real name but, I am straight and support gay rights, anyone has a right to love and marry whoever they wish, mika is an amazing artist and we will surely here about him in the future, I think it's WONDERFUL that he doesn't like labels.
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No, artists, nor any celeb, nor anyone has an obligation to anyone to be OUT.
Myself, I'm OUT to those I chose to be. I don't need to fly the Rainbow flag all the time.
I will fight for our "rights" and for tolerence for who we are and add my voice to the masses when needed. But my obligation is to myself and no one else.
I got slammed once for responding to an article on AfterElton in a similar manner.
Let me put it in a way so that folks may finally get it.
In the movie "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner", Sidney Poiter's charecter says to his father, "You think of yourself as a black man, I think of myself as a man"
My sexuality does not define who I am, any more than my brown eyes or gray hair.
I am a man.
A man who happens to be gay.
Posted by: Lyndon Evans | June 22, 2007 at 07:13 PM
I drank a strong cup of coffee while I watched this interview and the long version below. Still, watching him weave his dreadful, self-involved rationalization for staying in the closet made me sleepy. Aren't there intriguing - and brave - out people to interview?
Posted by: Fed Up | June 22, 2007 at 07:15 PM
Who the hell does he think he is that he can completely completely separate himself from politics? Even if he were straight as an arrow he would still be intwined in politics local, national, sexual, and how ever else. No musician, actor, business man, or artist is free from politics including sexual.
Staying mum is actually just as strong a political statement as carrying a sign, thats why he is getting the press that he does.
He has no obligation to be an out gay man, but he should at least not try to cover his ass by saying he's not political. It's just either intellectually lazy or cowardly, no matter his sexual orientation.
Posted by: brandon | June 23, 2007 at 02:09 AM
He is so gay.
Posted by: Kevin | June 23, 2007 at 02:25 AM
He sings a song about sucking on a lollipop too hard and another about a man leaving his wife and running away to Mexico with his male lover.
Why he won't just come out and say yes, I am gay? It is disappointing. He is handling this very badly and his gay audience will tire of his deliberate stance on not taking a stance. By refusing to say, "yes, I am gay," he is effectively saying I am ashamed to admit who I am. One last point, yes he does have an obligation to come out. It is the price he pays for seeking fame and fortune and being a gay man.
Posted by: RCR | June 23, 2007 at 11:04 AM
It seems to me that Mika's mindset is he tries to please everybody and so pleases no one. The music industry, his fans and the public will not allow him to talk about his orientation while many fans have been speculating for some time. Of course he has the right to come out or stay in the closet. Regardless of what we do or don't do, you behavior is liked by some and disliked by others. On some level I feel sad for him that he can't find the courage to set the record straight but we all have been in that place in our lives...maybe time to show our support until he is ready.
Posted by: Thomas | June 23, 2007 at 03:20 PM
I think that people expect too much from artists who become celebreties. My opinion on this matter has evolved over time, and what I try to understand is that these people--Like Mika--are individuals first, public figures second. Of course I WANT someone like Mika to come out and say, Hey, I'm a gay artist, and we could hail him as a role model. But not everyone can, or even should, be that open about things they consider private.
If you look at non-celebrity gays, some take several years--even decades--to come out, but the important thing is that they do it when they are ready and comfortable.
If you love Mika's music, it shouldn't matter whether he's truly gay, bi, or whatever. Just love his music.
Posted by: Joshua | June 23, 2007 at 04:45 PM
Thank you Jousha. You hit it right on the head and I think it's a generation thing.
Not that you commented on my post, but YOU DO GET IT when you write sometimes it takes decades and come out when you feel comfortable.
I'm 54 and I'm just now starting to come out to family.
But I'm at a point in my life, that when I do come out and if the folks I tell have a problem with me being a man who happens to be gay, PEE ON THEM !!!
If I were in my 20's I could understand the attitude that others have on various sites about coming out. Today it's so much easier than my generation.
The younger generations never had to go to gay bars in the 70's and pray to God no one would see your car.
I still stand by my earlier post but, good for you Joshua, you are more tolerent of my generation who stay longer in the closet than many of your counterparts.
Posted by: Lyndon Evans | June 23, 2007 at 05:50 PM
Sometimes people forget that the person on stage is a character geared to entertain/educate/stimulate etc....why are artists chastised when they try to keep their stage persona (job) separate from their personal life, especially since THAT is what is required from most jobs? To mix your personal life with your work would be consider unprofessional, sometimes you can even get fired for it...but I guess music is pretty personal isn't it? But how personal does it have to be? How about as personal as the artist allows him/herself to be...the audience shares with his audience what he/she is ready to share at the time.
I think the bigger issue is not that Mika may or may not be a good GAY ROLE MODEL but that people try to make entertainers their role models.
Is the gay community that hungry for role models that we dismiss a young man for simply not coming out of the closet?
Well, in that case then how about we tell Mika to redirect those gays looking for role models to a book by Robert Adrich called Who's Who in Gay and Lesbian History...after they buy Mika's album of course. After all his songs are really fun...and gay!
Posted by: Adrian Acosta | June 26, 2007 at 02:49 PM
I have to agree with Adrian's statement: "is the gay community that hungry for role models that we dismiss a young man for simply not coming out of the closet?"
When I first saw Mika's video for Grace Kelly on LOGO, I said to myself: "YAY! A nice looking young gay artist!" Then, as time rolled on, I noticed that there was "questions" about him. -And I realized at that moment... I LOVE HIS MUSIC! It doesn't matter if he's gay or straight or even if he's a necro! I enjoy his music. I will advocate the point that young gay teenagers need role models... but, do the role models need to be gay?
I, come to think of it, don't really have any gay role models or favorites. I have to say the people around me while I was going through high school played a huge role on me (because I was the only person out for the four years)- we kind of set the bar together. I'd like to think I am well-rounded, even though I am extremely opinionated.
If Mika can't handle (or isn't ready to) being a role model for gay teens, leave him be. We look to him for entertainment... not advice on growing up. The people who are looking to stand up for their fellow homo (Rosie? I guess, she's my role model on what NOT to do)... that's where we look to role models... not people who just want to sing and dance and not advocate for either group.
Once again, I've said way too much and I am ending this blog early before I say anything else.
Posted by: Ken | July 07, 2007 at 08:02 PM
I don't think it makes a difference whether Mika is gay or not. I really love his music, and that's all that matters to me. In fact, I tend to like gay artists more than straight male artists, simply because they seem to touch more often on the subjects that I enjoy hearing about.
I haven't really determined my sexuality. I'm only fourteen. I don't want to close doors. I don't descriminate based on sexuality. One of my best friends recently came out, and I've stuck by her side, even though people think I'm a lesbian because of it. My sexuality is my business, and they can assume whatever they want. That doesn't mean it's true. And I think Mika has remained quiet for the same reason. Not because he is scared of coming out (if he is gay), but because of the negative connotations of being gay. I wouldn't call that the same as trying to please everyone. I just think that Mika's worked so hard to get where he is. Maybe he doesn't know how coming out will affect his newfound success.
Well, that didn't make much sense. But I'm sure Mika has his reasons, and I respect him no less for his decision.
Posted by: Becky | July 23, 2007 at 09:03 PM
To add onto that, now that I've seen the video, I think that Mika is perfectly reasonable. Because he hasn't said anything, he has given everyone the chance to accept him. Some artists are, in fact, defined solely by their sexuality. Personally, I would try to avoid that. All my gay friends are different. It would be tantamount to crime to describe them only by their sexuality.
Posted by: Becky | July 23, 2007 at 09:09 PM
it doesn't matta if hes gay or not he's still him and he's still grate
Posted by: ellie | August 22, 2007 at 03:25 PM
God, i dont get why he just wouldnt say if he's gay or not, it doesnt really matter at all...they are all people. Im gay, i dont really tell anyone but whatever. Gays rule.
Posted by: Mad Stranger | September 09, 2007 at 05:01 PM
Mika is an artist. He didn't write his songs to be a role model. Sure that's nice. It's great even but Mika just wants to make music to perform to be an artist. It's unfair but it's true if Mika said he was gay he would probably lose alot of fans and if he says he isn't he loses a bunch of gay fans and if he doesn't answer at all, no one trusts him. It isn't fair to even ask him if he is or isn't. It's his business and i could care less if he was gay. I love his music. HIS MUSIC. Not that fact that he could possible mayby be gay. Just leave him alone and turn Life in Cartoon Motion up real loud please? And just dance.
Posted by: Stephanie | September 19, 2007 at 06:24 PM
first of all, I didn't use my real name but, I am straight and support gay rights, anyone has a right to love and marry whoever they wish, mika is an amazing artist and we will surely here about him in the future, I think it's WONDERFUL that he doesn't like labels.
Posted by: Alice | December 14, 2009 at 12:14 AM