http://frankocean.tumblr.com/post/26473798723

but im alfso a huge sam sparro fan.

NO ONE is surprised except you, truss

______________________________________________________________
http://twitter.com/Gedi

"This is your world. Shape it or someone else will." - Gary Lew

TAKE THAT, BIGOTS!

i know it shouldn't have any bearing on his music, but damn.....Novacane will NEVER sound the same now.....


why now? He coulda kept that to himself....damn


think this will boost his record sales?

>why now? He coulda kept that to himself....damn

but why is he the only one who gets to be "honest" now?


that's his choice....i get that


if he makes dope music, he does, but it just seems weird to be vibing to

"Novacane, baby, baby, Novacane, baby, I want you
Fuck me good, fuck me long, fuck me numb
Love me now, when I'm gone, love me none
Love me none, love me none, numb, numb, numb, numb"

on the other hand

"Pretty girls involved with me
Makin' pretty love to me pretty, pity pity
All the pretty girls involved with me
Makin' pretty love to me pretty, pity pity"



to each his own....he has a right to announce it and i have a right to disagree with it

his preference isn't anyone's business but his


just keep making dope music.

i'm assuming you read his posting....he said "i was 19" that's five years.

that's five years of him doing or feeling whateva it was he was doing or feeling....


like i said in my original response "why now?"


keep making dope music. that's his business. the general public doesn't need to know.

was it brave and bold, absolutely. at the same time i don't think it was necessary. and i'm entitled to that opinion

everyone is entitled to their own opinions, no matter how backwards.

you seem to think that frank should have been able to work everything out at his ripe old age of 24.

which is a bit hard.

putting aside whether or not this was necessary for dude, i'm sure he just made life a little easier for at least one kid out there struggling with their sexuality.

and that alone should be applauded.

i'm sure him coming forward may have encouraged someone younger going through a similar journey/struggle.....no denying that

so long as he keeps making dope music, it's whateva.

still don't that it was necessary

the word necessary is fucking arbitrary. The manner and timing for an individual to do something like this is completely up to them, and cannot be judged by ANYBODY! Period. "Necessary", as if there's some etiquette to dealing with something that is probably one of the harder for someone to express, the bravery here is huge, and the sincerity in that open letter is even bigger.

>the word necessary is fucking arbitrary. The manner and
>timing for an individual to do something like this is
>completely up to them, and cannot be judged by ANYBODY!
>Period. "Necessary", as if there's some etiquette to dealing
>with something that is probably one of the harder for someone
>to express, the bravery here is huge, and the sincerity in
>that open letter is even bigger.


because someone decides to do something does not absolve that/those action(s) and/or decision(s)from being judged...

so because Frank Ocean has an opinion and decides to share HIS opinion with the world, now no one else is entitled to have an OPINION based off said opinion?

i'm moving on. hope he continues to make dope music

>so because Frank Ocean has an opinion and decides to share HIS
>opinion with the world, now no one else is entitled to have an
>OPINION based off said opinion?

oh dear.

...i have to remember who I engage in these discussions with....



but to answer your question, yes....his sexual preference is in fact an opinion. So long as he believes in it, it makes it his opinion.


I'm gonna go finish this Wonderful Life of Oscar Wao


i'll check back later

that's what you're saying?

.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O92981dskK4

Even semi-immortals can be wrong.

Which leaves you with a lot of explaining to do, plebeian.

~Austin

http://austintayeshus.blogspot.com
http://www.last.fm/user/Austintayeshus
http://twitter.com/Austintayeshus
http://soundcloud.com/austintayeshus

im done

>I'm gonna go finish this Wonderful Life of Oscar Wao

>but to answer your question, yes....his sexual preference is
>in fact an opinion. So long as he believes in it, it makes it
>his opinion.
>

come off it, fam. it ain't that serious. plus, he was talking about "WOMEN" specifically throughout his entire album more or less.

now, when he makes a joint called "songs 4 homies" or "n*ggas talkin" i'll probably forego my listening experience.

We'll be there for you, blood.

I guess every single time you reference a girlfriend or girls you like or anything that even remotely acknowledges your heterosexuality, you should keep that to your damn self.

FOH.

>I guess every single time you reference a girlfriend or girls
>you like or anything that even remotely acknowledges your
>heterosexuality, you should keep that to your damn self.
>
>FOH.

>Novacane will NEVER sound the same now.....

Am I missing something? Did he say the song was about the dude? Do we
even know if it's about a girl or guy?

*EDIT* Man gtfoh. The song is about a chick. Like CLEARLY. You sound
dumb.

But you sounds like a complete idiot on this

>But you sounds like a complete idiot on this

i ain't worried about it

where were these people when Kells made 12 Play about 12 year olds

or Chris singing bedroom songs and then Ike-ing shorty

internet activists

as long as he don't drop no song about butt fucking dudes I'm gonna fuck with dudes music

but as far as "why wait until now...." - from what I understand - someone was spreading "rumors"/tryna put him out there - so he stepped up and aired himself out

Lotsa closet cases about to be very upset.

Some part-time female fans may die off but dude will have gigs a Pride events worldwide now.

but yo... that was brave. as fuck.
& its a shame that to be honest about something like that takes bravery still in 2012 - but it does.

utmost respect for that one.

i've very interested - mainly nervous, but hopefully overall - what "hip-hop"'s reaction will be.


http://FRESHselects.net - because if we amplify everything, we hear nothing.
http://twitter.com/FRESHselects
http://facebook.com/FRSHSLCTS

while the younger artists and fans won't give a shit.

we'll see.

He wasn't a mainstay in hip-hop (i.e. there will be no appreciable decline in hooks, etc.).

All we'll hear is support & applause, not too confident there's anyone riding against Frank.

Pretty happy for him and excited to see where this takes his music.

he has a name right now

hip-hop stuck by chris brown after beating rihanna

>he has a name right now
>
>hip-hop stuck by chris brown after beating rihanna

tell me i read that wrong.




http://FRESHselects.net - because if we amplify everything, we hear nothing.
http://twitter.com/FRESHselects
http://facebook.com/FRSHSLCTS

He's not saying that one is better than the other

I took him as saying that the fans will stick by him no matter what for the most part and he may even gain a few fans

Brown beat a woman, his career ain't in the toilet
Frank came out the closet, his career ain't over either

geez

still very taboo in black community from a historical perspective
john mayer is on his album though...so....

because under 30 Black Community =/= over 30 Black Community.

>still very taboo in black community from a historical
>perspective
>john mayer is on his album though...so....

My friend told me to listen to something....I forget the title lol and then I listened to a little bit of Pyramids but I have never heard him on the radio down here

At least he was on NYC commercial radio, which I would call a bastion of hip hop/R&B conservatism.

one
k. orr

It's no diff then R Kelly singing about little girls all this time, because you listen does that make you a pedophile?

Frank has been up front about this in plenty of songs - he singing about dudes at times, does that make you gay?

Biggie said he would suck dick, do you have a problem with that?

Prince said he can be a boy or girl - is there a problem?

The list goes on and on.

>It's no diff then R Kelly singing about little girls all this
>time, because you listen does that make you a pedophile?


Cats on here championing the shit outta Kellz new shit but will judge
a mofo for being bisexual.

he's going to be huge. this will change things for him immensely. yes its brave, and its very interesting. i see big things for mr ocean.

n/m

Diana King. Now it'll probably be a little longer before a MALE Jamaican artist comes out, but still - the times, they are a-changin'. And I'm good with that.

Whoa!
______________________________________________

stevefostermusic.com
stevefoster.bandcamp.com
twitter.com/mrstevefoster

>http://frankocean.tumblr.com/post/26473798723

If he make some wack music I won't listen and I don't care to hear about dudes being in love and I don't have to listen to that either.

I just love how these so called "open minded" people are so quick to call a person homophobic or closed minded if they don't care to hear those subjects in music.

His sexual orientation shouldn't matter but he's a guy that mostly makes songs about sex and relationships? lol people are silly on this board.

It's going to CONTINUE to show up in his music and those who truly are hateful and homophobic should realize at this point in life they don't have to hear anything they don't want to.

But if that kind of subject matter just makes you uncomfortable then there's really no reason for somebody to haul off calling you a closet fag or homophobic and silly shit like that. Some people just genuinely don't care to hear about that and they aren't the slightest bit closed minded, hateful, homophobic, or whatever else you little civil rights hipsters throw at people to feel good about yourself lol

If you don't like his music, go find some you do.

>Some people just genuinely don't care to hear about
>that and they aren't the slightest bit closed minded, hateful,
>homophobic, or whatever else you little civil rights hipsters
>throw at people to feel good about yourself lol

ur a turd

I just think calling somebody names because they're uncomfortable with or don't understand something is just as bad as somebody saying they're going to boycott frank for being bi.

or maybe you meant turd in a nice way lol

"i'm not racist, i just don't want to watch blacks on television"

so you must be the kind of person I'm referring to.

and that's a pretty simple ass way of making your point, it could be a lot more complex than that.

Not racist, has black friends, dates a Black person, but just doesn't think Black shows are funny or interesting, so they "dont want to see blacks on television", yes, lets label them racist and give a speech about how important the jefferson's were. gtfoh.

This whole notion that people should accept every stupid little thing, especially shit that's really none of their business or affects them ( like who fucks who ) is just silly to me.

If I say gauged ears are ugly and unattractive (which they are) then I'm discriminating against alternative lifestyles and closed minded right? lmao

people are "uncomfortable" listening to a gay dude singing R&B, but aren't the "slightest bit close-minded."

I feel like he's talking more about the content.

I like Frank Ocean, so if I get this nigga CD and he has one song on it about sexing a dude for example, and I skip it because it makes me uncomfortable but I bump the fuck out the of the rest of the CD does that make me closed minded?

No, it just means I don't care to listen to that one particular thing.

People can't even have their own opinions or preferences anymore, this is sickening.

to be specific:

"Some people just genuinely don't care to hear about that and they aren't the slightest bit closed minded"

shit is the handiwork of someone who isn't comfortable around gay people but doesn't want to be considered a bigot. no one has to be comfortable with everything, just own it.

ho·mo·pho·bi·a   
noun
unreasoning fear of or antipathy toward homosexuals and homosexuality.

society is filled with over sensitive babies now more than ever.

its hilarious, if you think a certain way they tell you you're wrong
and if you don't think exactly how they do they're offended

its like a full circle
everyone wants everyone else to think like they do.

I don't have a problem with gays at all, doesn't bother me because I believe you do what you wanna do with your life since you're the one living it and fuck anybody who tells you you shouldn't.

That also doesn't mean I wanna watch two dudes have sex
am I wrong because that makes me uncomfortable?

No its just that I don't care to see it because that's just me.


people on these boards smh

thank you, I don't always make my point clear on here sometimes but I know you get what I'm saying

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1nRYcPWg5w&feature=related

^listening with new context

That's how I always took it.. Even when a female was singing it.

That level of courage for a dude in his field, that's nuts.

i'm totally intrigued now because it's so...odd? rare? special? unique? i put n/u back on my iphone so i could listen between the lines, tryna spot clues.

reading his letter, we've all been there too. secrets, first loves not working out how we planned. gay/straight/bi...same feelings when it comes to love.

also, donnie and luther were getting lonely on my ipod too.

He talks about this stuff on the album, and it's been previewed for the press.

although i am now more interested in hearing the album now, and i've seen a lot of other people saying the same thing

If that date on the letter is correct, that was only six months ago.

And, just as a makeshift writer reading another person's inner thoughts, it seems like that letter, right there, was his "coming out" to himself.

Six months is really not that long to know yourself and come to grips with who you are.

And besides, this is the rumored liner note to his upcoming album.

I don't even care about him or his music, but this is just about as cynical as it gets, claiming that he's doing it for press.

And furthermore, he didn't actually come out like, "WASSUP I'M GAY!!!" He simply posted a piece of the (very ambiguous, I might say) liner notes to his upcoming album on his blog.

I swear, you kids.

~Austin

http://austintayeshus.blogspot.com
http://www.last.fm/user/Austintayeshus
http://twitter.com/Austintayeshus
http://soundcloud.com/austintayeshus

~Austin

http://austintayeshus.blogspot.com
http://www.last.fm/user/Austintayeshus
http://twitter.com/Austintayeshus
http://soundcloud.com/austintayeshus

His parents must be proud,Then says he's Bi that's even more sick.

Maybe that big freak Tyler Perry will come out.

Announcing that you are gay or bi is like getting a tattoo.

Not sure why this is such a big deal to some people... Luther was gay, little Richard sure seemed gay... well, ill say it, John Legend comes (eww) across like he might be happy as well... Johnny Gill, Maxwell, Prince, etc.. all of them have that vibe. Add Usher and Eddie Murphy to the list..

tons of entertainers are gay. don't ask me why, I don't know the answer but gays tend to love acting, dancing (except bboys) and singing.

most don't announce it though so I understand the shock and horror of knowing who these dudes are really singing to but a good song is a good song.

can't front though... I'm still shocked George Jefferson and the Dad from Fresh Prince are gay... and the professor from the Parkers... I wonder how true.the rumors are about these guys.lol

It's still a big deal because the closet and the down-low are still very real things, and discrimination and violence against gays based on their orientation is still common. The whole point of famous people coming out right now is as much about increasing overall acceptance of gays as it is about telling the world whether they personally are into chicks or dudes.

Yes, there are a lot of gay people in entertainment, but just as many who are very probably gay and still feel they need to conceal it, maybe even to themselves. I'm pretty sure we all know the deal with Travolta and Cruise. There are more high-profile actors who are out than there used to be - Neil Patrick Harris, Ian McKellan, dude from "The Big Bang Theory," and others - but none of the big blockbuster openers are out. Very few current or even ex-pro athletes are out, and none of the big dogs are - nobody who is making multiple millions per year, nobody who has a contract with Nike or Gatorade. There is still a widespread perception that it will hurt your career more than help it. There still incidents like this one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Skipper Gays are still subject to jail in Jamaica and execution in Iran and Saudi Arabia. Afghanistan will still jail or fine gays, but stopped killing them about a decade ago (progress?).

I've always felt this dude has an amazing knack for the written word.

______________________________________________________________
http://twitter.com/Gedi

"This is your world. Shape it or someone else will." - Gary Lew

he doesnt say " *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE* hey, yall, im gay! gay gay gay! - frank "

im so glad its someone that has such an adult audience too. lotta hip hop fans are dealing with their feelings on this. fans of novocaine. people who say "faggot" 25 times a day cause Tyler says its okay if its not "serious."

this is good for music and good for young black kids who are dealing with similar feelings.

it's okay to be who you are. take your time and do things in a manner you feel comfortable with.

when you look at this from an objective point of view regarding whether or not this would be detrimental to his career.... I think it's actually a plus for his career..... it could give him some cross over opportunities ....

plus...

I mean ....

in the younger Black generation....the skateboard kids ..skinny jean jerk dancing kids.....who would be into hip hop and would listen to a Frank Ocean...... a lot of those kids are gay...or in the least have some preference issues they are dealing with. I wouldn't necessarly call it a bastian gay young people...... I mean I don't think one could look at that movement and just assume that it's MOSTLY gay....but there is an element there.

I think that Frank Ocean coming out may give a face and a name to the gay element in that movement, but I don't think it's super surprising or that he's risking his career by doing so....


the other thing that this does...you know the amount of homophobia or anti-gay bias in the Black community has been overstated for many many years. I'd almost call it a myth. There are scores of Black Gay entertainers and public figures who are beloved by the Black community. One of the primary characteristics of particularly the Black American community ACCEPTING their own...DEFENDING their own...and TAKING UP FOR their own when the rest of the world is against them...... Some of the Blackest cities in America have scores of Gay men and women..... church choirs on sunday have plenty of them...

Black America doesn't toss it's own to the wolves because they are gay, and honestly never really have...

>the other thing that this does...you know the amount of
>homophobia or anti-gay bias in the Black community has been
>overstated for many many years. I'd almost call it a myth.
>There are scores of Black Gay entertainers and public figures
>who are beloved by the Black community. One of the primary
>characteristics of particularly the Black American community
>ACCEPTING their own...DEFENDING their own...and TAKING UP FOR
>their own when the rest of the world is against them......
>Some of the Blackest cities in America have scores of Gay men
>and women..... church choirs on sunday have plenty of them...
>
>
>Black America doesn't toss it's own to the wolves because they
>are gay, and honestly never really have...

...so long as they "respect" the Negro code of silence & invisibility, save for the over-the-top minstrelesque queen.

>in the younger Black generation....the skateboard kids
>..skinny jean jerk dancing kids.....who would be into hip hop
>and would listen to a Frank Ocean...... a lot of those kids
>are gay...or in the least have some preference issues they are
>dealing with. I wouldn't necessarly call it a bastian gay
>young people...... I mean I don't think one could look at that
>movement and just assume that it's MOSTLY gay....but there is
>an element there.
>

Cause it's gonna be weird if I see a music video surrounded by video "models"...

If he's gonna come out the closet in the liner notes to his album (which I think they aren't gonna put in the notes), then I wanna see if he can promote the album as a gay/bi(?) urban male singer.

Coming out isn't what it used to be..tje impact will be minimal but it may get him a few more interviews.before the album drops. I'm curious to see what he does on the day of the release.

I have a few people from college on Facebook who are gay and they are happy... literally and figuratively.

Serious Question: why do gay people always have to make an announcement about coming out, what purpose does that serve?

for example ive never casually found out a celebrity was gay/lesbian like maybe the paparazzi snapped a photo of them out and about with there signifigant other one day or the subject just coming up in an interview its always an announcment.

If lgbt just want to be accepted isnt that kind of counterproductive?

would we be talking about his album and his songs right now? I doubt it.

It's a great marketing move and now fans and non fans will revisit his catalog.

Publications are covering him a lot, he's a member of a group that was one of the biggest stories in music last year, and he's had cameos or writing credits with Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Beyonce.

Lots of people have been talking about him already.

He's a member of a group and I had no idea until a friend pointed me in his direction. now maybe some of his buzz is from OF but the majority of it is from Novacane. most cats who like Frank Ocean have no idea who OF is... different sound and different lane. he had a small buzz but now... man he is front page news .

people who follow music blogs and post on music forums know about Frank but that's a tiny population and most won't buy his album. they'll download it from a leak. I'm talking about the average consumer.

This is particularly true when beloved famous people come out, which is why the gay community pushes them to do so once the rumors start swirling. It helps average straight people raised in a homophobic environment to broaden their minds: "If that nice Doogie Howser is gay, maybe gays aren't so bad after all."

That may not be everybody's motivation, or the only one that applies, but it's a big part of it.

************************

Frank stays winning.

I don't look at this as a publicity grab or a "homosexual agenda" move at all.

He's been "ambiguous" and universal and conceptual and all these things in his music, his interviews, his public persona, etc..

This is all consistent and in line with the themes (Marriage is between love and love, being Zen, not being labeled, etc) that reoccur in his work and his moves.

I hate to give anybody too much credit, but I feel like he's been fairly genuine as far as being himself so far..

I was anticipating the album already and have not changed my plans to purchase it. Does this revelation or whatever add another layer or two to the music and lyrics. Maybe..but again, my main concern is the production.. Cuz I have no doubts about the songwriting.

From OF - "Oldie"

"I'm high and I'm bi.. Wait.. I mean I'm straight."

Now I see what he did there. LOL.

http://laist.com/2012/07/05/man_drives_car_into_ocean_while_sho.php

..it could culturally dwarf any rap or R&B album to come out this year. Ross, Ye/GOOD Music, Nas...none of them will be as important... that is, if the music's THAT good.

lol... "As good as I've been reading."

What happened to music being about the way that it sounded? Sick of pre-determined unanimity in music.

>lol... "As good as I've been reading."
>
>What happened to music being about the way that it sounded?
>Sick of pre-determined unanimity in music.

He made no pre-determinations. At all. He has read that the album is great. He said "IF" the album turns out to be as good (to him) as other people are saying it is, blah blah blah.

I don't even know how you came up with this.

The announcement was for the purpose of creating
buzz for the album, you fucking idiots.

Of course coming out is a good thing, but this
wasn't the product of some long, hard soul search


Or because public speculation had backed him into
a corner

Ocean doesn't care about statements, he cares about
being a successful artist

He (and probably his promotion team) had this shit
planned for MONTHS

You guys literally refuse to fucking think for yourselves

He's a dark-skinned nigga who can't dance and has modest
sex appeal to women

He's obviously talented but is a rainy day away from
being completely irrelevant as an artist

This pretty much solidifies his place in R&B

being gay in today's America this is perfectly acceptable

I mean, there's barely been a backlash at all

This BOOSTS his image and buzz and record sales

The nigga is trying to make MONEY and SELL RECORDS

He ain't fighting for no causes




----------------------------

Young Broadway Star Urgently Needs a Bone Marrow Donor. Is it you? http://MatchShannon.com/







O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

Thanks for enlightening us.

Even if his motive is exactly as cynical as you dream it to be, I don't think this was (or is) by any means a sure path to success. His audience isn't the Will & Grace crowd. Beyond that, even IF he succeeds, he just traded a small commercial niche for years of the macho dudes he works with (not necessarily OF, but everybody else) calling him a faggot behind his back, and occasionally/probably to his face. Let's not act like there's no risk and no trauma in coming out in this day and age.

Even if it's for publicity and nothing else, I still say good for him, because it takes huge cojones and can only help things in the long run.

>
>Even if it's for publicity and nothing else, I still say good
>for him, because it takes huge cojones and can only help
>things in the long run.

You got duped

----------------------------

Young Broadway Star Urgently Needs a Bone Marrow Donor. Is it you? http://MatchShannon.com/







O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

It won't... and for the life of me I can't understand why people are acting like the industry is a macho man's arena.

The industry is filled with tenderness... Pimp C kept it a little too real with his rant but he wasn't lying.

It's strictly to sell records. Period. If it wasn't about selling records and getting publicity why is the timing so perfect?

A whole new market just found out who Frank Ocean is and it isn't because they heard his music. Lil B didn't call his mixtape I'm Gay because he was gay... it's all about getting press.

Call me a homophobe but the shit is sick... I'm not talking about being gay (well, it's nasty to me) but I'm talking about the marketing/promotion/demand for people to accept the gay lifestyle.

I'm saying this will get a lot more people calling him faggot. I don't know what rumors were or were not swirling about him before, but now everybody knows. It will most certainly increase the amount of people talking about him that way. So whether it boosts his career or not, he's still taking a chance and exposing himself to ridicule.

>It won't... and for the life of me I can't understand why
>people are acting like the industry is a macho man's arena.

Because it's hip hop. Because Drake and Chris Brown (of all people) were throwing bottles at each other just a couple weeks ago. Hip hop is complex and there's been more acceptance than I would have expected, but let's not pretend like there weren't hundreds of eyebrows raised at this news, or dozens of guys mumbling "fag" under their breath. I mean... c'mon.

>It's strictly to sell records. Period. If it wasn't about
>selling records and getting publicity why is the timing so
>perfect?

I already said my piece on that - even if that's all it is, it's a bold move.

>Call me a homophobe but the shit is sick... I'm not talking
>about being gay (well, it's nasty to me) but I'm talking about
>the marketing/promotion/demand for people to accept the gay
>lifestyle.

If being gay was less likely to get you beat up, jailed or killed, you might have a case. The problem is that the result of non-acceptance hasn't been, "You do what you want behind closed doors and just don't tell me about it, and we'll be fine." Sure, a lot of people feel that way. But the general implication is that there's something morally wrong with what they're doing, which puts a social imprimatur on teenagers beating up "fags" and occasionally dragging one behind their truck. Not to mention the ongoing marriage debate, which I won't even get into.

Busta, Jay, Fat Joe.... all these rappers are cosigning Frank Ocean because it's an industry rule.

I know times are changing and shit but man... this is some bullshit.

..and they say Mitt Romney flip flops.

I know the average cat who is gay gets picked on while growing up but in the entertainment industry being gay is a good thing.

You've lost a step, dude.

>You've lost a step, dude.

Nah, always sucked at this stuff

Not really my sport


----------------------------

Young Broadway Star Urgently Needs a Bone Marrow Donor. Is it you? http://MatchShannon.com/







O_E: "Acts like an asshole and posts with imperial disdain"




"I ORBITs the solar system, listenin..."

(C)Keith Murray, "

..to Frank.

http://soundcloud.com/ecstasoulmusic/frank-youre-amazing

written by dream hampton.

Thank you, Frank Ocean.

It’s true, we are a lot alike… “spinning on blackness. All wanting to be seen, touched, heard, paid attention to.” In your opening few lines, you simultaneously established your humanity, a burden far too often asked of same sex lovers, and acknowledged that in this age of hyper self- awareness, amplified in no small part by the social media medium in which you made your announcement, we are desperate to share. You shared one of the most intimate things that ever happened to you – falling in love with someone who wasn’t brave enough to love you back. Your relieving yourself of your “secret” is as much about wanting to honestly connect as it is about exhibition. We are all made better by your decision to share publicly.

You and Anderson Cooper have the same coming out calendar week in common, but in many obvious ways, you couldn’t be more different. Anderson Cooper is an heir to one of America’s great Industrial Age fortunes and a network professional whose maleness and whiteness backed by his considerable accomplishments guarantee him work. You are a young Black man from New Orleans who fled your still struggling city. You didn’t arrive in Los Angeles with generational wealth and privilege, only the beautiful lyrics and melodies that danced through you and your dream of making it in a music industry whose sand castles were crumbling.

You are in fact, connected to one of hip-hop’s great cadres, in the tradition of Oakland’s Heiroglyphics, The Native Tongues and The Juice Crew. Your music family, like all the rest, will likely grow apart, but in this moment Odd Future bends hip-hop’s imagination with utter abandon. You fulfill hip-hop’s early promise to not give a fuck about what others think of you. The 200 times Tyler says “faggot” and the wonderful way he held you up and down on Twitter today, Syd the Kid’s sexy stud profile and her confusing, misogynistic videos speak to the many contradictions and posturing your generation inherited from the hip-hop generation before you. I’m sure you know a rumor about Big Daddy Kane having AIDS and with it, the suggestion that he was bisexual, effectively ended his career. You must have seen the pictures of pioneer Afrika “Baby Bam” from the Jungle Brothers in drag and read the blogs ridiculing him, despite the fact that he’s been leading a civilian life for nearly two decades. I know as a singer you love Rahsaan Patterson and bemoan the fact that homophobia prevented him from being the huge star his talent deserves. Only last month Queen Latifah unnecessarily released a statement denying that her performing at a Gay Pride event meant she was finally affirming her identity for thousands of Black girls. Imagine if Luther had been able to write, as you closed your letter, “I don’t have any secrets I need kept anymore…I feel like a free man.”

But you’re not an activist. You’re a Black man in America whose star is on the rise, working in hip-hop and soul, where gender constructs are cartoonishly fixed. Your colleague Drake is often attacked with homophobic slurs when he simply displays vulnerability in his music. He seems to respond by following those moments of real emotion with bars that put “hoes” in their proverbial place. But you’re a beautiful songwriter (your question to Jay and Kanye, “What’s a King to a God?” on their own song on an album about their kingdom, was brilliantly sly). Your letter is revolutionary not least of all because it is about love. It is about falling in love and feeling rejected and carrying both that love and rejection with you through life. The male pronoun of the object of your desire is practically incidental. We have all been in a love that felt “malignant…hopeless” from which “there was no escaping, no negotiating.” Your promise to your first love, that you won’t forget him, that you’ll remember how you changed each other, is so full of love and grace.

You were born in the ’80s, when gay rights activists were seizing the streets of New York and other major world cities, fighting for visibility and against a disease that threatened to disappear them. The cultural shifts created from those struggles in some ways make your revelation about your fluid sexuality less shocking than it would have been decades before. Still, there are real risks with coming out as a man who loved a man. I hope you hear and are reading the hundreds of thousands of people who have your back.

We admire the great courage and beauty and fearlessness in your coming out, not only as a bisexual Black man, but as a broken hearted one. The tender irony that your letter is to a boy who was unable to return your love until years later because he was living a lie is the only truly tragic detail about your letter. A million twirls on this spinning ocean blue globe in this vast endless blackness for you my love.

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