After reading fluid's response on another thread, that gave me an idea for this thread.

Until I joined the org, I have met very few gay men that are Prince fans. Going by Prince's feminine look, gestures, and even sometimes playful lyrics, I've never understood why Prince was never a huge gay icon.

Female singers like Cher, Janet Jackson, and Madonna are gay icons. Before them, there were females such as Judy Garland, Bette Midler, and Barbara Streisand. It seems that all gay icons were and still are all females. I understand that in previous times, there were not many gay male role models because they were living in the closet or even men whose appearance (like Prince's) is questionable.

Every gay man I know that I have asked about Prince, says "Prince is too fish (feminine)" or "I don't like his attitude, he is a complete bitch". Well, I would think that a gay man could relate more with another male, whether straight or gay, that would have had to suffer the same prejudice and admire the way he flaunts it rather than a straight female that hasn't had to go through any of this.

People like to say that all gay men secretly wish to be a woman. Well, that's a damn lie. There are gay men that range from extremely feminine to overly masculine and I know many that have absolutely no desire to be a woman whatsoever. I've seen all ranges, from the most masculine to the most feminine, gay men fall all over themselves for people like Madonna and Cher and they can't stand Prince. I have never understood that.

I dunno. Prince is very glam. Maybe it's because he is not cheesy enough. I mean, God bless Cher and Madonna, but they are 10 times more corny (in a Las Vegas
way) than Prince is.

Also, Prince doesn't really sing about romancing other men. Madonna and Cher do. Maybe it's because it's because if you peel back the layers of Prince's pretty outside, inside beats the heart of a guy who really really really digs chicks and is constantly reminding you of it through his horny lyrics.
[Edited 10/1/05 8:28am]

My uncle who is a gay Black man in his fifties told me Prince had a following in the gay Black clubs when he first came out. Midler is obvious, but some of these divas are no talents when compared to Prince.

Prince has very gay mannerisms, but is str8

Lesbians have Female Icons. So it's werid gay men don't have more Male.

Because He loves those beautiful women he used to date.

Becuase he is absolutely, obviously, gay!

And only fanatics can't see this!

gay.



very very gay.

i think in the beginnin he had the same kind of following the Scissor Sisters have right now amongst the gay community.

once he started focusing his engery towards attracking the ladies instead of the gay crowd they moved on.

Madonna and Cher market towards the gay community. that may also be a big difference.

He's sang too many songs about pussy. That's why.

Well, i'm not exactly gay but i am bi and I love Prince.

Prince aint gay

Imago777 said:

You wish

10 reasons why Prince was never a gay icon...


1.Vanity
2.Susan Moonsie
3.Troy Beyer
4.Jill Jones
5.Carmen Electra
6.Mayte Garcia
7.Anna Garcia
8.Kim Bassinger
9.Nona Gaye
10.Mani Testoloni


Now proceed to replace number 1 with with the words "Cuz he had sex with" and then repeat with the remaining 9 numbers.

The reason some people think gay men secretly wish they were women and their reputation for being girly all stems from the fact the most obvious segment of the gay community was noticed first. Drag queens and effeminate men were obviously less able to hide their sexual orientation. As the gay movement progressed, people who would have been closeted in the past came out and revealed themselves to be guys being and doing guys. Masculinity is basically a cult with us. Guys go out of their way to look as butch as possible, taping into all the male archetypes and then cranking it one more notch.

In this context, it's not surprising a singer with a voice and image as feminine as Prince is not as popular. Liberace is a gay icon because he was not only gay looking but actually gay. Also, he has not flirted with homoeroticism lately. When he was flirting with that, he had a following.

vainandy said:

Didn't you give the reason yourself. I've no idea why Prince isn't a gay icon. But it strikes me that there are not male gay icons at all. To add some more gay icons: Donna Summer, Kylie Minogue...again women

there are male gay icons

the artwork of Tom of Finland.

it's just that in gay culture i think the cult of masculinty wins when it comes to men.

Elton John, Boy George, George Michael all of have a gay following but they will never be on the same status as say Madonna because they lack masculinity.

Also have you notice the gay female icons have some butchness in their character?

Miss CoCo LuPreu, Varla Jean Merman, Divyne, Edie Harris, RuPaul, LypSynca, are all icons as well. LOL

ehuffnsd said:

Not to mention Bruce Vilanch

I think George Michael was kinda masculine. With someone like Elton though who had a relationship with women, is he fully gay? Didn't George also go with women?
[Edited 10/1/05 12:55pm]

lilgish said:

Bruce isn't very much an Icon. He is more of the background guy behind the comic genius of Bette and Cher.

I didn't know who he was until he made his run on Hollywood Squares.

Than he goes and does Divyne on stage.

Nikki23 said:

fanatic!

christopheries said:

In the Uk there are some significant gay icons that are male , most recently sports stars a la David Beckham , Steven Gerrard , Gavin Henson , Cristiano Ronaldo , all generally very attractive people of course , no-ones gonna idolise
a minger hehe .

Many of the ones you've listed have either celebrated/embraced the gay community in some way, or are gay themselves. Barbara Striesand's son is gay, Cher's daughter is gay, Bette sang in gay bathhouses, Madonna and Janet have always surrounded themselves with gay men... etc...

Prince was basically a womanizer, and focused on his music. The most high profile thing he's done related to gay culture was buy a gay club in Florida and turn it into a Glam Slam.

As far as Prince's effeminate look, in the 80's everyone and their mother was dressing and acting that way, it wasn't necessarily something unique to Prince.

Had he appeared in a John Waters flick, showed up at Wigstock, or something like that to show his support, he may have attracted more of a gay following. He's never really specifically voiced his support or opposition to gays that I can recall.

ehuffnsd said:

I was kidding about Bruce, though he did deserve a shout out.

[Edited 10/1/05 15:23pm]

Tom said:

right on. and yeah, he's never acknowledged those of us within the fanbase who are gay. for fuck's sake, his own hometown is full o'queers, it ain't like he's oblivious to us... i'm quite sure he knows that we're there...it doesn't bother me that he doesn't reach out to his queer fanbase like cher and barbra and whoever else. i've always had the mindset that he was for everyone, and not just one group or type of people. he very well could be a gay icon of sorts, though.





Skipper The Wonder Twink edit
[Edited 10/1/05 15:20pm]

Interesting vainandy...because I'm a gay male in my mid-twenties and I love Prince.
I was wondering the same thing...because I have quite a few gay male friends and none of them are head over heels for Prince.
They actually can't seem to get into his sound.
I have only 2 male friends who are gay, that adore him and think he's a great artist...as well as attractive.

But for the most part alot of gay men, just don't like Prince for some odd reason. When I was younger...first going out to gay clubs, I'd hear Prince music and the crowd would be into it...but for the most part...the fem guys hated prince. I actually told a few...that they would gag if Prince walked into a gay club and showed them up!

Because the fems are always dancing in heels and tight clothing, with make up on...Dancing in a circle and kicking (LOL)...So I mentioned to a few that If prince walked in and jumped in the circle, all of them would be shamed!
Because Prince would walk circles around them in his heels and kick and split like no other...not to mention looking damn good with the hairstyles and make up...which I have yet to see another man in the world pull this off and still come across masculine...and please don't say Andre3000...because that wasn't appealing at all. Now he looks great!

But who knows...as long as I live on gods green earth...Prince will always be fierce to me!

Madonna is 2nd on my list (even now) and the rest will follow!

PS- so at the end of the day...I'd say its pure jealousy!
www.newpowerdetroit.com
Prince Music Night COMING SOON!
[Edited 10/1/05 15:20pm]

Prince is a gay icon to me! My god he wore clear rhinestoned high heels nite 2 Musicology ATL!!!

#1 high heels, #2 CLEAR, and #3 RHINESTONES! That's a gay icon!

The funny thing is gays know Prince is not gay while the straight population thinks he is gay...

rainbowchild said:

- Hehe...very true...I am straight, and ALL of my straight friends SWEAR he is gay, and it´s a (silly) reason for them not to even care about his music.

Sometimes I tell them..."but you like REM...how on earth u make fun of me because I like Prince?". A friend of mine said "it´s different. Michael Stipe may be gay, but he is not feminine and androgynous."

rainbowchild said:

that's because straight folks don't have their gaydar fully developed.

Growing up, i never once regarded Prince as 'gay', or 'Feminine'. I never saw him as strange for that matter. Prince was always just Prince to me and i fucking loved him for it.

This is quite the topic. I am also a gay guy in my mid 20's and while I've never thought he was gay, I could see him being a gay icon. I know for me, I always loved that he could look feminine and yet be masculine all at once. The fact that he can embrace feminity is quite something and I'm a little surprised that that hasn't really been embraced by the gay community more just for that alone.

He hasn't really hung out in gay circles the way Madonna, Janet or even Britney has so that to me is a big reason why he doesn't have a bigger gay audience. One thing I've noticed since coming out is that gays are very loyal to those who are loyal to them and if Prince reached out more, the gay fanbase would grow too, no doubt in my mind. It's cool to see other gay folk dig Prince at all. In the end, it's all about the funk. He's for everyone.

Proud to be who I am!

Fucking bigots the majority of you..'fruit' 'Gays' ... and what a wonderful line in cliches by virtue of the very nature of not only this thread, but also with mentions of Bette Midler, Cher and Madonna.

Not all us poofs are the same you know - stop putting people into boxes.

Prince is an icon to me and I'm a fruit - and I know lots of other poofs that like him too despite his blatant homophobia at times. Personally for me it's about the music. I like Eminem too - bet that doesn't fit in your stereotype does it - huh? Huh?