I have been a dedicated fan of Prince for over 14 years now, but
in all that time I have never seen an article or even a letter referring to
the impact of the prince on his gay audience. So I though I would write to
redress this imbalance!
Prince has been a huge influence in my life in terms of the development of
my gay self-identity. Whether I realised it at the time or not, Prince
showed me that the line between girls and boys is as blurred as those
between black and white, or straight and gay. He articulated the
'controversy' that I experienced as I tried to make sense of my burgeoning
sexuality, personnifying the confusion I felt inside. Here was a MAN who
looked, sang and danced like an angel, and a pretty one at that! Was he
straight or gay? It didn't really matter- you just got the impression that
he would be an expert lover, able to satisfy you whatever sex you were. He
represented liberation, assuring you that when you got to Uptown or Paisley
Park, all you'd find would be love, acceptance and sexual emancipation. But
this (gay?) club was not limited by a geographical location: it was more a
state of mind, a philosophy. The New Power Generation flouted traditional
sexual boundaries; join, and you could be what you wanted to be, the
colourful person that all gay men dream of being, somewhere over the purple
rainbow.

However, Prince also embodied the flip-side of gay experience: the guilt
and internal conflict by which many young gay men are consumed as they
become aware of their same-sex feelings. Prince knew all about Temptation.
He had 2 sides, and though he tried to make them friends, his divide
loyalties to both God and Sex were often a source of dramatic conflict. For
me, this reflected the battle I felt as an adolescent between what I was
naively praying for - 'Please God, I don't want to be gay!' - and what my
body insisted upon - 'Sorry, but you are!'. Prince seemed to understand this
battle between 'lust' and spirituality. He knew the guilt, the turmoil, the
self-deprecation that causes us to volunteer to be sent to the Electric
Chair. Sadly, in a world where it is still very difficult to be gay, there
aren't many gay men who can say honestly that they have never succumbed to
this insidious, negative view of their sexuality.

Thank God we eventually grow out of that phase, and hopefully move on to
become proud, happy gay people who accept and love ourselves as we were
created. But, if I am honest, I am not sure that Prince/the Artist has
helped me to reach that stage. When I was emerging as a gay man, Prince
represented a 'staging post' between living a straight and gay lifestyle. He
was the bridge between two cultures, and for that I am grateful. But, at the
end of the day, he is straight (I think!) and so he can never be a true gay
role model for me. This means that since I have accepted my sexuality, I
feel slightly differently towards the Artist because I am interpreting his
music on a metaphorical level, rather than a literal one. I would be really
interested to hear if other gay Prince fans have had a similar

It's kind of ironic that with Prince's new religion he thinks being gay is a sin.

lovemachine said:

You don't know that he believes that! He may act a fool a lot but that does not mean he swallows everything the JW's say! I'm a Catholic but I do not believe being gay is a sin and my church says it is!

That was great. I really wish I had wrote this.

I don't really care to invite the wrath of the gay community, but both Prince's new (JW) AND old (Protestant Christian) religions both view gay lifestyles as being sinful

whatever your choice in life, don't blame Prince either way

Sweeny79 said:

The new book claims that Prince said that Wendy and Lisa need to make a public apology for their gay lifestyle.

lovemachine said:

Look I ain't one of those delusional fans who think that the man can do no wrong. I know he is not a saint but,that book was a Prince bashin fiasco! That don't mean it's true.
And even if he did yell at Wendy and Lisa and tell them that they were"going to hell because your fucking lesbians" it does not meen he believes it. Haven't you ever said something you didn't mean to hurt someone you love when you were pisssed off?

meanwhile, back at Mplsrainbow's thread...

Nice post, was good 2 read, thanx

Rudy said:

While i believe that the gay lifestyle is a sin i dont condemn anyone who is gay.

Good for you. Brave post.

Unfortunately, I really feel that Prince has changed his views over the years. He seems to now have the opinion of more conservative, traditional teachings of organised religion.

He wrote Bambi and pointed the finger at himself. He changed the lyrics for TC Ellis and pointed the finger at the gay lifestyle.

rock on, rainbow!!!

Sweeny79 said:

Wow, I didn't know he said all that. Well, I will just stop blaming Lisa and Wendy for not coming back to for the Celebrations. If he said that to me, I'd never speak to him again. BTW, I thought that just Wendy was gay. ???
[This message was edited Sat May 31 21:40:28 PDT 2003 by SynthiaRose]

squirrelgrease said:

how did he change the lyrics 4 TC?
i hear the same lyrics in his version...
just with that added rapping verse which isnt in P's version.

Sweeny79 said:

As people have already been DIRECTLY quoting this as what Prince has SAID - I just thought I should point out that Sweeny79 was just riffing on a train of thought.
2 my knowledge, the rumours that abound about this 'incident' (although I think even THAT's over-stating the case) never state that he said THAT.
He made a remark - not an out and out attack - there's a BIG difference.
I still have more than enough faith 2 believe that whatever head-space he is in now, he is still holds the ability 2 be non-judgemental - at least not 2 the degree that he said the above.

*take it out of context and a new rumour shall start edit*

CHAOSMAN87 said:

I agree with you, man of chaos

After meeting meshell at gig colorado. I told her story
When I was 13 years old my father caught me masturbating
to the lovesexy album I told Meshell how my dad beat by my ass
and was yelling obscenities at me why do you like that Puerto Rican
Nigger. She gave me hug and told me it's all right to come out
From that day I always related to Gay black women. some times I wish that I can
be person of color so the minory community can relate to me maybe that’s why
I collect Meshell& prince today to use this as therapy for me for me getting
buy as gay white male

After meeting meshell at gig colorado. I told her story
When I was 13 years old my father caught me masturbating
to the lovesexy album I told Meshell how my dad beat by my ass
and was yelling obscenities at me why do you like that Puerto Rican
Nigger. She gave me hug and told me it's all right to come out
From that day I always related to Gay black women. some times I wish that I can
be person of color so the minorty community can relate to me maybe that’s why
I collect Meshell& prince today to use this as therapy for me for me getting
buy as gay white male

Today is my 33 b-day & i just want to be honest what happens in my life & this how i feel about thread about my dad & prince being alternative life style hero for me

Do i have privlage of useing im the new member of gaymafia

MPLSRAINBOW said:

Happy Birthday U! Hoping ur day is a good one with a lot of laughter.
Proud of ya,
BC
x

happy 33rd - enjoy the sunshine

MPLS, I feel sympathy for you that you hard to struggle at one point with your self-identity. I am also gay but I knew it right when I hit puberty, I hardly struggled and I think being gay helped me feel different from those around me in a good way. It helped separate me from the imbeciles and ignorant pigs.

MPLSRAINBOW said:

Hey, didn't U write a letter that was published in UPTOWN magazine a few years ago about Prince's impact on U as a gay person?

I think Prince is currently homophobic. And I think he sucks for that. It's sad to see somebody so brilliant caught in the grips of Christian fundamentalist garbage. I hope he'll come around.

On another note, Prince's gender-blurring has been important in helping me think about gender issues at a young age as well. People have often talked about whether or not he's gay, which he says he's not (and I believe him), but sexuality and gender are different issues. While he may very well be straight (ie. is only sexually attracted to women), I suspect, from his behavior and from things he's said, that he doesn't (or didn't) identify as male, but as something more androgynous. I love that about him, even if he doesn't/can't/wouldn't want to accept it about himself these days.

bananacologne said:

It was in the new book that he said THAT! I don't think it's true but it's in the book. Please don't make me go find the page .
[This message was edited Sun Jun 1 15:36:24 PDT 2003 by Sweeny79]

(longtime lurker) As another 33-yo gay man who has enjoyed Prince all of his life, I know that he changes quite a bit however while I was at the soundcheck of last year's first Atlanta ONA show, Prince was asking the audience for requests and a guy asked him to play a certain love song (couldn't hear what the song was he requested). Prince replied "I ain't singing no love song to a guy".

BTW: Happy Bday.

Where can I send my application in for consideration in joining the gay org mafia?

Joshy84au said:

It's changed just enough lyrically to be venomous.

bananacologne said:

Well, there's to incidents, according to the "book". One is said directly to Wendy & Lisa, that they're going to hell for their lifestyle, and the other is a supposed statement made by Prince to Larry about how Wendy and Lisa would have to hold a press conference and apologize for their lifestyle before the Revolution would reunite.

SynthiaRose said:

nope, they both are... and are/were in a long term relationship together (19+ years, I think?). It would appear Wendy has a new gf currently.

NOW im starting 2 see why 'Roadhouse Garden' never materialised...
thanx 4 the replies - never knew that the 'quote' above was actually in AleX Hahn's book - not that that means much, but all the same...concerning. Thanku 4 the info