Odd Future member and risg R&B star Frank Ocean announced tonight via his tumblr that he's bisexual or gay. The post, which was origally supposed to be the ler not for Channel Orange, his upg album, scrib the first time he fell love wh a man, and how he's alt wh the years sce. It's worth readg full - 's lked below - but here are some highlights:
Contents:
- FRANK OCEAN: ‘I CRIED THE NIGHT I ME OUT AS GAY’
- FRANK OCEAN TALKS COMG OUT AS GAY MANBY CHRIS SPARGOJULY 20, 2012/3:00 PMBY CHRIS SPARGOJULY 20, 2012 / 3:00 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"FRANK OCEAN TALKS COMG OUT AS GAY MAN","DATEPUBLISHED":"2012-07-20T19:00:19.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2012-07-20T19:00:19.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"CHRIS SPARGO"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}[PTN ID="ATTACHMENT_59250" ALIGN="ALIGNCENTER" WIDTH="620" PTN="FRANKY!"][/PTN]{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FRANK OCEAN IS OPENG UP ABOUT WHY HE CID TO E OUT AS A GAY MAN, AND SAYG THE MAJOR REASON FOR HIS CISN WAS HIS OWN "SANY." THE 24-YEAR-OLD GENUE, WHO HAS PENNED SONGS FOR THE LIK OF BEYONCE, JAY Z AND KANYE WT, SAID A RECENT TERVIEW, "I'M LIVG A LIFE WHERE I'M HAPPY WHEN I WAKE UP THE MORNG, AND NOT WH THIS EAK' BOULR ON MY CHT."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OCEAN ALSO REVEALED THAT HE HOP HIS CISN TO E OUT WILL HAVE A POSIVE FLUENCE ON YOUNGER MEMBERS OF THE GAY MUNY. "I WISHED AT 13 THERE WAS SOMEBODY I LOOKED UP TO WHO WOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHG LIKE THAT, WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN TRANSPARENT THAT WAY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS FOR POSSIBLE BACKLASH, OCEAN IS NOT TOO NCERNED. "PEOPLE ARE JT AAID OF THGS TOO MUCH. SURE, EVIL EXISTS, EXTREMISM EXISTS. SOMEBODY ULD M A HATE CRIME AND HURT ME. BUT THEY ULD DO THE SAME JT BEE I'M BLACK. THEY ULD DO THE SAME JT BEE I'M AMERIN."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OCEAN'S BUT ALBUM, CHANNEL ORANGE, BUTED AT #2 ON THE BILLBOARD CHARTS THIS WEEK AS AN ITUN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FRANK OCEAN IMPACT: IS HIP-HOP GETTG HOMO-FRIENDLIER?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
- FRANK OCEAN'S NOT ALONE: FIVE OTHER SGERS WHO'VE COME OUT AS GAY
- FRANK OCEAN REVEALS HE'S GAY
- HIP-HOP WORLD GIV GAY SGER SUPPORT
FRANK OCEAN: ‘I CRIED THE NIGHT I ME OUT AS GAY’
* frank ocean coming out gay *
" "Frank Ocean Com Out and Be the First Gay Rapper History. " That last one is wrong on several levels: Ocean did not e the word "gay, " nor is he a rapper, nor would he be the first gay rapper if eher of those labels applied. Especially black mic, which has long been sperate need of a voice like Ocean's to break the layers of homophobia.
FRANK OCEAN TALKS COMG OUT AS GAY MANBY CHRIS SPARGOJULY 20, 2012/3:00 PMBY CHRIS SPARGOJULY 20, 2012 / 3:00 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"FRANK OCEAN TALKS COMG OUT AS GAY MAN","DATEPUBLISHED":"2012-07-20T19:00:19.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2012-07-20T19:00:19.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"CHRIS SPARGO"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}[PTN ID="ATTACHMENT_59250" ALIGN="ALIGNCENTER" WIDTH="620" PTN="FRANKY!"][/PTN]{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FRANK OCEAN IS OPENG UP ABOUT WHY HE CID TO E OUT AS A GAY MAN, AND SAYG THE MAJOR REASON FOR HIS CISN WAS HIS OWN "SANY." THE 24-YEAR-OLD GENUE, WHO HAS PENNED SONGS FOR THE LIK OF BEYONCE, JAY Z AND KANYE WT, SAID A RECENT TERVIEW, "I'M LIVG A LIFE WHERE I'M HAPPY WHEN I WAKE UP THE MORNG, AND NOT WH THIS EAK' BOULR ON MY CHT."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OCEAN ALSO REVEALED THAT HE HOP HIS CISN TO E OUT WILL HAVE A POSIVE FLUENCE ON YOUNGER MEMBERS OF THE GAY MUNY. "I WISHED AT 13 THERE WAS SOMEBODY I LOOKED UP TO WHO WOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHG LIKE THAT, WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN TRANSPARENT THAT WAY."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS FOR POSSIBLE BACKLASH, OCEAN IS NOT TOO NCERNED. "PEOPLE ARE JT AAID OF THGS TOO MUCH. SURE, EVIL EXISTS, EXTREMISM EXISTS. SOMEBODY ULD M A HATE CRIME AND HURT ME. BUT THEY ULD DO THE SAME JT BEE I'M BLACK. THEY ULD DO THE SAME JT BEE I'M AMERIN."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OCEAN'S BUT ALBUM, CHANNEL ORANGE, BUTED AT #2 ON THE BILLBOARD CHARTS THIS WEEK AS AN ITUN {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}FRANK OCEAN IMPACT: IS HIP-HOP GETTG HOMO-FRIENDLIER?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
" At, Jaah Lemix noted that while few urban artists openly embrace homosexualy, many are "the closet wh the glass door, " livg a life they don't reveal their mic. "I hope that Frank Ocean don't bee 'the gay sger, ' for would be crimally unfair for him to wear that label as so many of his peers are sleepg wh and lovg same genred persons, while sellg imag of hyper-heterosexualy, " she wrote. Unlike the standard g out gture – newsman Anrson Cooper's public email to his iend Andrew Sullivan, "The fact is, I'm gay" — Ocean's prented sexualy as somethg that aris wh particular circumstanc, fed by shiftg sire and dividual enunters rather than solidifyg as an inty.
FRANK OCEAN'S NOT ALONE: FIVE OTHER SGERS WHO'VE COME OUT AS GAY
There is a leage of Ain Amerin artists who've prented broar fns of sexualy through their songs and their public personali, as well, though homophobia has certaly kept many more om livg fully hont liv. Gospel mic thory Anthony Heilbut's newly published book of says discs the impact of "the gay men of gospel, " om key mil archects like Jam Cleveland to crossover figur like Bayard Rt.
(Kelefa Sanneh's 2010 New Yorker profile of the gospel artist Tonex explor how homophobia n impact an artist wh that muny. ) David Hajdu's bgraphy of De Ellgton's llaborator Billy Strayhorn shows how the lyricist's life as one of the few openly gay men mid-century jazz helped shape classic songs like "Lh Life.
Though the "No Homo" meme rap tipped the discsn toward adolcent game playg and bigotry, even stubbornly straight pop scen, the trend is toward passn. While hip-hop and R&B, had been monly wrten off as herently homophobic, the rponse to Ocean’s emotnal letter was mostly posive, wh many praisg the one-of-a-kd talent for his bravens and honty. As a young gay Black boy who grew up stgglg to reckon my love for hip-hop, rap, and R&B wh the homophobic sentiments often rattled off, Frank’s g out was a pivotal moment — one that let me know I wasn’t alone and that society uld be ready to accept others like me, too.
FRANK OCEAN REVEALS HE'S GAY
Apparently, I wasn’t the only young gay Black boy who felt that sense of lmg support followg Ocean’s g out. Durg a recent holiday episo of Zane Lowe’s #AtHomeWhAppleMic show, Lil Nas X, an openly gay rapper himself, revealed how much Frank Ocean — and his close llaborator Tyler, The Creator, who is also openly queer — has meant for his reer. Frank Ocean has said that he “cried like a fuckg baby” the night he me out as gay.
The ‘Pyramids’ sger revealed that he was motivated to wre the post on Tumblr, which he said he was gay, after he Skyped to a Def Jam ‘Channel Orange’ listeng ssn and noticed one of the journalists was “very harmlsly” wrg a piece about how often he male pronouns songs. Odd Future member and risg R&B star Frank Ocean announced tonight via his tumblr that he's bisexual or gay. Comg out remas a polil gture — an act of ristance a world that still tri to attach shame to homosexualy.
When gay bashg remas prevalent and policians and voters work to nstra gay civil rights, one’s sexual orientatn nnot be jt someone’s “private bs.
HIP-HOP WORLD GIV GAY SGER SUPPORT
” Knowg people are gay is a path to acceptance.
Studi show that people are more likely to be at peace wh homosexualy even if they only know homosexuals through parasocial relatnships — the sort of one-sid relatnships we have wh celebri.