Can ‘Love Victor’ fy the stereotyp about growg up gay? | Ameri Magaze

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• IT TAK A VILLAGE PERSON: BAND WAS TOO GAY FOR VICTOR {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}NEWSBY BRIAN JUERGENSAUGT 3, 2007/8:57 AMBY BRIAN JUERGENSAUGT 3, 2007 / 8:57 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"IT TAK A VILLAGE PERSON: BAND WAS TOO GAY FOR VICTOR WILLIS","DATEPUBLISHED":"2007-08-03T12:57:10.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2007-08-03T12:57:10.000+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":"BRIAN JUERGENS","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{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;}{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;}READY FOR TODAY'S BLAST-OM THE PAST SHOCKER? ACRDG TO THE PUBLICIST OF SNDAL-DOGGED FORMER VILLAGE PEOPLE ONTMAN AND LYRICIST VICTOR WILLIS, "Y.M.C.A." WAS "ABOUT STRAIGHT FUN."{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;}GENTLEMEN, PACK YOUR TOWELS AND HEADBANDS AND PROCEED A QUIET AND ORRLY FASHN OUT OF THE AEROBICS {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;}Y, THE FORMER "POLICEMAN" AND LEAD VOLIST FOR THE MP YET ENDURG DIS BAND IS WORKG ON A TELL-ALL WHICH HE TAILS HOW HE LEFT THE BAND BEE WAS "TOO GAY." ACRDG TO A RECENT TERVIEW WH WILLIS' PUBLICIST:{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;}{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;}"WHEN HE SAYS, 'HANG OUT WH ALL THE BOYS'... HE'S TALKG ABOUT THE BOYS, THE FELLAS.... BUT 'S ONE OF THOSE AMBIGUO SONGS THAT WAS TAKEN THAT WAY BEE OF THE GAY ASSOCIATN WH VILLAGE PEOPLE."{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;}"Y.M.C.A." AND S FECT REA WENT ON TO BEE ONE THE BIGGT HS OF THE ERA, BUT FOR WILLIS ME TO REPRENT ONE OF THE BIGGT SULTS TO HIS REER, WOLF SAYS A PHONE TERVIEW OM SAN {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 THE MA LYRICIST AND VOLIST, WILLIS WAS RPONSIBLE FOR CLASSICS CLUDG "IN THE NAVY," "MACHO MAN" AND "GO WT," BUT WAS APPALLED BY THE HOMOSEXUAL SUBTEXT THEY TOOK ON, FEARG THAT TERG TO A "NICHE" MARKET WOULD DOOM THE GROUP TO FAILURE, SHE {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;}{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;}HERE'S MY QUTN: WERE NOT FOR THE "APPALLG HOMOSEXUAL SUBTEXT" THE DANCE CLASSICS, WOULD THEY HAVE EVEN REGISTERED A BLIP ON THE RADAR SCREENS OF DIS DANCERS? THEY'RE OKAY SONGS AND ALL, BUT THEIR REAL STAYG POWER LI THE PAGEANTRY AND IMAGE THAT THE INIC VILLAGE PEOPLE BOASTED. WILLIS WAS UPSET BEE HE FELT THAT "IN THE NAVY" WAS REJECTED AS A THEME FOR THE U.S. ARY BEE OF THE GROUP'S GAY IMAGE AND FANBASE (WHICH IS PROBABLY TE). BUT WHAT'S GOG TO NAB YOU MORE STAYG POWER AND CULTURAL CHE THE LONGN: BEG ON SOME NAVY MERCIALS OR BEG EMBRACED AS A GAY ANTHEM FOR S?{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;}STRAIGHT WILLIS -- WHO WAS ACTUALLY MARRIED TO PHYLICIA AYERS-ALLE (SOON TO BEE PHYLICIA RASHAD AND CLAIR HUXTABLE ON THE COSBY SHOW) AT THE BAND'S PEAK -- EXED THE GROUP 1980 DURG PREP FOR NOTOR BOMB CAN'T STOP THE MIC AND HAS SCE BEEN DOGGED BY DG-RELATED ARRTS. BUT DUE TO ROYALTI FOR THE SONGS THAT HE WROTE, WILLIS IS STILL ONE OF THE TOP-EARNG PEOPLE. ROYALTI THAT LIKELY WOULD NOT HAVE MATERIALIZED WERE NOT FOR THE GAY IMAGE OF THE BAND, MD YOU -- AND YET WILLIS DON'T SEEM TO SEE {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;}EH -- I ALWAYS LIKED THE BIKER BETTER ANYWAY. NOW HE WAS ALL "ABOUT STRAIGHT FUN."{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;}{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;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• VILLAGE PEOPLE FOUNR VICTOR WILLIS ON WHY YMCA WASN’T A GAY SONG
• HAPPY PRIDE! HOW “Y.M.C.A.” BEME A GAY ANTHEM!
• VILLAGE PEOPLE STAR SISTS THAT YMCA IS NOT ABOUT ‘ILLIC GAY SEX’ AND THREATENS TO SUE ANYONE WHO SAYS IS
• CAN ‘LOVE VICTOR’ FY THE STEREOTYP ABOUT GROWG UP GAY?

IT TAK A VILLAGE PERSON: BAND WAS TOO GAY FOR VICTOR {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}NEWSBY BRIAN JUERGENSAUGT 3, 2007/8:57 AMBY BRIAN JUERGENSAUGT 3, 2007 / 8:57 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"IT TAK A VILLAGE PERSON: BAND WAS TOO GAY FOR VICTOR WILLIS","DATEPUBLISHED":"2007-08-03T12:57:10.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2007-08-03T12:57:10.000+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":"BRIAN JUERGENS","KEYWORDS":"THE BACKLOT","ARTICLESECTN":"NEWS"}{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;}{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;}READY FOR TODAY'S BLAST-OM THE PAST SHOCKER? ACRDG TO THE PUBLICIST OF SNDAL-DOGGED FORMER VILLAGE PEOPLE ONTMAN AND LYRICIST VICTOR WILLIS, "Y.M.C.A." WAS "ABOUT STRAIGHT FUN."{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;}GENTLEMEN, PACK YOUR TOWELS AND HEADBANDS AND PROCEED A QUIET AND ORRLY FASHN OUT OF THE AEROBICS {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;}Y, THE FORMER "POLICEMAN" AND LEAD VOLIST FOR THE MP YET ENDURG DIS BAND IS WORKG ON A TELL-ALL WHICH HE TAILS HOW HE LEFT THE BAND BEE WAS "TOO GAY." ACRDG TO A RECENT TERVIEW WH WILLIS' PUBLICIST:{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;}{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;}"WHEN HE SAYS, 'HANG OUT WH ALL THE BOYS'... HE'S TALKG ABOUT THE BOYS, THE FELLAS.... BUT 'S ONE OF THOSE AMBIGUO SONGS THAT WAS TAKEN THAT WAY BEE OF THE GAY ASSOCIATN WH VILLAGE PEOPLE."{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;}"Y.M.C.A." AND S FECT REA WENT ON TO BEE ONE THE BIGGT HS OF THE ERA, BUT FOR WILLIS ME TO REPRENT ONE OF THE BIGGT SULTS TO HIS REER, WOLF SAYS A PHONE TERVIEW OM SAN {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 THE MA LYRICIST AND VOLIST, WILLIS WAS RPONSIBLE FOR CLASSICS CLUDG "IN THE NAVY," "MACHO MAN" AND "GO WT," BUT WAS APPALLED BY THE HOMOSEXUAL SUBTEXT THEY TOOK ON, FEARG THAT TERG TO A "NICHE" MARKET WOULD DOOM THE GROUP TO FAILURE, SHE {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;}{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;}HERE'S MY QUTN: WERE NOT FOR THE "APPALLG HOMOSEXUAL SUBTEXT" THE DANCE CLASSICS, WOULD THEY HAVE EVEN REGISTERED A BLIP ON THE RADAR SCREENS OF DIS DANCERS? THEY'RE OKAY SONGS AND ALL, BUT THEIR REAL STAYG POWER LI THE PAGEANTRY AND IMAGE THAT THE INIC VILLAGE PEOPLE BOASTED. WILLIS WAS UPSET BEE HE FELT THAT "IN THE NAVY" WAS REJECTED AS A THEME FOR THE U.S. ARY BEE OF THE GROUP'S GAY IMAGE AND FANBASE (WHICH IS PROBABLY TE). BUT WHAT'S GOG TO NAB YOU MORE STAYG POWER AND CULTURAL CHE THE LONGN: BEG ON SOME NAVY MERCIALS OR BEG EMBRACED AS A GAY ANTHEM FOR S?{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;}STRAIGHT WILLIS -- WHO WAS ACTUALLY MARRIED TO PHYLICIA AYERS-ALLE (SOON TO BEE PHYLICIA RASHAD AND CLAIR HUXTABLE ON THE COSBY SHOW) AT THE BAND'S PEAK -- EXED THE GROUP 1980 DURG PREP FOR NOTOR BOMB CAN'T STOP THE MIC AND HAS SCE BEEN DOGGED BY DG-RELATED ARRTS. BUT DUE TO ROYALTI FOR THE SONGS THAT HE WROTE, WILLIS IS STILL ONE OF THE TOP-EARNG PEOPLE. ROYALTI THAT LIKELY WOULD NOT HAVE MATERIALIZED WERE NOT FOR THE GAY IMAGE OF THE BAND, MD YOU -- AND YET WILLIS DON'T SEEM TO SEE {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;}EH -- I ALWAYS LIKED THE BIKER BETTER ANYWAY. NOW HE WAS ALL "ABOUT STRAIGHT FUN."{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;}{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;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

"Gentlemen, pack your towels and headbands and proceed a quiet and orrly fashn out of the aerobics, the former "policeman" and lead volist for the mp yet endurg dis band is workg on a tell-all which he tails how he left the band bee was "too gay. But 's one of those ambiguo songs that was taken that way bee of the gay associatn wh Village People.

" and s fect rea went on to bee one the biggt hs of the era, but for Willis me to reprent one of the biggt sults to his reer, Wolf says a phone terview om San the ma lyricist and volist, Willis was rponsible for classics cludg "In the Navy, " "Macho Man" and "Go Wt, " but was appalled by the homosexual subtext they took on, fearg that terg to a "niche" market would doom the group to failure, she 's my qutn: were not for the "appallg homosexual subtext" the dance classics, would they have even registered a blip on the RADAR screens of dis dancers? Ary bee of the group's gay image and fanbase (which is probably te). But what's gog to nab you more stayg power and cultural che the longn: beg on some Navy mercials or beg embraced as a gay anthem for s?

VILLAGE PEOPLE FOUNR VICTOR WILLIS ON WHY YMCA WASN’T A GAY SONG

Royalti that likely would not have materialized were not for the gay image of the band, md you -- and yet Willis don't seem to see -- I always liked the biker better anyway. THE Village People’s YMCA was never meant to be a gay anthem — acrdg to the man who wrote Willis, the dis band’s foundg member and origal sger, wrote the lyrics for the 1978 is about to reboot and rejo the inic band he left 1980 at the peak of their succs.

“It was not wrten to be a gay song bee of the simple fact I’m not gay, ” Willis said of YMCA, recently vered by Boy Gee to help raise awarens of marriage equaly.

HAPPY PRIDE! HOW “Y.M.C.A.” BEME A GAY ANTHEM!

I’m happy the gay muny adopted as their anthem, I have no qualms wh that. However after leavg the band 1980 (jt before they ma the movie Can’t Stop the Mic) Willis has been volved a lengthy legal battle over pyrights to the songs which has st him May this year he fally settled a ten year law su wh Henri Belolo, who created the band wh Willis and the late Jacqu Morali — a gay man who helped fashn the band’s tramark image, wh Willis’ character beg the Willis and Belolo are relnchg the band, who have ntued to tour over the years wh different le-ups.

"'Straight, gay, whatever... 'The image of Village People reflected the gay culture that emerged om New York clubs the mid-1970s, but Willis explas the songs he wrote were ncerned wh universal them rather than specifilly targetg an LGBT dience. Gay people?

VILLAGE PEOPLE STAR SISTS THAT YMCA IS NOT ABOUT ‘ILLIC GAY SEX’ AND THREATENS TO SUE ANYONE WHO SAYS IS

Male, female, straight, gay, whatever. ” Though, today, you’ll hear the track at everythg om a school dance to a 50th anniversary party, has also been adopted by the gay muny as one of s unofficial anthems.

The songs targeted a niche rerd buyg dience: gay disthequ and their patrons. The tl were self-explanatory: “Fire Island” (the East Coast’s gay summer retreat); “San Francis (You’ve Got Me)” (the Wt ast’s premier gay statn); “Village People” (a look at the habants of New York Cy’s largely gay Greenwich Village); and “In Hollywood (Everybody is a Star), ” the promise of artistic acplishment the word’s entertament pal. Village People nsisted of six members, each of whom personified a popular gay archetype.

CAN ‘LOVE VICTOR’ FY THE STEREOTYP ABOUT GROWG UP GAY?

Only Willis and Rose participated on the “Village People” LP–wh Rose roly creded as “Felipe ‘Indian From the Anvil’“ (the Anvil was a gay NYC sex club). The gay msagg their songs, the gay fantasy stripper-stum, the gay dancg and fx macho posturg seemed to go over the heads of the dience–or they jt didn’t re.

“Key Wt” (a gay rort statn), “Jt a Gigolo, ” “I Am What I Am” (a gay claratn), and “Sodom and Gomorrah” reached their re dience–but the sgle “Macho Man” reached further. An energetic chant song whose lyrics extoled the male form, exercise and gym culture, “Macho Man” was heard by straight dienc as ls gay and more sports/athletics/ol-du fun mic.