08/17/2007
Kanye West: Still Not Gay
Kanye West continues to address his heterosexuality, in an interview with the UK's Manchester Evening News:
"Speaking out against hip-hop homophobia, some people were like 'Oh, Kanye must be gay! Look at the way he's dressing! And why would he speak about it? He's a gay rapper'," he notes. "And my whole point is, I wouldn't have spoke on that if I was gay or if I was in the closet. I would have stayed so far away from it. And I'm still homophobic myself to certain extent. You know, I wouldn't go to a gay parade and feel comfortable. I wouldn't ever to a gay club or something and just be chillin' and grab a drink. It's being in the entertainment world, I meet so many different gay people who are actually nice people. Where I came from, Chicago, being black and being a hip-hop artist, we used to really disrespect gay people. And the thing is, we can't get close to them with a 10-foot pole. And I realised, 'wow, how ignorant has this been?'"
Kanye West: The Big Interview [manchester evening news]
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Posted 9:30 AM EST by Andy Towle in Hip-Hop, I'm Not Gay, Kanye West, News | Permalink
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Becks, darlin': I done my share of brotherly love back in the 70's and only contracted one STD...just one time!
I understand (kinda') that when we get on this subject of anti-gay black public figures many white gays use what they consider a sort of "rhetorical device/technique" to shame them. In other words, "you blacks who complain about persecution ought to know how it feels and stop it!" or "look who's bashing now after their 400 years of oppression." I understand that y'all are using irony as a literary or rhetorical device when you do that. My question is, if you also know that it is offensive to black gays to use these devices, why do y'all keepa' doing it? Is it worth dividing the gay community to use the plural "blacks" or "niggers" when chastising one black homophobe? It happens over and over again on this site: when a black poster comments on how we're offended, we are immediately called "morons, buffoons, and such."
You know I don't like name-calling, Becks. I'm a sensitive kinda' queen, and kinda' on the genteel side...in a North Philly sorta' way.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Aug 17, 2007 2:11:46 PM
"it's the fact anti-gay sentiment is shared in ALL communities of color to too much of a degree."
Generalize much? Anti-gay sentiment doesn't just exist in communities of color. White people can be just as ignorant.
Posted by: sugarrhill | Aug 17, 2007 2:18:38 PM
As a black, Scandinavian, & Irish man, I lived in Chicago for 9 years. That's like 80 years anywhere else and let me tell you, maybe the common 'front' is about 'sissies' and 'faggots' but there are more gay Chicagoans, Black ones for SURE, than you can shake a Polish sausage at. The irony is that Chicago, as the third largest metropolis in the U.S., might have three black gay bars. So, unlike NY & L.A., the Midwestern gays are doing it up at house parties and on their tourist-neglected streets. I have no beef with Kanye--despite the lispy drawls, corny rhymes, sharing a hotel room with John Legend, sampling his momma's 45s & 78s and he's nowhere near as label-queeny as Puffly Diddy----just think it's hilarious that Chicago is supposedly this bastion of pure hetero male sexuality. Please. They just keep it on the down-low, corn belt style. Don't believe the hype.
Posted by: Don't Mind The Bollocks | Aug 17, 2007 2:21:03 PM
I never wish this on anyone, to grow up thinking someone is so "immoral, wrong, disgusting" that when you meet this type of person your surprised to find out the exact opposite. They are normal people, but for most I see this is how its got to be.
It's not enough to just have ppl "treat you like a human", respect is diffrent. Anyone can treat you like a person while pretending you don't exist. I'm glad to see Kanye is making the change from disrespect and phobia to tolerance and understanding. But that's still not close to respect and appreciation. I'm glad he can TALK about it too.
On a diffrent side ,he seems to be such a conflicted artist, but that's for anoter post.
Posted by: Christine | Aug 17, 2007 2:42:12 PM
hey! i'm extremely offended! both my white parents have a lot of rhythm! and they can jump, too! oh, and if kanye wants to emphasize to the world that he is indeed het., then he should always be photographed wearing those sunglasses cuz no self-respecting gay boy would be caught dead in them... except of course for sir elton.
Posted by: sean | Aug 17, 2007 2:51:47 PM
I am comforted to know that such ignorant comments are coming out of the mouth of someone who is dressed like an absolute fool.
Posted by: peterparker | Aug 17, 2007 3:14:10 PM
LOL...it's only a matter of time before hes caught sucking peen.
Posted by: Sketchy | Aug 17, 2007 4:31:42 PM
SUGARRHILL -- I see where I could have been more clear -- I meant "white" as a color, too. So, bottom line, ALL people of ALL colors ('cluding bianco) have too much anti-gay sentiment.
DERRICK -- I don't follow what you are talking about at all, but as long as you know I don't hate you and I know you don't hate me, I'm willing to call it a day.
Posted by: Becks07 | Aug 17, 2007 6:53:52 PM
At least this time he didn't add "And I still don't support gay marriage" like he did last time. Although he has yet to take it back. And it does irk me, I've supported equality for all since I was a small child in the 70s. I don't have a lot patience for a full grown adult who still says they're mulling the concept over. He admits to still being homophobic as if that admission is an excuse to continuing being homophobic. "Hey, at least I spoke out about it, at least I admit I'm still homophobic. Now leave me alone with my homophobia and don't judge, while I judge you to be undeserving of marriage equality."
Posted by: Johnny | Aug 18, 2007 7:12:08 AM
Of course, I don't hate you, we're gay. I don't hate Kanye either, he's trying.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | Aug 18, 2007 1:11:58 PM
let's all agree that the phrase "i could care less" is a solecism. it should be "i could NOT care less."
Posted by: nic | Aug 19, 2007 11:45:59 PM
While "I could care less" is a solecism, it doesn't bother me as much as spelling it "I could careless" does. Anyway, "I could care less" is actually pretty funny "slanguage" to me, b/c it almost suggests you care so little that you won't even bother to use the phrase properly. I couldn't care less if people leave out the "not", but combining the "care" + "less" irritates me.
Posted by: fredo troy | Sep 29, 2007 11:44:58 AM