Madonna as gay icon
Madonna is considered a gay icon and the gay community has embraced her as a pop culture icon.[1]
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[edit] Life as an LGBT icon
Madonna was introduced to the gay community while still a teenager. It was her ballet teacher, Christopher Flynn, a gay man, who first told Madonna that she was beautiful and that she had something to offer the world.[2] He also introduced her to the local gay community of Detroit, Michigan, often taking her to local gay bars and discotheques. Flynn also encouraged Madonna to walk away from her full scholarship to the University of Michigan and move to Manhattan to pursue a career as a professional dancer.[2]
In August 2009, during a show in Romania (Sticky and Sweet Tour), Madonna criticized discrimination against the Romani, also speaking against the discrimination of gays. [3]
In June 2010 Madonna released a statement criticizing the decision to jail two men in Malawi because they celebrated their union with a ceremony. Madonna's statement included the following excerpt: "As a matter of principle, I believe in equal rights for all people, no matter what their gender, race, color, religion, or sexual orientation. This week, Malawi took a giant step backward. The world is filled with pain and suffering; therefore, we must support our basic human right to love and be loved.I call upon the progressive men and women of Malawi—and around the world—to challenge this decision in the name of human dignity and equal rights for all." [4][5]
In November 2010, Madonna made a special appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to speak against the bullying of children and teenagers in general, including the bullying of gay teens and related recent suicides. In her conversation with Ellen, Madonna reiterated how she became close to the gay community when she was a teenager, stating that she felt different in high school and found acceptance and sympathy among gay friends, particularly her dance instructor. She also mentioned how she "wouldn't be here" if it wasn't for her gay fans. [6]
In June 2011 Madonna urged her fans to support same-sex marriage in New York, posting the following message on her website: "New Yorkers your voices must be heard. Tell your state Congressmen to support same sex marriage bill. All you need is love." [7] The Marriage Equality Act passed one week later, legalizing same-sex marriage in New York.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Gordon Ramsay 50th most popular gay icon
- ^ a b (Omnibus, BBC, December 1990)
- ^ Harris, Chris (2009-08-27). "Madonna Booed After Standing Up For Gypsies In Romania - Music, Celebrity, Artist News". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1619705/20090827/madonna.jhtml. Retrieved 2012-01-20.
- ^ "Stand for equal rights and human dignity for all". Raising Malawi. http://www.raisingmalawi.org/page/s/statement. Retrieved 2012-01-20.
- ^ By Advocate.com Editors. "Madonna Condemns Malawi Gay Sentence | News". The Advocate. http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/05/20/Madonna_Condemns_Malawi_Gay_Sentence/. Retrieved 2012-01-20.
- ^ Meld je aan of registreer je om een reactie te plaatsen! (2010-11-09). "Web Exclusive: The Unedited Madonna Interview". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s251LO_L2G8. Retrieved 2012-01-20.
- ^ "News - Madonna's Statement To New Yorkers". Madonna.com. http://madonna.com/news/title/madonnas-statement-to-new-yorkers. Retrieved 2012-01-20.
[edit] External links
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