It’s not uncommon to see children embody their heroes, picking and choosing which fictional character or person they are in a group.
Other than this being a brilliant marketing tool to sell superhero toys, band CDs or television programme merchandise, it’s completely normal for young boys to call themselves the Tompo of their group or young girls to imagine they were the Cinderella of their clique.
This is known as Wishful Identification, it helps define social behaviours among children and adolescents. As adults, we grow to adopt these loyalties through allegiance to different public figures like Hollyfield vs Tyson, Biggie vs Tupac, or Taylor Hayes vs Brooke Logan.
The thing about finding these real and fictional role models is that they help establish our gender identity and to an extent sexuality.
So what happens when you are not included in that rigid spectrum? What becomes of queer people who actually don’t have a vast pool of heroes to look up to?
While these women and gay men might be creating parallels unconsciously, it is high time queer artists like 3Sum, Langa Mavuso or even Thandiswa Mazwai, get their great applause that heterosexual counterparts are treated to.
I remember having this question answered when I first came across what is now called “stans” during the press tour for Australian pop star, Kylie Minogue.
During a news report on the pop stars arrival, it was made very clear that she had a huge gay male following. Something that surprised me as I assumed she was the only pop star to amass this kind of attention.
Pretty soon, I learnt that the likes of Madonna and even Brenda Fassie commanded similar attention. I specifically remember a gay schoolmate crying hysterically over the death of queer icon, Lebo Mathosa.
It was almost as if female pop stars were truly successful only when they could crown all their accomplishments with a legion of gay male fans. But this is all understandable. Repression of any person in society would cause them to look for inspiration elsewhere.
This othering would cause them to appreciate someone who makes them feel as grand as they do inside rather than outside.
The similarities between pop diva and fan are almost uncanny.
Many young female stars are often subject to immense public scrutiny quite similar to the policing of gender roles that gay men are expected to uphold.
Both groups are oversexualised from a young age and struggle to be understood when they try to express a pre-defined and restricted concept of how they should explore their sexual identity.
The bond between the two can especially be seen in their need for freedom, similarly to how young pop divas often feel overwhelmed and buckle to the double standards that don’t apply to heterosexual male counterparts.
This especially rings true in the New York Times’ recent documentary on the media scrutiny that affected the career downfall of Britney Spears.
Growing up with an artist like her, gay men were able to navigate a way out of the closet, similar to how these pop stars like Spears found their way out of patriarchies trenches.
The shared liberation is not only a hero’s journey but a story that gives hope to the adoring gay fans.
This has morphed over the years from pop stars like Beyonce to socialites like Paris Hilton or Khanyi Mbau which can be linked to the projection of ideals that queer femme men have and the standards of beauty that they subscribe to, ideals that they are often also expected to meet.
While this may be true, I can’t help but see parallels in increased LGBTQIA+ visibility in relation to the rise of the female stars on our screens.
Not only are female pop stars standing up for themselves but so are screen stars as well who have used multiple movements to have their voices heard.
We do, however, live in a capitalist world where many stars that can one-up heterosexual pop divas with claims of bisexuality and sexual curiosity often laugh to the bank and suddenly drop every letter of the queer alphabet for heterosexual relationships.
While these women and gay men might be creating parallels unconsciously, it is high time queer artists like 3Sum, Langa Mavuso or even Thandiswa Mazwai, get their great applause that heterosexual counterparts are treated to.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.