It continues to amaze me that there are so few openly queer pop idols. Especially in Asia where so much of the pop idol industry reads as queer coded. Of course, I am very aware that I’m viewing those industries from a Western lens, and there are likely a lot of cultural differences at play in the perceptions of idols. I’m also very aware that many of the countries that produce these idols are much more conservative and/or openly hostile to queer people, meaning it’s not always possible for idols to be as open as they may want to be. All of which is why I’m in awe of artists like Holland, QI.X, and today’s daily helping, Shinjiro.
Shinjiro is a Japanese pop star who recently made headlines when he came out as gay at a fan event this past July. What is even more extraordinary is that the reaction was overwhelmingly positive. He then followed up his announcement with the release of “Into the Light“, a song about stepping into your true self. And I love it. I can only hope that his story inspires others to be their authentic selves without fear. Pop idols or not.
Suggestions for artists I should check out? Please contact me with your ideas. I hope you enjoyed your daily helping of art!
