Why Gay Men Love Female Divas

Cocoa Rican
June 6 2007, 9:45AM

Kudos to Enrique Iglesias! This type of show proves how secure an artist is and their ability to be marketable, open-minded and intelligent about their fanbase. It goes back to the mighty dollar and proving that the gay community is a BIG player in the game. Withold your dollars and many artist will be steered in the right direction.

cward
June 6 2007, 11:21AM

Wow, that is most excellent that Enrique embraced the gay audience. Also if I caught the shirt by Tyrese or any other artists I would have kept it.

I am not a big fan of the "divas" far too many of them lack any real musical of lyrical talent in my eyes. Also the idea of a gimmick to sale records such as the "Shirt Off Tour" makes me laugh...but hey I understand that it is all about money.

However, I completely agree that the gay community of all colors need to be respected much more by black artist male and female...and not when their career is over.

Tracey Thorn- Out of the Woods
Rufus Wainwright- Release the Stars

Ostend Street
June 6 2007, 11:42AM

Keith -- thanks for the informative article. Gay folk need to spend their money where they are respected. If an artist disrepects or embarrasses one of us with his funky t-shirt or any other overt action/attitude and we find out about it, we can just as easily pull back on the support and spend our money somewhere else. Abusing us has gone far enough and these homophobic sexpots can wave goodbye to a lucrative fan base. They need to remember that their's a new sexpot waiting in the wings and we will handle them also.

cmoney
June 6 2007, 12:10PM

I was just in London and saw the poster for Enrique's performance at club G-A-Y. Kelly Rowland is also due to perform at the same venue on June 9th, I believe. I couldn't imagine LL Cool J performing at a club called GAY, but if he did, I would be in the front row! When these so called macho hip hop guys get washed up, they will be begging to perform at the Black Gay Pride celebrations right alongside Jody Watley and CC Peniston. And Ginuwine needs to quit with the macho routine, everyone knows he was a stripper in DC. How many dollars did he get in his G-string from male patrons?

bubba
June 6 2007, 12:17PM

Is TGT foolish for not anticipating a gay audience, or are gays foolish for giving them support before it's earned? Let's get it straight. Anyone buying music based on a 6-pack needs their head examined. The aforementioned artists will bend over backwards to deny our very existence, and I really don't find their r&b/hip-hop cliches to be that good anyway. That's probably why I relate to certain "divas," because they don't take it for granted that their fortune will last. Always changing their sound/look. If not for those women, there wouldn't be many gay artists to choose from. They either don't come out, or they do and serve up nothing new. It was an impressive showing by Iglesias, though the day he can pull that stunt in America with a broader audience would be more progressive.
Since when is Tracey Thorn a lesbian? LOL

Derrick from Philly
June 6 2007, 12:22PM

Well, I don't care anything about any singer under the age of sixty, HipHop, R&B or whatever; but if Reggie Bush ever throws his jock stap at me, he'll have to chase me all around the Superdome to get it back. I'd swollow it before I'd give it up.

cward
June 6 2007, 12:42PM

Tracy Thorn is not a lesbian however she is an artist that has more lyrical and vocal talent than Beyonce, Mariah and Whitney combined. But hey I am partial to good music of which the above mention three "artist" can not seem to pull off in my opinion.

Aside from Bette Midler I never understood the fascination of gay men with "divas". I developed my own taste instead of being railroaded due to race or sexuality.

Furthermore, I want nothing to do with an artist after he or she is washed up and needs to "gay" dollar to pay the mortgage.

Artists like Portishead, Massive Attack, Pete Yorn, Death Cab for Cutie, Beth Orton, Natalie Merchant, Arctic Monkeys, Cassandra Wilson, Cesaria Evora (she is amazing), Dag, Damien Rice, Gregory Douglas (gay and proud), Joan Armatrading (a lesbian and AMAZING), Jude, Lou Rawls...just to name a few.

Blue
June 6 2007, 2:04PM

At the same time, I don't know that all female singers are accepting of their gay fans either. I think a lot of them tolerate us because they know we will sustain them when the straights move on. Let's face it: straight folks are not buying Patti, Janet, or Madonna records in droves anymore. We attend their shows. We buy their albums. We buy their memorabilia. I saw Madonna last year in Philly and not a straight man was in sight, lol. I think the above-mentioned chicks love us as do several others, but I'm sure there is more than one Donna Summer lurking around in that industry. That having been said, I do love females, especially Janet, Madonna, Natalie and Teena ... they are still the shit to me. But there are some dudes I like too. I don't think they are all anti-gay but I can understand the whole guilt by association paranoia they have. Most black people are so fucking ignorant they'd stop buying somebody's albums if he came out. As for as male singers, I love the old school ones like Peabo.

Deacon
June 6 2007, 2:14PM

As far as female singer go I think it comes down to musical taste, I think of myself as an exception to the rule because this is one homo who can't stand Whitney and the females singers I follow may not be considered diva's but they can sing their ass off, Christina A., Maysa Leak, Sade, Jill Scott, India.Arie, Liz Wright, Vivian Green, Chante Moore, I like Patti but that's about it. As for male singers it the same thing Kenny Lattimore, Eric Benet, Wil Downing, Brian McKnight, Musiq, John Legend, Stephen Simmonds, and as for those so called diva's like Diana, Mariah I have not interst in. Now a days talent is that last thing you need to sell a cd.

MidwestGuy
June 6 2007, 2:21PM

DPhil..so you like Bush hunh?...lol

Keith, I don't think it so much a "diva" issue as it is just a "woman" issue. In general most heterosexual friends of gay's are overwhelmingly female. This is because women are overwhemingly more accepting of gays. So, the epitome of that would be the Diana's, Beyonce's, Whitney's, Janet's, Madonna's etc.

As far as the entertainers who don't embrace the notion of gay fans, that is a society-influenced thing. Straight men aren't seen as straight men if they're "open" to the idea of gays. It's not right but that's how it is. Both men and WOMEN perpetuate that idea.

ToddyEnglish
June 6 2007, 2:31PM

Okay, Keith's comment about buying cd's based on the cover image was hilarious. I bought Usher's 87/01 album based on his chest and abs being exposed on the front. LOL. That just made me giggle.

And Enrique is so sweet! I love him. I wish I had been that audience member. Strangely, this makes me want to buy his album now. I mean I like his music but, oddly, this makes me feel like I am appreciated as a fan.

My love for the divas is not about them accepting me, a gay man, as a fan. The "Divas" just move me in a way that male artists don't, and I can't quite put my finger on it. First and foremost I love female voices. Aesthetically, they are more ear pleasing. Moreover, I have this weird affinity for powerful female personas...lol. I love female action heroes and performers. Plus, the divas have such uplifting lyrics in their music. Christina Aguilera's "Stripped" is my favorite album, ever, simply because of "Beautiful." That song speaks to me.

Sarcasm101
June 6 2007, 2:57PM

Interesting post. I honestly do not believe that gay men have some affinity towards "divas". People like what they like. Music is actually the one medium where I do NOT care what a person looks like; the way they SOUND is most important. I love Amy Winehouse, Rachelle Ferrell, and a host of other performers for their voices, only. As to why I do not like alot of male performers: simple---there are not that many good male singers today. I rarely like what I hear on modern radio playlists, and the men I do like (Robin Thicke, Van Hunt, Cody Chestnutt), I have been following for several years, their looks not of any consequence (I first heard Robin Thicke (or simply Thicke, as he once was known) in a restaurant. Perhaps if men KEPT their shirts on and instead worked on their CRAFT, I might be more inclined to buy (or download) their work. Unfortunately, some (if not most) contemporary male artists would rather show off their abs than their vocal prowess. Oh, Donny, Marvin, Luther, I do miss you.

ToddyEnglish
June 6 2007, 3:11PM

I agree with Sarcasm101. The reason I am more into female vocalists(my faves being Diana Ross, Beyonce, Aaliyah, Christina Aguilera, Teena Marie, Joss Stone, and a slew of others)is because there are no male vocalists that are moving me in this current scene. There are no Marvin's, Luther's, Stevie's, or Freddy Mercury's out there right now. They are all just ripping off their shirts and doing a watered down impersonation of Michael Jackson, circa 1983(I'm talking to you Ne-Yo).
The females bring their A-game. And, again, I just have a preference for female singing voices. I love men, but female performers are where it's at for me.

chiboi1983
June 6 2007, 3:34PM

Well tyrese is protecting his career. Enrique can get away with that in London and with his white fans here in the US. Black folks and the lables would have a cow if their artist did that given the climate with some people and yes would loose money.

And maybe some male black artist DO NOT THINK HOMOS ARE MORALLY RIGHT! Its their choice. I sure many of them feel like mr hardaway but wont say it....bunch of pussies.

and if tyrese threw his shirt out and a guy caught...given the atmosphere im sure the females would have made him feel embarassed without tyrese openining his mouth. And are you 'sure" tyrese "made" him give it away?

Anyway Enrique doing that was a nice gesture but he didnt set any bar....for who exactly? I aint heard about that on the news so not many people here will take notice or even care. They might think he gay after that anyway.

MidwestGuy
June 6 2007, 3:59PM

Toddy...did you just say Aaliyah is one of your fav female vocalists? Did you mean female talent?..lol jwfu.

Gay men seem to have a stronger connection to women as opposed to men? Well at least straight men.

I'm hoping I don't get jumped on but if we take stock of the personalities and behavior of gays, a lot really do pattern themselves after women.

Why is that? Is that why we like Diva's so?

I believe there are various reasons but voice alone can't be it. Diana Ross, Janet, Madonna and good singing don't go hand in hand. lol

Reggie
June 6 2007, 4:04PM

I know if that was me on the stage, I'd be speechless for the rest of the night, especially if he sang part of it in Spanish. Props to Enrique for doing this. Considering he's about to release a new CD, I think I'll buy it.

I wish more male artists were as secure with their masculinity and sexuality to perform at gay clubs or pull their gay audiences out of the stage. Of course, Enrique did do this outisde the US. Can you imagine what kind of scene he'd cause if he did at Madison Square Garden or in LA or even in Puerto Rico?

George
June 6 2007, 4:12PM

I tend to agree with your assertions. What is most interesting is that several of the artists that you mentioned have been the source of gossip regarding their own sexuality. Tank with a beautiful body and voice, was snubbed by many when it was hinted that he played for both teams. Most recently he was "hanging" out with the Jamie Foxx crew. The rumors of Tyrese and another black RB singer were rampant until he amped up his thug-appeal and began to live out his videos and movies. I also remember that Will Smith, Tevin Campbell and LL Cool J were under the tutaledge of Quincy Jones, need I say more. I still believe that fear and homophobia are the sources of many of these actions and reactions. Many of the same men have gay stylists, assistants and managers (not to mention family members)but want to pretend that there are not gay people in their mists. And we don't to discuss all those who have spent time in jail and come out all buff but don't want to talk about their incarcerated experience.

Derrick from Philly
June 6 2007, 4:32PM

"Why do gay men love female divas?"

If you'd asked me that question ten years ago when I was a militant, angry, bitter "queen", y'all wouldn't have liked my answer. But now, I've taken on a more grandmotherly type sensitivity, and I've learned more about GAY MEN (and those dl hypocr...people too). There's diversity in the gay world--and everybody AINT no "queen" getting up in the mirror, pretending your hair brush is a microphone while singing along with Diana, Gladys, Aretha, Donna or Patti (on the stereo). It's a different time.
No, I'm not an evil queen --not even after a whole fifth of liquor; I'm a nice queen, and so my answer to the topic question is , "beats me."

Ooooh, child, did I just snap my fingers involuntarily? Snap! Snap! Snap! Snap to left, to left, to left...

Reggie
June 6 2007, 4:37PM

I think gay guys take a liking to Divas because they're overgloried personas that have a combination of qualities and traits of women that have had positive influences on our lives. Like either your mother, your grandmother, aunt, sister, cousin, that best friend that stood by your side no matter how many times you were being bullied and teased at school, etc..

cward
June 6 2007, 4:40PM

"And we don't to discuss all those who have spent time in jail and come out all buff but don't want to talk about their incarcerated experience."

Prison does not equal gay sex...that association needs to stop. It is just plain ignorant just like the homophobia that many gays do not want thrust upon them.

This is yet another reason why the black artists do not come out and support the black gay community. The black community in general is overly sensitive to "everything" and "anything" that means "nothing" ; spinning their wheels and loosing valuable ground in many areas of their own personal and professional like. This is just my opinion.

Now back to the topic at hand...I really like the true R/B and jazz singers such as Anita Baker, Evelyn King, Chaka Khan, Nina Simone, Cassandra Wilson and Natalie Cole, Ella, Carmen McCrae (see the link).

ToddyEnglish
June 6 2007, 5:13PM

Uhm, sorry Midwest guy but that is a really hollow assertion about what makes a good singer. I love Diana Ross' voice just as much as I love Jennifer Holliday's or Tina Turner's. It isn't about who can sing scream at the top of their lungs(looks over his glasses at Patti Labelle, who sometimes sounds like she's auditioning for a slasher movie), but whether or not the vocals reflect something. I like all types of female singers. Janet Jackson and Madonna are not singers so much as entertainers. Diana is a really good singer. I love her light and airy voice, likewise for Aaliyah. Sometimes I just like to be lulled as opposed to having someone shout my head off. On that note I have no desire to pattern myself after a woman, personally. I just love great female voices.

I tend to agree with Reggie though. My mom is my Shero...lol. So maybe that is why I love powerful women so much. *shrug*

Jaye
June 6 2007, 5:29PM

Personally, I could give a fat rats behind about some male artist with a great body if the MUSIC sounds like crap!! I'm sorry, but if any GAY or STRAIGHT person buys an artist's CD based on looks only....truly has some issues.

I miss artist like Peabo Bryson, Donny Hathaway, Luther Vandross, Jeffrey Osbourne(sp), Eddie & Gerald Levert, etc. These guys are and were TRUE vocalist. They had the skills to take on power ballards, and they didn't have to resort to sexually charged lyrics either. Tank, Tyrese and Genuine can keep their shirts on for all I care, because I don't want what they are selling. They are not worthy of my hard earned dollars!

MidwestGuy
June 6 2007, 7:14PM

Todd..it was partly a joke. I forgot to add "qoutes" around the "good" singer statement. But, IMO Aaliyah is an sub-par to ok singer. She's not someone who I could listen to sing a ballad unless I was tipsy and that's a stretch--same w/Janet. Both are entertainers. One greater than the other but entertainers not "singers."

I don't gauge singing ability on how loudly someone sings. If that were the case I would love Jennifer Hudson (who I think knows very little about how to use her instrument.) I'm not the greatest fan of Diana. But, I will give her much credit for knowing what she is capable of doing w/her voice.

Billy
June 6 2007, 8:19PM

I loved the article-I think most everybody here has already touched on the various reasons why gay men love DIVAS. But just wanted to say Keith-good article.

Steve
June 6 2007, 8:44PM

It might be that our "gay" excess of testosterone turns us on to certain kinds of women, even if we don't care to have sex with them.

If Tyrese had treated me like that, I would have set that shirt on fire right in front of the whole audience.

TGT? Three Gay Twits?

Mark
June 6 2007, 10:19PM

Well, I can only speak for myself. I loved and still do love the diva's of the day.....for various reasons, but the main reason I loved them is because I wanted to be like them. As I have matured, thank God, I merely have occasional dreams of having a Patti LaBelle voice and dance like Janet. I would be the SHIT, huh??? That was my thing with the diva's. When I was younger I had it bad, I mean real bad. Like, 'locking myself up in my room and giving concerts to my stuffed animals' bad. Thank God for maturity.........now I just make my friends listen and look at me LOL!!!

Javier
June 6 2007, 10:40PM

This thread made me realize I don't have any music from females in my music collection. I talked to most of my male friends, and they agreed that guys rarely buy or purposefully listen to female artists. I wonder why. I know some gay males are into female artists, but many are not. I think it's just that I identify more with how males write and sing songs versus how a woman does. I sing songs that speak to me as a guy. I think that is why the more effeminate a guy is, the more he is into female singers.

MARK
June 6 2007, 11:14PM

Oh, I forgot.......big, big kudos to Enrique. There are some male entertainers who know how to acknowledge and appreciate all of their fan base. Just like Raz B, Jensen Atwood, who is coming out with a cd, and I think that Kanye and John Legend wouldn't have problem with a gay fan catching their shirt off their backs.

Solo
June 7 2007, 3:01AM

Wow! All this this self hate about how black people are. I think that all of you on here who think blacks would stop buying CD's of any black singer who came out of the closest have never heard of luther Vandross! Last time I checked negros adored that negro! You people are seriously into these sweeping generalities!

Kurt
June 7 2007, 7:15AM

I have males artists on my iPod. I don't care about your gender or race, as long as you can write and sing a well-written song... and, of course, sing it well.

Blue
June 7 2007, 8:09AM

Solo - in case you forgot, Luther NEVER CAME OUT. Never. His orientation was an acknowledged secret but never stated as fact. I went to his show once, and all those dumb black chicks were content to think all his banter about ladies was sincere. Denial at its worst.

jas
June 7 2007, 8:36AM

ive been to G-A-Y a couple of times and i've never seen a woman in sight there lol. i doubt he could have found a woman to bring on stage if he wanted to.

rahsaan patterson and tevin campbell were kind of out though, even though their sales were pretty low.. guess that shows that being out really does prevent you from getting the proper recognition.

but to be honest i don't expect a straight male artist to bring a man on stage to seranade him in order for me to support him. he's straight after all. but embarrassing someone by making them give up the shirt is not cool he shouldnt have done that.

jared
June 7 2007, 9:52AM

I must be the only gay man who does not follow or really gay man who does not do the female diva worship thing. Other than the late, great fabulous Sylvester and Gloria Gaynor to a lesser extent, none of the "divas" past or current really work for me. As for he male singer mentioned, I must be the only black gay man who has never heard any of their music. I'll just stick with good old fashioned disco and current dance music. And, as for Enrique, there were those "rumors' about him for a while, until he got with Anna, so, who knows?

The only thing I want from a singer or any entertainer is respect, I don't need them to pander to me for being gay, as that's just one part of me, not the whole package. I get tired of these artist who put gay folks as their main audience, when its more like their bread and butter when they get mainstream support.

MidwestGuy
June 7 2007, 10:05AM

The more effiminate a guy is the more he is into female singers? That's an interesting one to say the least.

Conversely I don't know a swarm of "masculine" gay men who are into "male" singers as much as they are into female ones--other than how they look-lol. I believe that gays in general are more open and will listen to music than their straight counterparts. How masculine a guy is not a determiner. In fact, I don't know many straight males (other than singers and instrumentalists) who listen to music (males vs. female) like that period.

Derrick_the other one
June 7 2007, 10:23AM

As an adult, I find songs like Janet’s “Free Xone” extremely empowering and critical of homophobia; thus, I identity with that message. However, thinking back to my childhood, I find it difficult to contextualize my musical taste within the realm of sexuality. I just knew I loved Madonna’s “Borderline,” Vanity 6’s “Nasty Girl,” Janet’s “When I Think of You,” and Whitney’s “You Give Good Love” because it’s simply good pop music. Vanity 6 excluded from the category of “diva,” of course but loved her (them).

What is bothering me about some of these posts is the tendency for some to “gender” or “feminize” individuals who like “divas,” if you will. For those individuals who sought to emulate these “divas” for whatever reason- that is cool. But this is not automatic for all gay men. Sexuality and gender are two separate things.

Derrick from Philly
June 7 2007, 10:38AM

Of course, those of us who are self-acknowledged "effeminate" have a love for the female divas that is vicarious in its nature. Mark, bravely said that (I was too sissyfied to say it). But the questions was, why do gay MEN in general (those who aint effeminate) love female divas? We got a lot of different perspectives, and thats all right.

Solo: Lighten up, man(and I say "man" instead of "child" 'cause I'm scared of you). I'm taking this as a "light-hearted" topic. Most of the posters seem to have done the same. We don't really expect singers on the "dl" to come out of the closet, and straight folks don't want them to come out. I just wish these young male singers had a talent for singing, period. They all sound like they're just coming out of puberty --like somebody's squeezing their balls...with hands, not mouth.

Sometimes I get the feelin' you don't like us, Solo. We like you, baby, I mean, man.

David
June 7 2007, 1:09PM

When I think of a diva, the people who come to my mind are
Leontyne Price and Jessye Norman.
Having said that, one of my favorite DVDs is a production of Mozart's Don Giovanni from around 1980, starring Eugene Perry as Don Giovanni and his twin brother Herbert as Leporello.
Eugene strips down to his underwear twice.
Oh, and the both sing great too. LOL

Regan DuCasse
June 7 2007, 2:34PM

I don't know why I found myself moved to tears watching that clip.
I think it's because were Enrique Iglesias were a straight man, whose heartfelt meaning of those words were to another male friend, brother, lover or any beloved, gay or not....

God couldn't POSSIBLY hate anyone for expressing such tenderness to a fellow human being.

How I wish it were so that men were like this to their gay brothers, friends, colleagues and political bases....how I wish and pray for it.

Iglesias just soared in my estimation...soared...

Louis
June 7 2007, 2:42PM

I think it's clear why gay men gravitate towards Divas. Divas take changes and just enjoy life. Every single women every person has mentioned has taking several chances in their careers. They give their all. Very few male performers give their all. Most get caught up on the macho tip. I can name a few that have kept my attention for awhile:

Little Richard (before he became a White lady. lol)
James Brown (before he went crazy)
Michael Jackson (before he went White)
Prince (before he just lost his mind)

These brothers worked it as well as the women or even better.

chiboi1983@yahoo.com
June 7 2007, 4:52PM

Can folks stay on topic and not resort to bashing Aaliyah and other great artist.

gay men are picky about their divas...next at 9!

Sarcasm101
June 7 2007, 6:13PM

It just pains me that this stereotype is still around. All KINDS of people buy music based on the attractiveness (or perceived thuggishness) of an artist. Look at R.Kelly---this child molester (oops...I mean ALLEDGED child molester) has the #1 album in the country. His criminal nature does not deter album sales; in fact, it probably INCREASES sales. There are many a straight man who blast Rihanna in their car. Can the chick sing? No, but her image is a sexual (or sensual) one, and straight men like that. Apologies for my ranting, but this stereotype bugs the shiznit out of me. Why does every aspect of gay life have to be so...well, DEEP? Can't people like music for whatever reason they damn well choose without the psychoanalysis?

Solo
June 7 2007, 6:40PM

Aaliyah was not agreat artist she was a fashion model who's material was created by others, which in her case was timberland! Blue I am sorry that all of those "dumb black chicks" kept getting in the way of you enjoying yourself some luther and I hope I am not bursting your bubble by saying this but even if Luther had come out of the closet and all the people who attended his concerts were gay men do you really think you would have had any chance tapping that azz? As for u Derrick from Philly don't dump your hatreds and the hatreds of your gay brothers on me. I don't hate anyone, I just don't march in lockstep with anyone ideology. If you read my entries and read the entries of your gay brothers, I am not the one using words like "dumb" and "ignorant" to describe people who's views I don't agree with those choice words are being thrown around by the people on your side of the fence. These entries r dripping with so much narcissism & arrogant condescension its unreal!

MSI
June 7 2007, 7:43PM

Well you have to look at American culture as a whole to understand. Most female artists don't stand to lose anything by having a gay following. Most men do. If Tyrese sang to a dude, do you know how many fans he would lose?! The dude is struggling to hold on to the 10 he got now! America is just getting to a point in a lot of places in American culture where it's okay to have openly gay friends. It's a long time coming before a major, leading black music star sings on stage to another man.

theeunuch
June 7 2007, 11:32PM

I would never pay a dime to see Tyrese do nothing. Even if he stood in the street in front of my house, I wouldn't even go to the window. He is ugly anyway.

Kevin
June 8 2007, 10:33AM

I'm personally a metalhead myself LOL!

JLee
June 8 2007, 12:46PM

Buying music based on someone's looks is pretty lame. I have cds in my collection made by all kinds of races, genders, sexual orientations and body sizes. To me, talent is talent and that's what I want when I purchase a cd.

Mervin Malone Jr.
June 8 2007, 2:34PM

Keith -- I couldn't agree more! The diva question is a tough one; I've been a HUGE Jody Watley fan for as long as I can remember -- Grace Jones too. I think alot of it has to do with the fact that ladies like Ms. Watley, Ms. Jones, Ultra Nate, Martha Wash, Patti LaBelle etc. were always receptive (and in many cases involved) in our community. They embrace their gay fans as much as possible. Also, I think gay men -- and I'm generalizing -- tend to have an affinity for all things artsy and baroque, and women like Nona Hendryx, Grace Jones, Jody Watley and such have certainly raised the bar with edgy visual aesthetics (as well as their immense talents).

Jeff
June 9 2007, 3:54PM

There are so many good points raised here. I want to also add that women are free to be who they are for the most part. They can cry, laugh, be silly, affectionate, emotional, etc. They can admire each other, dress each other up, dance with each other, etc. They're not bound to society's gender norm the way men are and we love that. Men are taught to be emotionless, macho assholes who can't possibly live up to the ideology of what a man is supposed to be by society's standards so they end up overdoing it with grandstanding and supposed masculinity and narrow-mindedness (I'm generalizing). This makes the female much freer when she sings. She can attach to her emotions without hesitation. This is not to say the male singers can't but the current ones aren't doing it. Not to blame hiphop but I think that's what today's R&B singers are trying to model with the exception of maybe Brian McKnight. The days of Luther, Stevie, Marvin, and Donny don't seem to be the goal for these male artists to aspire to.

Jake
June 10 2007, 10:29AM

Not many men listen to music for the vocals. Men listen to music for different reasons than women. Moreover, female artists have traditionally had a more difficult time being commercially successful than men because while women will buy male artists' music, men will not return the favor. ONly a subset of gay men are really into female artists' music. Today, hip hop rules, and there is even more of an emphasis on males only being into music by male artists. I have even heard guys criticize other guys for quoting or singing songs from female artists. Music taste is perceived in our society as a big indicator of a guy's masculinity.

KB
June 10 2007, 1:43PM

I think that there is a definite connection between gay men and so-called divas. Singers like Patti, Aretha, Christina, Teena Marie, Nona Hendryx, Chaka Khan,Angela Bofill, and many others are favored by me because they can SING!! These women have been through so stuff, y'all, and they have survived and lived to tell about it.
Many gay men can relate to this. Almost all of us have had traumatic experiences with people downing us because of our sexuality! I remember when I was twelve years old and having a very difficult time dealing wih my sexuality. I took my allowance and brought my first Labelle album, Chameleon. These women were so different than any other female singers that I had ever seen before. They were different, and so was I. Besides, they had incredible voices!! These divas and others that I discovered during this difficult period of my life comforted me greatly. I would suggest thoe who like great female vocalists to check out AMY WINEHOUSES' CD CALLED BACK TO BLACK. Her voice is amazing!!

Jeff
June 10 2007, 2:30PM

The men that can actually sing, keep their clothes on, and aren't trying to be so hard are far and few between. Frank McComb, Donnie, Rahsaan Patterson, Van Hunt, Eric Roberson, and Kenny Lattimore come to mind. The only male artist that has had any commercial success in the tradition of Stevie, Luther, Marvin, and Donny has been Brian McKnight. Some of these artists' sexuality have been in question even when they got married. For all the talk we have about looks versus talent, how many of us are supporting these type of artists who don't have muscular, toned, bodies? I don't think white male artists are having the same problems. We are our worst enemies and I do believe that it's our community once again with its hangups about sexuality and the hypermasculinity it tries to perpetuate. It's hard for brothas doing R&B or any other type of music these days hence the forming of TGT.

Jaket
June 10 2007, 8:08PM

Any guy that is into listening to female singers is automatically assumed to be gay. It tickles me when a closeted guy openly listens to Christina or Patti or Janet Jackson or Madonna. Don't they know that they are outing themselves with their music tastes?

nickd98
June 11 2007, 11:25AM

I really agree with this article. I am very happy to see Enrique do what he did & it makes me want to go & buy his new cd, just to support him for showing us love. I feel it takes a real confident man to do something like that & although I think Tyrse is hott, I see him being an arrogant pig & I really do not want to support him anymore. I do love Ginuwine & TANK & they seem lke they would be really cool with it, I dunno, we will see. You wanna make ya money? please us honey (haha) peace*

chris-leo
June 12 2007, 12:13AM

the best two pieces of advise i can give anyone gay in a relationship is...(and mom and daddy won't tell you this)

...try not to masturbate, so you can focus your sexual energy on your man, AND.....

...RESPECT HIS DIVAS. if you love beyonce, and your man loves j-lo, it will bring you no peace to say, "why does j-lo have a career?? she can't even sing!!"

you don't have to love his diva, and don't make a pretense of it, but dammit -- you have to respect that HE loves her. trust me. i know this is true. call his mother a cow before you badmouth his girl.

there's just something very profound about a gay man and his favorite female icons. nobody has to teach it. it just happens, everywhere, across cultural lines and time lines and death. there's a little gay boy right now in tucson, falling in love with judy garland on youtube. and there's a 50 year-old man somewhere, right now falling in love with UM-BER-RELLA, ELLA, ELLA, EH, EH, EH.

trust me.

GQ
June 19 2007, 5:19AM

Hey Keith, I'm confused. The title says "why gay men like female divas". But your focus was more about why certain male singers are not showing us (gay men) any love. I think if you and your friends would like some insight about the diva question, a good start would be to read David Nathan's Soulful Divas which documents his interviews and experiences with divas like Diana, Patti, Gladys, Anita Baker, etc. Nathan shares some of his insight of why he loves his divas. Right now I'm listening to Evelyn King as I'm typing this.. so you know where my musical bias is. Guys like Tyrese, and Ginuwine don't move and groove me musically and aesthically. If i want to see muscled and buff bodies I'd rather watch NBA and NFL players' bodies. It all comes down to one thing. Making good music and records.

Saint Rage
June 22 2007, 10:49PM

Speaking of Divas, I have to mention my favorite diva. The most under appreciated of them all, Johnette Napolitano (lead singer, songwriter, and bassist for Concrete Blonde). She sings like an angel crossed with a fire alarm and weilds a bass guitar like a machine gun.

alicia banks
June 23 2007, 1:56AM

great column keith!

ditto on all

EI is admirably secure in his manhood...this is a rare trait...especially in macho black het men

the greater the sexual insecurity...the more prevalent the gaybashing bs

that gay tyrese fan should have spit and stomped on the shirt and left that show immediately

peace
ab
eloquent fury
www.geocities.com/ambwww

Saint Rage
July 24 2007, 2:16AM

I LOVE Enrique Iglesias! I never (to my knowledge) heard one of his songs until the youtube video of him in London but I LOVE him! It is a long overdue idea for men to be SWEET to each other. I try to be everyday.

Cur
August 19 2007, 5:12PM

Very good topic and very true... funny I never brought a CD based on if I thought the singer was attractive or not. I want it for the music first! And my collection goes from Sade to Barry Manilow with everything in between. It's ashame people like Tyrese are so imature or insecure about themselves or their sexaulity that they have to do things like that. Everyone should be embraced, gay or not... it really shows that homophobia is still a very big issue in the black community.

MedicalViewFine
September 6 2007, 8:58PM

Hi all!
Where are find medical funny pictory?
G'night