But you get what he’s saying: Hip-hop has traditionally been an unfriendly place to gay people. “Same Love” was released in 2012, but it didn’t break till this year, after Macklemore and Ryan Lewis scored their career-delivering hits, “Thrift Shop” and “Can’t Hold Us.” Had it been written later, it very well could have been different. It’s been a watershed year in terms of hip-hop’s relationship to homosexuality. It’s harder and harder to make the case that “hip-hop hates me.”
Finally. It’s about damned time. Away with the fear. Down with the shame. An end to the living of a double life, worried about what would happen if the neighbors or one’s social circle were to find out. No more channeling that self-loathing into venomous aggression toward those who are brave enough to be out and proud. No more need to bear the insulting jokes, the insensitive questions, the utter indignity of having to pretend that Frank Ocean is a talented artist when all you care about is his political significance. Stop tangling yourselves up in painful knots of self-doubt and guilt! Say it loud, and say it proud: “We’re white progressives, and we love hip-hop and rap!” There’s nothing to be ashamed of anymore!
Oh, yeah, and I’m sure gay people will see this as a positive thing too.