Homophobia has always been something prevalent in the rap industry, some blame it on the toxic pressure to be masculine that is embedded in the rap game and some blame it on the homophobia that lay in the places these rappers have grown up in. For whatever reason it may be, it’s being used as an excuse to be hateful to the LGBT community, and its harming the queer youth tremendously (especially queer poc.) Personally, growing up latinx, you hear lots of ignorance being spewed when the topic of being gay or transgender comes up. Obama was one of many people to acknowledge the predominate amount of homophobia in ethnic communities and families. According to a survey, in the United States , 44% of LGBT students of color have reported experiencing bullying based on their sexual orientation and/or race; 13% reported physical harassment and 7% reported physical assault due to the same reasons.
So when rappers with a strong influence like Migos openly say ignorant things, it sends a message to not only their fans but to the kids listening to there music that being different is wrong. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the topic on rapper iLoveMakonnen coming out came up. They were in shock when they were told that people supported the rappers bravery, saying “That’s because the world is fu**ed up.” Adding onto there list of problematic history, rumors that they refused to work with drag queens on SNL has surfaced around the internet, and they haven’t made any public statements on the topic. This rumor isn’t surprising, knowing that they think rapping and being queer cant go hand in hand. What was surprising to not only me,but to other LGBT people on twitter was a response to an article written on the matter that got over 114k likes, proving that rappers are spreading homophobia to their fans and the general public like wild fire.
Y’all are trying to force people to accept a lifestyle they aren’t comfortable with and when they dont accept it you place a label on them ?https://t.co/7teDpTPPGH
— Quavochukwu (@MarvinBoomin) May 24, 2017
Rappers like 50 Cent, Azealia Banks, Ja Rule,T.I, and The Game have all been quoted saying anti LGBT comments. With a long list of homophobic rappers that clearly outweigh the accepting ones, its affecting black and latinx youth the most. Its permanently engraving the New York City machismo that was engraved into young Black and Latin men when they were denied opportunities like jobs and even simple infrastructure, that rerouted their pride through ostentatious dress and hyper masculinity. Its telling the fans of rap artists that the normalization of prejudice towards to LGBT people is okay, and that who they are or what they feel is wrong.
