The queer community is one of the most influential and impactful groups when it comes to broader pop culture. Artists such as Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj, and Britney Spears, to name just a few, have fan bases predominantly made up of queer people. As a result, many of us have grown up feeling supported, safe, and a devoted part of our favorite artists’ fanbase. However, there’s such a thing as feeling “too” comfortable with our favorite people—they’re still capable of making mistakes, and sometimes those mistakes end up being more harmful for us than for them.
Recently, streamer Plaqueboymax experienced scrutiny from the queer community because he felt uncomfortable with the number of men sending sexually suggestive content in his DMs. We want to note here that sexual harassment against anyone, queer or not, is never okay, but Plaqueboymax’s statement fell short for many once clips surfaced of him citing gay Twitter as a place to grow viewership, along with other controversial statements. If anything, many viewed this situation as a way of him capitalizing on queer people and then turning around and blaming them for being attracted to him.
Related
The tour will take them to some of the harshest bible belt states
Some years before, rapper DaBaby—once beloved by the queer community—went on a homophobic, ill-informed rant in 2021, stating, “If you didn’t show up today with HIV, AIDS, any of them deadly sexually transmitted diseases that’ll make you die in two or three weeks, put your cellphone light in the air.” .
Culture, unfiltered
Our newsletter will bring you the pulse of queer culture, from the tastemakers to the groundbreakers.
Controversial rapper Azealia Banks also has a core audience of queer people—especially white gay men—who she often berates along with saying many disturbing, harmful things about other marginalized queer communities. But no matter how much hatred she has spewed, there are parts of the community that continue to support her.
Overall, we need to do a better job at gatekeeping the queer community. If certain celebrities have no problem excluding us and putting us at the forefront of their inappropriate behavior, we deserve to protect ourselves from getting caught in the crossfire.
Sign up for the INTO newsletter and get your twice-weekly dose of stories that shape the queer experience, culture, and lifestyle.
