To feel sorry for George Michael that he felt unable to be honest about his sexuality for so long?

[girlfriend44]

Just been watching Wham in China. It seems such a shame that George felt he had to hide his sexuality from his parents and the media for so long.

Wham were really great fun weren't they?
Last Christmas still makes so much money from Royalties.

Anyone want to discuss Wham? Were they part of your youth?

Thats true hard for everyone. I did know one person in 86 who was very camp and out but not many.
I wonder what GM life would have been like if h hadn't been famous he'd still have been gay.

It’s so weird how sexuality is something you literally cannot help—it’s just part of nature—and yet people will still make your life hard simply because your existence makes them uncomfortable.

To be honest it was none of your uncles business what other people got up to in the bedroom anyway.

No it isn't. I was there and it isn't even in the same ball park. Gay, bi, non binary and trans artists are loud and proud today. But women don't want people with penises in their rape crisis centres for fucking obvious reasons.

Yes and no. Today, being gay or lesbian is much more in the open, so people are freer to follow these feelings.

In the past, the default setting was definitely ‘straight’ and you basically followed this path, unless you were brave enough to explore your sexuality. People found a partner, got married and had kids.

I’m reading ‘Atmosphere’ at the moment and I think it captures the situation well. The main person didn’t realise she was gay, only that her past boyfriends didn’t interest her much, and she just presumed she hadn’t found The One. It was only when she found herself in a strip club that she realised she was attracted to women, and not men. Until then, it hadn’t really occurred to her, and then she had to keep her relationship hidden.

I have always adored George Michael, so very talented. I remember a thread on MN a few years back regarding singers who can't sing and some plonker named him 😯.
I feel that these days members of the trans community (of whom I know a few) are pilloried in the same way that Gays were back then. Most are just trying to quietly live their lives.

That's still the point, sadly. Today, the target wouldn't be teenage girls because no one hides their sexuality (thankfully) and gay people can sell records. Obviously, if more teenage girls buy stuff then yes, there will always be more pop stars aimed at them.

George Michael would today have been marketed very differently, but that wasn't an option back then for gay stars. If they came out, their careers were over. People just didn't like gay people back then. Same with Ricky Martin. He would have had zero chance then as an out gay man - can't compare his career since he came out because he'd already been gone from mainstream for ages but think his albums did well after coming out.

But hitting the markets today, Ricky Martin would still have been huge because everyone would have accepted him and his songs are brill! Reminds me to listen to his albums again actually 😂

totally agree.

I was there too. And straight men didn’t want gay men in their spaces back then, amd responded with hatred and violence.

Makes me wish I was at a disco when I hear Wham such great fun.

Wake me up before you go go. So simple, so fun, and no ugly tattoos on display.

❤️George

different times. Elton, Freddie Barry Manilow and others were frightened their popularity would be gone and they would be mocked, vilified. Elton even got married to a woman!! George getting caught in L A prompted him to out himself to cut the media off. Turned out it was a career move and he became a global star with a wider audience base. Freddie was the same. Yes he was camp but his talent over rode his sexuality. We saw the performer at their best. Thank god times have changed.

All those straight men punching the air and playing air guitar as Queen did their thing and Freddie camped it up in his costumed magnificence. Ironic.

We absolutely fucking didn't all know.

Greek heritage. Manly men fathering children etc. The Press vilified anyone who might be gay and came out. You could appear gay or make fun of it eg John Inman or Dick Emery but to be out in a small rural or industrial town was dangerous.

Dick Emery was deffo not gay.

Yeah I have to say - before I was even a teen in the early 90s I assumed he was gay bc he had heavily plucked eyebrows, which was not the norm. Was not a surprised when he ‘came out’, and I was surprised so many ppl were surprised

I cant say I ever thought he was straight, not that I care either way just never have

Not to mention Boy George too ! Now he was a phenomenon back then !

It is sad that men and women haven’t been allowed to be themselves. Ricky Martin didn’t come out until 2010. It’s one thing not mentioning or commenting on your sexuality, but having to actively pretend you are something you are not must mess with your head.

Yes it is good he finally got to live and be as he truely was.
Finding out New kids on the block Jon was gay and had to endure the same issues at a later decade is unreal...as pp i would of never known

I am also late 50s and totally agree with this.

I had posters of George on my bedroom wall and had no idea he was gay.

I’m late 50s so a teen when wham were at their peak … I had no idea he was gay and was shocked when he came out.

My DDs find that incredible .. to be honest so do I when I look back at the videos 🤣

Thank god times have changed!

Yes, I agree. I don’t really recall any gay people in my year at school, although a few came out once they left school (at university?), which was more the norm then.

In those days, you didn’t question their sexuality. Unless they were overly effeminate, they were straight. in one sense, it made everyone more equal, because you weren’t defined by your sexuality.

There will be many fifty plus ‘happily married’ people, who if they had their time again would be leading a very different path.

Laws were much stricter in those days

Pre 1994 age of consent for men was 21 & in private for homosexuality

1994 age lowered to 18

2001 age lowered to 16

Not so much open discussion or acceptance in 80s

Love his music

His record company most definitely wouldn't have wanted him to come out, there was still a stigma which could have brought his popularity crashing down.
I grew up in the 60s and 70s and apart from being gay was seen as being nasty, gay men were also seen as predators. Fortunately my family didn't promote this, but I heard lots of rotten things in school, so sadly those who were gay kept it under wraps and often married too.