Janet Jackson as gay icon

Janet Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer-songwriter and actress, who is considered to be a gay icon. Jackson garnered a substantial gay following during 1990s as she gained prominence in popular music. Recognized as a long-term ally of the LGBT community, Jackson received the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Music Album for her Grammy Award-winning sixth studio album "The Velvet Rope" (1997), which spoke out against homophobia and embraced same-sex love. In 2005, Jackson received the Humanitarian Award from the Human Rights Campaign and AIDS Project Los Angeles in recognition of her involvement in raising funds for AIDS Charities and received the Vanguard Award at the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards (2008).

"The Velvet Rope" and AIDS charities

During the recording of Jackson's sixth studio album "The Velvet Rope", the singer reportedly suffered from depression, which became a central theme to the album among other subjects including domestic abuse, low self-esteem, sadomasochism, homophobia and sexual orientation. The song "Free Xone" dealt specifically with homophobia and same-sex relationships.cite web |url=http://music.yahoo.com/Janet-Jackson/Free-Xone/lyrics/1332337 |title=Janet Jackson's "Free Xone" lyrics on Yahoo! Music |accessdate=2008-04-06 |work=Yahoo! Music] Speculation over Jackson's own sexual orientation began circulating after the release of "The Velvet Rope"—particularly regarding her cover version of Rod Stewart's 1976 song "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)", which contained bisexual undertones—however, Jackson denied rumors that she has had sexual relationships with other women.cite web |url=http://www.washblade.com/2006/9-29/arts/feature/feature.cfm |title=We're 'So Excited' |accessdate=2008-04-07 |last=Naff |first=Kevin |work=Washington Blade |date=September 29, 2006]

The album's second single "Together Again", a hit in several countries, became an homage to loved ones Jackson has lost to AIDS, [cite book |last=Bronson |first=Fred |title=The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=PgGqNrqfrsoC |date=October 1, 2003 |publisher="Billboard" Books |isbn=0823076776 |pages=1008] as well as an elegy to AIDS victims and their families worldwide. [cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:fifuxqe5ldae~T1 |title=Janet Jackson > Biography |accessdate=2008-04-25 |last=Huey |first=Steve |publisher=Allmusic] The upbeat dance song was arranged to celebrate the spirit of those who have passed on, rather than mourn their deaths, as Jackson comments.cite book |coauthors=Halstead, Craig; Cadman, Chris |title=Jacksons Number Ones |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=tynOwh1E_GAC |date=October 28, 2003 |publisher=Authors On Line |isbn=0755200985 |pages=196] A portion of the single's sales were donated by Jackson to The American Foundation for AIDS Research. On November 17, 1997, Jackson was honored by the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum for the album's sexual orientation-related content, [cite web |url=http://365gay.com/InTime/Months/11november.htm |title=Gay News From 365Gay.com |accessdate=2008-04-07 |work=365Gay.com |date=November 17, 1997] in addition to receiving the award for Outstanding Music Album at the 9th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in 1998.cite web |url=http://www.glaad.org/media/release_detail.php?id=4308 |title=Janet Jackson to be Honored at 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles |accessdate=2008-04-01 |last=McCarthy |first=Marc |work=GLAAD |date=April 1, 2008] In June 2005, Jackson was given the Humanitarian Award by the Human Rights Campaign and AIDS Project Los Angeles in honor of her activism.

Homophobia in the recording industry

In an interview with GayWired, Jackson was asked whether or not having a strong hip-hop fan base, which is known for being homophobic, has ever conflicted with her support of the gay community. Jackson asserted that other people's homophobic views have never affected her work. [cite web |url=http://www.gaywired.com/Article.cfm?ArticlePage=2&ID=18396 |title=Janet Jackson Talks Lesbian Love, Madonna and Discipline |accessdate=2008-06-05 |last=D'Amboise |first=Angela |publisher="GayWired" |date=2008-03-07] In 2002, Jackson recorded the duet "Feel It Boy" with reggae singer Beenie Man with moderate success, though Jackson later admitted regret over the collaboration after discovering Beenie Man's music often contains homophobic lyrics; Jackson issued an apology to the gay community in an article contained in "The Voice".cite web |url=http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=5270 |title=I'm Sorry, Says Ms Jackson |accessdate=2008-04-05 |last=Weekes |first=Danielle |work=The Voice |date=October 11, 2004] Jackson has stated she would have never agreed to record the duet had she been informed by her label about Beenie Man's controversial lyrics beforehand. However, Jackson's 2004 song "All Nite (Don't Stop)" was remixed by Jamaican dancehall artist Elephant Man, who has also been accused of homophobia.

LGBT social movements

LGBT social movements, which include the Gay and Lesbian Rights Movement, Gay Liberation, lesbian feminism, and transgender activism, have often garnered celebrity endorsement from many entertainers including Jackson. She has often voiced her support for same-sex marriage, advocating all people have the right to fall in love. In 2008, Jackson appeared in a public service announcement sponsored by the Logo television network and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) in response to the E.O. Green School shooting. The announcement discusses the murder of fifteen-year-old Lawrence "Larry" King and the safety of LGBT youth in public schools. Jackson states that "none of us are safe, until all of us are safe". [cite web |title=GLSEN Partners with LOGO to Launch PSA in Wake of Lawrence King Tragedy |publisher=GLSEN |date=2008-03-10 |url=http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/news/record/2277.html |accessdate=2008-05-16] On April 26, 2008, fellow gay icon Ellen Degeneres presented Jackson with the Vanguard Award at the 19th Annual GLAAD Media Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.

ee also

* Judy Garland as gay icon
* Madonna as gay icon

References

External links

* [http://www.janetjackson.com Janet Jackson's official website]
* [http://dayofsilence.org/content/video.html Public service announcement sponsored by Logo and GLSEN]
* [http://www.glaad.org Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation]
* [http://www.hrc.org/ Human Rights Campaign]
* [http://www.apla.org/ AIDS Project Los Angeles]