I think it's great that Enrique is secure enough in his sexuality and masculinity to do something like this, and go out of his way to include a fanbase that is often ignored by male singers. It surely won't be happening for R&B and hip-hop stars any time soon. Singer and actor Tyrese had a recent concert where he threw his shirt into the audience at one of his concerts and a gay guy caught it, and Tyrese stopped the concert and said "Naw, dawg, that was for the ladies." And made the guy give it to a girl. What a way to embarrass someone who is spending their hard-earned money to support you.
But you'd think at least male pop stars would catch on, especially considering how important gay support can be for a pop singer. Tell that to Justin Timberlake who, ever since he decided to become a full-time black man, seems to have abandoned his gay fans.
And as much as I would have liked to have been the lucky audience member, in a way it troubles me how excited the gay community has gotten over this. I highly doubt there would be the same reactions if you replaced Enrique with gay singers Jake Shears or Rufus Wainwright. Enrique is a bona fide hunk, but my instincts tell me it has more to do with the fact that Enrique is heterosexual than it does with the way he looks.
While browsing some of the Internet's most popular gay message boards, I found many comments that echoed this one: "For some reason, I find it much sexier for a guy to be straight and open to homoeroticism than for him to actually be gay."
For whatever reason, gay men seem to have an infatuation with straight men that one could deem unhealthy. This need for approval from someone higher up in the social hierarchy that one gets when embraced by a straight man cannot be healthy for a gay person.
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
I guess I'm out of it -- I hadn't realized Rufus Wainwright was gay. Am I the last to find out?
2 - Jet in Columbus
Great article, I should warn you and other BC writers that U-tube has become notorius for suddenly pulling videos from use (like they did with the one you included), and I've completely stopped depending on then.
I loved the article Chris "Keep it up"
Jet
3 - Chris Evans
It seems you are the last one, Phillip. Haha
4 - Ian Johnson
We thought it was actually mainly positive.
Iglesias is clearly there to promote a recording, but that venue is a prestigious London place to do that. The thing we commented most strongly on at Gay Market News was that he could have done the record promotion only but he chose to go much further. In doing so he was positioning his 'brand', if you will, in a way that was appropriate to the occasion and smart from a marketing standpoint.
In a world where mainstream society often sees male homosexuality as odd or 'difficult' going as far as he did means he is chooing to show respect for the space in which he found himself a guest.
I tend very strongly not to the cynical on this one, but am really quite respectful of him for doing this. - Ian Johnson.
5 - laura
enrique that is really sweet what u did im laura im 14 u biggest dont worry im not crazy u said or shit i thought u run off stage but u staid that is so sweeti love u songsi think u got more gay poeple liking u now im not gay by the way wish i could of been there u are a great singer and really cute u biggest fan laura ps i fancy u lots.xxx byexxx
6 - sula
Interesting how you choose black and gay and compare their reaction and finally said it is because they they have inferiority issues.. umm...
So when a white and straight decided to look a black girls is oohh my God... He is just totally different.. You are not getting to deep into any analysis here, better next time keep it to yourself.