S. Samuel
Openly gay author Terrence Dean has weighed in on hip-hop's issue with homophobia and why black celebrities like Hot 97 personality Mister Cee should be more forthcoming about their sexual preferences.
Writing in a post titled “Hip-Hop’s Open Closet Secret”, Dean questions why no black celebrity has come forward about being gay.
“This controversial topic has plagued our communities, and world, for a long time. And, despite the many hush-hush conversations, or speculations of a certain celebrity’s sexuality, not one Black celebrity has come forward. Not one has publicly announced they are gay. Why? You mean to tell me that in this day and age of us having a Black president, and a repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ that not one Black celebrity will come forward and be who they are, and love who they desire, without fear of judgment or ridicule?” (XXL Mag)
He also breaks down the possible reasons why Mister Cee refused to address the lewd sex act he had with a man that became public knowledge earlier this year.
“We had a missed opportunity when popular New York radio DJ and music producer, Mister Cee, was arrested for having lewd sex acts with a man, and even plead guilty to the charge. He’s been mum on the entire situation, and, though it would’ve been a courageous and brave position for him to take a stand and speak out on homophobia in hip-hop, he did what so many men, and women, who feel threatened by the broader landscape of heterosexual, male machismo, and high testosterone tossing bravado–Mister Cee shied away from the topic. If we continue to hide, then we make it appear shameful….But, can we blame Mister Cee? The hip-hop community was in an uproar, and the messages of hate spewed over the internet of how no gay person has a place in hip-hop. Really? No gay person can have a place in hip-hop? I think a lot of people will be disappointed to learn that much of the music, style, and culture is influenced and created by gay people.” (XXL Mag)
Although Mister Cee pleaded guilty to the crime last June, hip-hop artists like 50 Cent and Prodigy have continued to support him.
“I’m just hearing what people saying, and radio, so I really don’t have that much of an opinion about it,” Capital P explained in an interview. “But to each his own man, if it’s really like that. It sounds crazy to me, like Cee is my n*gga. We f*ck with Mister Cee. That n*gga loves Mobb Deep and always shows us love, and plays our music all the time on the radio. He’s one of the only ones that does that. It’s few of them, and he’s one of the main ones. So regardless of what, that n*gga shows us love, and we’re going to show him love back. He’s always going to get new music from us. That n*gga call, we always going to pick up like ‘What’s up? You good?’ If he wants to do a party, whatever. Whatever Mister Cee wants to do, we f*ck with Mister Cee. That’s what it is.” (Complex)
In 2010, Young Money’s Nicki Minaj talked about embracing her gay fan base.
“Obviously, the majority of the men in hip-hop don’t want you to think they’re gay. That’s just the reality of it,” Minaj says. “I’m a woman, so I have a lot more flexibility. And I don’t lose credibility in any way if I say I think girls are dope and sexy…Normally, Wayne probably wouldn’t have gay guys coming to see his shows much, but they’re definitely a big part of my movement, and I hope they’d still come out and see me…I think that will be really, really interesting, just to start bridging that gap. We’ll see.” (Out)
Check out 50 Cent speaking on Mister Cee below:
