Coming Out in The Age of Lady Gaga
From: Radio Rookies
Series: Radio Rookies: Coming Up in 2011
Length: 05:05
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Bebe's story takes a look at what it means for teenagers to come out in 2011. Never before has popular culture espoused more positive messages for gay teenagers—everything from the television show Glee’s several gay characters, to Lady Gaga’s call to her fans to celebrate all of who they are. Radio Rookie Bebe reports that even though some kids at her middle school like to “play around gay”, actually coming out as gay or lesbian may not be as simple as Lady Gaga makes it sound.
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Related Pieces
Piece Description
Bebe's story takes a look at what it means for teenagers to come out in 2011. Never before has popular culture espoused more positive messages for gay teenagers—everything from the television show Glee’s several gay characters, to Lady Gaga’s call to her fans to celebrate all of who they are. Radio Rookie Bebe reports that even though some kids at her middle school like to “play around gay”, actually coming out as gay or lesbian may not be as simple as Lady Gaga makes it sound.
Broadcast History
WNYC "Morning Edition" June 2011
Transcript
NARRATION: Last year a couple of kids at my lunch table were talking smack about gay people.
So I got angry and said “what if I’m gay?” I couldn’t believe I just said that out loud. But then everyone started saying: “eeew, why’s she gay?”…so I took it back.
[Bebe singing along to Lady Gaga]
NARRATION: Then at home when I actually tried to tell my Uncle the truth, he thought I was making it up.
UNCLE: I don’t know that you are gay, being gay is not a fashion statement. Being gay is a lifestyle! Just cause Lady Gaga talks about it on the interview doesn’t mean that every child nowadays needs to be gay.
[concert crowds cheering]
LADY GAGA: Tonight I want you to let go of all of your insecurities.
NARRATION: Lady Gaga says you can be whatever sexuality you want.
LADY GAGA: I want you to reject anyone or anything that’s ever made you feel like you don’t belong. Free yourselves of...
Read the full transcript
Additional Credits
Courtney Stein, Producer
Marianne McCune, Editor
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Olivia Cueva
Posted on April 19, 2012 at 10:08 PM | Permalink
Review of "Coming Out in The Age of Lady Gaga"
In this piece, youth producer Bebe explores how being gay has become a fad among her female peers, so much so that it’s hard to be taken seriously as someone who is actually gay. At her school in New York, popular girls “play” gay, but it is unclear as to why. She attributes this openness towards gayness to celebrities like Lady Gaga, who advocate and celebrate what has been normally deemed as “weird” or “alternative.” I chose to write about this piece because when I was in middle school, all of my peers policed each other’s sexuality. Being gay was not a good thing and definitely kept a secret. This piece makes me questions whether “playing gay” is new thing or just a continuation of exotifying lesbians for the male gaze.
Listen and think about it.