Opinion, Yes. YMCA is gay af: When media goes out in the world.
As a journalist that previously worked for the Young Men's Christian Association, Who is writing on a network that has previously had casting talks with a member of the village people. I think I can officially say…
Yes. The 1978 Disco classic Y.M.C.A is gay as fuck.
For those wondering why this was in question, ‘Victor Willis’ one of the front men and singer for the Village people.(Who were named after Greenwich Village, a historic gay neighborhood in New York). Has recently “come out” about the use of the song by the queer community; and has threatened to sue anyone who makes claims saying that the song has ties to homosexuality.
Quote by Willis from The Guardian: “Come January 2025,” “my wife will start suing each and every news organisation that falsely refers to YMCA, either in their headlines or alluded to in the base of the story, that YMCA is somehow a gay anthem because such notion is based solely on the song’s lyrics alluding to elicit [sic] activity for which it does not.”
And yes of course, Willis was the member in the Cop outfit. Who now is an avid Trump Supporter . As Trump often plays the song at his rallies. (For some reason).
Other members of the group have come out against Victor Willis. No shock, because these gay bitches have been talking shit on each other for DECADES.
David Hodo(The Construction Worker), Posted on Facebook about the Village people’s producer Jaques Morali’s, who fucking died of AIDS in the 90’s; about the intentions when writing the song.
Quote from STEREOGUM: “ According to Hodo, Morali was expressly inspired to write the song by interactions with gay porn stars who worked out at the YMCA. Hodo also disputes Willis’ take that “YMCA” has endured because of great songwriting and not the accompanying dance, developed on American Bandstand. Here’s what he wrote:
“Just to be clear, there would be no YMCA song without Jacques Morali. He came up with the hook, as he did with all the VP music, after Randy Jones took him to a YMCA and introduced him to several gay porn stars who worked out there. It’s only slightly nauseating to hear Willis speak as though he were a Stephen Sondheim. YMCA would have disappeared from the charts for good had it not been for the fact that the kids from American Bandstand came up with the arm movements. That silly little dance is why this song has endured, not the ‘brilliant’ song writing.”” - Hodo.
Regardless of the he said he said. The YMCA song has been a staple of pride parades and a top anthem for the LGBTQIA community which gets to my larger point here.
No matter what the intentions of the song were. The song is out in the world now, and as an Artist you do not have the authority nor the right to declare what its impact is. That is for the people to decide. If it stands for something you don’t like. Then that’s your burden. Probably shouldn't have sung a song that got its inspirations from gay porn stars working out. Especially when it was your biggest claim to fame and was the ticket seller for every dime you have made.
To the reader, Art is for the people and for the artist. But they are done separately. Like every angry baby that has gone out into the world, it doest have to stick to the ideas of its parents. It's a tough lesson that every artist has to learn; but once you accept it, that one day your work won’t just be your own. You get to share and experience it with others. The good and the bad; and that will make you a better artist, and a better person.
Yes not ALL of the Village people were gay; But they have become a symbol for the queer community and Victor Willis can’t do shit about it except accept it and appreciate that Village People’s YMCA isn’t “A” Gay Anthem it is “THE” Gay anthem.
Btw Dude, having your wife do all the hard work to attack this article or others like it! Pretty Gay, Man.
