Gay Musicians

[celticafro]

Hey folks. I'm a newly registered member here. Got a question I've been thinking about for a while.

Are you openly gay?

I am, and I find it kinda lonely. I've been out for several years, ever since I went to college. But I dont' seem to meet many other gay musicians. Queer musicians I have met seem mostly to be involved with the dance scene in some fashion, either as DJs (Yes, I consider them musicians), or the punk/rock scene. Oh, and singer/songwriters, too. But I don't think I've ever met another openly gay bassist or drummer, and certainly no one who is interested in funk or jazz, as I am.

So I'm just curious to know if there's anyone else out there like me. What's your local queer music scene like? Any queerly musical communities around your area? Lookin' for some solidarity, here!

Alex

[GassieBall]

Interesting question. But I guess it doesn't really matter to me if you're gay, straight, bi, black, white, Asian, Hispanic, Republican, Democratic...

It just matters to me if you like music!!! So don't feel lonely... everyone here has the love of music and bass in common!

[LaklandBass]

Im not gay but I do have some gay friends that complain about being lonely. They say their issue is that none of their interests are part of the "gay community".

[pacojas]

OMGZ!!! man o' man,... are you foreal?!?! how can anyone make such vague assuptions and be serious? perhaps you live in a box, but if you move to any big city you will find gays playing everything.... even funk & jazz! gl.

[LaklandBass]

He didnt make any assumptions. He simply stated what he has seen/experienced.

Perhaps you should peer a little farther out of your own box and read his whole post.

[Munjibunga]

Years ago, I was in the San Diego Opera, and I'd estimate that two-thirds of the male chorus members were gay. I don't see a lot of gays in bands, though. I'm sure they're out there. But what does being gay have to do with your ability to connect with other musicians of any ilk?

[Sherwood]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

But what does being gay have to do with your ability to connect with other musicians of any ilk?

It might well affect how they connect with him, at any rate.

[pacojas]

Originally Posted by LaklandBass

He didnt make any assumptions. He simply stated what he has seen/experienced.

Perhaps you should peer a little farther out of your own box and read his whole post.

sorry, but OP's post is riddled with assuptions to the point of being ridiculous! and btw, i played in San Francisco for 25years. i certainly don't live in a box.

as⋅sump⋅tion   [uh-suhmp-shuhn]
–noun
1.something taken for granted; a supposition: a correct assumption.
2.the act of taking for granted or supposing.
3.the act of taking to or upon oneself.
4.the act of taking possession of something: the assumption of power.
5.arrogance; presumption.
6.the taking over of another\'s debts

[MakiSupaStar]

We should consult xtreo's opinion on this.

[john_martin_sai]

Originally Posted by pacojas

sorry, but OP's post is riddled with assuptions to the point of being ridiculous! and btw, i played in San Francisco for 25years. i certainly don't live in a box.

This topic is looking for trouble,.....administrators!!!!!

[celticafro]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

Years ago, I was in the San Diego Opera, and I'd estimate that two-thirds of the male chorus members were gay. I don't see a lot of gays in bands, though. I'm sure they're out there. But what does being gay have to do with your ability to connect with other musicians of any ilk?

My point isn't that I can't connect with straight musicians. That's not the case, actually. Most of my friends are musicians or musical in some respect. It's simply a matter of not knowing anyone who is gay and a musician, especially with those who share my musical taste. Those are the kind of connection I haven't been able to make yet, since my gay friends are usually into movies, reality shows, and bar-hopping or something else like that. Fun in its own right, but it can't sustain me for too long.

Anyway, I don't mean to complain, (OR make assumptions, pacojas) only see who's out there! I'm sure that if I WERE to move to Seattle proper I'd meet some people who are into it the way I am, but so far I have not.

And Pacojas, you disagree with my statements for some reason. Sorry if I offended your sensibilities, but it just sounds like you're trolling. Please make your point more clear if you're really trying to have a conversation with me.

[froovs]

well im a homosexual female, queer as queer can be but i dont think it changes what comes out of
my amps.....

its such a small place here that all the musos know all the musos

they know i can play rock solid bass and we can have a good laugh together


i know what you mean about the lonely thing, there just isnt a gay scene here, inface theres no scenes!

straight people dont go around with a tshirt saying im straight

you dont need to shout about the fact your gay, but you dont need to hide it either

i think youll find that there are more of us out there than you realiise

cheers
froovs

[celticafro]

Originally Posted by john_martin_sai

This topic is looking for trouble,.....administrators!!!!!

I really hope that we can have a mature conversation about being gay and having musical interests. I totally wasn't looking for trouble here, but apparently I'm not speaking for everyone in this thread.

[Munjibunga]

Originally Posted by Sherwood

It might well affect how they connect with him, at any rate.

I suppose, but musicians tend to be more open-minded about those sorts of things. My question would be more along the lines of, "Why is it important to play with other gay musicians?"

In my life, I'm really not interested in peoples' sexual preference. People are people. Some gay, some not. If a gay person fills part of my life, that's great. I guess I'm just not down with gayness being an issue. (I realize it is an issue when dealing with bigoted people.)

[celticafro]

Originally Posted by froovs

well im a homosexual female, queer as queer can be but i dont think it changes what comes out of
my amps.....

its such a small place here that all the musos know all the musos

they know i can play rock solid bass and we can have a good laugh together


i know what you mean about the lonely thing, there just isnt a gay scene here, inface theres no scenes!

straight people dont go around with a tshirt saying im straight

you dont need to shout about the fact your gay, but you dont need to hide it either

i think youll find that there are more of us out there than you realise

cheers
froovs

Cheers, Froovs! Thanks for your input!

I've learned that it's better to take a risk on a new group of people than to avoid bringing it up. You can't control how people react to you or your presence. All you can do is make sure people get the real you, instead of some half-baked approximation. So why not let people be annoyed by who you really are? So says I.

Being gay has nothing to do with how you express your musicality, at least as far as I can tell. Some bands really take their identity to heart and roll with that in their lyrics. MSI does that, and so does Placebo, and the Scissor Sisters, etc. Others, like Elton John, David Grey, tend to let the music do the talking when it comes to their records (excusing of course Elton John's crazy costumes and other antics).

I don't really wear my preference on my sleeve, but as I go longer without meeting too many other gay musicians, it makes me want to get a reality check.

[pacojas]

btw,.. CelticAfro is some of the coolest fusion on the planet!!! i love it and if the OP would perhaps help spread this form of music to the masses he would never be lonely. gl.

[MAJOR METAL]

Hey Alex,

I came out when I was finishing up undergrad as well. I havent met to many Gay Rock Musicans playing the Music thats my passion IE METALLICA and 90's alternative rock. The whole queer scene as its called now I have a really hard time connecting with, actually I personaly find the term "queer" offensive as a self label. Others have found it offensive when I refer to myself and other gay friends as "Homos". To each his own but the way I explain it is, I havent found being Homosexual all that "gay" of an expirence (happy),so Homosexual seems to sum it up bettter. Its an interesting set of identifiers in the community right now. The Indie Scene seems to have more from ourside of the fence, it could be worth while to check it out and maybe you can meet someone who digs funk and jazz. On the jazz side of things, alot of younger guys who are studying music are playing jazz, so getting connected with some college jazz guys might find you some gay musicans of you listening and playing preference. Rock Hard ! MAJOR METAL.

[Relic]

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

We should consult xtreo's opinion on this.

[MIJ-VI]

Originally Posted by celticafro

Hey folks. I'm a newly registered member here. Got a question I've been thinking about for a while.

Are you openly gay?

I am, and I find it kinda lonely. I've been out for several years, ever since I went to college. But I dont' seem to meet many other gay musicians. Queer musicians I have met seem mostly to be involved with the dance scene in some fashion, either as DJs (Yes, I consider them musicians), or the punk/rock scene. Oh, and singer/songwriters, too. But I don't think I've ever met another openly gay bassist or drummer, and certainly no one who is interested in funk or jazz, as I am.

So I'm just curious to know if there's anyone else out there like me. What's your local queer music scene like? Any queerly musical communities around your area? Lookin' for some solidarity, here!

Alex

Lemme see now... Good spelling, good grammar, open spaced paragraphs, good articulation, love of music... Yup!

Welcome to TalkBass Alex!

You'll find many different tunings on TB.

BTW. If you're lonely then it's likely because of this:

"DJs (Yes, I consider them musicians)"

Gary

[your idol]

in an eclectic place like seattle im shocked that you arent meeting more gay musicians. i lived in minneapolis and it was chocked full of gay musicians..and minneapolis is like the seattle of the midwest.

anyway maybe youre doing it wrong!?!?! its all abut networking
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Gay_musicians