Myles McNutt, associate professor of communication and theatre arts at Old Dominion University, says the open-ended nature of social media has given LGBTQ artists the ability to organically develop fanbases centered on the expression of their authentic selves. “I share every aspect of my life with the internet, and whether or not that’s a good thing, I don’t know, but this is not something that I’m ashamed of and it’s not something that anyone should have to be ashamed of.”
“I feel like a lot of you guys are real, genuine friends of mine,” Sivan said to his audience at the time. In August 2013, Sivan uploaded a video titled “Coming Out,” in which he came out to his fans - a full two years before he released his debut album “Blue Neighborhood.” Sivan also used the platform to open up about his sexuality.
More: 'It was hot': Adam Lambert praises Lil Nas X kiss, compares moment to his 2009 performance Social media created two-way conversationsīefore he was a platinum-selling pop star, Sivan found notoriety as a YouTuber, posting quirky comedy skits and musical covers online to millions of viewers.
So, what’s changed between then and now? The advent of social media, the visibility of LGBTQ trailblazers, and cultural change are some of the factors accounting for this vibrant wave of queer pop stardom.
