Response to Rapper T.I.'s Claim of Un-American Gays

In his recent interview with Vibe Magazine, rapper T.I. offered his insights and opinions on a number of topics, including his thoughts on the response of the gay community toward anti-gay slip-ups and slurs from rappers and other celebrities. We have seen responses to the comments of 50 Cent, Eminem, and the incident T.I. is responding to, Tracy Morgan—an incident for which he is still trying recover from the backlash.

To over simplify T.I.'s remarks, he essentially argues that gays are becoming oversensitive about homophobia and that responses to these incidents of anti-gay outbreaks are un-American. I am personally a fan of rap, hip-hop, and T.I. However, this cover interview with Vibe really begs the simple question: "Really, T.I.!?"

T.I. stands in opposition to some of his fellow rappers, that have taken very public pro-gay stances to support an end to violence against LGBTQ individuals in music and popular culture, such as Nicki Minaj and Fat Joe. But according T.I., anti-homophobia responses and support are un-American. In his December interview for Vibe he states,

"Man, I will say this, the funniest joke I ever heard Tracy say during a stand-up was, 'C'mon man, I think gay people are too sensitive. If you can take a dick, you can take a joke.' [Cracks up laughing.] That shit was funny to me. And it’s kind of true." While T.I. makes clear that he supports anyone’s sexual preference, he then connects, in his opinion, a current oversensitivity among gay people with a consequential and ironic offense of the First Amendment. "They’re like, 'If you have an opinion against us, we're gonna shut you down.' ... That's not American. If you're gay you should have the right to be gay in peace, and if you're against it you should have the right to be against it in peace."

Clearly T.I. has a very different understanding of what it means to be an American. But first, by advocating for gays having "the right to be gay in peace"he is re-closeting the LGBTQ community. In no way should queer individuals have to hide their sexuality, sexual culture, or be intimidated into the closet. If T.I. gets to rap about, "Yea late night sex, so wet, it's so tight... Let me put this big boy in yo life. Thang, get so wet, ya hit so right,  Let me put this big boy in yo life," then we as queer people get to equally be explicit and public about our sex lives and our sexuality. To be frank, some men have sex with one another, and they take it up the butt. I believe that anal sex is one of the most blissful experiences a man can have, and if you haven't experienced it, then I'm afraid you're missing out T.I., but we will not remain "only in peace" with it.

As for what is American and what is not. My understanding of what it means to be an American is that every individual has the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Speaking out against death-dealing lyrics for the sake of ending violence, bullying, and marginalization is an American act. If enabling young people to feel safe in their skin as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals means that we as a community are oversensitive, then I'll take it. I support freedom expression and I think censorship is equally death-dealing, but take ownership of the fact that hate speech in mainstream music comes with painful consequences for its listeners.