Boston Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 New editorial in honor of National Coming Out Day: The members of Green Day have always been advocates for various social causes, including the environment, various diseases, and countless other organizations. They have also, albeit somewhat inadvertently, advocated for the gay community. In honor of National Coming Out Day, I've decided to write a piece summarizing their involvement with the gay community and how they personally influenced my own coming out story more than six years ago. When Green Day released Dookie, the album containing "Coming Clean", a song about Billie's confusion over his sexual identity in his late teen years, the label wanted them to pick an up-and-coming pop-punk band that would satisfy the masses and blend well with their sound. In contrast of their first wish and as a tribute to Gilman Street, they brought the Pansy Division on their first major-label tour, a band that is notorious for being openly gay with songs such as "Cocksucker Club" and "He Whipped My Ass in Tennis (Then I Fucked His Ass in Bed)." Throughout the tour, many fans were unsupportive of the Pansy Division's homosexual message, to which Billie and the gang took no liberties. They were often known to chastise the crowd, thereby sending out a pro-gay message that many young fans took to heart. In a 2004 interview, Billie Joe said that "We ended up getting letters from kids saying that Pansy Division opening for us changed their lives." Billie Joe was quoted in an interview with Advocate in 1994 as saying "I think I've always been bisexual ... It's a beautiful thing." He also said that homosexuality in general should "... be something that's just accepted." As was previously mentioned, "Coming Clean" is about his struggles with his own sexual orientation. In 2010 he told Out magazine that he wasn't sure if he'd still say he was bisexual, "but I'd never say that I'm not. I don't really classify myself as anything. And when it comes to sex, there are parts of me that are shy and conservative. I want to respect my wife." In terms of coming out stories, mine in particular relies pretty heavily on Green Day. I decided at some point when I was about thirteen that I should tell my mom that I'm gay. Nervously, I asked her to come into my room. We sat down on the bed, and after I repeatedly asked her if she would always love me no matter what, I pulled out the Dookie album art. I flipped open to the page where the lyrics to "Coming Clean" are and told her that I wanted to get the skeleton tattooed when I turned eighteen. When she asked me why, I responded that the phrase coming clean had a lot of significance to me, and I made her guess as to why. She eventually did, and the rest goes down in history (I feel I should mention as a side note that she was and is incredibly supportive. Go Mom.) Green Day's message has always been supportive of the outcasts, and I'm sure that I'm not the only gay person to have taken something away from their music. Throughout the years, they've really helped me accept myself and helped me to tell people who I am. ... Now go come out to someone. Articles: Out Magazine - April 2010
Undómiel Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 Once again, another amazingly well written article! I do like your articles; they're very good! This one, rather than being particularly thought provoking like the last one, instead raises an emotional/social issue and highlights another reason why Green Day are just so damn awesome.
Disapperingirl Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 That was very interesting to read, though I have to admit I didn't know that today is the National Coming Out Day... I've always been so mad at people that call Green Day "a gay band", just 'cause they say that with contempt, using the word "gay" as an insult, which it absolutely not is so. I hate people that don't have respect for the others sexuality...the can say that band is gay judging just on stupid external things, and they don't even think that could be something deeper inside. Talking about my experience, the first time I read somewhere "Billie Joe is bisex" I was pretty curious...probably I didn't even know exactly what bisexual means, people here use to distinguish between heterosexual and gay/lesbian people...I remember I was talking about that and a guy came and screamed "uhuuh, Green Day singer is a faaag". I just told him: no, he is/was bisexual. Look it up in the dictionary and shut up". After discovering what Coming Clean was about, I actually started thinking about me, and considering me and other people in a different way..question yourself and your sexuality is a good thing! Your experience was very touching Amanda one thing that Green Day will always teach is respect, respect to the planet, to gay people, to your partner and children and that's another wonderful thing about them.
WestboundSign! Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 I really fell in love with this article. It's so well written and so full of emotion that you just can't stop reading. It's pretty much another evidence for Green Day's unique influence on their fans, the respect they teach everybody and their offered help just through their music.
Boston Posted October 11, 2011 Author Posted October 11, 2011 I feel like I don't say this enough, but I'm always thrilled with how well-received my mundane thoughts are. Thank you all so much.
~ Walking Contradiction Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 I love this article, and the fact that my favourite band supports the gay cause is just awesome. I nearly cried reading your experience...I don't think I'd have the courage to tell my parents that I'm gay, because they're so conservative in terms of sexuality. But I'll do it one day or another
StuckWithRob Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 'I went to a whore, HE said my life's a bore, so quit my whining cos it's bringing HER down' is surely one of Green Day's finest lines. I remember doing about Basket Case at school and the class actually finding it pretty interesting that Billie Joe was bi.
Meeshy Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 New editorial in honor of National Coming Out Day: Love this article...AND love the quote in your sig LMAO!
greendaytone Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 Another nice editorial Amanda :good: Billie Joe has joked before that him and Tre had sex. I wonder if there is any truth to it?!
Hermione Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 Like a lot of people I've always really admired Green Day for their stance on sexuality and you've summed it up well here. Your experience goes to show how important and helpful their message can be. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
QueenOfSuburbia Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 Great editorial! Green Day had and still have a big influence on me and my life! They're awesome and they will always be!
greendaytone Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 It's certainly caused a stir in the GDA comments!
Nobody Likes Cam Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 Awesome editorial Amanda I think it's good that Green Day supports (I don't know a better word) homosexuals. I hate when there are bands that are homophobic.
Hermione Posted October 11, 2011 Posted October 11, 2011 It's certainly caused a stir in the GDA comments! Hahaha, I noticed
Peace and Rainbows Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 this editorial was awesome Thank you Green Day so much
Boston Posted October 12, 2011 Author Posted October 12, 2011 I'd like to see some of the nit-pickers and idiots come in here and comment. Actually I wouldn't.
pasalaska Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 Great editorial! It's awesome to see so many people in the GDA comments say how much songs like Coming Clean helped them find themselves.
Mar Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 Another nice editorial Amanda :good: Billie Joe has joked before that him and Tre had sex. I wonder if there is any truth to it?! I think everyone in that band has engaged in some sort of sexual act over the years, but they truly don't think they let it hang over their heads, just moved on. Again, just my gut feeling. Nice editorial!
Hermione Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 I'd like to see some of the nit-pickers and idiots come in here and comment. Actually I wouldn't. The way it was intitially brought up on there was unnecessarily rude but I as I've said in the comments I agree about the word inadvertently not being accurate. Hope you don't see that as just nitpicking because it isn't, I don't think there's anything wrong with disagreeing with part of your article and explaining why.
Boston Posted October 12, 2011 Author Posted October 12, 2011 No, I don't. I may have cheated and gone in an edited it for future reference. What I had meant is that most of their support came from them talking about their personal experiences and sharing that message, which I suppose is not inadvertent. It was just a poor word choice is all. There's no reason to come in and nit-pick me for things I didn't even do. For example, had I thought Pansy Division were The Pansy Division, I would have capitalized the "The" just like I did here.
*withoutadoubt* Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 I really enjoyed your editorial Amanda; thanks for sharing your story As for the comments on GDA, just wow...some really, REALLY ignorant comments. I don't think that one dude leaves his house much.
Hermione Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 No, I don't. I may have cheated and gone in an edited it for future reference. What I had meant is that most of their support came from them talking about their personal experiences and sharing that message, which I suppose is not inadvertent. It was just a poor word choice is all. There's no reason to come in and nit-pick me for things I didn't even do. For example, had I thought Pansy Division were The Pansy Division, I would have capitalized the "The" just like I did here. Ahh yeah that's what I suspected, it just wasn't quite the right word. I think the person in the comments thought it was meant to be disparaging to Green Day rather than just being a word choice issue. I agree the other nitpicking about Pansy Division etc was unnecessary, just wanted to clarify that part of it.
Isabel Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 Great article! I remember hearing Coming Clean when I was about 13 and not making the connection with what he was witing about. Then again, I always thought the line was "Now Mom and Dad will never understand what summer meant to me" and I thought "Awwwh, poor kid." Urggh, part of me gets so infuriated that it's even necessary to discuss this when it shouldn't be an issue at all. My parents are part of a Christian church and on the odd occasion when we've actually discussed sexuality, they say "It's not being gay that's wrong, it's the act that's a sin." What the actual fuck, it's the same bloody thing? You can be gay, but you're not allowed to have sex. Thanks, God.
Karen. Posted October 12, 2011 Posted October 12, 2011 My parents are part of a Christian church and on the odd occasion when we've actually discussed sexuality, they say "It's not being gay that's wrong, it's the act that's a sin." What the actual fuck, it's the same bloody thing? You can be gay, but you're not allowed to have sex. Thanks, God. Had this same argument with my Dad just recently. I was like - what, are gay people not supposed to be happy? His response - we all have our crosses to bear.
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