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Image: Martin keene PA Wire/PA Images
George Michael, who died at home Sunday, was an inspiration for those who found it difficult to express their sexuality, especially in a time when being LGBTQ was stigmatized. For many kids growing up in the '90s, he was one of the first publicly gay people they knew.
But it wasn't always that way. The 53-year-old kept his sexuality hidden for years, but came out in 1998 following a well-publicized incident where he was arrested by Los Angeles police for a public sex act.
"This is as good of a time as any," he told CNN at the time. "I want to say that I have no problem with people knowing that I'm in a relationship with a man right now. I have not been in a relationship with a woman for almost 10 years."
George Michael took ownership of the incident by recreating it in his music video for "Outside" released that same year. He became a trailblazer for LGBTQ acceptance. And that was the case even before he came out. "Freedom '90," one of the most memorable pride songs, was released years before George Michael came out.
But coming out wasn't easy for George Michael, who had struggled to show his true self to his family. “For some strange reason, my gay life didn’t get easier when I came out. Quite the opposite happened, really," he told the BBC.
With the news of his death, LGBTQ people took to Twitter to express how much he meant to them and the countless others who he helped realise that it's okay to be gay.
George Michael was an entire generation's First Gay and we will never know how many young boys that helped.
— Philip Ellis (@Philip_Ellis) December 26, 2016
George Michael RIP. You soundtracked so many moments, and your visibility and pride helped 90s LGBT kids like me realise we weren't alone.
— Robbie de Santos (@robbieds) December 26, 2016
RIP George Michael and thank you for making it easier for future generations of LGBT people to be 'out' in public
— Liam Hackett (@DiageoLiam) December 25, 2016
I was 15 when I first told someone I was gay. It was my sister and her actual response was "at least one of us can marry George Michael".
— A* (@husseybyname) December 25, 2016
#GeorgeMichael was gay at a time when it wasn't cool or easy. He fought his way through the homophobia and created songs of an era. RIP.
— DavidMichaelBarrett (@DavidMBarrett) December 26, 2016
What George Michael did for the sex-positive movement in music and art, really, as a gay man... can't be understated
— My Prez Is Still Blk (@FeministaJones) December 26, 2016
One of the first gay icons I can even remember... George Michael is an absolute legend. ❤
— Thomas Sanders (@ThomasSanders) December 26, 2016
George Michael took knocks over and over again for wee gay boys like me in the 90s so I could be a gay man like me in 2016. A dire loss.
— Jamie Kinlochan (@JamieKinlochan) December 25, 2016
Thank you George Michael for being a trailblazer of #LGBTQ equality and acceptance. You will be missed.
— It Gets Better (@ItGetsBetter) December 26, 2016
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