The fact that June happens to be both the FESTA and the Pride month has never sounded like a coincidence to me, and in honor of both I thought of specifically sharing just a few special thoughts regarding BTS.
What I wanna focus on is something that matters quite heavily too, when it comes to a potential queer and closeted couple like Jikook, and more largely when it comes to being an idol who represents a group, and a status. Someone like Namjoon.
The discourse on Jungkook being a âminimoni haterâ, or on Namjoonâs worst nightmare being Jikook sitting close, is funny and, to me, not harmful to an extent. But just in case someone happens to misunderstand such irony, missing the true essence of these threeâs relationship, I wanna share some thoughts and facts.
All members have been, in different ways and modalities, supportive of the LGBTQIA+ community. They have been inclusive, honest, they have spread a message that nowdays is missing in so many contexts and so many artistsâ moral code. The message of humanity. Seeing us all, as a whole.
Namjoon specifically, as a leader, has always had some kind of deep responsibility on his shoulders, and I canât help but feel that too when I put myself in that position, as a young, dreaming rapper, who chooses to handle the representation of 7 different individuals with all that comes with it. Especially when youâre tied to them emotionally, youâve grown with them, and youâre empathetic and wise like he is.
Even when there are moments of tension, between him and Jikook, or instances where his resting face is interpreted as annoyed by their public proximity, I personally and firmly believe that it all comes from a place of knowledge, support, and care for the queer community that Namjoon has always - and I repeat always, loud and clear - embraced. Since he was a trainee. A debutant. When no one else dared to do so.
We donât know what sexuality Namjoon identifies with, but for the sake of inclusivity I like keeping every door open for the members unless theyâre vocal and open about it. Which means that with RM, we not only have a potential queer man himself - who could personally understand the struggle and the reality of it all - but that we could have a potential queer man whoâs also incredibly educated, opened to learn and become the most respectful and mindful person AND leader ever.
The conversations he must have had with Jikook are endless, and the fact that together with Jimin heâs the only one Jungkook opens up with about his struggles proves everything Iâve been preaching and claiming for years. Namjoonâs behavior is always moving in a protective direction, meaning that not only most of the time he gets depicted as this annoying guy who wants to keep Jikook apart, to keep them small, and silent, and to make them look distant; but that when heâs actually trying to keep things professional between them, heâs only doing it for them, knowing how they feel about it, without malice, or personal interest.
Jikook have definitely opened up with the members individually and together, about this or that, but Iâm sure theyâve been very honest with RM about their closeted situation. And that makes Namjoon someone whoâs the exact opposite of what these jokes - that I enjoy! but tha happen to go too far sometimes⊠- try to say.
Someone who actually knows, and cares, and wants to keep things calm, as long as they have to be kept that way, and someone who has the responsibility of keeping the pieces together and guide them towards better directions. Jikook love Namjoon to the bone, and that tells me everything I need to know about their relationship and behavior with each other. They wouldnât look up to him, admire him, open up with him, love him and care for him that much if they didnât know and didnât have PROOF of Namjoon feeling love, support and the uttermost respect for them back.
At the end of the day two things can be true at once. Jungkook doesnât like Jimin being flirty with Namjoon, but was attracted to his thighs himself. And at the end of the day, Namjoon tries to smooth the tension when Jikook get too obvious on camera, but also knows that Jimin is himself thanks to Jungkook, and has the biggest, proudest smile when he sees them free, happy, and true.
To conclude this little reflection, I wanna get deeper and remind us all of the many, many times Namjoon has been lovingly vocal about his support for the queer community, which I appreciate in Namjoon specifically because itâs always filld with knowledge, and sensitivity, and a deeper sense of perspective. Every support is valid and beautiful, but his is very delicate and dear to me, especially because it has been happening since he was very young.
The first example I wanna bring up is Party (XXO) by the girl group GLAM. I donât see this being mentioned often, so I wanna bring it up in the discussion. The song is very, very explicitly about same sex love, like maybe one of the few in the last decades, and was co-written by Namjoon himself. It debuted in 2012.
Itâs the same song where Jimin makes a brief appearance too.
Hope this king doesnât mind me sharing some digital footprint content itâs all for the sake of his favorite communityâ€ïž
I find it endearing that both he and Jimin accepted to be part of this project, with the pride that characterizes them each. When I think of Jimin specifically around these years, I get pretty emotional, because no matter how many people told him he âliked menâ, or that his attraction for Jungkook was âweirdâ, and no matter how hard he tried to look different, tougher, more masculine, he never closed up when it came to what mattered. He knew what he liked and despite all the struggles with his identity he was one of the first members, if not the first, to embrace it and not push it away. But itâs just a digression.
As for the pre-debut, some people often talk about a song made by RM in 2010 called âWhere you atâ, published 3 years later, where the lyrics say âbaby where you at, boy where you atâ. Still proving his general consideration of all people that could be listening or, maybe, his own need of expression.
Also in 2013, RM shared he watched the french movie âBlue Is The Warmest Colorâ, which follows the love story between two women. And a year later, on Twitter, he shared the song âSame Loveâ by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. A beautiful anthem that everyone knows, and that I personally listen to every once in a while when I need hope. The chorus is very touching, but the entire song is just so insightful, and cuts through. I recommend you to listen to it while you read the lyrics, because they deserve to be heard.
He has a story of recommending queer songs. Like when he shared, in more recent times, âGirls Like Girlsâ by Hayley Kiyoko in his IG stories. Some years after debuting, he also recommended Strawberries and Cigarettes by Troye Sivan, the soundtrack for the queer movie âLove, Simonâ.
Many of you mustâve heard of this film because its emblematic quote is Simonâs âIâm Still Meâ. He says it to his mom after coming out.
That iconic quote from the movie is the same that Jungkook shared in his artwork in 2019. A year after the movie came out, and after Namjoonâs tweet. JK used âIâm Still Meâ to describe himself during 2019 FESTA too.
Going back to Troye Sivan, openly gay artist that Jikook specifically support, Namjoon also sang âFoolsâ by him with Jungkook. One of the many duets with JK he has, like âI Knowâ, which is an unofficial song with both girl and boy lyrics.
In a 2017 interview with Billboard, RM was asked about it regarding the Serendipity lyrics, which are also gender neutral:
âI was reading the lyrics (Serendipity) are gender neutral, which I think is really powerful. Was that a conscious decision?
âNamjoon: The lyrics were based on rare and special things in life. So, I thought, those feelings transcend genders, cultures, and barriers between peopleâ.
In a song posted for BTS fourth festa celebration, Namjoon also seems to refer to the queer movie âMoonlightâ, following the story of a gay black man growing up, in the lyrics ârunninâ around, catching up all that light, in moonlight black boys look blueâ. Speaking of queer movies I just canât help but mention Tae, who has also explicitly stated he liked Called Me By Your Name and has recently posted in his stories that he was watching âRageâ, a 2016 Japanese movie that follows 3 separate stories at the same time, one of which is the painful story of a gay couple.
All members have been proud allies in smaller or bigger ways, and I wanna mention this because Iâm not praising them for doing something very human and minimal, like supporting love in every form which is basic human decency, but because of the consistency and pure heart they show that support with in a world that needs public figures like them. Like Tae, like RM, people like Jimin who embrace their identity unapologetically, people like Jungkook who push against expectations and standards, people like Jin who include pride flags in their music videos, people like Yoongi who support queer-themed brands and lyrics, people like J-Hope who constantly spread messages on equality and love among humans.
Itâs needed, the world needs it, and I admire BTS for doing their part in the collective healing process in such a fucked up society, above everything else they do thatâs also inspiring, outstanding, brave and challenging.
I could go on on each one of them for hours. About their speeches, their lyrics, their behavior, their art. But I guess what I wanted to say has been said, and I hope it comes through as well as I feel it. Because these guys are intertwined with each other, and love each other, and if that queer couple we see existing among them is real, then their bond makes just more sense, as a support, as a net ready to catch them reciprocally whenever itâs needed.
Every single soul that makes up BTS has been extremely necessary so that each one of them became what he is. Namjoon, or any other member, was never an obstacle for Jikook. He is, and they all are, a fundamental part of their journey, that with love, learning, sensibility, growing up and friendship care, has helped Jikook become what and who they are today. Just felt like sharing this, today.
Happy pride month and happy BTS month to every army and queer pal. I love you and celebrate you deeply, and I send you the warmest hug everđđđđ§Ąđ©”â€ïžđ©·đđ€đ©¶đ€.
