If this is meant to fight LGBTQ repression—I’m at a loss.
Photo on left of Lil Nas X in video for “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)”. Columbia Records
As a Greek-Canadian gay woman who’s creative, I ask myself “where do we draw the line between artistic expression and cultural appropriation”.
While I understand the lure in using Greek mythology and Plato's symposium to tell a story, I question the relevance of using these here—especially as they’ve been distorted in context.
And if the argument is that the video is meant to focus on the pain and oppression queer people have experienced from their religious institutions, then please and by all means, do not exploit and reduce Greek cultural and religious elements to what seems to be a mythical mockery.
Finally, I question how anyone LGBTQ can reference this video as an act of rebellion fighting queer repression when in reality it probably fuels the misconstrued rhetoric much of the conservative and bigoted population has of our community.
Especially as a Greek gay woman, I hardly expect a video such as this to lend an enlightening and empowering perspective that can help shake-off hurtful antiquated religious and cultural views.
I feel it’s doubtful that the Christian people we are trying to speak with, will have gained clarity and as a result, be now more open to talking. If anything, this may have bolted the door shut—and this does little to fight LGBTQ repression. No?
