“Queer artists have always existed.”
Koreaboo
19 minutes ago
Last year, BAIN came out as gay during JUSTB’s North American tour, becoming the first openly gay male idol in an active K-Pop group. Now, he’s looking back at the past year and how his life has changed since going public with his sexual orientation.
BAIN | @6a1n__/Instagram
“Last year, I walked onto the stage carrying a secret, heavier than I ever wanted anyone to know,” BAIN said, in a new interview with Pop Base. “This year, I walked onto the stage carrying only myself. When you spend so much of your life editing your own existence to make other people comfortable, you start to forget what your real voice sounds like. But on this tour I heard it clearly for the first time. Not the careful version. Just. me.”
During the interview, he was asked to share his thoughts about the K-Pop industry and the fact that more queer artists are speaking openly about their identities, such as XG’s Cocona, who came out as trans-masc non-binary, transgender former JWiiver member Ryujin, and the genderless group XLOV.
When I see more artists speaking openly now, I don’t just see headlines or conversations; I feel like I’m watching people breathe differently.
Queer artists have always existed. These stories were always here. But what was often missing was the freedom to exist visibly without fear or apology. I think younger generations are beginning to witness possibilities that many of us didn’t grow up believing were available to us…
— BAIN
However, BAIN also pointed out the industry’s hypocrisy, sharing a disappointing experience he had with a broadcaster.
After I came out, a Korean broadcast station requested an interview. We answered every question sincerely and filmed everything they asked for. But I never heard what became of it. As far as I know, it was never aired, and that has stayed with me.
I don’t believe I am entitled to every platform, but the experience made me think about something larger: sometimes society celebrates queer courage in theory, but becomes quieter when that courage asks for real space. This tension says a lot about where we still are. But I don’t say that with resentment, rather with hope, because recognizing the silence is often the first step toward changing it.
— BAIN
Read more about his coming out journey here:
Male Idol Honestly Confesses Life After Coming Out As Gay