u/Dominik528

I know Lil Nas X getting outed was a big deal, because he's a Black artist, and for many years, there was always a stigma against being Black and gay within the music industry--hence why Whitney Houston never came out (and I believe her family was against the portrayal of her queer relationship in the movie, *I Wanna Dance with Somebody*).

Michael always denied the gay rumors, and word has it he crushed on and enjoyed sex with women. Yet, according to Ian Halperin (who supposedly interviewed Jackson's male exes), Jackson coming out would've been "career suicide."

There's also how he became more androgynous from the 90s onwards. One discussion with Roxanne on YouTube mentioned that he likely would identify as gender non-conforming today.

If he lived to be almost 70 today, in this new climate where there's more awareness of and support for LGBT communities, do you think he would comfortably be openly gay/bi/GNC?

[I tried crossposting from the Leaving Neverland subreddit, but couldn't.]

From Wade's interview with Voices Beyond Assault on YouTube:

“I remember that last abuse experience and even before the abuse started, I was trying to play him some music that I was into… and talked to him about some films that I was into… I was just trying to like, connect with him on a new level… and kind of get him to the things that I was into, because there was this obviously this mentor-mentee relationship. Maybe I was trying to sort of level the playing field, to like can we be peers at a subconscious level… and I just remember he just wasn't interested in it… and then it was like… all right let me just fall into line, and let's do what we always do, which was the abuse.”

The OP pointed out:

> Wade realized Michael wasn't interested in talking and only wanted to get physical with him and Wade realized he would just have to fall in line, if he wanted to keep this "connection" alive.

> I find this incredibly revealing and sad (and demeaning) all at the same time, for a few reasons.

> It tells me that...even if Michael wasn't a child predator and let's say he was just a regular heterosexual/homosexual/bisexual guy who was into adult people; I can guarantee, this problem would STILL persist.

> He would still treat his girlfriend/boyfriend in the same way -- like a literal fleshlight; just a body to use for his own selfish sexual gratification (and I don't mean in just one-night stand type situations but even in serious long-term relationships, where his adult partners have genuinely caught feelings for him and he KNOWS it)

> It tells me how narcissistic he really was; that even during these intimate encounters, he doesn't see you as a person, he doesn't care to connect or flirt or any of that. That's how cold, indifferent and disconnected he really was.

> Which is ironic, because so much of his music shows a genuinely passionate, charismatic and flirty side to him.

> Imagine for Wade; who was only 14 at that time, who was probably in love with Michael and he was reconnecting with Michael after so long, was probably happy and excited to see him after so long and wanted to feel that emotional connection again to him because he genuinely missed him; and Michael just....didn't care.

> What the younger Wade took away from this encounter was that...he was only good for one thing (to Michael) and one thing only and that if he wanted to be anywhere near his precious self, he needed to reduce himself down to just that; a body to be used for someone's lecherous gratification; and to someone who was old enough to be his father figure, no less.

> Anyway....my point being....even if Michael wasn't a child predator, he would've still treated his adult sexual partners in the same narcissistic, cold, disconnected way.

In Wade & James's interview with CBS Morning, what kinda confused me was James saying that, despite what he and Michael started doing together, Michael declared that it didn't make them gay.

Could this have been Michael's way of messing with James in case he turned out to be straight (and getting jealous when he realized James was crushing on Sheryl Crow)? Or was Michael basically telling himself that he wasn't gay, like he publicly denied many times--including in one of his own songs, with the line, "They say he's homosexual"?

I know in their CBS Morning interview, James said that, despite what he did with Michael, Michael declared that it didn't make them gay. As a young boy, James questioned his sexuality, and determined to be straight when he realized he had a crush on Sheryl Crow; Wade seemed afraid of being gay as he got older, when he briefly saw a young man undressing.

Yet, they both described themselves as being besotted and infatuated with Michael. I understand that this was Michael's grooming tactic that conditioned them both to believe that this was a natural progression to express how much they 'loved' each other. So, it's likely that that affected their feelings for him.

I'll need to take my Luvox medication from between 8 - 10PM, which is always after I usually eat dinner. It's a 30 minute drive to the venue I'm going to; the last time I was there (before being prescribed this med.), I got there in the middle of Filter's opening act before Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie later took the stage. I remember arriving home around 11 - 12 that night.

I would love to see Spiritbox open, but don't know if they'll come before or after the Nova Twins. This is my first time ever being concerned about what I consume at what time, of bringing meds into a concert. I need to take it for my OCD, so I'm hesitant about ordering food there, not just for safety reasons, but because it might get too busy. What should I do?

I've seen it be a common things for fan artists to announce on their social media what shows they'll be attending, inviting anyone to approach for free art. I would love to do something like this on my own, but wonder what exactly I have to do, especially since I'm more of an introvert. Should I carry around a sign saying "Free Prints"?

Do I have to mingle with other artists trading stuff, including when the opening act plays? Or should I just stay in my seat and wait for anyone to approach? And how would I bring prints into the venue? Will I need a portfolio or put them in a clear bag?