Bain, member of the six-person K-pop band JUST B, performing Lady Gaga’s queer anthem “Born This Way” in Los Angeles.
Bain, a member of the six-person K-pop boy band JUST B, came out during a recent solo performance amid the band’s JUST ODD World Tour. He then performed a rendition of bisexual pop star Lady Gaga’s 2011 queer anthem “Born This Way.”
Wearing sunglasses, a long fur jacket and a black sequin shirt, Bain told the audience at the Vermont Hollywood venue in Los Angeles, California, “Before I start the next song, tonight I want to share something with you guys.” He then paused for a second before saying, “I’m f**king proud to be part of the LGBT community.” The audience cheered loudly.
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“I’m a gay person,” he continued. He then walked over to a front-row attendee who waved a rainbow flag and said, “Shout-out to my queen Lady Gaga for showing me that being yourself is beautiful.”
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“To everyone out there who’s part of the LGBTQ+ or still figuring it out, this is for you guys. And also, this is for everyone,” he continued. “You’re seen, you’re loved, and you are born this way.”
At the end of the concert, Bain told the audience,“L.A., thank you so much. Today, it means a lot to me — I’m so happy that I can be myself.” A fellow bandmate then said, “We are happy too,” and another said, “Yeah!”
Bain ended by saying, “Until next time: stay bold, stay fierce, and lastly, always, always be your true self.” His bandmates then pushed him towards the center-stage spotlight, Billboard reported.
It’s incredibly rare for a K-pop boy band member to come out, the aforementioned publication noted, though individual Korean pop artists have come out in the past. Some have reported receiving homophobic reactions from industry professionals and online commenters.
While South Korea doesn’t criminalize consensual gay encounters, they are forbidden for military members. The country does not have marriage equality, doesn’t allow out military service or gay adoption, and does not have any nationwide anti-discrimination protections. It also requires trans people to undergo medical transition before allowing a legal gender change
A 2023 Pew Research Center poll found that 56% of South Koreans opposed marriage equality.
JUST B debuted on June 30, 2021, under the agency BLUEDOT Entertainment. Their music has been streamed at least 6 million times in the U.S. and 22.6 million times worldwide, according to Luminate, a website that tracks streaming data.
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