Madonna Finally Speaks Out About Gay Teen Suicides!

Finally! FINALLY! Madonna has been my all time favorite artist since I was 9 years old, but lately it hasn't felt like it. This is in large part because of the fact that she hasn't really made any statement whatsoever about any of the MANY gay rights issues floating around today. See, I feel connected to my favorite artists on many levels. I connect to their music for sure, but I also connect to them as people. This is the case for all four of my favorite artists (Madonna, Lady GaGa, Robyn and Kylie).

Lately, I have been majorly disappointed in Madonna. While younger artists, with more to risk one might argue, have been completely outspoken for gay issues like Prop 8, Don't Ask, Don't Tell, and the recent tragic string of gay teen suicides, Madonna has not said anything. Sure, she voiced her opposition to Prop 8 passing during her Sticky & Sweet concert in Los Angeles, but that was about it.

As an artist who owes a lot to the gay community and has been an outspoken advocate of gay rights in the past, her silence now was a bit disheartening. When everyone in the 80s was afraid of AIDS and labeled it a "gay disease," she was donating money from her concerts to AIDS charities (and continued to do so in the 90s). She popularized vogueing (a huge dance trend in gay clubs before she brought it mainstream), hired numerous gay dancers and even featured a gay pride parade in her documentary "Truth or Dare." But I was just a little boy then. Now that all these other gay issues that directly effect me are being discussed and debated, I was a bit disappointed that Madonna, my all time favorite artist and huge proponent of gay rights, remained silent. Until yesterday that is.

Yesterday, Madonna went on the The Ellen Degeneres Show (via satellite from New York) to talk about the recent gay teen suicides. She actually said, "I wouldn't have a career if it weren't for the gay community. I feel like it would be incredibly remiss of me to not say something." YES. Thank you! Madonna, the gay community has always been proud of you and looked up to you, almost as a spokeswoman for our causes. Thank you for stepping up to do so once again...we were scared for a second there you wouldn't. See the full, unedited interview below: