Despite all the buzz about the 4th of July holiday, he was among the top searches on Google yesterday. I’m talking about Odd Future member and Kanye West protege, Frank Ocean. In the world of hip-hop where homosexuality is not often embraced, Frank Ocean published an open letter in which he confesses that his first love was with a man.
Suspicion first arose when a song from his upcoming album, “Channel Orange” leaked. Intimate lyrics from several songs made references to a “him” instead of “her” fueling speculation about Frank Ocean’s sexuality.
In an open letter he published on him Tumblr page, Frank writes:
“4 summers ago, I met somebody,” he wrote. “I was 19 years old. He was too. We spent that summer, and the summer after, together.
“By the time I realized I was in love, it was malignant. It was hopeless. There was no escaping, no negotiating with the feeling. No choice. It was my first love, it changed my life.”
Overall, support for Frank Ocean’s “coming out” has been overwhelming, including a statement published by Russell Simmons on Global Grind:
“Today is a big day for hip-hop. It is a day that will define who we really are. How compassionate will we be? How loving can we be? How inclusive are we?” he wrote.
“I am profoundly moved by the courage and honesty of Frank Ocean. Your decision to go public about your sexual orientation gives hope and light to so many young people still living in fear. These types of secrets should not matter anymore.
“His gifts are undeniable. His talent, enormous. His bravery, incredible. … Frank, we thank you. We support you. We love you.”
