Gay Idol In Active K-Pop Group Speaks On Other Queer Idols, Hypocrisy, And More

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.

“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.