BTS supporting the LGBTQ+ community - a thread

(I’m going to link this recent thread, which is very good, and simply add onto it with other moments that were not yet mentioned.)

https://twitter.com/minimonisheart/status/1389859399506690052

The music they rec, often songs playing in bg during a live, an organic way of supporting openly queer artists. A few ex:

Seventeen -Troye Sivan, Ease - Troye Sivan
Do Me - Kim Petras
Memo - Years & Years
Honey - Kehlani
Self Control - Frank Ocean
More Than A Miracle - MNEK

Jungkook & Namjoon’s “Fools” cover. These lyrics are not shy and Troye Sivan is openly gay, so there’s no confusion over the meaning, what he wants even if it’s unrealistic: a calm content future with the man of his dreams in a house raising their kids.

For an iHeartRadio Awards game, BTS chose non-binary musician Sam Smith’s “How Do You Sleep” as their favorite choreo (and the mv is very loud & proud) as well as Hopekook knowing the dance.

Taehyung proudly supporting and hyping his favorite photographers, Ante Badzim & Ryan McGinley (both openly gay).

Jimin’s openness and comfort with breaking gender norms through his fashion choices.

This needs no explanation. I’ll say this though - straight people don’t often think with inclusion on the tips of their tongues (in a second language, no less) unless they have a very intimate and/or personal connection to the LGBTQ+ community.

Let’s talk Wings era. The entire era, every song, all of the imagery. But let’s specifically talk Stigma, Lie, BME. These songs speak to Rainbow Army; they’re the definition of “if you know, you know”.

ARE YOU CALLING ME A SINNER?

Yoongi’s Cypher 3 verse

알다시피 내 목소린 좀 꼴림
As you know, my voice gets them horny.

남자든 여자든 랩으로 홍콩을 보내는 유연한 내 혀놀림
My flexible tongue movement that makes people reach orgasm with my rap, men and women alike.

At the BBMAs, BTS reacting to Imagine Dragons speaking on an end to conversion therapy. Don’t let people convince you that BTS didn’t understand and were merely clapping along. They got it, and they approve of the message. Period.

Jungkook and Hobi referencing various types of love. None of them speak thoughtlessly, they use words carefully and say what they mean.

Music video symbolism (Danger). This poster was made to raise awareness against laws stating that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in the state of California".

The use of bisexual lighting in their music videos and stages (which we recently saw again with the Butter clips)

This stage of BWL during Pride month was very gay (and I’m 100% convinced it was also very intentional). And remember how excited they were to share this with Army? They love and respect their Rainbow Army.

BTS bought Pride Absolut vodka for their trip, even though the standard Absolut bottle was likely right there on the store shelf beside this limited edition one. They specifically chose to purchase the Pride vodka. In June.

I’m going to link this short thread here. It’s personal speculation (and I’m not at all doubting that it’s a song for Army because that’s what they said), but I also think it’s more than that. I’ve learned there are very few coincidences with BTS. https://twitter.com/doradojjk/status/1359206811266519042

Namjoon read/recommended “Confessions of a Mask” by Yukio Mishima, which is a book about a closeted boy realizing he is homosexual and being afraid, so he hides behind a mask in his community. There are theories that Singularity is based off of this novel.

The Singles photo shoot from January 2017, which pushed gender boundaries. (Namjoon, 1/2)

Singles photo shoot. (group, 2/2)

Yoongi debuted in a skirt and he absolutely owned it. https://twitter.com/bts_twt/status/346413861131411456

Tae placing his hand over his heart when he saw a Pride sign in the audience.

Yet again, one of Yoongi’s lines. We aren’t exaggerating when we say we believe that Yoongi has come out multiple times, through interview answers, through lyrics. He makes very specific choices in how he phrases things.

People tend to laugh off Jungkook’s comments re: Namjoon over the years because he was young, no matter how often he states the same thing, but he’s a very deliberate speaker who says what he means. Namjoon was Jungkook’s first boy crush, full stop.

Louder, Jungkook.

Hobi’s rainbow belt on the first day of Pride in 2019.

The linked thread in the first tweet mentions BTS wanting their BT21 characters to be gender neutral, and this cartoon for Mang is a powerful statement.

Yoongi’s 2020 interview with Esquire. “What does being masculine mean?”

Seokjin making a heart at the bisexual flag. Yes, it could just be at Army in general, but please let me have this one. We know none of them shy away from interacting with loud, open Rainbow Army.

Army who were here said Hobi’s reaction was when he saw a flag and a sign that said “bisexuals ♡ Hoseok”

Tae and Holland’s Chanel couple bags.

Yoongi, again. He saw no need to change any pronouns or roles for this fairy tale to suit him just fine.

The existence of Trivia: Love

우린 사람, 사람, 사람
We are humans, humans, humans.
저 무수히 많은 직선들 속
Among those countlessly many straight lines,
내 사랑, 사랑, 사랑
my love, love, love.

Back to bisexual lighting, this time for the entirety of the Trivia: Just Dance stage. Love Yourself/Face Yourself/Speak Yourself was really a glorious era for Rainbow Army and everyone, really. What a beautiful, impactful message.

Namjoon and Yoongi’s retro queer discotheque Respect stage during Pride month.

To summarize Bangtan Universe briefly: it’s 7 boys with little to no reliable home or community, who band together to heal from trauma, pain, and loneliness, choosing to forge a family through shared love, grief, friendship. Found family is so critical to the LGBTQ+ community.

Dynamite has queer themes from start to finish and top to bottom (much like disco’s roots), and this is a lovely pansexual nod at the end, from the fits to the effects.

I’ll finish this thread w/ something people outside of the LGBTQ+ community may not know.
are often used as a silent message of support for the vulnerable, a symbol that you’re a safe person. BTS wears them a lot; although it could simply be for aesthetic, that seems unlikely.