Madonna Gives Us One More Reason To Celebrate

August 2, 2009

By Meghan Chavalier

Madonna released her newest single, "Celebration," over the weekend and it's a high energy dance mix that has gay fans crazy for her all over again. Madonna, in the last few years, has gone back to her dance roots, which is what made her what she is today and what made the gay community first take notice of her over 25 years ago.

Madonna is a gay icon. In fact, she was the number one gay icon on our Top 50 gay icons list.

Madonna, who will be 51 this month has constantly walked straight into the path of traffic. She has faced her critics head on and never backed down from them. She has shown the world that just because she's a woman, doesn't mean she can't play by men's rules.

She is one of, if not the most successful female recording artist in history. Her tours continue to sell out worldwide.

I have been a fan of Madonna since she first stepped onto the scene in the early 80's. I think many of us in the LGBT Community have grown up with her, and watched her transform from a video vamp, to a caring mother and activist for the world around her.

Madonna has always had her foot firmly placed in the gay community. She has never made any of us in the community feel like outsiders. She has always welcomed us, as we've welcomed her.

It's funny, because many of the instances in her career which caused media uproars were never really shocking to any of us. As any true outsider will tell you, shocking people is what makes them wake up. And, shock them she has.

From the first time her wedding dress flipped up on the MTV Video Awards, to the Like A Prayer video, to the infamous Sex book, to Justify My Love, to Erotica, to her new found religion Madonna has never stopped shocking mainstream America, but the gay community has always sat back and got a really good giggle out of her antics because we understand her, and what she's trying to do.

Madonna's final cd with Warner Brothers will be released in September 2009. I, for one, will be buying it the first day of release, one because I'm such a huge fan, and two because of nostalgic reasons.

I was a teenager in the 80's when things were alot simpler. It was a time when you didn't have to worry about locking your doors at night, or wondering if you'd live or die each time you left your house to go to school in the morning.

Times have changed, but I intend to Celebrate along with Madonna and remember a time when things were much simpler than they are today.

So thank you Madonna for the music and the memories.