David Bowie Helped Us Come Out

David Bowie has sadly passed away at the age of 69 after losing an 18-month battle with cancer. Not only was Bowie was a musical legend and icon, but also a prominent gay icon, one that inspired many after him. His androgynous looks involving tight jumpsuits, tuxedos, heavy make-up and his very androgynous alter ego, Ziggy Stardust inspired us all stylistically and artistically.

Some of us remember sitting in our rooms listening to Space Oddity over and over again, believing it to be our only escape from life. Others remember sneaking out to clubs where they would play his music and others, if lucky enough, managed to see him live. To many young gay people at the time David Bowie helped us come to terms with who we were, and perhaps even inspired us to take the first steps towards coming out and accepting ourselves.

David Bowie was one of the few music icons who shaped and revolutionised the music world, from the creative ways he wrote his music, to his video concepts and the hybrid genres of music he created and developed throughout his career. There are few artists around today that can do things as inspiringly as he did them. The music industry has lost one of it’s brightest lights. He was a true innovator. However, let’s take this time to remember and appreciate not only Bowie’s music, but how he might have helped us overcome our own problems or even helped us grow into who we are today. Whether you are remembering David Bowie for his music, or as more, let us raise our glasses to one of the greats.