Bohemian Rhapsody’s Award Season Buzz Isn’t Just Disappointing – It’s Dangerous
Drawn to Freddie Mercury's unparalleled voice and flamboyance, drawn to the song lyrics that have proved themselves indelible in our collective memory, like so many, I grew up idolizing the Queen frontman.
This was before I knew about his sexuality - or even my own - but in many ways, it wasn't a secret.
His performance of gender and masculinity was coded in queerness, nuances during the '70s and '80s that now, in hindsight, seem to scream with clarity.At that time, Freddie Mercury wasn't able to be publicly out and have the career that he did.
That's what makes the recent Queen biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, a movie just as scared of his sexuality, so distressing.
As the film, which won the Golden Globe for best motion picture drama and best actor for lead Rami Malek, continues to receive accolades, Hollywood is signaling that this is the gold standard for queer storytelling.