https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLvUljcMScQ
I guess I went with sort of a stereotypical text because the song is entitled “I’m Coming Out” but both this song and Diana Ross are significant to me. Diana Ross was really the first diva I fell in love with. In seventh grade, we had to write research papers on our heroes and I wrote mine on Diana Ross. She has always been a gay icon, frequenting pride and AIDS events. In terms of what this song means to me, I played it at breakfast on the day I came out to my family, October 11, 20011 (Coming Out Day because I live for clichés). My family didn’t really catch on until I came out to them later that night. I think Diana’s confidence and kindness really helped me with coming to terms with my identity, knowing I had “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” to listen to after a particularly rough day. The song also took place during a very pivotal point in Diana’s career, she was breaking free from both Berry Gordy, her manager, and the Supremes. And her first solo album, Diana Ross, features a very bare picture of just her. I think this can be related to queerness and the act of coming out because it is a new phase of life that is very dependent on what work you have done with yourself. Often, like Diana, we feel bare and exposed after coming out and feel the need to branch out and meet new people if the ones we used to know aren’t good enough for us. This specific performance was during her concert in Central Park in 1983. Admission was free making it accessible for all of her fans. However, in the middle of the concert, it began to downpour. And Diana continued to perform, singing a few more songs and promising to continue the concert tomorrow. This performance occurred the next day, proclaiming that a little rain can’t stop “The Boss.” Though we cannot control or predict the weather, I think that the performance relates to queerness because even though we cannot control the heterosexist and cissexist structures that try desperately try to make us not love ourselves and discourage us from achieving the same opportunities as our straight and cisgender peers, we need to put on a smile and “come out” and show the world that even if they send us a little rainstorm, nothing is going to keep us down. In case you couldn’t tell, this performance makes me very emotional and I cry every time I watch it.
Diana Ross and her Supremes
Diana Ross’ First Solo Album, Diana Ross
Diana Ross performing in the rain in Central Park
Diana Ross performing in the rain in Central Park
I think this is a really interesting examination of Diana Ross. I grew up with a lot of older music in my household, and I think it’s great that it can still relate to people today. I agree that Diana Ross “coming out” process can be very symbolic of other processes that involve learning to depend on yourself. Diana Ross, for me, has always been a symbol of independence and self love. Deciding to break away from what is your starting ground, is no easy task. Also her determination for doing all she can, is very inspiring. Performing, despite the rain, because she knows her fans have come out to see her is admirable indeed. Many artists today would have just canceled, just goes to show how she really was “The Boss”. I’m glad she was helpful in more than just the conventional ways (how mainstream society would categorize her or label her).