As you know, it’s pride month. So I imagine we’re going to be posting a lot of Måneskin content. But I’d like to remind everyone that there are two queer members in the band: Victoria and Ethan. Victoria is bisexual, and Ethan describes himself as “sexually free”. I’d like them to be appreciated this month (and every month tbh) just as much, if not more, than Damiano.
Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love Damiano, and he is clearly a fantastic ally. But that’s the point: he’s an ally. He is not part of the community. Please don’t make Damiano the face of pride when Victoria and Ethan literally exist.
Don’t go for the femboy aesthetic just because you think it’s cute, or you think homophobia has been ended because a man puts on a skirt. Damiano is just trying to wear the clothes he wants to wear, and while it does send a good message for the LGBTQ+ community, it isn’t something that should overshadow actual queer people and their actual fight for equality and rights. Damiano chose to put on a skirt. Victoria and Ethan didn’t choose to be queer.
Pride isn’t for aesthetic. It’s a fight. It’s a celebration. And it’s for queer people to be supported and to be heard.
Support Damiano’s message, and by all means support his feminine style and his openness about his masculinity, because toxic masculinity is certainly an issue that has ties to the LGBTQ+ community, and it’s great to see him crush these gender norms.
But please, also support Victoria and Ethan’s actual queer experiences and struggles. Don’t pretend to be an ally just because you posted a picture of Damiano in a skirt with the heart eyes emoji as the caption, but then turn around and not even mention Victoria and Ethan.
Pride 👏 Is 👏 Not 👏 Your 👏 Aesthetic 👏
Thank you for coming to my TEDTalk.
