Here is my theory.

Take Michael Stipe..gay. He knows everyone talks about how is gay, but he says nothing about it.

Sufjan Stevens..gay. He knows everyone talks about how he is gay, but he says nothing about it.

If you weren't gay, wouldn't you just say so?

 

It's not his lyrics that make me think he' gay it's the whole fact that it's up for debate. Heterosexuals are not ambigous with their preference - if anyone can show me differently I might change my mind. I think that gays hold back for several reasons - they aren't sure they want the whole world to know yet(including their family), they haven't completely decided yet, or their producers think it may hurt their career...If he isn't gay then why the mystery and why the fruity costumes?

 

A butterfly costume? I rest my case.

 

Fuck, I hope Sufjan is gay. He is CUTE. Sometimes, I listen to "Chicago" and picture myself sleeping next to him, in the van. Then, we give our clothes to the state and MAKE OUT!

 

As someone who grew up as a gay Christian, I have to say I see a lot of myself in Sufjan's music. There's nothing quite like surrendering yourself to Jesus for compensating for all those strange feelings for the other boys in your prayer circle, and a truly gentle Christianity fosters the sensitive gay boys' emotional tendencies toward self-deprecation, tenderness, and need for redemption.

 

I think this is one of those things where, if you're gay, you can read the subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) signs... He doesn't come right out and say it, maybe because he's still struggling with it, or maybe because he's afraid of what it'll do to his career, or maybe because he doesn't think it really matters... or SHOULD matter. How many friends do you have who feel compelled to "come out" about their heterosexuality???

In any event, it doesn't really matter... his music is beautiful. It's only because he's so damn cute, and that consequently every gay/bi guy wants to get in his pants and is HOPING that he's gay that causes all the interest. Good luck with that, guys :)

 

He writes love songs about boys.

And he knits.

And is fascinated by birds and wears bird wings.

And there are lots of gay Christians, incidentally.

 

Just read the lyrics to The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out To Get Us!, a song which Sufjan has specifically said is about his childhood experiences. Or, if you're too lazy:
"Oh how I meant to tease him
Oh how I meant no harm
Touching his back with my hand I kiss him
I see the wasp on the length of my arm"
and
"We were in love..."
That seems pretty conclusive to me, alongside the facts that he knits, wears bird wings and tight t-shirts, and refuses to discuss his sexuality. Gay or not, he's still one of my favorite musicians.

 

I would have to say he is not gay. His songs are story tellings, not personal. So it means that often times they are told from a woman's perspective. Not new, Damien Jurado does the same thing sometimes.

 

Maybe he is just being a kind Christian by being ambiguous about not being gay.  Maybe he thinks we are all silly for obssesing about it.  Or maybe he is really amused by the reasons why people think he is gay & enjoys reading all the posts on the internet about it.  The only thing that makes me slightly question, is how manicured his skin looks & the way his clothes fit.  I'm not even convinced by knowing he loves to quilt, but I recently saw him on Austin City Limits, and if he is not gay, he could still definitely give us girls a few skin care tips.

 

some people are above the publics stupid labels

 

just for clarification i don't know who your talking about. i just know that a lot of straight artists don't spend their time responding to stupid rumors

 

From an artistic point of view, I see Sufjan as one who possesses a very powerful sense of creativity. I think the way he perceives the world is highly unusual and this is reflected in his music and appearance. I think in everything he does, he tells a story or expresses his sense of culture. With this in mind, claiming that he is homosexual based upon his clothes/butterflywings/clear complexion seems a bit superficial.
Not all people care for the guidelines of American social standards. The vikings decorated their swords and helmets with flowers. His unusual sense of spirituality and culture could very easily be misunderstood in relation to his sexual preference.

 

Who cares? Just enjoy his music.