On the 2nd edition of LGBTQ Bopz 
(2021), we highlight the song, โY.M.C.A.โ performed by The Village People.
B
ring on the B-O-P-Z, like #SLAYYY! LGBTQ BopzTheme & Lyrics 
โYoung man, thereโs a place you can go, I said / Young man, when youโre short on your dough,โ
The Village People assert on
โY.M.C.A.,โ the biggest hit of their career. The collective continues, on the first verse, singing, โStay there and Iโm sure you will find / Many ways to have a good time.โ They have a point considering the Young Menโs Christian Association or simply, โThe Yโ is a place to have fun without the expense. However, โY.M.C.A.,โ which appears on the collectiveโs 1978 LP,
Cruisinโ (
), isnโt thought of celebrating โThe Yโ for its moral endeavors.
Itโs no secret that The Village People were gay. Nothing wrong with that โ no criticism ! โY.M.C.A.โ was intended to celebrate โThe Yโ but instead, itโs become one of the preeminent gay anthems. Also, nothing wrong with that โ itโs a bop, bop, B-O-P! Young men having a good time playing sports? They can, of course, but the read into this place of fun is one for those young men hooking up. Again, it probably didnโt help Village People that the album was titled Cruisinโ, a term thatโs slang for seeking out sex. Worth noting, Ys were a spot for gay men to meet. Itโs hard to believe that the collective wasnโt referencing sex, particularly on the high-flying chorus:
โItโs fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
Itโs fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
They have everything for young men to enjoy
You can hang out with all the boys
Itโs fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
Itโs fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.
You can get yourself clean, you can have a good meal
You can do whatever you feel.โ
Final Thoughts
So, how โgayโ is โY.M.C.A.โ Oh, itโs gay โ no doubt about it. That said, while itโs fun to react to the sexual innuendo, the bigger message is acceptance. At the Young Menโs Christian Association, everyone is welcome, regardless of sexuality. Yes, plenty of gay men ended up at the Y, and yes, they hooked up, but, ultimately, the song is about a positive place. Regardless, this is one of the best LGBTQ Bopz of all time!
Village People โข
Cruisinโ โข
The Island Def Jam Music Group โข
1978
Village People, โY.M.C.A.โ: LGBTQ Bopz 
No. 2 [
: Anna Shvets, Brent Faulkner, Kurious, The Island Def Jam Music Group, The Musical Hype, Pexels, Pixabay]