Village People Lead Singer Claims 'YMCA' Isn't a Gay Anthem and Threatens Legal Action Against Dissenters
Victor Willis, the lyricist and lead vocalist of the Village People, has openly criticized the widespread belief that their iconic tune "YMCA" serves as a "gay anthem." As the creative mind behind the 1970s disco sensation, Willis collaborated with producer Jacques Morali to craft the song. He has now turned to social media to clarify that the track was not composed with the gay community in mind, warning that those who argue otherwise might soon encounter legal repercussions.
"In recent times, there's been a surge of chatter suggesting that 'Y.M.C.A.' qualifies as a gay anthem," Willis, who penned the lyrics for the 1978 smash hit, expressed on Facebook. "I've reiterated countless times that this is a baseless presumption, stemming from the fact that my co-writer was gay, some (not all) Village People members were gay, and the debut Village People album revolved around gay life."
"This assumption is further fueled by the notion that the YMCA was ostensibly a gay meeting place, and since one of the songwriters was gay, and some Village People members were gay, the song must be directed at the gay community. To that, I firmly say, disengage from such fallacies. It is not."
Emerging from the band's third studio release, "Cruisin'," the song has long been an informal anthem within the LGBTQ sphere. Interestingly, it has also been adopted by Donald Trump, who utilized it at campaign rallies. A recent viral video featured the president-elect dancing to the track alongside Tesla CEO Elon Musk at Mar-A-Lago during Thanksgiving.
Initially, like other music luminaries such as ABBA and the Foo Fighters, Willis opposed Trump's use of his song. Nonetheless, in his Facebook declaration, he extended approval to the president-elect, noting the song's resurgence in popularity, as evidenced by its ascent to the top of Billboard's digital sales chart for dance and electronic music.
The YMCA, formally the Young Men’s Christian Association, was initially founded in London in 1844 as a non-political Christian initiative. Commonly known as "the Y," it has evolved into a worldwide establishment offering spaces for exercise, sports, and refuge.
Willis revealed that during the song's composition, he was unaware of the YMCA's alleged role as a gay gathering spot. He explained: "I wrote Y.M.C.A. based on my experiences of the Y in urban San Francisco, focusing on activities such as swimming, basketball, track, and affordable meals and lodging. When I refer to 'hang out with all the boys,' it's purely 1970s black slang for guys gathering for sports, gambling, or camaraderie. There's nothing inherently gay about it."
Consequently, Willis contests the notion that "Y.M.C.A." is a gay anthem due to certain YMCA locations being used for illicit activities, deeming such interpretations as misguided. His conviction is so intense that he is now contemplating legal action to address the matter.
He further elaborated: "Since I authored the lyrics and understand their true intent, come January 2025, my wife will initiate legal proceedings against any media outlet that erroneously labels 'Y.M.C.A.' as a gay anthem in headlines or content. This misconception is rooted solely in the song's lyrics allegedly suggesting illicit activity, which it does not. However, I am not opposed to the gay community embracing the song as their anthem."
"Yet, you would struggle to find 'Y.M.C.A.' featured prominently on playlists at gay clubs, parades, or events in a manner suggesting it is an anthem for the community beyond the wrongful association with illicit activity, which tarnishes and harms the song's reputation. But this will cease in 2025.
