Celebrities make or break ideas in the industry. Their followers constantly want to know whether they believe in feminism, Black Lives Matter or LGBTQ+ rights. Thankfully, the fans of Harry Styles don’t have to guess.
Styles, of the boy band One Direction, displays his affection of the LGBTQ+ community proudly and has waved Pride flags during his concerts since 2015. His thoughts on LGBTQ+ rights stand clear, saying “That [Equal Rights] doesn’t feel like politics to me. Stuff like equality feels much more fundamental. I feel like everyone is equal. That’s not politics to me,” during a 2017 interview in France.
Because of his openness and support of the LGBTQ+ community, the fans have turned his concerts into safe spaces where they can express their true thoughts and emotions. They attend his shows in full rainbow gear, displaying Pride flags with love and affection.
As for feminism, Styles has no problem grasping that concept. In his 2017 cover shoot with Rolling Stone, he describes his female fan base with an amazing understanding and love for women.
“Who’s to say that young girls who like pop music – short for popular, right? – have worse musical taste than a 30-year-old hipster guy? That’s not up to you to say. Music is something that is always changing. There’s no goal posts. Young girls like the Beatles. You gonna tell me they’re not serious? How can you say young girls don’t get it? They’re our future. Our future doctors, lawyers, mothers, presidents, they kind of keep the world going. Teenage – girl fans – they don’t lie. If they like you, they’re there. They don’t act ‘too cool.’ They like you, and they tell you. Which is sick.”
For Styles, Black Lives Matter is more complicated. Being a white male who came from a middle-class English family before his fame, struggling for basic human rights is not something Styles is particularly familiar with. However, his fan base believes that he should speak up on the issue, considering that his two mantras are “Love is Love” and “Treat People with Kindness.”
During concerts in Manchester, England and Glasgow, Scotland, fans in the front sections held up Black Lives Matter signs and flags. Yet, Styles withheld any comments. The fuming fans took to the internet to express their disappointment in Styles, and some even suggested that he may not even support the movement. Others believed that he simply didn’t have accurate research and knowledge to express any accurate comments to his fan base.
After his Glasgow show, Styles posted a photo of the crowd holding up the Black Lives Matter signs. The photo held the caption, “Love,” yet some fans were not satisfied. Then, Harry made his move. At his show in Stockholm, Sweden, he made a speech and asked the audience to hold hands with the people next to them.
“…You are joined hands, and I’d like to know every single one of you tonight – if you are black, if you are white, if you are gay, if you are straight, if you are transgender – I support you and I love every single one of you.”
While Styles didn’t directly speak about the movement itself, he expressed his support for all of his fans.
Harry Styles is one of few celebrities that truly understands his position in the industry. His influence has encouraged many fans to come out of the closet, as well as simply helping them understand the idea of basic human rights. He is a true icon to us all.