Victor Willis, a member of the band Village People, took to Facebook to deny any intentions of the song “YMCA”‘s connection to gay culture. He also defended President-Elect Donald Trump’s use of the band’s hit song at his campaign rallies.
In his post, Willis addressed the long-standing association between the song and the LGBTQ+ community, a connection that he has repeatedly denied, arguing that it was never intended to be a “gay anthem.” Willis continued saying that since 2020, he has received a barrage of complaints regarding Trump’s use of the song at his rallies, and he felt compelled to set the record straight. He argued that the assumption linking “YMCA” to gay culture was “false” and based on a misunderstanding of the band’s origins, including the fact that some members were gay and the debut album heavily referenced gay life. However, Willis insisted that the song itself was not a deliberate celebration of gay culture. He even urged listeners to “get their minds out of the gutter” in reference to the common interpretation of some of the song’s lyrics as euphemisms for gay sex and sexual exploration.
Willis asked Trump to stop using the song when he first began playing it at campaign rallies but later changed his mind because “Trump seems to genuinely like ‘YMCA,’ and he’s having a lot of fun with it.” The artist, however, has also acknowledged that he has benefitted financially from the association with Trump, as the song’s popularity surged, particularly in the lead-up to the 2020 election. The song’s popularity continued rising when it topped the Billboard Dance/Electronic chart after Trump’s recent victory. Willis has even expressed gratitude for Trump’s continued use of the song, revealing that is has grossed “several million dollars” since its continued use at Trump rallies.
While Willis has clearly appreciated the financial gain from the LGBTQ+ community. However, he said that he took issue with the idea that “YMCA” was synonymous with gay culture. He has gone as far as to call such promotion “defamatory and damaging” to the song’s legacy. Willis even began to threaten legal action against any organization that promotes “YMCA” as a gay anthem starting in 2025. This action is a clear signal of his discomfort with the ongoing association.
Despite Willis’ denial, “YMCA” has long been linked to LGBTQ+ culture. The song was embraced by the gay community for its upbeat, celebratory tone and its connection to the YMCA. The gym was known as a popular gay cruising spot in the 1970s and 80s. The Village People’s association with gay culture has been further solidified with some of their other hits. Such songs include “Macho Man” and their many appearances at LGBTQ+ events. A few of the band members even played the song “YMCA” at Hudson River Park Pride this year.
No matter what Willis says the song’s connection to LGBTQ+ culture remains undeniable. It is now even in Library of Congress’s National Recording Registry in 2020. The registry noted its historic cultural significance within the gay community. Whether Willis acknowledges it or not, “YMCA” has undeniably become a gay anthem. In the eyes of many, the song transcends its original intent and takes on a life of its own.
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