Apparently, a lot of people do. According to Measure Map and Google Analytics, approximately half of visitors get here by searching some variation of “sufjan stevens gay.”
This got me wondering: why do people care if Sufjan Stevens is gay, why would they wonder if he is gay in the first place, and why do they come here?
The third one is obvious:
- This blog is third one down from the top for “sufjan stevens gay” on Google.
- The first two are completely spurrious hits.
- NNDB, the most comprehensive “gay or not” database, does not have an entry for Sufjan Stevens.
I’ll try to tackle the first question, why do people care if Sufjan Stevens is gay, in the next entry.
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One might wonder whether he’s gay when trying to interpret the stories behind his song lyrics. Sometimes it isn’t clear whether the character in the song is himself or someone else.
i’m pretty sure sufjan is gay. there are too many factors and reasons to list here, but added up, they point to it, for sure. he sets off all my friends’ gaydars. people care because he’s gorgeous but not terribly masculine. women don’t want to waste their fantasies on a boy who loves boys.
His stories also spurred me to wonder if he is or not. I know that not all lyrics artists write are about them, and when interpreting his poetry I try to keep that in mind. I also believe, however, that some of the best artists are so brilliant because they write from the heart, from their own experiences, and from what they know.
Now it remains to be seen whether I’m interpreting everything correctly in the first place.
Yes, he’s an amazing artist, and yes, he’s frigging gorgeous, no matter what his orientation.
well, i think he’s gay. i’m not gay. not that there’s anything wrong with that…
GAAAAAYYYYY!
I am a huge fan of a his music and my view of him wouldn’t change at all if it turns out he is gay but i was just genuinely curious. there are a few lyrics that made me wonder like ”
you gave up a wife and a family to be alone with me” anyways i love him HEAPS
yeah i’ve been trying to tackle the answer to this question as well..my friend said that one of her close friends is an acquaintance with Sufjan himself and that he is indeed on the gay side, but who knows these days. Even if he is gay, im willing to overlook this fact simply becuase his music is sheer perspicacity and he is beautiful
Haha. The more sufjan stevens gay posts you do the more people (like me) will end up here.
Oh he’s just so damn beautiful and girls like me want to read, “Sufjan Stevens gay? Absolutely not.”
or boys like me who want to read ‘sufjan stevens gay? fabulously so!’.
i saw him in concert back in october and that’s when i started wondering. i got a gay vibe, so i want the confirmation.
I just did a search on Sufjan Steven’s and Gay and I was brought to this site. My friend and I were wondering about him. News to me! Anyway, it really doesn’t matter if the dude is gay or straight. I have read some harsh statements about this topic and am a little turned off. I am gay. I am not a flaming, feminine, girly boy. I am a dude and could beat most guys in their choice of sport. Please don’t stereotype us…you’d never know I was and you wouldn’t know my friends were either.
Regardless, I hope Sufan is gay – for my sake
. Most talented people have their thing…that’s why they are talented, because there is this story (or soul) that is unique that yearns to express something most of us can’t even relate to. His life is going to be different – maybe because he is gay, maybe because his family was crazy, or he was abducted by aliens, who knows…I’m not saying all GAY people are really awesome and talented…that is reserved for myself and a small number of gays hehe.
We cannot do what he does…and because of that – gay or straight – he is a God. So like him because of his music, not for his sexual preference…or his really hot smile and awesome musical skills.
He is gay, I sucked him off two months ago in Duluth, Minnesota. Small penis.
“You gave up a wife and a family to be alone with me”- those lyrics are refering to Jesus. If you actually read the words to the song you’d realize that he’s saying that he’s devoted to Jesus. “You gave your body to the lonely they took your clothes…you gave your ghost…to be alone with me you went up on a tree” duh, Jesus gave himself over for humanities sins, for the poor sick and desperate because it was the will of God. The people took his clothes and cast lots for them. Went up on a tree= crucified.
I think people read him wrong because he’s not like anyone else. He has a beautiful soul. More power to him if he is gay, but I don’t think he is.
I stumbled here typing ‘sufjan stevens gay’ into Google… and I was curious to try and get a bit of background to his lyrics. I myself am a young lesbian so I was just wondering if I was assigning meanings to things because they are my own experiences, of because they’re inherent in the song. I still don’t know. It doesn’t matter.
YOU ALL NEED A LIFE!!!!!!!!!! WHO THE HELL CARES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FAGS!
FAGSGAGSGSGS
SUCK IT UP YOU LITTLE WHINERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey I was curious just as the rest of you all and as opposed to searching “sufjan stevens gay” in google I typed “sufjan stevens girlfriend” and came up with an article stating that his girlfriend Rosie Thomas and he are having a baby. According to http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/page/news/2006/04/05, he is not gay, actually appears to be far from it. This article was from last year so I think all the rumors can be dismissed now.
I was just wondering because “The Predatory Wasp of Pallisades” has some pretty ambiguous lyrics that kinda point in that direction. Purely interested because of the lyrics.
On a completely different note, if Sufjan and Rosie Thomas have a kid, that little dude/dudette will become some sort of living musical talent singularity, all turning into a talent black hole and sucking up other people’s talents. I’m googling right after this comment to see if that’s true, because if it is, im gonna have to build an anticipatory shrine to this kid’s first album.
well she (Rosie Thomas) is having his baby so i would hope to god hes not gay
http://rewriteablecontent.blogspot.com/2007/01/rosie-thomas-sufjan-their-baby.html
He does have a serious case of the cutes, so I do hope he is…
But either way,
It may be important to note that in the case of ”You gave up a wife and a family / To be alone with me” from “To Be Alone with You” he appears to be referring to Jesus (To be alone with me / you went up on a tree). The song is from Seven Swans, which deals heavily with his faith.
the rosie thomas baby thing was a joke. He wrote an e-mail saying they aren’t having a baby. I don’t think he’s gay.
Okay, there’s that one picture of Sufjan with a wife and kids..
Is that his wife and kids?
It might just be a funny/cute little stage photo. Or his sister or something.
…or maybe not???
sufjan said in a interview that he kissed girls on factory rooftops and in highschool had a girlfriend so i’m pretty he’s not gay but it doesn’t really matter to me. i just love his music and by the way that picture of his wife and kids aren’t really his wife and kids, he’s not married.
I like his musik,and I don’t care whether he is gay or not
and I don’t like someone here,really rude,and stupid
I’m bisexual,I’m not so sure that if he is straight.
I do care if he’s gay because gays are just not cool. Sufjan is so cool and if he were actually gay I would be forced to think he’s a nerd.
All gay people need to go back to Nairobi and stop pretending they still live there by playing Mario’s Missing.
In conclusion: Gays are gay.
I’m pretty damn sure he is not a gay now
if anyone of u listened his musik carefully u’ll find out that
and gay man usually got big tits..but in some of his pics we can see that this man is totally straight
and y he doesn’t talk about his opinion on gay things
because that relating his belief
check this
http://www.nerve.com/screeningroom/music/sufjanstevens/
How about prejudices in relation to your faith? Do your Christian beliefs influence your politics on such topics as gay marriage?
The gay marriage thing is such a big deal now, but I think it’s completely messed up because it has nothing to do with love or marriage anymore. It’s totally about differences of opinion and it’s being used to divide people.
But what do you personally think? Is gay marriage okay?
I don’t make any political claims at all. I don’t want to talk about that.
I notice you don’t have a lot of songs that concern love or sex in general. Is sex not a big part of your life?
Not necessarily. It doesn’t mean that I’m not capable of loving or having sex, of course. I just think that in my creative vision I’m preoccupied with other things, and I think a lot of these songs about love and sex out there are so vague and abstract and meaningless. But yeah, I don’t think I write typical love songs because it’s been done. But I’m open to new things. I think what I do musically is sort of more scholarly and maybe slightly more intellectual than your typical pop music, which sounds so presumptuous, but when you’re using literary allusions and history your work is going to have more of a scholarly feel. That was the point of this record from the very beginning.
I know he’s gay he’s my cousin how could i not know
Even if he has or has had a girlfriend he could still be bi. p.s. what a hottie w/ a naughty body!
Well I am gay and I think he’s hot and can anyone set us up?
I don’t care if he is gay (and I am straight if that makes a difference) but I’m not so sure that his lyrics are as homoromantic as they sound. People often cite Casimir Pulaski Day and John Wayne Gacy, Jr. as evidence that he is gay. If you look at the lyrics for Casimir Pulaski Day that people usually cite: “And the complications you could do without when I kissed you on the mouth,” and “oh the glory when you ran outside with your shirt tucked in and your shoes untied,” and think about them in context they don’t have the homosexual connotation that many people believe they have (and I thought so too at first… thus the “Is Sufjan Stevens Straight” google search that led me here.
Part 2 of comment -
The complications a dying teenager could do without is the romantic interest of a friend and the curiosity about having a relationship with someone you will never be able to have one with. The sexuality of the subject is completely ambiguous in the context of a song about a dying teenage friend. Had the song had nothing to do with dying then it could be taken to mean that the complications had to do with something else, but that is not the case. With regard to the shirt tucked in – people often cite this as evidence that the subject is male. However, the lyric is about the awkwardness of the situation-the subject dressed quickly and ran outside. What is more awkward for a girl – a shirt tucked in or untucked? Obviously it would be more awkward for a girl to have her father discover that she had spent the night with a boy, and then run outside with her shirt tucked in and her shoes untied.
Sufjan Stevens is not gay. I believe he is a beautiful artist and knows what music is about and also that only he knows the interpretations of his songs unless he decides to reveal it to us somehow. Most of the songs on “Seven Swans” do imply many spiritual issues and events in Scripture and in my opinion reveal his faith in Christ. Many of his references to a “He” I believe could be Jesus and it most likely is. His music is fascinating a complete work of art unlike any other.
To the person who made the comment about overlooking Sufjan being gay,
Why would someone need to overlook this? It wouldn’t make him any less of a person, I am straight, thats my choice, maybe hes gay and thats his. Yes, he is a fantastic musician, and one of the great songwriters of our generation, but why should you have to overlook something about him because it doesn’t fit your ideal picture of him. A man’s sexuality should be erroneous to your outlook on him. The kicker is, thats not the way it is. I wish it was.
i’m not gay.
I don’t know if Sufjan’s gay or not…and frankly this none of the comments above were any good to prove either argument. I don’t know.
I still can’t figure out though…He’s not married, right? And he never had the kid w/ Rosie Thomas…
I have to say, as a student of literature and a short fiction writer, that the narrative voice is more often than not NOT the voice of the author. I have often written from the point of view of a male character or as a female character completely different from myself. It shows maturity, on Sufjan’s part, to not be tied down to himself in his art. Unlike most second-rate, high school hacks, Sufjan doesn’t have to be the center of all his works.
I feel behooved to address The predatory wasp song because I had read online that Stevens admitted it was an incident from childhood. I don’t think that having a strong/confusing relationship with a friend, as a child, is evidence of a sexual preference. I had very strong affection for my girlfriends, as a young girl – before the world said you were gay to tell a friend that you loved her. I say “Bravo” to the song. There is a strong, innocent love connected with childhood summers with best friends. Ease up, people.
I think its unfair to pigeon hole a man who does not fit a ‘man’ stereotype i.e. very masculine as being gay, especially someone who is clearly so creative and intelligent as Sufjan Stevens, people automatically put him in the Gay bracket as if that MUST be the only explanation! Like assuming that because his music is difficult to read into, or does not give clear meanings into his feelings that he is automatically Gay, what if we asked if he was straight, im sure i could find tons of ‘quotes’ from his music that shows him being straight, people can read into anything what they will really. And why does it matter? He’s writing music for people to listen to and enjoy, and you can tell that he’s an incredibly private and shy person and clearly does not want media speculation about his life let alone his sexuality so why should he even have to answer when asked if he is gay or not? that is probably why he doesn’t answer.
He is not gay.
His songs are about jesus not a romantic love relationship with another man. Hes just kind of obscure about it , which is good.
Eg, his lyric “Ill never know the man who loved me”.. in the song “To be alone with you”.. that song is about christs relationship with humanity
Maybe he is gay…but everyone knows he writes those beautiful songs for me!
jk
He’s gay.
I sucked him off and his cock tasted like shit.
What more proof do you need?
If he’s gay, nothing will change in my opinion of him or his music, but I will be sad because then my dream of being Mrs. Stevens will be completely shot. =(
Sufjan is definitely gay.
I didn’t want to believe it, but I knew for sure the other day when we were in our post-coital spooning, and he was looking back at me longingly, and he asked me if I’d put on the new Coldplay album while I fingerbanged his anus.
I called him a fag and left.
YOU ARE SO IGNORANT TO THINK HE IS GAY
HE IS SINGING ABOUT JESUS
How stupid can you be ?
Okay this is the most ignorant thing i have ever seen in my life… SUFJAN STEVENS IS NOT GAY (he just isn’t sexually obsessed and in your face like 90 percent of other artists out there, not to mention the fact that he is EXTREMELY religious.) When he says things refering to a special relationship with a “he”, Sufjan is talking about Jesus.
for example, his song “To Be Alone With You”:
“i’ve never known a man who loved me”
-he is talking about JESUS.
and how about the song “Size too Small”:
“Everything rises, going at it all.
All the surprises in a size too small.
And what if I told you
I was still in love with this?
Would you surprise us
in a size for all of me?
I still know you.
And I still like you, the best man.”
this song is about a GIRL named Robin who he really liked in high school.
or howabout “Casimir Pulaski Day”
Oh the glory that the lord has made
And the complications you could do without
When I kissed you on the mouth…
…. I remember at Michael’s house
In the living room when you kissed my neck
And I almost touched your blouse.
This song is about a GIRL he dated who got cancer and passed away…
i could go on all night…
guys, don’t come out on the internet and make a claim about someones sexuality without doing your damn homework.
I am not gay.
Sufjan’s sexuality isn’t going to effect my enormous crush on him.
poem of unrequited love.
Jesus is not sexy.
Sufjan is though.
Yes, I am a male, and yes, I am a homosexual.
No, Sufjan probably isn’t a homosexual. But he still has pretty eyes.
I am gay.
I think you guys are fuckin retarded, For one, he never said he was gay, two the songs that you think are him saying hes gay are not saying that. “To be Alone with you” is about Jesus. He is a deeply spiritual man. Most of his songs are either about his relationship with Jesus or his stories he wrote in his younger years. Even if he was gay, that doesn’t change a thing. His music is awesome and he pretty much is the man. People who say they don’t like him anymore because he’s gay, are the in-secure and self-conscience. They are afraid of what people might think of them if they knew they were listening to gay a singer
ANd by the way the girl Melissa who said
“YOU ARE SO IGNORANT TO THINK HE IS GAY
HE IS SINGING ABOUT JESUS
How stupid can you be ?”
Is probably one of those annoying high school girls. She is SOOOOOOOOOOOO a bitch
I noticed he was gay when he whipped out his dick like a crazy convenient store robber with his gun. It was an estimated length of 10 1/2 inches with a generous estimation of 5 inches thick. I am amazed at his posture because that thing can take a tole on the man wilding that massive piece of meat. And i’m not gonna lie, I went to my knees to suck that poo stabber because he deserved it, and its a privalge to service a man such as Sufjan. And he’s not like the other dudes. He takes you out to dinner afterwards and I don’t mean like McDonalds or Wendies. I mean like Red Lobster you know that kind of upscale resturant.
Well, I believe he’s gay. His song “To be alone with you” has lyrics like “I never met a man who loved me” and “you left a wife and a family, to be alone with me.” Umm.. Helloooo how can you misinterpret? Beautiful people can be gay as well, I like to believe that I’m proof
SEE! See what I just did there? I just enigmatically told you I was gay. That’s called analyzing, which would tell you that Sufjan is gay. Take that Homo Haters<3
ps does anyone know what’s going on with Sufjan, he fell of the face last year? Give me some updates, kay please and thank you
Nicole, I am presuming your a lesbien so you don’t shit. “to be alone with you” is not about him you dyke. It’s about his relationship with god. I can’t believe after dozens of comments on this specific song you still think it’s his coming out song. Look It up, and every laginamate website will say it’s about god. By the way is exclusively girls Or are do you like the best of both worlds.
Is Stephin Merritt gay?
Cos I like him more than Sufjan.
It is possible for his songs to be about Jesus and God and real life male love interests AT THE SAME TIME, you know. It’s an old literary and songwriting device to use religious zeal and passion as an analogy for romantic love. Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” and Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” all come to mind. In gay literature and art there is a LONG history of using christian symbolism to express homoerotic love, as this was the only way to express these feelings openly.
I think Mr. Steven is being ambiguous on purpose here – he wants you to wonder. I think the bigger question is, “Ishe straight?”
He’s a bloody genius it shouldn’t matter if he’s gay or not. But if he is i’d tap that
I hoping you update more.
I’m a woman and I searched for his sexuality/relationship status because I am absolutely in love with him and if I ever go to one of his shows I’m obviously going to try to make him notice me! I can dream right? haha.
He’s not gay, he’s married to a woman named shannon stevens.
and as for his lyrics, he is a FOLK musician. most folk writers compose thier music from the view point of others rather than themselves.
Personally I hope he is straight, as we need more sensitive straight male role models. There is already a message so strongly broadcast to young males that any sensitivity or open-ness is gay or simply non-masculine. Anybody doing artistic work like Sufjan’s should be applauded for spreading such a loving, open message. Clearly if it turns out he is gay, that would be fine, but in some ways may only reinforce the “sensitive guys are queers” stereotype. Either way I’m cool with it, but I’m allowed my personal preference
Sufjan is a sensitive male who focuses on his creative energy instead of his sexual energy. If you’re getting enough of the one, you don’t need much of the other, as they are spiritually similar. I think he’s straight but just doesn’t date much, honestly. Brilliant people of our world focus on their craft more than their sexuality. Look at Einstein: he married his cousin because she took care of him when he was ill – not because she blew him in the back seat.
And yes, I feel musically Sufjan Stevens is a fair comparison to the brilliance of Einstein in his field.
Case in point? Sexuality in general doesn’t appear to be of much importance to Sufjan. In the Nerve article referenced by another poster, when asked “Is sex not a big part of your life?”, he answers “I just think that in my creative vision I’m preoccupied with other things.”
He seems to have a profound innocence about him. Could it be his non-concern with sexual pleasure that he then becomes “like a child” as Jesus, his Lord, taught we should become like? Just a thought.
And in the year two thousand and then, the debate rages one.
And in the year two thousand and TEN, the debate rages one.
And in the year two thousand and TEN, the debate rages ON.
(these is too funny – oh, clumsy fingers)
my gaydar says he is…
Bi !
ding ding ding !
and yes, i <3 Stephin Merritt but he is oh so gay!
i have always thought of sufjan as a christian fellow, so i keep that in mind when interpreting his (AMAZING) music. as a christian, and being involved in a christian community, i have noted that this generation’s christian men tend to be quite bromancy, friendship endorsing, even sensitive. (huge generalization there. sorry.) the whole sexual mindset that is pretty dominant in culture is still a reality, but isn’t glorified…which is awesome! jesus loved his guy friends, he made them breakfast, all that cute stuff that we now call gay, but perhaps, it’s just love. that’s the sort of feeling i get from sufjan’s music. in ‘chicago’, when he sings ‘if i was crying/ in the van, with my friend’ i think nothing of it! that’s totally something i could see my brother and one of his buds doing. i support strong male-male friendships! guys, go cry with your guy friends. and hug them. and tell them you love them.
The only one that really knows is Sufjan and what does it matter? Sexuality is flexible in some people. I’m gay and have many relationships with my straight friends including sexual. Sometimes they last for a year, a week, and hour. Sometimes it’s just a collaboration of comfort or intimacy. I also have a deep abiding love for Jesus and his message of inclusion, private worship, and love. Any gay hating Christians should familiarise themselves with the Parable of the Weeds. Your judgement of others sends you to Hell; also eating lobster prawns and lots of other seafood will send you there. But it’s no ones business who Sufjan chooses to love physically. He’s beautiful physically, spiritually and musically. I am glad that he shares his musical genius with us all.
Just wanted to add that the seafood mention comes from Leviticus
I’ll be honest. I got here by searching “Sufjan Stevens gay.”
But I wouldn’t care if he was either way.
I just got curious after listening to Futile Devices.
He says, “And I would say I love you, but saying it out loud is hard…. I think of you as my brother, although that sounds dumb.”
Regardless if he is gay or not, I would still adore him to pieces and love his music.
And still remain madly in love with him (even though I am a girl).
Swooooon.
He is not Gay , He is Bisexual .
Famous Talented Bisexual Male Celebrities (not 100% for sure):
Sufjan Stevens,Steven Tyler(Dream On),Chet Baker(My Funny Valentine)
Michael Jackson,Billie Joe Armstrong,David Archuleta,Chris Martin(Coldplay)
Axl Rose(Guns N’ Roses),Freddie Mercury(Queen),Seth Green,Mika
Jake Gyllenhaal(Brokeback Mountain),Jack Shears(Scissor Sisters)
Daniel Radcliffe(Harry Potter),Jesse McCartney,Daniel Craig(Casino Royale)
Michael J. Fox(Back to the Future),Jack Black,Paul Rudd,Michelangelo,Da Vinci, ……
Gay :
Elton John,George Michael,Joe McElderry,Stephen Gately(Boyzone)
Ian McKellen,Mark Feehily(Westlife),Tchaikovsky(June)
Alexander McQueen, ……
Paul McCartney,James Dean,Marlon Brando, ……
Bisexual, Too.
It’s sad
know hes bisexual
reminds myself aging i’m living in a shit world
and the worst is yet to come
Sure women deserved own those lovely boy men whatever.
though i yet find a beautiful star are gay, not like sufjan
or someone like Death in Venice that boy
i know why
don’t interesting Cleavage , not Half-Straight , bla bla bla……
how could they servive on those stage , no one can handle it
not Really love them from heart , like perfomed front of beautiful aliens
except Elton or George , they are just not that special
not that lovely beautiful , why everyone i loved are Bisexual? damn Why?
I want a cute gay , not a bisexual
they are perfect awesome brilliant extreme gorgeous whatever
I just don’t want them
Note leekeeshi,
Da Vinci was gay. Not bisexual.