For decades, the Village People stood as cultural icons representing LGBTQ pride and liberation. Their flamboyant personas and songs, such as “Y.M.C.A.” and “Macho Man,” became anthems of gay culture. But today, the band’s association with Donald Trump has sparked outrage and confusion, especially among LGBTQ advocates.
The group, created in 1977 by Jacques Morali, a gay music producer, was originally inspired by the vibrant gay disco scene in Greenwich Village. Their costumed personas—a cowboy, a Native American, and a construction worker, among others—embodied gay fantasies and celebrated male camaraderie. Over time, they became synonymous with LGBTQ visibility, a legacy now in question.
Victor Willis, the band’s original lead singer and co-writer of its hits, has distanced the songs from their LGBTQ origins, claiming they are not about gay culture. Despite backlash, Willis allowed Trump to use their music during rallies, citing financial benefits and a newfound chart-topping success for “Y.M.C.A.” after decades.
Former band members have spoken out against this shift, with Jim Newman condemning the current group’s alignment with Trump, calling it a betrayal of the LGBTQ community that originally championed them. This alliance raises questions about the erasure of LGBTQ contributions to mainstream culture and the commodification of queer symbols for political gain.
The Village People’s story is now a poignant reminder of how cultural icons can be co-opted, often at the expense of the very communities that uplifted them. Their journey reflects a broader struggle within the LGBTQ community to protect its symbols and legacies from being rewritten or erased.