Lil Nas X music video

Art by SAMANTHA HO Challenging Christianity

LIL NAS X MUSIC VIDEO PROVOKES DISCUSSION

“ IN LIFE, WE HIDE the parts of ourselves we don’t want the world to see. We lock them away. We tell them no. We banish them. But here, we don’t.” These are the words that preface singer-songwriter Lil Nas

X’s newest music video “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name),” which was released on March 26. In the video, his voice resonates through his depiction of an iridescent pink Garden of Eden as he lounges under a tree and strums a guitar. As the video progresses, numerous scenes brimming with Christian imagery follow Lil Nas

X as he descends into the pits of Hell, concluding with the singer engaging in sexual activities with a character representing Satan. According to Lil Nas X, the video expresses his past experiences with alienation and damnation by Christianity because of his sexuality as a gay man — the words that open the video are representative of Lil Nas X’s struggle with hiding his true identity, and his subsequent self-separation from the Christian faith. The video has reignited an age-old debate between members of the LGBTQ+ community and Christians who believe that the video mocks their religion. Where is the line drawn between remaining respectful towards

Christianity and upholding freedom of expression for LGBTQ+ community members? Opinions vary among experts on the history of religion, Palo Alto High School students and other members of the Palo Alto community.

Local perspectives

Paly sophomore Sam, whose name has been changed to protect his anonymity, appreciates how Lil Nas X overcame the obstacles of his past and empowered his fanbase. “I really enjoyed the story and the use of symbolism in the video,” Sam says. “When I finished watching it, I felt a sense of empowerment, seeing this person who had gone through a lot of hardships be able to own his situation.” Although Sam is able to appreciate the way Lil Nas X portrayed his struggle with religious groups, he still believes that compromise is the best solution. “I think rebelling and disrespecting a religion are different things,” Sam says. “I don’t think disrespecting people will get us as a community anywhere. Many homophobic and transphobic arguments are from people who are miseducated and

unwilling to listen, so being disrespectful won’t help those people open up and start listening.”

In addition to sparking conversation, Lil Nas X’s video has provoked debate on the limits of artistic expression and where the boundaries should be set in respecting other groups. Identifying as transgender and queer, Sam is grateful that Lil Nas X has a platform to speak up and empower others who share similar inclusive spiritual experiences. center that welcomes

“The lack of representation of LGBTQ+ people, especially members of all religions, queer people of color, is appalling,” Sam says. “Throughout his- says that Unity is taking tory, Christianity hasn’t been challenged that much. The irony is conscious steps to be inclusive and that LGBTQ+ people have always had their rights up for debate.” help heal the divide between re-

Sophomore Evie Barclay has gained an appreciation for the ligious groups and the LGBTQ+ music video as a Protestant Christian, while also questioning the community. way modern-day culture has influenced the final product. “Everyone has sacred worth,

“Something I think about a lot is the pursuit of Christ versus and if we can look at each other the pursuit of culture,” Barclay says. “And when I watched this from a spiritual perspective, we would be music video, I was very aware of how culturally influenced it was.” more inclusive, accepting and honor each other, in-

Barclay believes that those who use Christianity as a means to cluding our sexual orientation and gender identification,” Riley be bigoted or homophobic, as Lil Nas X has experienced, are re- says. “The way we move forward to try and support bridging that ally just using religious doctrine to project their own hatred. “Any manipulation of any religious doctrine for the sake of self-justification or the justification of hate is arguably very anti-religious,” Barclay says. “Christianity “Manipulation of any religious doctrine for the sake of self-justification or the gap is by publicly supporting different activities or organizations that support the LGBTQ+ community.” Stanford University professor and historian Laura Stokes is hopeful about the future of acceptance in religious is not about bringing down other people, it’s about following Christ and lifting up justification of hate is argu- communities, and believes that the world is on the brink of huge growth toothers.” ably very anti-religious.” wards acceptance.

Sophomore and Queer-Straight Alli- “I actually do feel optimistic, and ance Club member Sophia Vostrejs echoes — EVIE BARCLAY, sophomore part of my optimism is about the fact many of Barclay’s sentiments. that I’m a historian,” Stokes says. “As a

“Christianity and religion, in general, can be used to bring historian, I think a lot about the shape of history. And I think that people together, and some people use it as a way to hate, but it my period of history and our period of history are on the two ends should be a good thing and not something that we fear,” Vostrejs of the tight part of that curve. We’re shifting into a kind of a radical says. “We should definitely recognize that some people in all reli- change, and then we’ll reach a new kind of balance.” gions use their religion as a way to solidify their own hate.” Riley feels a similar sense of hope and believes that the differ-

As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Vostrejs says she ences between communities can be reconciled. can appreciate and sympathize with how Lil Nas X empowers him- “Coming from a religious background that’s on the forefront self in his music video, especially through the imagery of him will- of accepting people, I have great hope and faith that we’ll be able to ingly going to Hell. continue to move in that [positive] direction,” Riley says. “There’s

“We’re often told, ‘You’re going to Hell because you’re a sin- a lot of anger that’s being expressed right now in the world. And ner,’ and instead of letting them [some religious people] strike fear what I see is when that anger comes bubbling into us, people are starting to use it [the idea of going to Hell] up, it gives us an opportunity to have almost as a joke,” Vostrejs says. “That threat isn’t a threat. ... I think a dialogue about it. It’s important that’s part of what Lil Nas X did.” for us to bring it [discussion] to the forefront, coming from Bridging the gap a space of love, so that

Despite the divides that have existed between organized re- we can bring anger ligion and the LGBTQ+ community, some religious leaders are out to be healed taking steps to repair the relationship and welcome diverse practi- and so that we tioners to take part in faith traditions. can move for-

The Rev. John Riley, spiritual director of Unity Palo Alto, an ward.” v