Why Troye Sivan politely declined ‘gay icon’ role

Troye Sivan has become a major voice of his generation for the way he’s incorporated his sexuality into his music and videos, and lived his life out in public.

However, he rejects the role of being a “gay icon”.

During a lengthy interview with Another Man, he said, “With people like Hayley Kiyoko and Brockhampton, we’re starting to get, finally, a diverse group of different LGBTQ perspectives.

“That’s why I politely don’t want to take on that ‘gay icon’ thing. 

“I’m one voice of so many that are missing, and so I’m just trying to tell my story, and right now I’m having so much fun in my life, I feel confident, I’m just enjoying myself, and so that was really important to me to express.”

When pressed on the expectations he faces of representing the LGBTQ+ community, the Perth-raised singer-songwriter responded, “I just don’t represent everybody, because I’m extraordinarily lucky.

“I come from a middle-class white family in Australia, and all of my dreams have come true by 22.

“I had the easiest coming out in the world… I don’t ever want to take that on really, because there are plenty of other people who need to be heard first.”

Sivan came out in 2013, via video titled Coming Out, “I’m Troye Sivan, and this is probably the most nervous I’ve been in my entire life.”

This week, the Australian landed his second #1 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, as ‘My My My!’ moved from #2 spot.

The track had remixes from Cash Cash, Hot Chip and Throttle, among others.

Sivan first topped the chart in April 2016 with his debut hit ‘Youth’.

‘My My My!’ also made it into the American Pop Songs airplay chart,  reaching #24 in February.

It was his second-best performer on the chart, after ‘Youth’ peaked at #18 in 2016.