What a story!

We're pretty much the same age as I was a high school senior in 2014/15. We came from a weird time in American history because most of our households and communities were pretty homophobic, and same-sex marriage didn't officially get legalized until right before I went to college myself (I also went to school in DC--American University).

When I went to high school, those same stereotypes still existed: Boys had to be douchebags and play sports. Even years later, I don't think this stereotype changed too much. It's a pretty dangerous stereotype, too. It's also annoying af. I'm a straight male who loves the performing arts. But I was afraid of those same criticisms and even believed them at the time--that performing arts "were gay." What a fucking idiot and douche I was! SMH.

I think this is why Man on the Moon really resonated with me: Here's this Kid Cudi guy who's also a straight male rapping about the fact that everyone expects us boys to not be artsy and to be of the norm.

Well, my friend, you and I have a message for "following the norm": FUCK THAT!