Lauryn Hill’s new song “Neurotic Society” may have a message that has gone unnoticed at first, as it seems that the lyrics are blaming the gay community for society’s corruption.
Quite frankly, it usually isn’t headline news when someone admits to not supporting gay rights, but when Hill seemed to drop some anti-gay sentiments in her new song, we were all puzzled.
Hill has been known for advocating freedom to be who you are, embracing all differences, and standing up for those who are oppressed. So it was surprising to hear that she may not have those beliefs when it comes to same-sex couples.
According to BET’s Monica Miller, the song makes several anti-gay statements including references to “drag queens” and “girl men.”
“Whether or not Hill is merely using these comments as examples of the smokescreens and sleight-of-hands that pervade this “Neurotic Society” is unclear,” Miller writes. “Beyond intention, these sorts of statements suggest that society is in a shambles because it’s been taking too many cues from the LGBTQ community, acting like ‘girl men,’ ‘drag queens’ and ‘transvestites.’”
Hill raps in the song to rap about “social ‘transvetism’” and “subliminal dressed up as piety.”
Some critics are arguing that the slurs are merely metaphors for topics larger than just same-sex issues, but a post on Hill’s website doesn’t seem to shoot down the theory that she does not support same-sex couples.
On her personal Tumblr page, Hill typically goes on rants that use such flowery language and complex metaphors that the message is always a bit unclear.
What is clear, however, is that she wants the public to remember that we all have the right to protest even if we don’t agree with the message being sent.
“Everyone has a right to their own beliefs,” Hill wrote. “Although I do not necessarily agree with what everyone says or does, I do believe in everyone’s right to protest. The overarching message of my music is to get up and stop compromising! And hopefully it will stimulate and motivate the changes that our society needs.”
While she never goes on to specifically point out what those “changes” are that “society needs,” it seems like it’s safe to say that she certainly won’t be protesting in support of gay marriage any time soon.
Meanwhile, Hill will be preparing herself to face a three-month jail sentence for tax evasion. She has until July 8 to turn herself in.
Read Hill’s full blog post below:
“Neurotic Society is a song about people not being, or not being able to be, who and what they truly are, due to the current social construct. I am not targeting any particular group of people, but rather targeting everyone in our society who hides behind neurotic behavior, rather than deal with it.
“The world we live in now is, in many ways, an abhorrent distortion, an accumulation of generations and generations of response to negative stimuli. Many don’t even have a concept of what normal is, by virtue of having lived afraid, ashamed, as victims of abuse, or inadequately handled for so long. I believe in coming up from under that fear and allowing the psyche/soul to truly heal. I understand that healing is a process, but I also believe that it is our responsibility to seriously care for ourselves, so that we can extend that level of concern for others and positively affect our environment.
“I want what is best for Humanity. Humanity, aligned with the Spiritual principles, that help each individual conquer fear, and transcend limited circumstance. I believe in healing and dealing with the traumatizing events of our lives, both in this lifetime, as well as those passed down to us, or inherited, so we can live as fully as possible.
“The whole world suffers from a lack of honest dialogue. Character and integrity have suffered at the hands of political correctness and corporate agenda, while our society moves further and further towards unhealthiness and breakdown. I oppose these trends.
“Everyone has a right to their own beliefs. Although I do not necessarily agree with what everyone says or does, I do believe in everyone’s right to protest.
“The overarching message of my music is to get up and stop compromising! And hopefully it will stimulate and motivate the changes that our society needs.
“Artists are constantly under media and public scrutiny. This is not a one-way street. Those of us with the charge of putting out faithful vibrations, have a responsibility to report what we see, and to write about what we know. I have seen some of the best and also some of the worst representations of human behavior. The same way that I exalt that which is high, is the same way I expose that which is abusive, in order to motivate and remind if not all of us, than as many as possible, of the Higher Calling.”
