Fans of Jason Mraz, the singer/songwriter whose “Geek In the Pink” and “The Remedy” identified him as a sly wordplayer, may have come out. Or not.
The object of affection in his biggest hit, “I’m Yours,” is still unclear — although he is married to Christina Carano.
Over the weekend, the fedora-favoring pop star tweeted a message for Pride Week, in a “Love Poem to the LGBTQ Community” where he posted, “We still have a long way to go. But know I am bi your side. All ways.”
It could be that’s just Mraz having fun with ambiguity — in the same way that Prince once teased his fans by singing, “am I black or white/am I straight or gay” in “Controversy,” only to muddy the waters further in “I Would Die 4 U” with the declaration, “I’m not a woman; I’m not a man. I am something that you’ll never understand…”
Now, as part of Billboard’s “Love Letter to the LGBTQ Community” series, Mraz’ statement is being interpreted by many as an open declaration of being bisexual. The notion of being “bi” your side, and with you “all ways” is lost on no one, and eyebrows are raised throughout the LGBTQ community.
In the past, Mraz has been a staunch ally of LGBTQ rights. Before a Supreme Court decision made marriage equality the law of the land, Mraz put off his wedding until same-sex couples could do the same. In 2011, he said from the stage during a show, “We can’t get married until [same-sex] marriage is legal and equal … I think giving people the right to marry will be a huge movement in civil rights.”
In 2012, he released an album called Love Is a Four Letter Word with the word love emblazoned in rainbow colors on the cover.
Last year, Mraz spent months in New York as a lead in the Broadway hit, Waitress, playing the role of Dr. Pomatter, a recently-arrived gynecologist who offers baker Jenna Hunterson (played by Betsy Wolfe) respite from her abusive marriage.
Mraz also appeared as a guest performer on Waitress composer Sara Bareilles’s 2015 album, What’s Inside: Songs from Waitress. “Bad Idea” and “You Matter to Me,” appear in the musical performed by the Pomatter character.
Related articles: Ronan Farrow comes out. Janelle Monåe comes out. Is Sense8’s Miguel Ángel Silvestre gay?
Last modified: June 20, 2018
