A radio station in Idaho is pushing back against homophobic listeners, and this tune is hitting just right.
Classic rock station 96.6 The Eagle regularly blesses the airways with tracks from queer maestros like Elton John, Pete Townshend and Michael Stipe, just to name a few.
The station or its catalogue of feel-good hits aren’t solely LGBTQ focused, of course, but the proud ally traditionally changes its logo in June to rock the rainbow.
This year, the inclusive banner received several complaints from homophobic rock fans.
Related: Super Bowl fans thought they’d found the perfect bar, but was a VERY different sort of ‘Eagle’
The station’s response? One more month of Pride, and maybe more.
“Flag stays up for another month, deal with it,” The Eagle posted on Facebook. “If we lose fans that’s fine. If we keep getting harassed then it will go another month. Plus Freddie Mercury rules.”
The post has received over 18K likes and 4K comments, like this one from user John Payne:
“As someone who grew up a gay kid in a small town in the Bible Belt listening religiously to my local classic rock station, I love this so much. Rock belongs to the outsiders.”
Not everyone’s as happy as John, though. The station has been responding directly to the haters, and sharing the exchanges. Here’s one particularly absurd chat:
We’ll leave you with Queen’s iconic performance at Live Aid in 1985, because it’s never going out of style:
Bosch
Is he referring to a flag that represents republican politicians and priests?
abfab
Call in a request this one.
… Holly came from Miami, F.L.A.
Hitch-hiked her way across the U.S.A.
Plucked her eyebrows on the way
Shaved her legs and then he was a she
… She says, “Hey, babe
Take a walk on the wild side”
Said, “Hey, honey
Take a walk on the wild side”
… Candy came from out on the Island
In the back room she was everybody’s darling
But she never lost her head
Even when she was giving head
… She says, “Hey, babe
Take a walk on the wild side”
Said, “Hey, babe
Take a walk on the wild side”
… And the colored girls go
“Doo do doo do doo do do doo…”
… Little Joe never once gave it away
Everybody had to pay and pay
A hustle here and a hustle there
New York City’s the place
… Where they said, “Hey, babe
Take a walk on the wild side”
I said, “Hey, Joe
Take a walk on the wild side”
… Sugar Plum Fairy came and hit the streets
Looking for soul food and a place to eat
Went to the Apollo
You should’ve seen them go, go, go
… They said, “Hey, sugar
Take a walk on the wild side”
I said, “Hey, babe
Take a walk on the wild side”, alright
Huh
… Jackie is just speeding away
Thought she was James Dean for a day
Then I guess she had to crash
Valium would have helped that bash
… She said, “Hey, babe
Take a walk on the wild side”
I said, “Hey, honey
Take a walk on the wild side”
… And the colored girls say
“Doo do doo do doo do do doo…”
Lou Reed
Bosch
Doo do doo do doo do do doo
(harmonising)
Fname Optional Lname
They have no clue
BMill67
But never with the melody.
Jami Stardust
One of my favorites
abfab
Yes, for sure. And thanks for sharing your stories Jami. You really seem like a wonderful human being.