A student has come out in the most public way possible at his Christian university. Reid Arthur attends Oregon’s George Fox University. He and his friends took part in a university lip-sync competition over the weekend.
The friends chose to do a mash-up of Taylor Swift’s songs “You Need To Calm Down” and “…Ready For It”.
Swift’s video for “You Need To Calm Down” was a celebration of her LGBTQ fans and a call for equality. Swift has been a longterm ally of the community and has donated over $100,000 to the Tennessee Equality Project, as well as encouraging her fans to sign petitions demanding equal rights.
Related: High school jock comes out by slow dancing with homecoming king
The lip-sync routine included a particularly eye-catching segment. Arthur takes center stage and his friends grab the sleeves of his sequined jacket. They pull on them to reveal a white top with rainbow ribbons hanging from the sleeves – to the delight of the audience who give a huge cheer.
Re-tweeting a video of the moment, one of those involved, Allie Schluchter (@AllieSchluchter) said: “Tonight I helped one of my favorite people come out, and the love and joy that surrounded this moment is going to stick with me for the rest of my life. I’m so proud of you @reidoburrito95.”
The entire performance has been uploaded to YouTube. Watch below.
The video has prompted appreciative comments from all around the world.
“Reid. You are so brave and I love all of the ways that this represents you and who you are and what you love. Performing and Taylor and friendship and support and love. This is such a special way to show ALL parts of who you are with the world,” commented Kacy Hughson.
“This is AMAZING!,” said Kelley Marchant. “Reid Arthur, you are an AMAZING young man and I’m so glad you had the strength, bravery, and support to do this!”
Related: The Catholic Church forced a public school to paint over a student’s pro-LGBTQ mural
Not only did the routine receive a big cheer from the crowd, but Reid and his friends went on to win the lip-sync competition. According to one person on Twitter, Arthur is to donate $500 prize to GLAAD and the Trevor Project.
This man just came out to our entire private christian university at a lip sync battle to @taylorswift13 You Need To Calm Down, won 500$ and is donating all of it to @glaad & @TrevorProject #ThisIsProgress #LGBTQrights #LoveWins pic.twitter.com/veoAghMbGK
— k???? (@honeyh0neyy) November 17, 2019
The routine caught the attention of the campaigning organization GLAAD, who re-shared the video with the message: “This is EVERYTHING. Thank you, @reidoburrito95! Legendary performance.”
This is EVERYTHING. Thank you, @reidoburrito95! Legendary performance. ???????? https://t.co/mUHXe6xa1B
— GLAAD (@glaad) November 18, 2019
Others said the performance and the reaction it got from the audience should not be ignored by the University’s authorities – who publicly support the idea that marriage only exists between man and woman.
The community is ready pic.twitter.com/fMjJp6GPdZ
— val ??? (@KayakTotino) November 17, 2019
Queerty has reached out to Arthur for comment.
Josh447
Xlent! Take that, “devil”!
RyanMBecker
I know that the friend calls the performance a coming out but if you looked on his social media, I don’t think he was “in.”
JED08
That was great, hats off for the creativity.
RyanMBecker
I loved the performance but I have to say that he does some pretty un-Christian things. So I wouldn’t blame administration if they were upset. If you CHOOSE to attend a Christian university, then you’ve implicitly agreed to abide by their puritannical rules.
Among the highlights is Arthur gyrating, spreading his legs as he squats up and down (someone in the audience claimed that she was she was able to look into the large leg openings) and flirting with a blond male student as he sashays down the aisle. If that other kid wasn’t in on the joke, I can see how it might be considered harrassment, especially at a Christian university. It’ll be interesting to see how administrators reacts, especially if parents or trustees complain. And no, it’s not homophobia since they would probably also disprove of a female student doing the more provocative dance moves.
Cam
New Troll alert. You tried to be subtle, but once again, here you are defending the bigots.
Chevelter
Cam, I don’t think his opinion sounds troll-like at all. Other opinions can be worth considering.
jockboy1986
Cam, what are you talking about? Where is there any indication that Ryan is a troll? And exactly what do you mean by, “once again”? Do you have proof that he has a history of “defending there bigots”? His points are valid. It’s a shame that you arrogantly think that all gays think alike.
cutemikey
@cam, where is he defending the bigots? It’s more like he’s questioning gays who choose to attend anti-gay universities. Why would you want to give money, aka tuition, to such places. You realty should THINK before being accusing others of defending bigotry.
boymikefl
Ryan, not sure which religion you are referring to because some are hateful, some judge, some have rules. Some people even use God’s name to discriminate. I would suggest that you shop around, if you need “organized” religion in your life. All I know is, my God is easy going. Be happy, always love God, and spread His love.
Marshall Brown
Excellent. However, I believe George Fox is a Quaker school more than a “Christian” school. To lay the “C” label on it tars it with the same brush of intolerance of LGBTQ people. Quakers, and Oregonians in general, are far more accepting of all people that evangelicals et al.
jockboy1986
According to another student in his Instagram, it’s indeed Christian and homophobic. Their rules against homosexuality is no different than those from other Christian universities.
Doug
Loved the lip-sync, I thought he did a great job! And he’s got sexy legs, lol…
Prax07
Now the Only word that “performance” brings to mind is fag. Capital FAG. Not a male gene in his body.