Was Kanye West Discriminated Against for Being Straight?

Though he says the gay-dominated fashion industry didn't take to him, West admits the music industry is homophobic and people like Frank Ocean are trailblazers.

Neal Broverman

Neal Broverman is the Editorial Director, Print of Pride Media, publishers of The Advocate, Out, Out Traveler, and Plus, spending more than 20 years in journalism. He indulges his interest in transportation and urban planning with regular contributions to Los Angeles magazine, and his work has also appeared in the Los Angeles Times and USA Today. He lives in the City of Angels with his husband, children, and their chiweenie.

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Neal Broverman

October 07 2015 10:22 AM EST

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Never one to mince words, Kanye West said in a recent interview that being straight was a deficit in his work.

"I feel like I got discriminated in fashion for not being gay," West said during a live interview with fashion-oriented SHOWStudio.

The rapper and fashion designer -- who recently showed his collection at New York Fashion Week -- followed that statement by acknowledging that gay musicians face rampant discrimination in their industry. West specifically acknowledged Channel Orange musician Frank Ocean, who has written about his relationships with men and occasionally uses male pronouns in his songs.

"In music, you definitely get discriminated in music if you are gay," West said. "It takes amazing talents to break down barriers. Everyone thought that when Frank Ocean dropped that it was going to be bad for his career. I feel like it's so cliche to speak about him as it relates to this subject, but there are people who broke the ground and he broke the ground. The people that break the stereotypes make history."

West also embraced his role in the Kardashian family -- his wife is reality star Kim -- and its connection with Caitlyn Jenner, who was married to Kardashian matriarch, Kris. The rapper embraced Jenner when she came out as transgender, and reportedly encouraged Jenner's step-daughters to accept her. But West's support did not come without reservations.

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"The first thing I thought about was a black radio show host maybe possibly making jokes because the black culture is generally homophobic," West said first learning that the former Olympian identifies as a woman. "Then it was like, 'Fuck what people say. Fuck what people think.' I feel proud to be in a family that has so many people breaking ground for generations to come. I'm still getting acquainted to what's politically correct [to say]."

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