Janelle Monae — who last week released her album Dirty Computer — clarified that the pants she wore in her “PYNK” music video weren’t necessarily meant to simulate a vagina, and also clarified that her femme anthem is for all women, no matter what genitals they possess.
“Sometimes I think people interpret those as vagina pants, they call them vulva pants, they call them flowers, but it just represents some parts of some women,” Monae told People. “There are some women in the video that do not have on the pants, because I don’t believe that all women need to possess a vagina to be a woman. I have one I’m proud of it, but there’s a lot of policing and controlling that people are trying to have over our vaginas and when you think about female genital mutilation, when you think about all these women’s issues, I wanted to make sure we were discussing these issues but we were also celebrating each other.”
When “PYNK” was first released, Monae’s co-star (and rumored girlfriend) Tessa Thompson voiced her support for trans women.
Monae supported Thompson’s statement with one of her own.
Black lesbians so that the film doesn’t grossly whitewash jazz and the actual struggles black musicians went through :)
Consider: La La Land with black lesbians played by actresses who can actually sing and dance so instead of being a lack luster imitation of the golden age musical it is the sparkling revival of the genre with modern sensibilities.
Janelle Monáe did not come out alone to speak to those in attendance at the Women’s March on Washington.
Monáe brought two mothers of those who were killed by police or gun violence — the Mothers of the Movement — on stage with her.
On stage, Monáe approached each of the mothers — who also appeared on stage during the Democratic National Convention in July — and asked them to say the name of the child she lost and then asked the crowd to repeat those names.
Lucy McBath, mother of Jordan Davis, and Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner, led the chant alongside Monáe.
“We’re going to say ‘Jordan Davis!’ so he can feel us, and we’re doing this for his mother!” Monáe said to the crowd after Davis’ mother said his name. Read more
janellemonaeTHE FORCE IS WITH #HiddenFigures🚀 Last night my hero and shero hosted a private screening of HiddenFigures🚀 . I can’t quite describe to you in words how it felt to hear the creator of Star Wars (a huge inspiration to me and my work) and Ms. Force herself genuinely gosh about this film and its’ importance. Thank you George Lucas, Mellody Hobson, and Jeffrey Katzenberg (who is nothing short of amazing for hosting as well) for being champions of this film and these brilliant hidden figures! I will forever cherish last night. 🔲🖤 #HiddenFigures🚀 is out everywhere Friday JAN 6th !! Let’s make it number 1 over Star Wars ;-)
Janelle Monae poses for a portrait during the 28th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 2, 2017 in Palm Springs, California.
