Know Your LGBT History - Olivia Newton John's 'Physical' video

The video for Olivia Newton John's smash hit 'Physical' was one of a kind and very daring in 1981 . Not only was it homoerotic but the ending highly controversial. According to Wikipedia:

MTV frequently cut the ending when it aired the video, and the sometimes sensuous nature of the video also led to it being banned outright by some broadcasters in Canada and the United Kingdom.

The controversy didn't hurt the song at all. It ended up as the number one song of the decade.

Some may view the ending as either insulting to gay men (the ending was played off like a big joke) or very misogynistic. Others may view it as empowering. But I think us gay men who were growing up as youngsters back then would agree on my last point.

We didn't give a flip.

Past Know Your LGBT History Posts:


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Know Your LGBT History - 'You Are My Friend' 

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Know Your LGBT History - The 1965 San Francisco New Year's Ball Raid 

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The Jeffersons and the transgender community