Y.M.C.A co-writer Victor Willis says that starting in January, he will sue each and every news organization that falsely refers to Y.M.C.A., either in their headlines or alluded to in the base of the story, that Y.M.C.A. is somehow a gay anthem.Willis, who is straight, co-wrote the song with the bands straight producer Henri Belolo and its gay producer Jacques Morali. He has pushed back against the songs identity as a gay anthem in the past, but the conversation around its meaning has reached new heights in the wake of Donald Trumps obsession with playing the song at rallies and other events. Related Is it actually gay? Heres the true meaning of the song YMCA The bands frontman claimed the hit dance song isnt gay, but his gay bandmates remember things differently. Many have mocked the president-elect the leader of a viciously anti-LGBTQ+ party for unwittingly using a song that so many consider a rallying cry for the LGBTQ+ community. But even he once called the 1978 hit the gay national anthem, saying that he loves to use it because it gets people up and moving. Stay connected to your community Connect with the issues and events that impact your community at home and beyond by subscribing to our newsletter. Subscribe to our Newsletter today In his recent post, Willis offered a lengthy explanation for why the song should not be seen as a gay anthem and also for his decision to embrace Trumps use of it, a reversal from his 2020 request that Trump no longer use any Village People music.The short version is the songs renewed popularity is making Willis a lot of money. He said he originally decided to ask Trump to stop using the song because the number of people complaining to him about it had become a nuisance, though his original request suggests discontent with Trumps threats on the American people. But Willis said he changed his mind because Trump is having a lot of fun with the song and he didnt have the heart to stop him from using it. He added, Y.M.C.A. has benefited greatly from use by the President Elect. For example, Y.M.C.A. was stuck at #2 on the Billboard chart prior to the President Elects use. However, the song finally made it to #1 on a Billboard chart after over 45 years (and held on to #1 for two weeks) due to the President Elects use, which he said has led to big financial benefits. Y.M.C.A. is estimated to gross several million dollars since the President Elects continued use of the song. Therefore, Im glad I allowed the President Elects continued use of Y.M.C.A. And I thank him for choosing to use my song.He then tried to tear down the notion that the song is a gay anthem, explaining that it is damaging to the song and when he wrote the lyrics he had no idea the Y was a gay hangout. And when I say, hang out with all the boys that is simply 1970s black slang for black guys hanging-out together for sports, gambling or whatever. Theres nothing gay about that.He then claimed he doesnt mind if gay people think of it as their anthem but said the true anthem is that it has appeal to people of all strips including President Elect Trump. This is not the first time Willis has threatened to sue news outlets who claim the song is associated with the gay community. Ina September 2020 Facebook post, Willis wrote, I will sue the next media organization, or anyone else, that falsely suggests Y.M.C.A. is somehow about illicit gay sex Get your mind out of the gutter, please! His post was likely an exaggeration as theres no record of him actually suing anyone over it.But as with his most recent post, he also contradicted himself then, saying, Im happy the gay community adopted it as their anthem. I have no qualms with that.Some of his bandmates, however, disagree with the songs original intent.Randy Jones, who performed as Village Peoples cowboy,toldSpinmagazine in 2008that he helped inspire Morali to create the song by taking the producer to a New York City YMCA gym in the late 1970s and having him meet gay adult actors who worked out there.In fact, gay cultural critic Michael Musto believes that the song has been straight-washed.All these years later, the gay subtext is gone, and its a rah-rah crowd-pleaser for the baseball stadium crowd, Musto said, noting the songs popularity at sporting events. It happens. A rallying song for the oppressed turns into a middle-of-the-road spirit-lifter, mainly because the straights like to steal things from the gays, take away all the scary edge, and make it their own.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.