A young man has credited George Michael's album 'Faith' with liberating him from sexual shame and giving him the courage to attend his first queer sex party. The 23-year-old, who moved from a rural English town to London, said the album felt like waking from a bad dream.
He described how shame had long accompanied his thoughts about sexuality, partly due to his father's alcoholism and violence. After moving to London, he encountered queer communities but still felt isolated. Listening to 'Faith' after Michael's death in 2016 changed his perspective.
The first three tracks—'Faith', 'Father Figure', and 'I Want Your Sex'—celebrate sex as a site of play and connection. The song 'Look at Your Hands' warned against repression, prompting him to reconsider his future. He began speaking openly with his girlfriend about exploring sexually, and they signed up for queer sex parties.
At the parties, he felt accepted by like-minded people who had also overcome shame. He now sees his sexuality as a key part of his identity, with sex representing self-acceptance and exploration. He remains grateful to George Michael for helping him unshackle his sexuality from shame.
