--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thinking back on it, I've been in this…" description: "\"Thinking back on it, I've been in this business since I was 3, and I grew up in musical theater, so I was raised and surrounded by gay men and gay wome..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b16/a-j-mclean-11357_business_thinking-back-on-it-i-ve-been-in-this-bu_317803.png" --- # Thinking back on it, I've been in this business since I… ![“Thinking back on it, I've been in this business since I was 3, and I grew up in musical theater, so I was raised and surrounded by gay men and gay women. I was hardly around anyone straight.” quote by A. J. McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b16/a-j-mclean-11357_business_thinking-back-on-it-i-ve-been-in-this-bu_317803.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b16/a-j-mclean-11357_business_thinking-back-on-it-i-ve-been-in-this-bu_317803.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b16/a-j-mclean-11357_business_thinking-back-on-it-i-ve-been-in-this-bu_317803.png) > “Thinking back on it, I've been in this business since I was 3, and I grew up in musical theater, so I was raised and surrounded by gay men and gay women. I was hardly around anyone straight.” [A. J. McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-mclean/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Growing up in a predominantly LGBTQ+ environment shaped his identity and worldview. **In simple terms:** His early surroundings were mostly gay people. Key Takeaway Embrace diverse communities for broader perspective. Themes identity community diversity Mood introspective inspirational Type personal cultural When to use this quote - coming out - network building - creative collaboration - self-acceptance Key Concepts socialization cultural influence Questions to Reflect On - How does your background influence your artistic expression? - What can others learn from inclusive environments? A Different Perspective May not reflect experiences of those in more heteronormative settings. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Gay men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-men/) [Gay Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay-women/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Musical theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/musical-theater/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I've fallen for straight men, I've fallen for gay men, I've fallen for straight women and gay women. I really have. I had crushes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-shelton/i-ve-fallen-for-straight-men-i-ve-fallen-for-gay-men-i-ve-fallen-for/) [Lynn Shelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-shelton/) > [Gay women are lesbians, and gay men are what? They deserve an identifier, like 'kissboys.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-derulo/gay-women-are-lesbians-and-gay-men-are-what-they-deserve-an/) [Jason Derulo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-derulo/) > [I have no problems with gay men or gay women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrien-broner/i-have-no-problems-with-gay-men-or-gay-women/) [Adrien Broner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrien-broner/) > [I make pop music. I make music that is pretty commercial. 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There doesn't seem to be any point to it anymore. The business that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-mclean/i-don-t-relate-to-what-s-left-of-the-music-business-there-doesn-t/) [Don McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-mclean/) > [I've always had my own access to the public, because I started off making my clothes for a little shop, and so I've always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/i-ve-always-had-my-own-access-to-the-public-because-i-started-off/) [Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/) > [Initially we both did a bit of everything towards making each game but as we began to hire people and the business grew we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-oliver/initially-we-both-did-a-bit-of-everything-towards-making-each-game/) Andrew Oliver > [When you work with a major label they create their own message for you and a lot of the time that works great, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delonge/when-you-work-with-a-major-label-they-create-their-own-message-for/) [Tom DeLonge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delonge/) > [“The 2D:4D ratio is so variable, and the sex difference so small, that you can’t determine someone’s sex by knowing it. But it does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/the-2d-4d-ratio-is-so-variable-and-the-sex-difference-so-small-that/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [ \[On Philadelphia society:\] The parties remind me of the Gay Nineties -- the men are gay and the women are in their nineties. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-leone-moats/on-philadelphia-society-the-parties-remind-me-of-the-gay-nineties-the/) [Alice-Leone Moats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-leone-moats/) > [I started to draw and design clothes that I couldn't find, because everything was all luxury, fashion clothes or very straight. So I mixed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riccardo-tisci/i-started-to-draw-and-design-clothes-that-i-couldn-t-find-because/) [Riccardo Tisci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riccardo-tisci/) ## More by A. J. McLean > [The biggest misconception about me is the bad-boy image that everyone stuck me into due to my tattoos, drug days and the constant changes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-mclean/the-biggest-misconception-about-me-is-the-bad-boy-image-that-everyone/) [A. J. McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-mclean/) > [I have always wanted to branch off and become a fashion guru. I want to share my artistic views with the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-mclean/i-have-always-wanted-to-branch-off-and-become-a-fashion-guru-i-want/) [A. J. McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-mclean/) > [I've worn a dress at my wedding. I've worn 6-inch Louboutins. I've got no fear and no shame.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-mclean/i-ve-worn-a-dress-at-my-wedding-i-ve-worn-6-inch-louboutins-i-ve-got/) [A. J. 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McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-mclean/) > [I grew up in musical theatre and love to perform on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-mclean/i-grew-up-in-musical-theatre-and-love-to-perform-on-stage/) [A. J. McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-mclean/) > [Communication is so much better when people are vulnerable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-j-mclean/communication-is-so-much-better-when-people-are-vulnerable/) [A. J. McLean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-mclean/) [Explore all 60 A. J. McLean quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-j-mclean/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. 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