--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Barriers were being torn down. Where…" description: "\"“Barriers were being torn down. Where Freddie Mercury was trying to keep his homosexuality from the front pages, Boy George was openly & outrageously g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/pete-townshend-2499_change_barriers-were-being-torn-down-where-fred_2129520.jpg" --- # Barriers were being torn down. Where Freddie Mercury was… ![“Barriers were being torn down. Where Freddie Mercury was trying to keep his homosexuality from the front pages, Boy George was openly & outrageously gay.” quote by Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/pete-townshend-2499_change_barriers-were-being-torn-down-where-fred_2129520.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/pete-townshend-2499_change_barriers-were-being-torn-down-where-fred_2129520.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2dd/pete-townshend-2499_change_barriers-were-being-torn-down-where-fred_2129520.jpg) > ““Barriers were being torn down. Where Freddie Mercury was trying to keep his homosexuality from the front pages, Boy George was openly & outrageously gay.”” [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights a shift in public visibility of gay artists, contrasting Freddie Mercury’s guarded image with Boy George’s flamboyant openness, signaling changing attitudes toward LGBTQ+ representation in music **In simple terms:** Artists began moving from secrecy to open expression of sexuality Key Takeaway Embrace authenticity, challenge stigma Themes cultural change visibility LGBTQ+ rights Mood defiant reflective Type observational cultural commentary When to use this quote - music industry - media coverage - public perception - artist branding Key Concepts identity politics media representation celebrity culture Questions to Reflect On - How does visibility affect personal freedom? - What risks do artists take when defying norms? A Different Perspective Not all audiences accepted openness, and some artists faced backlash ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Homosexuality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homosexuality/) [Lgbt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lgbt/) ## Related quotes > [Growing up, I loved Boy George, George Michael, Annie Lennox, Queen, Freddie Mercury, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand and Diana Ross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/princess-nokia/growing-up-i-loved-boy-george-george-michael-annie-lennox-queen/) [Princess Nokia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/princess-nokia/) > [If I hear ‘Karma Chameleon’ one more time, I swear I’m going to find Boy George and make him eat Jesse’s record. What does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/if-i-hear-karma-chameleon-one-more-time-i-swear-i-m-going-to-find-boy/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Whatcha gonna do to this? You may be older than me, but you're new to this. Cause I been out there, queen of MC's,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roxanne-shante/whatcha-gonna-do-to-this-you-may-be-older-than-me-but-you-re-new-to/) Roxanne Shante > [Born in the bathroom at a Boy George concert.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viceroy/born-in-the-bathroom-at-a-boy-george-concert/) Viceroy > [Let's face it I am not Joan Collins or Boy George.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-johnson/let-s-face-it-i-am-not-joan-collins-or-boy-george/) [Holly Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-johnson/) > [I think for me one of the big things was realizing that being Boy George is my job. It's what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/i-think-for-me-one-of-the-big-things-was-realizing-that-being-boy/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [Boy George was only 7 years old when I was hot in '68.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiny-tim/boy-george-was-only-7-years-old-when-i-was-hot-in-68/) [Tiny Tim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiny-tim/) > [Such figures as Boy George do not disturb me nearly so much as do those relentlessly hetero (sexual?) keepers of the keys and seals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-baldwin/such-figures-as-boy-george-do-not-disturb-me-nearly-so-much-as-do/) [James A. Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-baldwin/) > [David Bowie and Boy George created a safely contained theatrical expression of gay style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-loud/david-bowie-and-boy-george-created-a-safely-contained-theatrical/) [Lance Loud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-loud/) > [I had this image before Boy George, before the Beatles, before the Rolling Stones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiny-tim/i-had-this-image-before-boy-george-before-the-beatles-before-the/) [Tiny Tim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiny-tim/) > [I went back to DJ'ing in 1987, and it's been an incredible second career for me. Plus, it's almost a parallel universe. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boy-george/i-went-back-to-dj-ing-in-1987-and-it-s-been-an-incredible-second/) [Boy George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boy-george/) > [Boy George has been charged with falsely imprisoning a man who'd gone to his apartment to pose for photographs. Going to Boy George's house…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/boy-george-has-been-charged-with-falsely-imprisoning-a-man-who-d-gone/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [My best friend was crazy about Culture Club. She had posters everywhere. She joined the fan club. She knew everything about them. No one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-darwish/my-best-friend-was-crazy-about-culture-club-she-had-posters/) [Tiffany Darwish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-darwish/) > [I'm not somethin you use to, the rap boy george is here. Grey slr with the doors in air. Understand when the rock in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stack-bundles/i-m-not-somethin-you-use-to-the-rap-boy-george-is-here-grey-slr-with/) Stack Bundles > [Boy George is all England needs - another queen who can't dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/boy-george-is-all-england-needs-another-queen-who-can-t-dress/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) ## More by Pete Townshend > [Here comes the new boss Same as the old boss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/here-comes-the-new-boss-same-as-the-old-boss/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) > [What we learned quite early on is what was really important to early British pop that we produced-and this is where we were distinct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/what-we-learned-quite-early-on-is-what-was-really-important-to-early/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) > [We've got to fool the fools, and plan the plans. We must rule the rules, got to stand the stands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/we-ve-got-to-fool-the-fools-and-plan-the-plans-we-must-rule-the-rules/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) > [“I was surprised at how much I enjoyed meeting fans face to face. They're less scary when they aren't going nuts at a Who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/i-was-surprised-at-how-much-i-enjoyed-meeting-fans-face-to-face-they/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) > [Although I dig my guitar playing, I think it's kind of an obvious situation; I play what I want to play within my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/although-i-dig-my-guitar-playing-i-think-it-s-kind-of-an-obvious/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) > [Rough boys I wanna bite and kiss you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/rough-boys-i-wanna-bite-and-kiss-you/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) > [I'M FREE! - I'm free, And freedom tastes of reality, I'm free - I'm free, An' I'm waiting for you to follow me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/i-m-free-i-m-free-and-freedom-tastes-of-reality-i-m-free-i-m-free-an/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) > [“Roger Daltrey had been expelled for smoking, but was still impudently showing up on campus to visit his various cronies. I'd first met him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/roger-daltrey-had-been-expelled-for-smoking-but-was-still-impudently/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) > [Keith Moon is not interested in Jazz and won't ever be a Jazz drummer because he's more interested in looking good and being screamed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/keith-moon-is-not-interested-in-jazz-and-won-t-ever-be-a-jazz-drummer/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) > [Rock music is important to people , because it allows them to escape this crazy world. It allows them not to run away from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/rock-music-is-important-to-people-because-it-allows-them-to-escape/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) > [Hearing loss is a terrible thing because it cannot be repaired.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/hearing-loss-is-a-terrible-thing-because-it-cannot-be-repaired/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) > [I smash guitars because I like them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/i-smash-guitars-because-i-like-them/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) > [Everything that has befallen you happened simply cause it crossed your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/everything-that-has-befallen-you-happened-simply-cause-it-crossed/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) > [Can't pretend that growin' older never hurts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/can-t-pretend-that-growin-older-never-hurts/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) > [Water is more precious than oil. Both are more precious than music. Music won't heat a house or help a plant to grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/water-is-more-precious-than-oil-both-are-more-precious-than-music/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) [Explore all 163 Pete Townshend quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Barriers were being torn down. 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