He’s a Mormon with four kids who fronts a band that makes what’s been called “red-state rock music.” He’s also one of the biggest straight mainstream celebrities that supports LGBTQ causes. (Oh, he looks good shirtless, too?)
Crushing hard on straight guys has never been my thing. Sure, I love looking at hot dudes of any persuasion, but in my day-to-day life, I don’t seek out the fantasy of actually hooking up with or turning a straight man (despite porn’s constant messaging about its allure). Enter Dan Reynolds, dammit.
I’ve never really been a fan of Imagine Dragons. Not that I disliked their music, I just never really liked it enough to actually listen to it. It’s…fine. Then a funny thing happened. I started to learn more and more about Dan’s past and how much he was a supporter of the LGBTQ community—and an outspoken one who was actually active with efforts, not just paying it lip service.
He publicly embraces the rainbow flag and actually puts his money where his mouth is. That’s a rarity for any celebrity, much less a straight male whose fanbase includes young Mormons.
Reynolds started LoveLoud, a music festival that supports local (Utah) and national LGBTQ+ charities; made a documentary about it (HBO’s Believer); created a video series (“Turn Up the Love”) that gave voice to LGBTQ entertainers and activists; was awarded The Trevor Project’s annual Hero Award; written songs about love and acceptance; spoken to members of Congress about LGBTQ issues; and this week he announced that he was donating a home to Encircle, the LGBTQ+ support group that seeks to find solutions for LGBTQ+ youth and families. (And that’s just a sampling!)
“Sadly it takes a straight man with a lot of privilege to come in as well, to actually get things done,” Reynolds told Billboard last year. “And I think that’s a damn shame, in 2020 something you’d think would not be necessary. But it’s just a truth of the matter.”
He was in part driven to action when he became aware of the high suicide rates for LGBTQ teens within the Mormon community. (In 2018, he told Vulture: “I have seen so much damage done to these families. I’ve met with so many parents who’ve lost kids to suicide. I have so much fire about it. I want change, and I know that I can help make change.”) He has also marched for the Black Lives Matter movement, another cause that he has supported.
That alone is enough to make me an uber, but then 6-foot-1 Dan has to be so damn physically sexy, too—the combination of activism and abs creating an almost unbearable straight-man crush that I am not accustomed to. In 2018, he showed off his new dedication to fitness brought about by his battle with disease (dear lord with his Men’s Health pics!).
“I’ve spent a decade fighting an auto immune disease that inflamed my joints (AS). I now live pain free, am in full remission & am the healthiest I’ve ever been,” he wrote. “Just a few months of changing my lifestyle/diet/exercise and have overcome 2 diseases (UC and AS) that have haunted me for 10 years. No more pain. Sorry for the corny exercise posts but when you live in pain for a decade and someone fixes your body it’s nothing short of a miracle.”
I give up. I will buy all of the Imagine Dragons’ songs just to support him. I just can’t quit you, Dan, you sexy fucking do-gooder.
What do you think of Mr. Reynolds? Who’s your favorite straight celebrity crush?
(In the meantime, you can get your Mormon fix at Missionary Boys!)
I’ve been a casual fan of Imagine Dragons from when they first achieved widespread success, but it was about a year ago when I started to read more about his activities as an ally and that just made me appreciate them all the more. The fact that he works to affect change in Utah and within the Mormon community makes it even more impressive. Kudos to him!
id blow him three times!!!
Sexy LGBT friend… all good in my book!
Eye Roll, Eye Roll, Eye Roll, Eye Roll, Eye Roll, Eye Roll.
We certainly need more celebs like this who don’t just give lip service to causes. He’s okay in my book, and I will follow him because of this article.
He’s a hero hetero.
He is secure w/ who he is, a str8 heterosexual who believes EVERYONE has a right to love who they love even if same sex. He is not threatened by Gay’s or Bi’s. A true man.
damn right guys, kudos to DANNNNNN