Sat Dec 07 14:30:00 UTC 2024: ## Village People’s “YMCA” Lyricist Threatens Legal Action Over “Gay Anthem” Label

**NEW YORK** – Victor Willis, the lyricist and lead singer of the Village People, is vehemently denying that the group’s iconic hit “YMCA” is a “gay anthem,” and is threatening legal action against news organizations that perpetuate this claim. In a recent Facebook post, Willis stated that the song’s association with the LGBTQ+ community is a “false assumption” based on the sexual orientation of some band members and his writing partner, Jacques Morali.

Willis clarified that the lyrics, written in the 1970s, were inspired by his observations of urban YMCA facilities in San Francisco, focusing on activities like sports and affordable accommodation. He insists the phrase “hang out with all the boys” is simply slang from that era. While acknowledging that some YMCAs may have been used for illicit activities by the gay community, Willis stresses that the song does not allude to this and that such an interpretation is “completely misguided.”

Despite initial objections to Donald Trump using the song at campaign rallies, Willis has since given his blessing. Ironically, the song’s renewed popularity, recently topping Billboard’s digital dance/electronic sales chart, has fueled the ongoing debate about its meaning.

Willis’s stance is firm, however. He announced that starting in January 2025, his wife will pursue legal action against any news organization that continues to refer to “YMCA” as a gay anthem, claiming such labeling is defamatory and damaging to the song’s image. He maintains that while he doesn’t object to the LGBTQ+ community embracing the song, he wants to correct the misconception of it being intentionally written as their anthem.

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