Frank Ocean Reveals His First Love Was a Man

Island Def JamFrank Ocean has opened up about his sexuality, revealing in a post on his Tumblr that his first love was a man.  Odd Future co-founder Tyler, the Creator tweeted his support of Frank's revelation, writing, "My Big Brother Finally F**king Did That. Proud Of That Ni**a Cause I Know That S**t Is Difficult Or Whatever. ..."

In his message posted Wednesday night, Frank explains that he had planned to open up to fans in the liner notes of his upcoming album Channel Orange, but instead took to Tumblr after rumors began to swirl.  Earlier this week, a British television and radio personality had written on her personal site that some tracks from Frank's new album referred to a male love interest.

Fans went back and forth over whether or not Frank was actually coming out about his sexual orientation through his music, until finally the New Orleans native set the record straight via his Tumblr message.

"4 summers ago, I met somebody," he writes. "I was 19 years old. He was too. We spent that summer, and the summer after, together. Every day almost. And on the days we were together, time would glide. Most of the day I'd see him, and his smile."

Frank goes on to write, "Sleep I would often share with him. By the time I realized I was in love, it was malignant. It was hopeless. There was no escaping, no negotiating to the women I had been with, the ones I cared for and thought I was in love with."

Eventually, Frank revealed his feelings to the man -- who at the time had a girlfriend -- but the singer explains that the man, "wouldn’t tell the truth about his feelings for me for another 3 years."

Frank explains that he wrote songs to keep himself "busy and sane."  He told a handful of people his story, saying that they kept him alive and safe.  "I don't know what happens now, and that's alrite.  I don’t have any secrets I need kept anymore …" he writes.  "I was never alone, as much as it felt like it. As much as I still do sometimes. I never was. I don’t think I ever could be. Thanks. To my first love, I'm grateful for you."

Tyler, the Creator and other Odd Future members have been accused of homophobia in the past, and the collective was even scratched from the roster of the Big Day Out festival in Auckland, New Zealand, last year after activists said the group's lyrics promote bullying of gays, bisexuals and transgender people.

Odd Future member Syd the Kyd, who is openly gay, told LA Weekly earlier this year that urban music was short on out-of-the-closet gay artists.  She added, "The world is just now starting to become open about homosexuality.  I can't really say I've contributed to that, and I'm grateful to the people who have set a path for me to be who I am today."

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