JUST B’s Bain Comes Out as Gay in Powerful Onstage Moment
We’ve just witnessed history being made in the K-pop world, and we couldn’t be more emotional about it. Bain, one of the six members of the K-pop boy group JUST B, came out as gay while on stage during the group’s world tour stop in Los Angeles, and we’re still tearing up.
During a solo segment of the show, Bain took a brave step forward not just as an artist, but as a human being. Standing under the spotlight, he proudly declared to the crowd, “I am proud to be part of the LGBT community,” before launching into a powerful rendition of Lady Gaga’s queer anthem Born This Way. It was a moment that instantly became iconic, not just for fans of JUST B, but for the LGBTQ+ community as a whole.
The next day, Bain opened up further on Instagram, sharing: “I want to share something real with you. I’m proud to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community–as a gay person. And my queen Lady Gaga showed me that being different is beautiful. To anyone out there who’s part of the LGBTQ+ community, or still figuring out — this is for you. You are seen, you are loved, and you were born this way.”
In doing so, Bain becomes the first member of a K-pop boy group to publicly come out: a groundbreaking and deeply personal act in an industry that has long held tight to conservative ideals around image, identity, and romantic availability. The K-pop machine is famously strict when it comes to idols’ personal lives, with “no dating” policies and curated personas designed to fuel fan fantasies. And let’s be real, South Korea still has a long way to go when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, with queer visibility often suppressed or dismissed in the public eye.
So Bain’s courage? It’s monumental.
He now joins a slowly growing list of K-pop idols who’ve spoken openly about their queerness, including Jiae (formerly of WA$$UP), who came out as bisexual in 2020, and Lara of KATSEYE, who recently came out as member of the community via Weverse.
We want to send all our love and support to Bain. Coming out — especially on such a public stage — is never easy, but Bain did it with grace, pride, and an unwavering sense of self. We see you, Bain. We celebrate you. And we hope this moment inspires others in the industry and beyond to embrace who they are, unapologetically.
Congratulations to Bain on living his truth. Here’s to love, freedom, and a future where LGBTQ+ artists can thrive just as they are.
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Featured Image: Image via Bain’s Instagram account.
