Just B’s Bain comes out as ‘proud’ member of LGBTQ community in LA show

Member Bain of K-pop boy band Just B came out during the band’s Los Angeles concert on Tuesday, stating that he is “proud to be a part of the LGBTQ community,” adding an expletive.

The statement came mid-performance of a show on the band’s ongoing “Just Odd” tour. Just B kicked off the tour with two performances in Japan in March, followed by concerts in Toronto on April 4, New York on April 6, Minneapolis on April 8 and more.

The LA performance came on Tuesday at The Vermont Hollywood hall.

Bain also performed Lady Gaga’s famed self-validating song “Born This Way” (2011) while waving a rainbow-colored flag after his statement.

A flood of online comments has since shown support for the singer’s bold decision, calling him “brave.”

This is the first time a Korean K-pop singer has openly come out.

Bain, born in 2001 with the legal name Song Byeong-hee, debuted in 2021 with five other members — Geonu, Lim Jimin, JM, DY and Sangwoo.

Late last month, Lara of the girl group Katseye came out as part of the LGBTQ+ community through fan community platform Weverse.

“I was really scared [to come out], and now I’m so grateful that people in my life, and you guys, too, have been so supportive, so I feel so proud of it and no shame at all,” Lara said. “You gave me so much love and support and it made me feel so confident in who I am.”

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]