Eminem has been ridiculed by the LGBT community ever since GLAAD [the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation] waged a protest against him for lyrics deemed homophobic on The Marshall Mathers LP cut "Criminal," back in 2000. The song created controversy for coming out the gate with him rapping, "My words are like a dagger with a jagged edge/ That'll stab you in the head, whether you're a fag or lez/ Or a homosex, hermaph or a trans-a-vest/ Pants or dress, hate fags? The answer's yes," in the opening bars of the song's very first verse.

The following year, Em would receive a co-sign from an industry heavyweight whose very name is synonymous with LGBT in music, when during his performance of "Stan" he was joined on stage by Elton John at the 2001 Grammy Awards. Apple Beats 1 DJ Zane Lowe touched back on the historic moment during an interview with John, as he celebrated his 70th birthday over the weekend. According to Elton, who went public about his identity as a homosexual man decades ago, he never got a sense of Eminem the person, but especially the artist, as hateful towards gay people, asserting that the Detroit rapper "was never homophobic."

“How can anyone think this is, you know? He’s just writing about the way things are, not how he thinks, but the way things are,” the pop legend told Lowe.

While the use of character Ken Kaniff on his albums' interluded rubbed folks the wrong way, it was the actual subject matter of the songs that have drawn the most focus from gay rights advocates, specifically his use of the word "fa**ot", or "F*g". Eminem has long attempted to defend the word in his lyrics, stating that his intention was never to use it to demean anyone's sexuality, but rather, as an expression of contempt against cowardice. Such explanation has never satisfied those in the community who've taken issue with use of the slur. In a 2013 interview with Rolling Stone, Em further contends that during the period in which he used the word liberally, he had been a champion for free speech, and was conflicted with having to censor himself knowing his intentions were never foul.

“Not saying it’s wrong or it’s right, but at this point in my career – man, I say so much s*** that’s tongue-in-cheek. I poke fun at other people, myself. But the real me sitting here right now talking to you has no issues with gay, straight, transgender, at all," he was reported as saying.

Source: hotnewhiphop.com