Growing up, I was a fan of mainstream pop music. Demi Lovato, Hannah Montana, Jonas Brothers… I was definitely a Disney girl.

Along with liking this type of music, many tended to judge me based on this fact. The term “fangirl” is one that has been used in a negative connotation, and I would be laughed at for liking something.

I thought that as I got older, things would change, but they haven’t. Being a twenty-something who liked, alright loves One Direction is a struggle. I’m not ashamed of loving the band who has gotten me through many rough patches, but I used to be ashamed to tell others that I loved them.

You see, media and society tend to treat fans of boy bands in a certain way: that we are just dumb, teenage girls who idolize a band. They come up with these ideas that we are “rabid fans,” and that those who love boy bands are stupid teenage girls. Urban Dictionary, which no one should trust with a definition, defines fangirl as “A rabid breed of human female who is obsessed with either a fictional character or an actor.” The following definitions are much the same, calling our obsession “indecent,” or are “ditzy, annoying and shallow.” This reduces the men, women, and nonbinary fans of these bands to just a manufactured product of the media.

Being a fan of a boy band does not mean I am stupid, annoying, or just a dumb teenage girl. In fact, I have met some of the most dedicated, loyal, and respectful people. Some of us are college students, others are activists promoting LGBTQ+ rights, and others are parents raising families.

Rainbow Direction was created by a group of fans that ended up spreading worldwide. “We are a diverse group of fans who are committed to equality and inclusiveness. We want to make this fandom a safe and enjoyable place for LGBTQ+ fans.” When I went a One Direction concert last year, I met so many LGTBQ+ fans and allies, wearing rainbow flags and just spreading love throughout the stadium. It was the safest and most comfortable I have felt. From the United States to Ireland, all the way to Tokyo, Japan, One Direction fans banded together to spread love and create a safe space for the fandom. This is just one example of all the good that comes from being in fandom and being a fan of One Direction.

Harry Styles is running with a pride flag here, showing his support for the LGBTQ+ community (and making me cry so many happy tears).

We don’t “idolize” these bands and put them on a pedestal (I write as I have posters of One Direction in my room, and old posters of the Jonas Brothers in my closet). But in reality, we understand that the people we are a fan of are flawed. We understand they’re not the squeaky clean image that the media portrays them to be. I remember when I found out that the Jonas Brothers gave up their purity rings, and I’ve seen them grow into men who sing about sex. I don’t fault them for that: they’re human and I’ve loved seeing them grow as artists. We don’t have (excessive) shrines in our rooms of these bands. We simply enjoy their music and appreciate their dedication and talent. Their music was there for us when sometimes no one else was: why tear us down for that?

Just because I am a fan of a boyband does not mean I am a ditzy 12-year-old girl. Being a fan of One Direction is not an indicator of stupidity, naivety, or of age. Being a fan of a boyband is just an indicator of...being a fan. I can be a fan of a boyband, and still be intelligent, headstrong, and

independent. We are not just “lusty tweens”: we are mothers, doctors, boyfriends, college students, writers, activists, and so much more. So don’t diminish us because of the band we like. We are happy, and while you go on to judge us, I’ll enjoy listening to my Jonas Brothers playlist.