Pride Month: Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Artists in Music History

As Pride Month keeps moving along it’s important to celebrate LGBTQIA+ artists in music. Some artists have great historical importance, while others are more current and continuing to blaze a trail for future LGBTQIA+ folk in music. All of these artists have publicly identified as LGBTQIA+ in either interviews or some other public forum. I hope you find some great new music to check out.

Ethel Cain: American Teenager

I love Ethel Cain and her songwriting. her vocal is also both haunting and beautiful. She has come out as a trans woman with most of her songs being about identity and the challenges of being trans within America. Her personal songwriting creates an emotional hook that really sets her tracks above others in the indie space. An up and coming artist that has a bright future.

Elton John: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

LGBTQIA+ artists in the 70s and before had a challenging and lonely road to walk. There were not a lot of publicly gay artists to show people the way to go and society was not as open as it is now. These trailblazers are enormously important in music history and in world history. There is no bigger figure than Elton John. He is a cultural icon that has had a decades long music career with countless hits. He has forged a path that other LGBTQIA+ artists have followed in recent history.

Boy George / Culture Club: Do You Really Want to Hurt Me

Boy George would come out post Culture Club in his book; however, his androgynous style challenged 80s views of traditional masculinity. It also gave voice to millions of non-binary folks who saw his embrace of both masculine and feminine fashion as affirming. Boy George has had a second life to his career and his new public image has shed a whole new light on his self-expression in the 80s.

George Michael: Outside

George Michael came out as gay in a CNN interview in the late 90s. He had an emotionally difficult time playing the role as a pop sex symbol, while also trying to stay true to his own sexuality. This led to deep emotional pain, run ins with the law and being a recluse at times. George Michael’s story not only shows the destructive nature of homophobia, but also gives people hope that it is never too late to live your truth. Even though Michael was largely forced to come out due to his arrest, which he spoke out about, his bravery and pride in himself is an inspiration for others.

Melissa Etheridge: Come to my Window

After coming out as gay in 1993, Melissa Etheridge has been a tireless LGBTQIA+ activist. She has fought for LGBTQIA+ rights both within the community and in her music. In the 90s there were not a lot of gay or queer artists leading the fight for civil rights. Melissa, the Indigo Girls and Ani DiFranco were at the front of the line and paved the way for artists like Chappell Roan of today.

Troye Sivan: Got Me Started

Troye is one of many contemporary LGBTQIA+ artists carrying the torch from the70s, 80s and 90s. Openly gay and celebrating their pride, Troye is putting out some blistering pop music and challenging people’s idea of what it means to be a man. Their music and activism is challenging society’s gender norms and giving millions of LGBTQIA+ young people a voice….plus their music is amazing.