Music has always been the most direct path to our hearts and minds. There’s something visceral about the way a song hits your ear that triggers feelings that can change a mood in an instant. Like everyone else in our culture, artists of the LGBTQIA+ community fought a long, hard battle for better representation—one that is still being fought today. As a new generation of queer musicians boldly steps forward, they stand on the shoulders of many who paved the way. There may be no better place to celebrate LGBTQIA+ culture than in our ears and hearts but let these five artists be the soundtrack to the battles that must still be fought.
Queen
Taking the overused phrase “Rock Opera” to a whole new level, Queen defied the traditions of record making and gave us a sprawling oeuvre of classic tunes and killer jams. And at the helm, they had one of rock and roll’s most iconic front men: Freddie Mercury. Few entertainers in the history of the medium can even come close to touching Mercury’s grandiose persona, though many try. The clothes, the songwriting chops, and that inhuman voice—there just isn’t another like him. No one commanded a stage as fearlessly as he did in the 70s and 80s. Tragically, his life was cut short at the age of 45 when he succumbed to complications from AIDS, putting another early face on the epidemic that had been ravaging the LGBTQIA+ community throughout the 80s. Mercury drew some criticism for hiding the disease early on, as some felt he could have used his platform to bring awareness to the cause, but the rock star greatly valued his privacy. And as the years have passed, Freddie Mercury’s star has only shone brighter—a one-of-a-kind icon who left us with the gift of his music.
Required Listening: A Night at the Opera (EMI/Parlophone, 1975)
Tegan and Sara
Real-life twin sisters Tegan and Sara Quin are Canadian songwriters who have released nine studio albums, earning a Grammy nomination for their live album Get Along. The multi-instrumentalist sisters have been playing together since the age of 15 but found mainstream success with the release of 2004’s So Jealous. Tegan and Sara, both openly gay, are vigilant advocates for the LGBTQIA+ community, taking on issues from California’s proposed Proposition 8 and Quebec students’ fight against stymying forces in their provincial government. The duo even earned Outstanding Music Artist at the GLAAD Media Awards, beating out other well-known artists.
Required Listening: The Con (Vapor/Sire, 2007)
Lil Nas X
Entering the mainstream off the success of his country rap single “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X quickly climbed the charts and found himself with a hit that spent 19 weeks at the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. Capitalizing on his early successes, Nas X released his debut EP, 7, in 2019. Despite the uncertainty of how the news would be received by his fans and community, Lil Nas X took the bold step of officially coming out as gay on June 30, 2019, the final day of Pride Month. On Twitter, he wrote, “some of y'all already know, some of y'all don't care, some of y'all not gone fwm no more. but before this month ends i want y'all to listen closely to c7osure. 🌈🤩✨" The brave admission drew a fair bit of backlash on social media, drawing attention to some degree of homophobia in certain parts of hip hop culture. However, many notable figures and the entertainment community writ large rallied to his side. And by November 2019, “Old Town Road” was Diamond Certified.
Required Listening: 7 [Extended Play] (Columbia, 2019)
Frank Ocean
With his wide vocal range and idiosyncratic musical stylings, Frank Ocean is already one of the most celebrated songwriters of his generation. Considered a representative artist of a growing alternative R&B movement, Ocean has pushed the boundaries of the genre by reinstituting waning jazz and funk influences. While he started as a ghostwriter, Ocean’s free self-released 2011 mixtape, Nostalgia, Ultra, cemented him as a performing artist himself. In July of 2012, he wrote an open letter (originally intended as an album’s liner notes) which he posted on the web platform Tumblr. In the letter, he described the feeling he had for another young man as a 19-year-old—his self-professed first love. The admission felt like a seismic shift in the music community as many stars and artists rallied to Ocean’s support. Legendary producer Russell Simmons wrote a celebratory article in the Global Grind where he noted, "Today is a big day for hip-hop. It is a day that will define who we really are. How compassionate will we be? How loving can we be? How inclusive are we?”
Required Listening: Blonde (Boys Don’t Cry, 2016)
Elton John
The man. The myth. The legend. Alongside lyricist Bernie Taupin, English icon Elton John has filled the last six decades with magic with an ear for pop melody and a stage presence like no other. Over more than 30 albums, his once indelible tenor somehow became a baritone, but John’s personality never calmed itself. As one of the most consistent artists in rock, he’s conquered every venue in rock—from small clubs to large stadiums and Vegas residencies. Early in his mainstream success, he became as well known for big outfits as big choruses, but time is not a forgiving thing to most artists of the moment. John’s incredible songs have made him an enduring icon, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an award winner (Oscars, Grammys, Tonys … you name it, he’s got it), and even a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. After coming out as bisexual in a 1976 Rolling Stone article, John embarked on a series of relationships with both men and women to varying levels of success. However, by the early nineties, he told that same magazine that he was comfortable about declaring himself a gay man. And with his partner, David Furnish, he eventually entered one of the first same-sex marriages in the United Kingdom. John has been a fervent supporter of gay rights and causes over the years, and in the battle against the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the Elton John AIDS Foundation has been doing phenomenal work for three decades. So, while John may be readying himself to finish up his postponed farewell tour, his presence and music will be with us for some time to come.
Required Listening: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (MCA/DJM, 1973)
Bonus: Special Mention
Lady Gaga
Did you think we’d forget Gaga?
Born Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, the artist known as Lady Gaga began performing as a teenager but was always destined for the big stage. Influenced by artists like Madonna and David Bowie, Gaga is a pop artist with few musical boundaries. With her sonic stylings, she has made a point of exploring different themes like identity, liberation, and individuality. Her second album, 2011’s Born This Way, was a (pardon the pun, Gaga stans) monster success. The title track’s themes of acceptance and sexual identity struck a chord with the LGBTQIA+ community and in many ways became a new anthem. Gaga’s bold statement struck a chord with the community at a time when discussions about gay teen suicide were at the cultural forefront, and it helped galvanize a feeling of empowerment. In addition to her music, Gaga’s advocacy and philanthropic work are quite notable. As a bisexual woman and staunch ally of the LGBTQIA+ community, she attributes much of her early success to the support of the gay community. In the public arena, she’s taken on many battles outside of music, such as fighting the antiquated U.S. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, anti-gay bullying in schools, and the last administration’s military transgender ban. Her Born This Way Foundation, a non-profit that focuses on youth empowerment, has made great strides in the fight for mental health and well-being in our culture.
Required Listening: Born This Way (Interscope, 2011)