Gay male singer
LGBTQ+ Musicians: 60 Pioneering Artists You Want To Know
28: Laura Jane Grace (1980-)
Born in Fort Benning, Georgia, Laura Jane Grace had a tumultuous time growing up (significant events include dropping out of school and being arrested for challenging a police officer over a petty crime), before finding inspiration in the music of legendary British anarcho-punk band Crass. By her mid-teens, the seeds had been sewn: she was punk through and through, and she formed her control band, Against Me!, in 1997, living with the collective on the fringes of society until their critically acclaimed debut album, Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose, was released in 2002. Grace had been making allusions to being transgender through her music as early as 2005, and came out in 2012, with full support from friends, family and the band. One of the most pioneering LGBTQ+ musicians of her generation, she continues to make music today, and remains politically active, having notably hosted the 2019 Heavy Music Awards in Kentish Town, London, and endorsing the music nonprofit Nordoff Robbins.
Must hear: True Trans Essence Rebel
Today, the LGBTQ+ community can gaze to several gay musicians for inspiration, but that wasn’t always the case. Several pioneering openly gay singers paved the way from a time when sexual orientation wasn’t a topic for public discussion.
Indeed, these famous same-sex attracted musicians faced tremendous backlash and damage to their careers because of their honesty and openness.
As we explore queer performance art, we pay homage to those who came before us. In this piece, we’ll list some of the most influential names in the queer art movement and their impact on our past and present.
Being an Openly Gay Musician
Undoubtedly, the entertainment industry has come a long way in accepting and representing Queer individuals. However, it wasn't always this way, especially for musicians.
Coming out as a gay player in the 20th century was no small feat. It required immense courage and determination, especially when the music industry was predominantly hetero-normative.
Sexuality was not only a taboo topic for general discussion but could also outcome in alienation from fans and even cause damage to one's career. As such, many lgbtq+ musicians chose to keep their sexual orientation hidden
MTV – Top 10 Music Artists 2019
In alphabetical order
This category is for LGBT+ community’s favourite song artists and looked for musicians who are either LGBT+, or who own proven to be strong advocates of the LGBT+ community.
ARIANA GRANDE
Rising to fame through her role in Nickelodeon’s Victorious, singer, songwriter and actress Ariana Grande has nurtured a strong following through her powerhouse vocals and catchy songs. Recognisable for her signature high-ponytail, the 26-year-old continues to say ’Thank U, Next’ to labelling her sexuality, causing a stir in her fanbase after her collaboration with Victoria Monét contained sexually fluid lyrics. Grande’s success has won her accolades including a Grammy, a Brit Award, three AMAs and seven Guinness Society Records.
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CHRISTINE & THE QUEENS
French singer Heloise Letissier, known as Chris, released her eponymous second album in 2018, following on from her thriving Chaleur Humaine album under the label Christine & The Queens in 2016. While the first album was bilingual chamber pop, her second, self-produced album was inspired by Michael and Janet Jackson. Chris
Christian Singers Who Identify as LGBTQ
Upon first reflection, the notion of existence Christian and an out LGBTQ singer or entertainer is a contradiction in terms. However, there are several high profile Christian singers who have recently publicly revealed their gay attractions, such as Australia's Jennifer Knapp or American Trey Pearson.
This remains a challenge and strife for this genre of inspirational music. The reaction to these public statements has been mixed within the community. Many of the early singers who came out were immediately sidelined within their religious community, and this effectively diminished or terminated their professional careers. Notable among these was Marsha Stevens and Ray Boltz.
Other past LGBTQ Christian singers have remained in the closet during their lifetime, but subsequent events and biographies have revealed their sexual orientation. Notable among these is the mythical gospel singer James Cleveland, recipient of four Grammy Awards and nicknamed the 'King of Gospel'. Cleveland died of AIDS in 1991.
The Gospel church and homosexuality has reportedly had a long inter-twining relationship. LGBTQ individ