LGBTQIA+ In Music: The Untold Story of the Music Industry
The LGBTQIA+ community and music have had a love-hate relationship for years. Yes, the story of this relationship has never been told, but trust us, music has always been a source of communication for this oppressed community.
For years, LGBTQIA+ musicians have expressed their feelings, anxieties, and frustrations about their identities through lyrics and songs. Why? Because there has always been discrimination towards the LGBTQIA+ community in the music industry. Still, this discrimination didn’t stop musicians from raising their voices about the extreme homophobia in the industry.
The 70s, 80s, and 90s were revolutionary for the LGBTQIA+ community.
The 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s were revolutionary because these eras saw a rise in exposure of the LGBTQIA+ community in music. Musicians and artists like George Michael, Billie Eilish, Will Young, Adam Lambert, and Culture Club started making music videos related to LGBT relationships, promoting positivity and equality in the industry. Slowly, the LGBTQIA+ community itself became a unique industry music genre.
Let’s have a look at some top pioneers and supporters of the LGBTQIA+ community and movement in the music industry. Also, some music videos are associated with each name, telling the untold stories and feelings of this oppressed community. The people and videos mentioned below are the top 5 examples of how the LGBTQIA+ community challenged societal norms despite the stigma present in the music industry.
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1. Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury was a world-famous songwriter, lyricist, and singer. Mercury was bisexual and was very open about his sexual orientation throughout his career. He had relationships with many men, but according to his biography, “Somebody to Love: The Life, Death, and Legacy of Freddie Mercury,” Mary Austin was the love of his life.
Some reports suggest that the song “I want to Break Free” by Queen was made and inspired by Mercury’s sexuality and the hardships he faced. However, the video and visuals were banned in the US for local television viewers. Eventually, this ban resulted in delaying the band from achieving huge success in America. Still, the makers proudly crossed every restriction and barrier to represent this community.
Video Link: Queen - I Want To Break Free (Official Video)
2. Janelle Monáe
Janelle Monae is an American pansexual and nonbinary singer, songwriter, rapper, actress, and author. She was famously known as the “Black Queer Woman.” She openly declared her sexuality and relationships with both men and women.
Once on the cover of Rolling Stone, they bluntly talked about their pansexuality and said they do not have a care in the world. They frequently speak about their feelings and the LGBTQIA+ community in their songs and music videos, and it is evident she is proud of being a queer Black woman. Below is the link to one of her most expressive songs, PYNK.
Video Link: Janelle Monáe - PYNK [Official Music Video]
3. David Bowie
David Bowie was a famous English songwriter and actor during the 1970s. Bowie was gay, and he openly talked about homosexuality during the era when it was forbidden. He told the world about his sexuality through his music. In fact, he was a rebel who changed the trends regarding LGBTQIA+ in the industry.
Bowie became the voice of so many people and contributed his best in changing the attitudes toward the LGBTQIA+ community in that era. His androgynous personality is often quoted as a popular example in the music industry. Below is the link to one of his music videos expressing his frustration and feelings: Space Oddity.
Video Link: David Bowie – Space Oddity (Official Video)
4. Elton John
Elton John is a famous British composer, singer, and pianist who has actively produced music since 1962. Though he married a woman at an early age, the marriage wouldn’t last long due to unforeseeable circumstances. In 1992, he disclosed he was gay during an interview with Rolling Stone.
In 1993, Elton started a relationship with filmmaker David Furnish, and they got married in 2014 when same-sex marriages were declared legal in the UK. The couple also has two sons together through surrogacy. Since the interview in 1992, Elton has been open about his homosexuality, and his music represents the criticism he faced because of his sexuality. Here is a link to one of his music videos:
Video Link: Elton John - I'm Still Standing
5. SOPHIE
SOPHIE, also called Sophie Xeon, was a famously known Scottish singer and producer with a lovely voice. Unfortunately, she died back in 2021 because of a road accident. She was a trans woman and was very open and expressive about her sexuality and gender.
Once in an interview with Rolling Stone, she stated, “I’d rather collaborate with my friends who are whatever gender they please, or have very fluid ideas about gender…I view the people that I work with, girls and boys and people who identify as whatever gender they please, as strong individuals.”
Here is a link to one of her most expressive music videos:
Video Link: SOPHIE — It's Okay To Cry (Official Video)
Musicians have been fighting homophobia in the industry for years by openly portraying and talking about sexualities and genders. And we don’t see this LGBTQIA+ movement in the music industry stopping any time soon.