There are 29 LGBTQ artists listed in this article. Some came out later and some like Adam at the beginning of their career. But they have one thing in common besides sexuality, they reached a level of success and fame based on their talent. That helps you stay in the game for many years. And that helped them to advance the visibility of the LGBTQ Community thru their success, advocacy, causes and foundations, etc. There were hardships and challenges once many were out but they have been proud advocates nonetheless. And Adam will always be the first out artist to reach #1 on the BB200 and that is a major accomplishment for him and his community, imo.
The most iconic LGBTQ music artists in historyThe LGBTQ community has made enormous contributions to the sounds that are so popular today, as time after time queer artists have not only shifted the direction of music, but they've also ensured that queer people everywhere can feel represented in pop culture, dancing at clubs, or even just cruising to the radio. Perhaps it has something to do with being marginalized that allows for these artists to have seen the sonic world from new and innovative angles, or perhaps it's that vivacious spirit that fights for liberation and equality that seeps into the studioâor maybe they're just talented artists who happened to be queer. Either way, they've been cemented in music history and we're all the better for it.
In celebration of Pride Month, click through to check out some of the most iconic LGBTQ music artists guaranteed to brighten your day.
Adam LambertThe 'American Idol' star's success hasnât prevented him from suffering discrimination over his sexuality. âConcerned citizensâ launched a petition after Lambert announced he would be performing at the popular Countdown 2016 concert in Singapore to prevent him from participating, according to The Independent.
Freddie Mercury
The Queen front manâs flamboyant performances have long placed him among the greatest LGBTQ icons. Though he openly had relationships with both men and women, the singer often evaded questions about his sexuality. His ambiguity has been celebrated by many as a defiance of gender binarism, as argued by Ultimate Classic Rock.
Frank Ocean
When the rapper admitted to also being attracted to men, many artists, including BeyoncĂ© and Jay-Z, expressed admiration for his courage. Hip-hop business magnate Russell Simmons even wrote an article for Global Grind in which he stated that Oceanâs decision âgives hope and light to so many young people still living in fear.â
Elton John
The singer, husband, and father has been championing LGBTQ causes since he came out as bisexual in the 1970s and as gay in the 1980s. Sir Elton John said in 2017 that, âToo often LGBT people are tolerated rather than accepted, let alone embraced,â as reported by Eyewitness News.
Miley Cyrus
The pop singer has risen as a voice for the LGBTQ community since she came out as pansexual and gender fluid. In 2014, she founded the Happy Hippie Foundation, a nonprofit that focuses on vulnerable populations, including youth homelessness and the LGBTQ community.
Rob Halford
The front man of heavy metal band Judas Priest publicly came out as gay in 1998 during an interview. He's said he received an outpouring of support from fans, which he described as âa tremendously uplifting moment for metal,â as reported by Blabbermouth.
Janelle MonĂĄe
The innovative singer and actor came out as pansexual. MonĂĄe also opened up about identifying as non-binary.
Boy George
Like other androgynous-looking performers, Boy George has been vague about his sexual orientation. He claimed he was bisexual in the '80s, later said he preferred âa nice cup of teaâ to sex, but by the early 2000s he made it clear he's a gay man. He's been in the hot seat with the LGBTQ community as well, like when accusations of biphobia popped up in early 2017, as reported by PinkNews.
David Bowie
The legendary glam rock artist came out as gay in 1972, then as bisexual in 1976, and later stated in a 1983 Rolling Stone interview that, âI was always a closet heterosexual.â But whatever his sexuality, the late Bowie âprojected an otherness that thousands of LGBT people could relate to,â as written in an Out magazine obituary.
k.d. Lang
The Canadian singer-songwriter came out as a lesbian in 1992 in an article for The Advocate, and has been an activist for LGBTQ causes ever since.
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