Over the past few years, there has been a notable increase in LGBTQIA+ representation within the music industry. From historic award show feats to coveted slots on festival lineups, artists like Chappell Roan, Lil Nas X, Sam Smith, and Troye Sivan have loudly and proudly proclaimed their sexuality in their music, performances and public personas.
It hasn't always been that way in the community, though, as many in the past faced public scrutiny and backlash for their sexual orientation, or for their songs' underlying themes and sexual explicitness. Between the 1920s and the '70s, there was an era of increased homophobia and conservatism brought on by the Great Depression and McCartyism, where queer artists kept their identities hidden and censored their music to protect themselves.
It wasn't until after the infamous Stonewall Riots of 1969 that a new wave of feminism and glam rock emerged to dominate the music scene. Glam rock legend David Bowie, who embraced his ambiguity and androgyny, sang a few songs referencing LGBTQIA+ culture, including drag queens in "Queen Bitch;" sex with the devil ("The Width of a Circle"); gender identity ("Boys Keep Swinging"); and dealing with bisexuality ("John, I'm Only Dancing").
Tom Robinson Band's "(Sing if You're) Glad to Be Gay," a song criticizing British society's treatment of gay people, made history by becoming a Top 20 hit in the late '70s, resulting in more gay anthems — and even artists — to emerge. Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" and Chaka Khan's "I'm Every Woman" were blasted at every Pride event (and still are to this day); Diana Ross' 1980s hit, "I'm Coming Out," was written in a New York City gay bar, which propelled her to gay icon status.
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Even during the HIV/AIDS crisis, which set another level of homophobia, more songs were released that fought against the hate and embraced queerness. Frankie Goes to Hollywood's 1983 song "Relax" celebrated sexuality, defying social norms. British trio Bronski Beat's 1984 MTV hit, "Smalltown Boy," explored a young man's struggle with his sexual identity in a small town, where he faced harassment and yearned to find his place in the big city.
The 1990s and early 2000s carved out more space for queer voices, including k.d. Lang, Melissa Etheridge, RuPaul, Tegan & Sara, and Linda Perry. After coming out in early 1993, Etheridge's first single, "Come to My Window," alluded to her sexual orientation: "I don't care what they think/ I don't care what they say/ What do they know about this love, anyway?"
Previously closeted singers like George Michael (who came out in 1998) wanted to address his controversial Beverly Hills arrest and break the social stigma of being gay in his song "Outside." As he told Attitude Magazine in 2004, "I think it's important that I can be out there and say that I'm a big tart and still have a big smash album. When I was tempted to give up in the middle of making this album, one of the things that made that difficult for me is that I would have felt I'd have let down a whole generation of young gay kids."
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Today's queer artists are loud and unabashedly proud to talk about their sexuality, redefining gender and sexual fluidity, and creating new social norms. There are even more queer anthems by mainstream artists who are allies to the LGBTQIA+ community, from Lady Gaga's classic "Born This Way" to Kylie Minogue's GRAMMY-winning "Padam Padam."
Even this year's GRAMMYs celebrated the queer community, including Best New Artist winner Chappell Roan, who performed her hit "Pink Pony Club," a song about a safe space where LGBTQIA+ individuals can be themselves. Lady Gaga also used her acceptance speech in support of the trans community. "It's such an honor to sing for all of you. I just want to say tonight that trans people are not invisible. Trans people deserve love," she told the supportive crowd. "The queer community deserves to be lifted up. Music is love."
In celebration of Pride Month, GRAMMY.com has put together a playlist of LGBTQIA+ songs that celebrate being queer and proud. From Karin Ann to Todrick Hall to Billie Eilish, these artists are expressing their true, authentic selves.