Gay rockstars
8 LGBTQ Artists Who Are in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is an institution that honors and celebrates some of the greatest musicians in the history of popular music.
While “rock and roll” might be in its label, it’s not actually just focused on rock these days, and anyone who has had an impact – and has been working long enough – is eligible.
Although LGBTQ musicians have been making their mark on the song industry for decades, their representation in the Hall of Fame has been relatively limited. Thankfully, this is changing as more and more LGBTQ musicians are recognized for their contributions to music and are inducted into the Hall of Fame.
This year, the late George Michael is posthumously nominated for induction, and he may very well end up being selected by voters for the great honor.
Despite the slow progress, the recognition of LGBTQ musicians in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a positive step in the right command, and it serves to acknowledge the vital role that these artists include played in shaping the course of music history.
Here are eight LGBTQ musicians who have already been inducted into the Rock and Ro
32 LGBTQIA+ Icons in Rock + Metal
Here are 32 LGBTQIA+ icons in rock and metal.
In honor of Self-acceptance Month and celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community year-round, we've compiled a gallery of LGBTQIA+ figures in rock and metal. Among the list are Judas Priest's Loot Halford, Queen's Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Halestorm's Lzzy Hale, Greta Van Fleet's Josh Kiszka and many others.
June is the commemorative LGBTQIA+ Pride Month, in honor of the Stonewall Riots that occurred in June of 1969. The uprising was in response to a police raid that occurred in Greenwich Village, N.Y., and is considered the single most essential event to spark the gay liberation movement.
Oct. 11 is National Coming Out Day, to encourage those who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community to share their authentic selves with others and for others to welcome it with love and acceptance.
READ MORE: Rob Halford Advises Closeted Gay Metalheads Not to Be Afraid
In November, Trans Consciousness is celebrated and, more specifically, Transgender Awareness Week takes place from Nov. 13-19, raising visibility for transgender people and to further discuss issues the
Today, the LGBTQ+ community can look to several queer musicians for inspiration, but that wasn’t always the case. Several pioneering openly gay singers paved the way from a occasion when sexual orientation wasn’t a topic for widespread discussion.
Indeed, these famous queer 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 Homosexual Musician
Undoubtedly, the entertainment industry has come a drawn-out way in accepting and representing LGBTQ+ individuals. However, it wasn't always this way, especially for musicians.
Coming out as a male lover musician in the 20th century was no little feat. It required immense courage and determination, especially when the music industry was predominantly hetero-normative.
Sexuality was not only a taboo topic for public discussion but could also finding in alienation from fans and even cause ruin to one's career. As such, many gay musicians chose to keep their sexual orientation hidden
35 LGBTQ Rock Icons
There's nothing more rock 'n' roll than being true to yourself. Look no further than rock's LGBTQ superstars, from Elton John and his larger-than-life personality, to more subdued but nevertheless powerful singer-songwriters like Michael Stipe.
"These 20 years of publicly speaking my truth acquire made me a beat and easier person to be around," Stipe, who came out in the '90s, later wrote in The Guardian. "It helped advance the clarity of my voice and establish who I would be as an adult."
Meanwhile, John felt "very privileged because I'm in a business that kind of accepts same-sex attracted people," as he told Variety – but there's an emphasis on "kind of." The unfortunate life is that for many years, being an openly LGBTQ artist in the world of rock often meant placing a aim on one's back, or at the very least not being treated with the same level of respect or seriousness as their heterosexual counterparts.
It's not always so simple to show your truth, and for many, there's a consistent struggle to be themselves for fear of jeopardizing c
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