Humans inherently seek community and companionship; we look for people like us everywhere we go. As a young, queer woman, I often find myself looking for people like me. It’s comforting to know that people are living the same experience, especially being queer in a small town. Growing up, music seemed to be catered to the hetero perspective. As I grew older, that became less and less the case. Up until very recently, it was difficult to find queer representation in the mainstream media that was catered to the queer community. Queer artists are now having their voices heard on the radio, this is a huge step for the LGBTQ+ community.
Contrary to popular belief, “Gay Pop” is not new at all! LGBTQ+ icons like Elton John and Freddie Mercury set the groundwork for queer artists today. Many popular, gay, artists accredit their successes to these icons and draw inspiration from their careers. Whether you seek asylum in, “Elton’s Song” by Elton John, or “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan; Gay Pop has served as our community’s haven in pop culture for decades. It is of great importance that we have representation, especially in today’s political climate where many people are facing scrutiny for being who they are. I know, for me at least, it is comforting to know that despite the public view of the LGBTQ+ community, there are still artists being unapologetically themselves.
All of the talk of “Gay Pop” begs the question, what defines “Gay Pop”? Simply put, Gay Pop is queer storytelling through pop music. But, it’s so much more than that. The rise of gay pop means inclusivity, tolerance, and a safe place for queer people in pop culture. It means representation for a group of people who are commonly marginalized and discriminated against. It is common for all types of people to seek refuge in their headphones. Now, queer people have music that is telling their story. Music that is catered to them.
We have come so far in our country by becoming more tolerant and inclusive to people of all backgrounds and beliefs. That isn’t to say that there isn’t more work to do. But, with representation of artists who are openly queer and proud, LGBTQ+ people of all ages can feel free to be themselves. Gay pop should be celebrated, as it is a huge factor in inclusivity in pop culture. So, thank our forerunners- Freddie Mercury, Elton John, Bowie, Lady Gaga, Madonna, and many more proudly gay artists for innovating music. They walked so Chappell Roan, Girl in Red, Renee Rapp, Troye Sivan (and more) could run.
Sources:
https://www.out.com/gay-music/classic-iconic-gay-pop-songs
https://offrecord.blog/exploring-gaypop-and-the-artists-defining-the-sound/
