Khalid, Lil Nas X, Janelle Monáe & more: 14 Black queer musical geniuses who are redefining pop

As the new director and national board representative of the Log Cabin Republicans of Dallas, I am excited to share my story and our vision for the “Unity Party” — a coalition dedicated to common sense, bipartisanship and a strong commitment to the issues that matter most to all Americans.

Artists like Rachel Chinouriri, Infinity Song, and Willow Smith are elevating rock while Jon Batiste, Russell Thomas, and Davóne Tines are changing the classical landscape. And when it comes to innovating country music, Beyoncé, Shaboozey, and Taylor Adel are each leaving their mark on the genre.But pop music is an exceptionally creative playground for Black musicians. And Black queer musicians specifically impact the genre in unforgettable ways—as they grab the top spot on the music charts, break industry records, challenge industry norms, and snag numerous accolades along the way.To highlight the work of these innovative queer music artists, we’ve curated a few of our favorite Black queer pop stars that are changing the pop game forever.

Michael Henry is known for his irreverent, funny YouTube videos that usually shine a light on queer life, dating and sex. His latest offering looks at the issue of crystal meth use among some gay men. It starts out with some jokes, such as Henry’s horror over someone on Grindr seeking to play “Tennis.”Subscribe to our newsletter for a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.A friend he’s chatting with wonders why that should be unusual.“Yeah, but the T in tennis is capital,” points out Henry.

Anita Bryant, a former Miss Oklahoma, Grammy-nominated singer and prominent booster of orange juice and other products who became known over the second half of her life for her outspoken opposition to gay rights, has died. She was 84.Bryant died Dec.

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington will perform “Postcards,” a cabaret, on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 5:00p.m. and 8:00p.m. at CAMP Rehoboth Elkins-Archibald Atrium. 

The Vatican has approved new guidelines for Italy that say that an applicant for the seminary cannot be rejected simply because he is gay, as long as he remains celibate. The guidelines say that seminary directors should consider sexual orientation as only one aspect of a candidate’s personality.

Anita Bryant, la cantante y exreina de belleza que tuvo una floreciente carrera musical en las décadas de 1960 y 1970, pero cuya oposición a los derechos de la comunidad LGBTQ —calificaba la homosexualidad de “abominación”— prácticamente destruyó su carrera, murió el 16 de diciembre en su casa de Edmond, Oklahoma. Tenía 84 años.

Variety announced today that New Queer Cinema trailblazer Gus Van Sant (My Own Private Idaho, Milk) has come on board as a producer for upcoming “psychosexual thriller” Antinous, named after ancient Roman emperor Hadrian’s young lover.The feature directorial debut from artist & photographer Stuart Sandford, the film will be a modern-day drama about a young actor who is convinced he’s the reincarnation of Antinous, telling a story that “bridges the grandeur of ancient Rome with Hollywood’s obsession with youth, beauty and immortality.” We’re in!It’s an especially rich source for Van Sant, Sandford, and their team to draw from for a film: Sure, there are precious few details about the real-life Antinous, and his life was cut tragically—and mysteriously—short, but his legacy looms large in history.Subscribe to our newsletter for your front-row seat to all things entertainment with a sprinkle of everything else queer.Little is known about Antinous’s origin, but it’s believed he lived in Bythnia, the far eastern reaches of the Roman Empire, and was possibly as young as 11 when he first met Hadrian, who was in his 40s.Over the years, historians have offered up opposing theories about his background—that possibly he was a slave, or a prince, or possibly an illegitimate son of the emperor himself. But one thing pretty much all experts can agree on was that he possessed a striking beauty, which is certainly what caught Hadrian’s eye.Now, if you’re a regular reader of Queerty, we’re sure we don’t have to tell you that, during this time, it was not uncommon for men to sleep with other men, and especially for those in power to take up a much younger male lover.

pic.twitter.com/pSsGy3MxyZHis post is light, fun and cheeky… much like Troye Sivan’s “gay” morning pill ritual. Jacob is a gay man on holiday, and thanks to the wonders of modern medicine, he can enjoy the local cuisine without worrying about contracting a deadly virus. Or he’s just being a normal, responsible person and taking a preventative drug in which the benefits are immense and the risks are basically non-existent.