That time Melissa Etheridge came out & then had one of the biggest hits of her career
Yes I Am, became the biggest-selling studio album of Etheridge’s career, to date. That success must have been reassuring to many other gay artists out there.
It demonstrated that you can be out and still enjoy success and build your fanbase. Subscribe to our newsletter for your front-row seat to all things entertainment with a sprinkle of everything else queer.While it might not be such a radical message today, the world was very different in the early 90s.
Etheridge herself reflected upon this in a recent interview in Us Weekly.Although her most loyal fans long figured she was gay since she started her career performing in women’s bars, Etheridge did not publicly confirm her sexuality until performing at an event to mark the inauguration of President Bill Clinton in 1993.
The Triangle Ball was one of several balls in DC during the inauguration. It was particularly aimed at the LGBTQ+ community.