With queer visibility and acceptance on steady rise, pressure for LGBTQ musicians to maintain a “universally relatable” (aka straight) image in order to appeal to a mainstream audience remains.
Luckily, an increasing number of artists are starting their careers by actively avoiding that trap.The impact this has on fans, particularly young, LGBTQ fans, cannot be overstated.
These six artists may create music that’s hard to compare, but they share a fearlessness to harness their passions to challenge heteronormativity in their careers.
And they’re making it that much easier for the next wave of artists to follow suit.Scroll through to meet the Pride50 music honorees…Who is this mysterious queer cowboy, exactly?