We queers have a clever moniker for our closest friend: “Good Judy.” Used to describe someone from our chosen family who identifies as straight, it is a nickname for a best friend who has supported you through thick and thin, an ally through and through. The actress and singer Judy Garland, who was a favourite of the queer community at the turn of the century, is the source of the name “Judy.”
Throughout history, female musicians and the queer community have fallen in love with each other, time and time again. Women in music, be it serenading indie musicians or pop sensations, have always stood up for LGBTQIA+ rights. Unapologetically artistic and divinely feminine in a male-dominated entertainment industry, it is no wonder that the most powerful women in pop have always found a huge fan base in queer men.
With the rising stars of alternative music, their freedom to express themselves outside of societal norms and the shared story of making it despite not being part of the norm has inspired countless people who never felt like they “fit in a box”. So, with this pride, let’s take a look at some of the pillars of music history, past and present- whose heavenly tunes and powerful vocals have struck a cord in the hearts of the LGBTQIA+ community throughout the ages.
Judy Garland
The actress, singer, and dancer, is a revered figure in LGBTQIA+ culture due to her life, career, and the socio-political context of the 20th century. Garland’s theatricality, dramatic flair, and larger-than-life performances fit perfectly into the camp aesthetic, which was celebrated and embraced by the gay community. The phrase “Friends of Dorothy” became a euphemism for being gay, stemming from Garland’s character in “The Wizard of Oz.” Her struggles in her personal life created a relatable persona for many LGBTQIA+ individuals, symbolising resilience and defiance against overwhelming odds.
The Stonewall Riots, a pivotal event in the LGBTQIA+ rights movement, marked the beginning of the modern movement- legend has it that a group of funeral goers mourning Judy Garlands’ demise contributed to it. Garland’s influence continues to be celebrated through tributes, drag performances, and the enduring popularity of her music and films, showcasing how a cultural icon can rise above their lifetime to symbolise hope and the continuous fight for equality.
Cher
A proud mother to a trans son, Cher has been a larger-than-life yet resilient figure in the entertainment industry for 50 years—which older queer men in particular view as something to be inspired by. In particular, Cher’s narrative songs like “Half Breed” and “Gipsies, Tramps, and Thieves” are about resisting being labelled as an outsider. Cher has been a symbol of freedom for those who have artistic inclinations, dabbling in acting and being a woman who took fashion risks others could never fathom.
Admiration for her accomplishments in winning an Oscar and having successful music in every decade while being authentically herself, she is viewed as the original, fabulous “mother”. Throughout her evolution across decades of pop excellence, Cher has championed being bravely loyal to who you are, regardless of what others may think.
Madonna
Madonna’s early/mid-’80s music career marked a significant shift in LGBTQIA+ discography. Madonna’s first song that was vocally “gay friendly” was “Holiday,” featuring a male dancer doing the same movements the girls did in the background. Later, “Like a Virgin” helped her advocate for the AIDS pandemic and supported her gay friends. Her 1989 “Express Yourself” song and video elevated her as a huge gay icon.
In 1990, Madonna conquered the gay public with her Cherish video and the Mer-men featured in it. The film “Truth or Dare” featured backstage footage of Madonna’s 1990 Blond Ambition Tour, where all her dancers were gay. In 1993, Madonna’s “Girlie Show Tour” promoted her album “Erotica,” which included sexual content and dancing with girl dancers. Madonna was also the head performer of the 2019 New York Pride, with her song “I Rise” being her 2019 Pride anthem. She was the only musician to receive the biggest GLAAD award in over 30 years, recognising her importance to the gay audience and her involvement in the LGBTQIA+ community.
Britney Spears
The pop sensation’s songs have been drag performance staples since the ’90s – and for good reason. A fierce performer who has always exuded confidence, despite her personal struggles that have resonated with many a youth, Spears has long supported the LGBTQIA+ community. From openly opposing laws in Texas that would have restricted transgender rights, speaking out against bullying of LGBTQIA+ youngsters, to contributing to a tribute to the victims of the 2016 tragic massacre at an Orlando gay nightclub, she has embraced her gay icon status wholeheartedly.
Her open “love letter” to the LGBTQIA+ community from last year stated, “Your stories are what inspire me, bring me joy, and make me and my sons strive to be better people.” She has also vocally supported marriage equality.
Lady Gaga
The openly bisexual pop sensation Lady Gaga has always been at the forefront of LGBTQIA+ activism, publicly supporting equal marriage rights and the repeal of the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy in her country more than two decades ago.
Gaga braved sensationalism and homophobic aggressions throughout her career, giving up on a Target deal to help launch her album, stating she would keep the deal if they stopped supporting anti-LGBTQIA+ groups. Many of her songs referenced her own queer experiences. The now-gay anthem “Born This Way” with lyrics like, “No matter gay straight or bi lesbian transgender life I’m on the right track… I’m beautiful in my way cause God makes no mistakes,” helped many people reconcile their faith and sexual orientation.
She has also actively campaigned against anti-trans laws. A loud supporter for the LGBTQIA+ community in the media for almost two decades, she has founded the non-profit Born This Way Foundation, established in 2012 by her along with her mother, dedicated to eliminating the stigma associated with mental health and the LGBTQIA+ cause.
Lana Del Rey
Because of her unique sense of style, Lana Del Rey was an outsider in her initial years in the music industry. With a distinct vocal range and a stunning ethereal sense of fashion, combined with long track lengths and experimental music videos, society disapproved of her distinctive approach to music when she first started climbing the charts. But the LGBTQIA+ community was the one that embraced and idolised her the quickest, especially in online spaces. Springing from an understanding of what it’s like to be shunned, she quickly gained notoriety among queer circles, with her ballads on forbidden love and yearning being played on blast in queer households ever since the 2010s.
Reneé Rapp
And last but not least, a new gen musician causing an uproar in pop-rock, former Broadway star Reneé Rapp gave us much-needed sapphic representation in the series “Sex Lives Of College Girls”. From her fun interviews to her latest unapologetic coming out on her SNL stint with Megan Thee Stallion, she has won the hearts of queer women and men alike.
This pride as the anthems blast in your local café or your friend’s house party, take a moment to remember the female artists that have inspired and continue to inspire people to express themselves and rejoice in their truth, be it the delightfully shrill Kate Bush, the pop perfection of Kylie Minogue or rhyming slay by Taylor Swift because as she says ‘shade never made anybody less gay’.
Happy Pride! 🌈
Also, read: The Evolution Of Queer Literature: 6 LGBTQIA Books Spanning From The 1800s To The Modern Day
