One of the many musicians from the 1960s who infused soul with rock, Janis Joplin remains cherished decades later.
In 1963, the singer was in a relationship with a woman named Jae Whitaker, whom she met at a gay bar. Sylvester's in-your-face sexuality and androgyny made it hard for him to break through in the '70s. In a 2005 interview with AfterEllen, Gore revealed that she never felt she had to come out because she was living her life in the open.
He then came out as bisexual in 2023. That’s why for us, it doesn’t matter whether or not our young musicians (and others, of course) are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning, intersex or asexual.
From rock stars to pop divas, and everyone in between, many of the world’s best-loved singers and composers are members of the LGBTQIA+ community – and we celebrate each and every one of them.
Are you in need of inspiration for your next playlist?
With songs like 2018's "Make Me Feel" and the viral 2023 hit "Lipstick Lover," Monáe has become a queer icon in her own right. In a 2018 interview with Rolling Stone, the artist discussed their previously coming out as bisexual, saying: "Later I read about pansexuality and was like, 'Oh, these are things that I identify with too.' I'm open to learning more about who I am."