Famous gay music artists

Discover 19 influential gay musicians who have broken barriers to making their mark. Learn how they helped pave the way for LGBTQ+ representation & acceptance. Freddie is not only a global musical icon, but is considered, by many, as a national treasure for the United Kingdom. If pets inspire you as much as Freddie, check out our latest blog on how animals also love music in our Positive News Around The World. Best known for being the lead singer and guitarist of the indie rock band Bloc Party, Kele Okereke began his musical career in London, forming his first band, Angel Range during his college years, along with guitarist Russell Lissack, bassist Gordon Moakes and the drummer Matt Tong.

Whether standing firm against adversity, fighting for rights and medical research, or providing a platform for those whose voices were hitherto unheard, these pioneering LGBTQ+ musicians have added their own splash of colour to the walls of popular music’s everlasting corridors. Adele is a singer-songwriter who, to date, has sold over 90 million records. At the end of she held the record for the longest running album at number 1 in the US after 21 sat at that position for 23 weeks. He has sold more than two hundred and fifty million records, achieved thirty gold and thirty-one platinum albums and holders the record for biggest selling single of all time for Candle in the Wind.

Lil Nas X is a trailblazing music industry artist known for his hit song “Old Town Road.” In June , during Pride Month, he publicly came out as gay, becoming one of the industry’s most visible Black queer male singers. The music industry and its fans have recognized his contributions as an openly gay artist. Whether they were able to be out publicly in their own lifetimes or not, queer composers have made incredible contributions to the history of classical music from as early as the 17th century and beyond. Read more: 9 Black composers who changed the course of classical music history. Edward Benjamin Britten is one of the finest composers of English operas, choral works, and songs, many of which he wrote for his life partner, tenor Sir Peter Pears.

In , queer musicians took it up a notch. The charts were built on LGBTQ+ artists, from Ice Spice’s epic breakthrough to Miley Cyrus’s week-long stay at number one with “Flowers”. We also saw a host of new trans and non-binary artists begin to carve space in an industry that is too. We hope you're having a great Pride Month! Legendary musicians who have inspired, advocated, and conquered. We not only salute these musicians during Pride Month, but every day.