LGBTQ Musicians?
August 25, 2015 8:56 PM Subscribe
As part of LGBT History Month in October, I am planning a bulletin board of LGBTQ Musicians (music teacher, public K-8 school in Chicago). I already have a good list going (see below), but I'm looking specifically for more women, people of color, and trans* or gender non-conforming folks. I'm also looking for a diverse range of musical styles (classical, jazz, pop, etc), eras, and musical roles (composer, performer, lyricist, etc). Still, I will take any suggestions you have!
So far, I've got:
Freddy Mercury (thanks phunniemee)
David Bowie
Elton John
Melissa Etheridge
Chely Wright
Harvey Fierstein
Aaron Copland
Benjamin Britten
MIchael Tilson Thomas
Gary Burton
Dusty Springfield
Billy Strayhorn
Tchaikofsky
Chavela Vargas
John Corgiliano
Jennifer Higdon
Samuel Barber
Gian-Carlo Menotti
Poulenc
Fred Hersch
Rufus Wainwright
Frank Ocean
Miley Cyrus
Shamir
Also, I want to make sure that the individual is out (of course) and openly speaks about their gender expression and/or sexual orientation. So, for example, while she is a badass composer and electronic musician (and I talk about her when I talk about electronic music and film music!), I would not include Wendy Carlos on this list [NB: this is not intended to be a discussion of Wendy Carlos].
So far, I've got:
Freddy Mercury (thanks phunniemee)
David Bowie
Elton John
Melissa Etheridge
Chely Wright
Harvey Fierstein
Aaron Copland
Benjamin Britten
MIchael Tilson Thomas
Gary Burton
Dusty Springfield
Billy Strayhorn
Tchaikofsky
Chavela Vargas
John Corgiliano
Jennifer Higdon
Samuel Barber
Gian-Carlo Menotti
Poulenc
Fred Hersch
Rufus Wainwright
Frank Ocean
Miley Cyrus
Shamir
Also, I want to make sure that the individual is out (of course) and openly speaks about their gender expression and/or sexual orientation. So, for example, while she is a badass composer and electronic musician (and I talk about her when I talk about electronic music and film music!), I would not include Wendy Carlos on this list [NB: this is not intended to be a discussion of Wendy Carlos].
Um, in all seriousness... would Boy George maybe be a good addition?
posted by hydra77 at 9:08 PM on August 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by hydra77 at 9:08 PM on August 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
Meshell Ndegeocello
Antony Hegarty (of Antony and the Johnsons)
Ani DiFranco
posted by prewar lemonade at 9:11 PM on August 25, 2015 [3 favorites]
Antony Hegarty (of Antony and the Johnsons)
Ani DiFranco
posted by prewar lemonade at 9:11 PM on August 25, 2015 [3 favorites]
You may want to include Tom Robinson, whose song Glad to Be Gay was released in 1978! I'm sure you'll want to include Phranc, too (sorry, can't link on phone).
posted by scratch at 9:15 PM on August 25, 2015
posted by scratch at 9:15 PM on August 25, 2015
Also Laura Jane Grace of Against Me!
posted by scratch at 9:18 PM on August 25, 2015 [10 favorites]
posted by scratch at 9:18 PM on August 25, 2015 [10 favorites]
I'm not sure if Gladys Bentley counts, because later in life she got religion, married a man, and renounced her bull dagger identity.
When she was out as a lesbian, she was one of the very, very, very few openly homosexual performers, and her crossdressing and risqué songs absolutely secure her a place in queer jazz history.
posted by Juliet Banana at 9:27 PM on August 25, 2015
When she was out as a lesbian, she was one of the very, very, very few openly homosexual performers, and her crossdressing and risqué songs absolutely secure her a place in queer jazz history.
posted by Juliet Banana at 9:27 PM on August 25, 2015
more hip hop:
house of ladosha (I did an fpp about them)
barf troop
cakes da killa
mykki blanco
posted by Juliet Banana at 9:30 PM on August 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
house of ladosha (I did an fpp about them)
barf troop
cakes da killa
mykki blanco
posted by Juliet Banana at 9:30 PM on August 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
queercore punk bands
pansy division, limp wrist, closet burner, peach kelli pop, pookie and the poodles, hunx and his punx, absolutely not
posted by Juliet Banana at 9:34 PM on August 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
pansy division, limp wrist, closet burner, peach kelli pop, pookie and the poodles, hunx and his punx, absolutely not
posted by Juliet Banana at 9:34 PM on August 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
Stephin Merritt of The Magnetic Fields
posted by prewar lemonade at 9:41 PM on August 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by prewar lemonade at 9:41 PM on August 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
On the queercore tip, most of the Chainsaw Records roster are some flavor of LGBTQ.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 9:47 PM on August 25, 2015
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 9:47 PM on August 25, 2015
Abby DeWald and Amanda Barret of The Ditty Bops
posted by prewar lemonade at 9:50 PM on August 25, 2015
posted by prewar lemonade at 9:50 PM on August 25, 2015
Mirah!
posted by ariadne's threadspinner at 10:05 PM on August 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by ariadne's threadspinner at 10:05 PM on August 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
RuPaul
Perfume Genius
Michael Stipe
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 10:22 PM on August 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
Perfume Genius
Michael Stipe
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 10:22 PM on August 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
Katastrophe (transgender)
Azealia Banks (POC, woman)
JD Samson (gender-nonconforming, woman)
Laura Nyro (woman)
Lesley Gore (woman)
Linda Perry (POC, woman)
Ladyhawke (woman)
White guys in classical or Broadway:
Leonard Bernstein
Stephen Sondheim
Lorenz Hart (lyricist)
Howard Ashman (lyricist)
John Cage (and Merce Cunningham)
Peter Pears (Britten's partner; English tenor)
Lou Harrison (composer)
posted by thetortoise at 11:02 PM on August 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
Azealia Banks (POC, woman)
JD Samson (gender-nonconforming, woman)
Laura Nyro (woman)
Lesley Gore (woman)
Linda Perry (POC, woman)
Ladyhawke (woman)
White guys in classical or Broadway:
Leonard Bernstein
Stephen Sondheim
Lorenz Hart (lyricist)
Howard Ashman (lyricist)
John Cage (and Merce Cunningham)
Peter Pears (Britten's partner; English tenor)
Lou Harrison (composer)
posted by thetortoise at 11:02 PM on August 25, 2015 [1 favorite]
Also, your elementary school kids won't have seen it yet, but Richard O'Brien, Rocky Horror writer, is trans/nonbinary
posted by thetortoise at 11:09 PM on August 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by thetortoise at 11:09 PM on August 25, 2015 [2 favorites]
A couple more I just thought of:
Harry Partch
Not sure if Johnny Mathis is officially out, but I thought he was
posted by thetortoise at 11:48 PM on August 25, 2015
Harry Partch
Not sure if Johnny Mathis is officially out, but I thought he was
posted by thetortoise at 11:48 PM on August 25, 2015
Owen Pallett
posted by the_wintry_mizzenmast at 1:44 AM on August 26, 2015
posted by the_wintry_mizzenmast at 1:44 AM on August 26, 2015
Marin Alsop
posted by brujita at 4:01 AM on August 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by brujita at 4:01 AM on August 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
Billie Holiday
Hometown heroes The Aluminum Group
Mark Eitzel (American Music Club)
posted by hydrophonic at 5:01 AM on August 26, 2015
Hometown heroes The Aluminum Group
Mark Eitzel (American Music Club)
posted by hydrophonic at 5:01 AM on August 26, 2015
Bob Mould
posted by mahorn at 5:15 AM on August 26, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by mahorn at 5:15 AM on August 26, 2015 [2 favorites]
Although cis white male, Rob Halford of Judas Priest.
This will beef up the metal representation on your list.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 5:29 AM on August 26, 2015 [2 favorites]
This will beef up the metal representation on your list.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 5:29 AM on August 26, 2015 [2 favorites]
Juliana Huxtable (TWOC, DJ)
Honey Dijon (TWOC, DJ)
Howard Greenfield (60s composer/songwriter, gay)
I saw Laura Nyro mentioned earlier, and I want to point out that in addition to being a women she also was partnered with a woman for the last 14 years of her life, and always identified very openly as feminist.
posted by Juliet Banana at 6:16 AM on August 26, 2015
Honey Dijon (TWOC, DJ)
Howard Greenfield (60s composer/songwriter, gay)
I saw Laura Nyro mentioned earlier, and I want to point out that in addition to being a women she also was partnered with a woman for the last 14 years of her life, and always identified very openly as feminist.
posted by Juliet Banana at 6:16 AM on August 26, 2015
Esquerita
posted by Juliet Banana at 6:32 AM on August 26, 2015
posted by Juliet Banana at 6:32 AM on August 26, 2015
Hurray for the Riff Raff is exactly this. All of it.
posted by TinWhistle at 7:24 AM on August 26, 2015
posted by TinWhistle at 7:24 AM on August 26, 2015
You might be interested in the opera Patience and Sarah, described as the first lesbian-themed opera, created by composer Paula Kimper and librettist Wende Persons. It premiered in 1998.
posted by bananana at 7:28 AM on August 26, 2015
posted by bananana at 7:28 AM on August 26, 2015
Meredith Monk
posted by thetortoise at 7:34 AM on August 26, 2015
posted by thetortoise at 7:34 AM on August 26, 2015
George Michael
Ricky Martin
posted by lock sock and barrel at 7:38 AM on August 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
Ricky Martin
posted by lock sock and barrel at 7:38 AM on August 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
From my zine series, JD Samson, Gladys Bentley, and Chavela. And the Brazilian singers, some of them out.
posted by TheGoodBlood at 7:39 AM on August 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by TheGoodBlood at 7:39 AM on August 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
Just popped into mention Baby Dee. Assigned male at birth, Baby Dee is a transgender woman. And she writes and plays the loveliest songs.
posted by the matching mole at 8:13 AM on August 26, 2015
posted by the matching mole at 8:13 AM on August 26, 2015
Jenny Owen Youngs - she's a lesbian, and I think is in a polyamorous relationship but not entirely sure on the current-ness of that bit of info.
posted by Medieval Maven at 8:44 AM on August 26, 2015
posted by Medieval Maven at 8:44 AM on August 26, 2015
Jayne County, Justin Vivian Bond, ... everyone on this list and this list and oh god so many lists.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 9:22 AM on August 26, 2015
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 9:22 AM on August 26, 2015
Response by poster: These are great, thanks everybody! I will come back and post photos when this thing goes up in October.
posted by rossination at 9:27 AM on August 26, 2015
posted by rossination at 9:27 AM on August 26, 2015
Some recent excellent queer black punk:
Shopping
Trash Kit (also w/Rachel Aggs)
The Younger Lovers
posted by Beardman at 10:43 AM on August 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
Shopping
Trash Kit (also w/Rachel Aggs)
The Younger Lovers
posted by Beardman at 10:43 AM on August 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
Little Richard
posted by hydrophonic at 11:06 AM on August 26, 2015
posted by hydrophonic at 11:06 AM on August 26, 2015
You may want to include Tom Robinson, whose song Glad to Be Gay was released in 1978! I'm sure you'll want to include Phranc, too (sorry, can't link on phone).
posted by scratch at 9:15 PM on August 25 [+] [!]
Yes, Phranc!
posted by Room 641-A at 11:12 AM on August 26, 2015
posted by scratch at 9:15 PM on August 25 [+] [!]
Yes, Phranc!
posted by Room 641-A at 11:12 AM on August 26, 2015
Darren Hayes from Savage Garden
Lance Bass from NSync
posted by the agents of KAOS at 12:14 PM on August 26, 2015
Lance Bass from NSync
posted by the agents of KAOS at 12:14 PM on August 26, 2015
Katharine Lee Bates, who composed "America, The Beautiful."
posted by Carol Anne at 12:46 PM on August 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by Carol Anne at 12:46 PM on August 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein from Sleater-Kinney, though Brownstein is probably more easily recognized as the woman from Portlandia now.
posted by strangecargo at 1:55 PM on August 26, 2015
posted by strangecargo at 1:55 PM on August 26, 2015
Tegan & Sara
Bitch and Animal (probably not friendly for your intended audience)
Allison Weiss
Beatrice Eli
Melissa Ferrick
Perfume Genius
Also, checking Wikipedia might be useful here, though might require verification: Lesbian musicians and Transgender musicians.
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 2:20 PM on August 26, 2015
Bitch and Animal (probably not friendly for your intended audience)
Allison Weiss
Beatrice Eli
Melissa Ferrick
Perfume Genius
Also, checking Wikipedia might be useful here, though might require verification: Lesbian musicians and Transgender musicians.
posted by the thorn bushes have roses at 2:20 PM on August 26, 2015
Tracy Chapman
Michelle Ndgeocello
Both Black women.
(incidentally, Chapman dated Alice Walker and Ndgeocello dated Alice Walker's daughter)
posted by bearette at 2:31 PM on August 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
Michelle Ndgeocello
Both Black women.
(incidentally, Chapman dated Alice Walker and Ndgeocello dated Alice Walker's daughter)
posted by bearette at 2:31 PM on August 26, 2015 [1 favorite]
Bob Mould
and Grant Hart
Arthur Russell
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
posted by hydrophonic at 7:30 PM on August 26, 2015
and Grant Hart
Arthur Russell
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
posted by hydrophonic at 7:30 PM on August 26, 2015
Patrick Wolf
posted by brushtailedphascogale at 6:18 PM on August 27, 2015
posted by brushtailedphascogale at 6:18 PM on August 27, 2015
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