Gay male musicians

Their platform extended to TV after appearing in the reality TV show Big Freedia: Queen of Bounce on the Fuse network. 

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John Harbison

Harbison is an American composer whose works span operas, symphonies, and chamber music.

John’s flamboyant stage presence and his advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights have made him a beloved and influential figure in the music industry. Adam Lambert

Adam Lambert's first claim to fame was being the runner-up on the eighth season of American Idol. He has been an advocate for LGBTQ+ representation in the music industry and has worked with numerous artists, including H.E.R., Selena Gomez, and Beyonce, as a songwriter and producer. 

In 2019, MNEK created a one-of-a-kind songwriting camp for LGBTQ+ singer-songwriters in association with Pride in Music.

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His music often explores themes of love, heartbreak, and identity from a queer perspective. In 2009, he came out as gay in an interview with Rolling Stone. He later returned to secular music but continued to draw on his religious beliefs in his music. In 1992, he performed a version of "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" with Elton John at a benefit concert for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

Michael, one of the most popular gay musicians of his time, passed away on December 25, 2016, but his music and LGBTQ+ activism continue to inspire fans.

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She addresses insecurity, trauma, racism, and more hefty subjects in her music, perhaps to hopefully inspire people to dig deeper and look at themselves and the lives they live.

15 Queer Musicians Making Waves Today

While many artists are celebrated for their allyship, this list highlights the queer musical talents that are carving out space for themselves and creating art that helps the LGBTQIA+ community feel seen and heard in an industry that often leaves them behind.

Lil Mop (Official Video)

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Destin Conrad

Another artist that comes from the world of social media – Vine in particular – Destin Conrad has grown into both a talented songwriter and a soulful artist. His openness about his sexuality and his contributions to the fight against AIDS through the Elton John AIDS Foundation have made him a role model for many.

Lance Bass

Lance Bass skyrocketed to fame as one of five members of the iconic boyband *NSYNC. His works, such as Nixon in China and Doctor Atomic, often engage with political and social issues. Cage’s radical approach to composition has influenced countless musicians, much like the groundbreaking contributions of artists like David Bowie and Frank Ocean.

Cage’s “4’33”,” a piece in which the performer does not play any notes for four minutes and thirty-three seconds, challenged audiences to reconsider the nature of music and the role of silence.

Rorem’s candidness about his life and work parallels the openness seen in the music and lives of contemporary artists like Ani DiFranco and Frank Ocean, who also use their platforms to express their authentic selves.

Rorem’s diaries, which span several decades, offer a fascinating glimpse into the life of a composer who was deeply introspective and unflinchingly honest about his personal experiences and relationships.

Extremely confident in the art she wants to create and in her queer identity, Tala makes the kind of music that people can find themselves in. While he didn't publicly come out as gay during the competition, he later confirmed his sexual orientation in a 2008 interview with People magazine. Del Tredici’s shift from modernism to a more tonal, lyrical style in the 1970s coincided with his embrace of his own sexuality, making him one of the first major classical composers to openly address gay themes in his music.