19 Musicians Who Use Queer Pronouns In Their LyricsSkip To ContentHomepageSign InSearch BuzzFeedSearch BuzzFeedlol Badge Feedwin Badge Feedtrending Badge FeedCalifornia residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data.Do Not Sell My Personal Information 2022 BuzzFeed, Inc PressRSSPrivacyConsent PreferencesUser TermsAd ChoicesHelpContactSitemap Updated on 18 Jun 2022 It s Pride Month So Let s Celebrate Musicians Bravely Using Same-Sex Pronouns In Their MusicFrom Lil Nas to Lizzo. by Sam ClealBuzzFeed StaffFacebookPinterestTwitterMailLink Happy Pride Month everyone Tap to play GIF Tap to play GIF VH1 To celebrate I thought I would shout out 19 incredible musicians who have bravely written and or sung songs that either use same-sex pronouns or reference queer relationships This way for ~representation~ 1 Rina Sawayama Tristan Fewings / Genius / Getty Images Undeniable banger: "Lucid" Best lyric: "Come be my stranger in the dark." Pansexual pop vanguard Rina Sawayama is one artist who should definitely be on your radar! The Japanese British singer is an outspoken member of the LGBT community who loves to express this in her music — which is all pretty sensational, I must say. She counts Kehlani as an inspiration when it comes to singing about men and women.See also: "Cherry", "This Hell", "Cyber Stockholm Syndrome". 2 Kehlani Rich Fury / Genius / Getty Images for DCP Undeniable banger: "Honey" Best lyric: "Colored out the lines, I came to find my fire was fate with you."Kehlani is somewhat of a pioneer when it comes to using same-sex pronouns in love songs. The American singer was inspired by the reaction she received to her song "Honey" to keep being open in her music. Speaking to Hayley Kiyoko in Fader, they said, "Seeing how much people felt like they needed that representation ... definitely encouraged me to step into this new phase of making music." See also: "Nights Like This", "Playinwitme", "Heebiejeebies". 3 Lil Nas X Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / FilmMagic / Genius / Getty Images Undeniable banger: "That's What I Want" Best lyric: "It don't feel right when it's late at night and it's just me in my dreams." If you didn't know that Lil Nas X is a flaming homo, then you've been living under a rock, my friend. The rapper and singer publicly revealed his sexuality back in 2019 and has been a fierce advocate for the community ever since. Regarding his lyrics, Lil Nas has spoken about the need to "normalise" queer lust and bring queer narratives into mainstream music. See also: "C7osure", "Holiday", "Sun Goes Down". 4 Lizzo Kevin Mazur / Genius / Getty Images for the Recording Academy Undeniable banger: "About Damn Time" Best lyric: "I've been through a lot, but I'm still flirty." Lizzo has been a fierce ally to the LGBT community for a long time, and her music is often emblematic of the queer lifestyle at large. She is vocal about her love of men and allegedly does not identify as queer, although she did once tell Teen Vogue that she doesn't "ascribe to just one thing". I guess that's why she says "man or woman", then! 5 Years and Years John Phillips / Genius / Getty Images Undeniable banger: "Real" Best lyric: "I itch all night, I itch for you." Lead singer Olly Alexander has proudly waved the rainbow flag for several years, and in 2015, he spoke to Digital Spy specifically on the issue of same-sex pronouns in music, saying, "It's sad we don't have gay pop stars using male pronouns." Olly wrote "Real" about an ex-boyfriend and wanted to keep the lyrics, well...real. See also: "Sanctify", "Memo", "Preacher", "Valentino", "Sweet Talker". 6 Hayley Kiyoko Frazer Harrison / Genius / Getty Images Undeniable banger: "What I Need" Best lyric: "I only want a girl who ain't afraid to love me." This killer track from Hayley's exceptional 2018 album, "Expectations", is a collab with the aforementioned Kehlani. Written from a gay perspective, the song is about a girl who is frustrated that her girlfriend is still in the closet. Hayley is openly gay and regularly writes about her experience dating women — that's why she's known as "the Lesbian Jesus". See also: "Pretty Girl", "Curious", "Girls like Girls". 7 Troye Sivan Phillip Faraone / Genius / Getty Images Undeniable banger: "Bloom" Best lyric: "Take a trip into my garden, I've got so much to show ya. The fountains and the waters are begging just to know ya." This so-called ode to bottoming comes from Troye Sivan's second studio album of the same name. Troye seems eager to highlight his sexuality in nearly all of his songs, and last year he told the Guardian, "I think there’s power in living openly and truthfully while also being gay." See also: "Gasoline", "For Him", "1999", "Lucky Strike", "Seventeen". 8 Dodie Steve Jennings / Genius / Getty Images Undeniable banger: "She" Best lyric: "Am I allowed to look at her like that?" Bi singer-songwriter Dodie has gone from posting on YouTube to recording three EPs and studio album, the latter of which peaked at No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart! Her music is raw and refreshing and often discusses queer relationships and self-love, which is a theme she says runs through her queerness and songwriting.See also: "In the Middle", "Rainbow", "Cool Girl". 9 Gossip Andreas Rentz / Genius / Getty Images Undeniable banger: "Where the Girls Are" Best lyric: "Could I give it to your sister? Girl, I love you like no other." Self-described "fat feminist lesbian" Beth Ditto and her bandmates, who also identify as being on the queer spectrum, put out some major tunes during their run. Most, if not all, of it was forthcoming when it came to using same-sex pronouns and bringing up LGBT issues. "Where the Girls Are" — a track all about being a lesbian and hitting on beautiful women — is just one example. See also: "Men in Love", "Love Long Distance". 10 Girl in Red Kevin Mazur / WireImage / Genius / Getty Images Undeniable banger: "Girls" Best lyric: "'I'm not talking 'bout boys, I'm talking 'bout girls." What I can say about the Soundcloud artist turned Gen Z queen? Her songs are super LGBT-oriented, with the Norwegian singer recently telling the Guardian, "If my songs can in any way, shape, or form normalise queerness, then that’s amazing." Can we also talk about the fact that gay girls often say, "Do you listen to Girl in Red?" to find out if other women are queer? Iconic, honestly. See also: "We Fell in Love in October", "​I Wanna Be Your Girlfriend", "Did You Come?" 11 Frank Ocean Frazer Harrison / Genius / Getty Images Undeniable banger: "Forrest Gump" Best lyric: "You run my mind, boy." Rapper Frank Ocean made waves in the R&B community when he came out just before the release of his 2012 debut studio album, Channel Orange. Knowing his lyrics in tracks like "Forrest Gump" would fuel speculation about his sexuality, Frank posted on Tumblr about being in relationships with men, later saying that he wanted to be transparent and provide a role model for young LGBT youth. See also: "Thinkin Bout You", "Bad Religion", "Chanel", "Good Guy". 12 Janelle Monáe Kevin Winter / Genius / Getty Images Undeniable banger: "Q.U.E.E.N." Best lyric: "Hey, sister, am I good enough for your heaven?" Conceptual artist Janelle Monáe has been queering her public image since her debut album, The ArchAndroid. Of her music, she says, "I want people who feel oppressed or feel like the 'other' to connect with the music and to feel like 'She represents who I am'." "Q.U.E.E.N." uses classic Janelle-isms that speak to the queer community, especially lesbians and drag performers. See also: "Electric Lady", "Givin’ Em What They Love", "Pynk". 13 Patti Smith Scott Wintrow / Genius / Getty Images Undeniable banger: "Gloria: In Excelsis Deo" Best lyric: "Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine." Legendary punk icon and poet Patti Smith has always played with the boundary between conventionally male and female dress. In songs like her cover of Van Morrison's "Gloria" — released on her 1975 debut album, Horses — she blurs the lines even further. Patti rewrote most of the lyrics but still sang it about crushing on a woman...what a stone-cold hero! See also: "Redondo Beach", "Summer Cannibals". 14 King Princess Amy Sussman / Genius / Getty Images Undeniable banger: "Talia" Best lyric: "If I drink enough I can taste your lipstick, I can lay down next to you." If you wanted an overtly queer artist to listen to, you've got one in King Princess! Her music is unapologetically queer and often references sex and relationships between women. Even so, the genderqueer artist once said to the New York Times, "My music is queer because I'm queer [but] I don’t want to be compared to just gay people ... queer artist is not a category. ... I want to compete with straight people." See also: "1950", "Homegirl", "Pussy Is God". 15 MNEK Jeff Spicer / Genius / Getty Images Undeniable banger: "Girlfriend" Best lyric: "Neither you or your story's straight." The multitalented producer-singer had previously resisted using same-sex pronouns in his own music, despite being open about his sexuality. However, in his later work especially, MNEK has been more assertive about his gay identity, stating that through his lyrics, he wants to share "the Black gay experience" with fans. See also: "Valentino", "The Rhythm". 16 Halsey Jamie Mccarthy / Genius / Getty Images Undeniable banger: "Bad at Love" Best lyric: "Got a girl with California eyes, and I thought that she could really be the one this time." Halsey openly identifies as bisexual and is another modern-day pop star who freely uses same-sex pronouns in their music. In "Bad at Love", they recount dalliances they've had with countless beautiful women around the globe. Also, their 2017 collab with Fifth Harmony singer Lauren Jauregui — "Strangers" — talks about the same-sex relationships they've both had. See also: "Strangers", "Free Love", "New Americana". 17 Tegan and Sara Vivien Killilea / Genius / Getty Images for Billboard Undeniable banger: "Boyfriend" Best lyric: "I don't want to be your secret anymore." The iconic indie duo have been out here making lesbian-centric music since the late '90s, so respect! A lot of Tegan and Sara music deals with queer female issues and ideas. The pair have always been open in their careers and have even set up the Tegan and Sara Foundation for LGBT women and girls! See also: "Now I’m All Messed Up", "So Jealous", "Where Does the Good Go". 18 Kevin Abstract Frazer Harrison / Genius / Getty Images Undeniable banger: "Empty" Best lyric: "I got your emotions tattooed on my sleeve." As a solo artist and as part of Brockhampton, Kevin Abstract has been openly gay since 2016, stating, "I want to be me and express that and break new ground along the way." His music is full of super-confessional material about his sexuality and is pretty steamy — is there any Kevin–Shawn Mendes fanfic out there? "Empty" describes his difficult relationship with his mum and his boyfriend. See also: "Star", "Junky", "Something About Him". 19 Adam Lambert Gustavo Caballero / WireImage / Genius / Getty Images Undeniable banger: "Fever" Best lyric: "Let's get inside your car, just you, me, and the stars." The American Idol breakout star has been visibly out for much of his career. In 2016, Adam Lambert spoke to Digital Spy and commented that he felt LGBT artists were becoming more comfortable expressing their true sexual identities in their music, but also said that industry "gatekeepers" often prohibited male artists from using male pronouns in music. Luckily, Adam has had a breakthough with some of his songs! See also: "Sure Fire Winners", "Down the Rabbit Hole", "Love Don't". Did we miss anyone out Let us know in the comments Share This ArticleFacebookPinterestTwitterMailLink