In the diversity calendar, August is the Lesbian Visibility Month in Brazil. This is the time not only to reinforce the fight for equality, rights and inclusion, but also to celebrate diversity and women.
Lesbian and queer representation has come a long way in music, as several queer artists have worked hard to gain space in the industry. Even though we must not recognize them for their sexuality alone, to acknowledge it is fundamental for inclusion and creating music that the LGBTQ+ community can truly relate to.
Because of this, we selected eight lesbian singers who have courageously spoken about their queerness through their songs:
- Hayley Kiyoko
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Perhaps the most notorious lesbian singer of this generation, Hayley Kiyoko is responsible for creating the famous sapphic anthem “Girls Like Girls”. This year, she released a book based on its music video, a reflection of the impact of this song on queer women all over the world. She has more amazing tracks, like her latest single “somewhere between the sand and the stardust”, which you should listen to.
Our recommendation: What I Need (feat. Kehlani)
“When we’re all alone, girl, you wanna own it
When we’re with your fam, you don’t wanna show it
Oh, you’re tryna keep us on the low
I only want a girl who ain’t afraid to love me
Not a metaphor of what we really could be
Oh, I ain’t putting on a show”
- King Princess
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Mikaela Mullaney Straus, known professionally as King Princess, is a lesbian singer and songwriter who debuted their first single “1950” in 2018. Her music career took off as soon as the track went platinum. Soon after, she started singing at acclaimed festivals like Lollapalooza and Coachella and released her debut studio album Cheap Queen in 2019.
Our recommendation: Pussy is God
“You know that it’s God, baby, when you’re around her
I’ve been praying for hours
You know that it’s God, baby, when you’re around her
She’s God and I’ve found her, oh”
- Melissa Etheridge
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Melissa Etheridge is an American singer who started her career in 1982. She began her career singing in lesbian bars, leeding her to be discovered by Island Records and her career took off. Soon she was nominated at the Grammys for the first time for her hit song “Bring Me Some Water”.
Our recommendation: Come To My Window
“I don’t care what they think
I don’t care what they say
What do they know
About this love anyway?”
- Zolita
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Zolita is an American singer and openly identifies herself as a lesbian. In a 2017 interview, she expressed how lucky she was to have grown up in a liberal family, surrounded by open-minded friends. She takes pride not only in her songs, but in her colorful and fun music videos.
Our recommendation: Ashley
“Oh, Ashley
I need you so badly
‘Cause life is a bad dream
So if lovin’ you kills me
Yeah, I would die happy”
- Kehlani
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Kehlani is an American R&B and hip hop singer-songwriter. They came out as lesbian in 2021 and since then have been releasing songs about love, heartbreak and pride. In an interview with Byrdie Magazine in 2021, they stated their preference for pronoun “they” over “she”, because “something feels really affirming when people say they”, and that “it feels like you really see me”.
Our recommendation: Honey
“I like my girls just like I like my honey, sweet
A little selfish
I like my women like I like my money, green
A little jealous”
- MUNA
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Muna is a queer band formed by three queer singers: Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin, and Naomi McPherson. The three were gathered while studying at USC in Los Angeles and soon decided to team up as a music group. Their electronic pop songs revolve around topics such as feminine identity, heartbreak, self-worth, and rejection.
The group works hard and creates music to help inspire younger people to be comfortable with their respective identities and the band feels that it can resonate for many teenagers who feel like they are not represented well in music.
Our recommendation: I Know a Place
“I know a place we can run (yeah)
Where everyone gonna lay down their weapon
Lay down their weapon
Don’t you be afraid of love and affection
Just lay down your weapon
(Lay down your weapon)”
- Tegan and Sara
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Popular in the indie community, Tegan and Sara is a band formed by Tegan and Sara Quinn, who are both identical twins and lesbians. They are seriously involved with LGBTQ+ activism, and have also started the Tegan and Sara Foundation to support queer women and girls. A track from their platinum 2013 LP Heartthrob, “Closer”, has landed in several critics’ lists as a song for the community.
Our recommendation: Boyfriend
“You treat me like your boyfriend
And trust me like a – like a very best friend
Kiss me like your boyfriend
You call me up, like you want your best friend
You turn me on, like you want your boyfriend
But I don’t wanna be your secret anymore”
- Mary Lambert
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Mary Lambert is known mainly for her collaboration with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis on “Same Love”. The singer, who identifies openly as lesbian, has ensured that her music is very representative of her identity. However, she struggled for many years to reconcile her Christianity and her sexuality, even after she came out. Songs like “She Keeps Me Warm” are derived from her own life experiences.
Our recommendation: She Keeps me Warm
“I can’t change, even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can’t change, even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love, my love, my love, my love
She keeps me warm”
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The article above was edited by Julia Queiroz.
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