FEATURE:
Pride and Prejudice
IMAGE CREDIT: Freepik
Do Enough Modern Artists Discuss and Support the L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ Community and Women’s Rights?
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IT is Pride Month…
IN THIS PHOTO: Janelle Monáe/PHOTO CREDIT: Mason Rose
and it has been great hearing new Pride songs and these big anthems. The pride of the L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ community have been showing their colours and love in wonderful songs. Alongside these positive and celebratory songs, there is still a lot of hate aimed against the L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ community. If artists such as Janelle Monáe are celebrating gender fluidity, sexuality, and diversity, there is a lot of vitriol and ignorance on social media and beyond. I love that artists today are free and encouraged to discuss and sing about different sexual orientation and bigger issues. I do wonder, alongside this, whether there are enough songs that both strike against those that are misinformed and hateful, alongside a broader spectrum. Political songs of the past struck against those who held us back and created this sense of division. Are songs now doing the same against those who attack and marginalise the L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ community?! I follow transgender artists and people on Twitter. I find that they often have to defend themselves against so much hate! Information and educating those who spout nonsense and inaccurate figures and portrayal, it is always impressive the trans community have such patience and strength. I have not really heard many songs that discuss trans rights and sexuality. Also ones that fight back against the discriminators and trolls. There are wonderful trans artists such as Kim Petras - but I think there should be support from other artists. There is this incredible platform right now.
I can understand why artists want to be personal and talk about their lives and relationships. Are there as many political, socially active, and L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+-supporting songs as there should be?! At a time when there is more attacks against the community as there have ever been, we need this wave of music that celebrates the community but also features L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ people and stories in the lyrics. Artists such as Christine and the Queens, Taylor Swift, and Sam Smith are dealing with these issues and conversations in their music. Should it just be down to Pride/L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ artists to do this?! Whether it is a Steely Dan-inspired song that included a trans person who has to navigate hostility but comes out superior, or a great Pop song that educates those closed minds, it would be a revolution that the music industry needs! There is plenty of debate and discourse online at the moment regarding anti-trans/gay rights, but I am not sure how much of this translates and seeps into music. One does not read too many interviews where artists have their say. Again, the same sort of artists come up – whether it is Taylor Swift or Madonna. I am not sure whether there is too much to risk when artists take a stance when it comes to defending the L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ artists and tackling anti-trans laws and legislation. In the same way Hip-Hop artists of the past produced these amazing and timeless albums that spoke against racism, police brutality and a lack of visibility of the Black popularity, I feel like there could be this movement and continued series of songs and albums where L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+.
It is not only the L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ community and their rights that should be on the radar of most artists. The wider political spectrum needs more addressment and coverage. Again, I can understand why personal insights about an artist’s own experience might outweigh that of the wider world, but there are these important and pressing subjects that need to assimilate more naturally into modern music. We do have some artists documenting and spotlighting sexual abuse, gender inequality and consent. One does not hear too many artists – especially men – who are discussing it in interviews. With, sadly, stories about men in music being accused of sexual misconduct (including Rammstein’s Till Lindemann), it seems like music is the perfect forum to discuss this. don’t think that these subjects should be off limits. I don’t think it is only women who should be talking about it. You don’t see too many male artists addressing sexual assault, gender issues and inequality (including the fact festival bills are still not equal and featuring male women as headline acts) through the industry. Fewer still actually bring this into their music. I do not know why. Women need allies and support when it comes to highlighting ongoing problems and abuses. Similar to songs that emphasis L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ rights and tackle a false narrative many hold regarding them, is there a big commercial and label risk if artists did say something?! That in itself would create controversy!
We live at a time when the Internet and social media provides this platform for some wonderful things. We can share songs, information and stories from L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ artists and members of the community. We also give voice to those who attack them and show this real lack of empathy and humanity. The same goes for women’s rights and protection. Vital statements, reports and stories can be shared so that people are aware and informed. Again, there are those who will abuse and harass women – whether it is sexually explicit images, misogynistic remarks or the most vile comments and threats. I am thinking ahead to Hip-Hop’s fiftieth anniversary later in the year. I have written about this before, but Hip-Hop’s greats used their voice to protect their rights, discuss the discrimination and injustice they faced, creating this music that has inspired and resonated through the decades. An alternative movement really needs to happen now. Some of the best albums from this year have come from L.G.B.T.Q.I.A. artists – including boygenius, and Chris from Christine and the Queens -, but there is relatively little conversation and representation of the positivity and love from the L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ community and the way they are perceived and de-humanised by many people. There is a lot of work that needs to happen in society in general. From trans rights and Black rights, so many people are being impacted. Great artists like Janelle Monáe are fighting the fight, but the music community at large should mobilise, join together and weaponise their words to show love, support and, when it comes to the bigots and morally corrupt, defence and education. It is important to be celebratory and loving, although there also needs to be that seriousness and darker moments where some big conversations are tackled. It is not only down to those in the L.G.B.T.Q.I.A.+ to celebrate and defend themselves. Not only women who should be raising awareness of some of the issues and abuses they face. These incredible, brave and essential people need to be fully…
HEARD and supported.