From A To MNEK: The LGBTQ+ Music Videos That Shook The World

Queer visibility and representation in mainstream media is, and has long been, integral to advancing the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. While culture and language often puts barriers between international media, music is arguably the one form of entertainment that transcends borders easily and is often held responsible for uniting marginalised peoples and bringing them to the forefront.

From Madonna and Prince to Janet Jackson, some of the biggest musical acts in the world were outward allies and provided representation for LGBTQ+ people at the peak of their careers via the medium of music videos. While true equality is an ongoing battle in many ways, us LGBTQ+ folk living in Britain are in a much better position in 2018 than a few decades ago, and much of the social change that pushed the political movements was undoubtedly influenced by our pop idols sparking important conversations.

The 2010s were ushered in with a number of ‘be yourself’ anthems with everyone from P!nk to Katy Perry and Christina Aguilera releasing their own tunes dedicated - in part, at least - to our community. However, the power of a visual can elevate a song to anthem status even if said song isn’t explicitly speaking to a set group of people, and have proven to be more impactful and memorable over time.

Madonna is undoubtedly one of the greatest LGBTQ+ allies to have graced this heteronormative society. A fearless warrior who spoke proudly of the community very early on in her career at a time when it wasn’t necessarily safe to do so, yet she continued to fight for what is right in everything she did. Take this, for example: the album booklet of her 1989 album Like A Prayer contained an information leaflet on HIV and AIDS, educating every buyer to eradicate myths of it being a ‘gay disease' during the height of the epidemic.

This ballsy move wasn’t a one-off either as she continued to give the LGBTQ+ community a world stage as her career progressed to even greater heights. Her 1990 greatest hits album was promoted by two brand new singles that were accompanied by groundbreaking videos. ‘Vogue’ was a celebration of the queer dance form that originated in the New York ballroom scene, however it was ‘Justify My Love’ that truly pushed the boundaries as the X-rated visual brought queer intimacy to the forefront during a time when our community's sexuality was frankly considered terrifying to the average Joe.

Representing gay men, lesbians and bisexuality all in one video, it was later banned by MTV (hiya!) to which Madonna responded: “Why is it that people are willing to go and watch a movie about someone getting blown to bits for no reason at all, and nobody wants to see two girls kissing and two men snuggling?” Bow down.

Just a few years later, the legendary Janet Jackson turned tragedy into a unifying global hit with ‘Together Again’. Written as a tribute to a friend who had died of AIDS, the transformative disco-house anthem is a joyous celebration of the lives cut too short by the condition, which (unfortunately) resonated with many queer people and their families worldwide. While the song was adopted as an LGBTQ+ anthem, its dance-heavy video was set in a futuristic African paradise, adding another dimension to its meaning.

Thanks to superstars like Janet and Madonna, female pop stars have become some of the most vocal allies of the LGBTQ+ community, yet in the '90s being an openly queer pop star was still considered taboo by the mainstream media.

George Michael’s outing by the media was one of the most controversial and dehumanising scandals of the ‘90s, although the late singer’s response was an epic power move that saw him regain control of his narrative.

‘Outside’ was the first song to be released after a sting operation that found him arrested for cruising and it is an unabashedly queer club anthem that makes light of going al fresco. The accompanying visual is raunchy AF as Michael unapologetically owns his sexuality while showing people of every kind getting rather close everywhere from club toilets to open elevators and rooftop swimming pools.

George Michael switched the focus from his own coming out to the beauty and freedom of sexuality in all of its forms, and for that he will always be an LGBTQ+ icon.

Years before it became a pop music trend to support the queer community, Christina Aguilera - aged just 21, may I add - made a very brave move to position herself as an ally with her timeless song ‘Beautiful’. While its predecessor was a Number 1 hit here in the UK, ‘Dirrty' didn’t fare so well in the US, making her decision to feature a gay couple kissing and a transgender woman getting dressed in the music video for ‘Beautiful’ so greatly respectable.

This move may not seem so monumental now - in the year of #20GAYTEEN - however Christina was the first of her generation to align herself with the LGBTQ+ community, and it was also the first time many saw themselves represented on daytime television in a positive light, or any light at all. For myself, this was the first time I ever saw a same-sex kiss, and while I didn’t know what that meant to me as a child, it sure has stayed with me.

Lady Gaga was on top of the world when she released ‘Born This Way’, a song dedicated to the LGBTQ+ community that reached Number 1 in 25 countries, however it wasn’t exactly safe to make such an audacious move. Same-sex marriage was not yet legal in the UK, US, Australia or many other countries, and yet she name-checked all four letters of the LGBT and delivered a tailor-made anthem of acceptance and pride.

The song has become one of Gaga’s signature tracks and she became the first performer to say the word ‘transgender’ at the Super Bowl when she performed it during her halftime show performance in 2017. Iconic.

We have, thankfully, seen a rise in out-and-proud pop stars in recent years, with a new generation of artists being able to begin their careers without the shackles of being forced to hide their identity. From Years & Years’ Olly Alexander and Hayley Kiyoko to Kehlani and MNEK, mainstream pop is here, queer-er and more diverse than ever before.

Whether it’s exploring polyamory, proudly displaying black gay romance, navigating casual dating as a queer person, celebrating bisexuality, identifying as pansexual or even rejecting specific labels, today’s generation has an incredibly exciting array of artists who are releasing brilliant music and visuals that is relevant to the entirety of our community, not just straight audiences. The Gay Kiss is still a statement, although it's not the only one being made.

Also, beyond sexuality, the intersectionalities of the LGBTQ+ community are also better represented as queer artists of colour such as MNEK and Janelle Monáe have taken full ownership of their identity with their wonderful releases 'Tongue' and 'Pynk'. Full equality will never be achieved until the minorities within our community are better represented and respected, which seems to finally be happening.

It’s important and incredibly exciting to watch as younger acts refuse to dilute their identity for the sake of a wider appeal. Instead we are seeing them break down barriers and forcing the industry to make room as their talent demands attention, especially when wrapped up in its queer glory. As a result, the LGBTQ+ anthems that paved the way for better equality are now being joined by modern-day tunes that are so bold and fearless that they are immediately being put in the same category as the greats.

Music - particularly pop - and the magic of music video spectacles have changed the lives of the LGBTQ+ community for decades as we’ve found solace, comfort and strength in certain moments. It will continue to do so until the end of time, yet with the current musical landscape there is promise that our anthems will be less infrequent and perhaps just a weekly occurrence.

A new addition to the #20GAYTEEN playlist every New Music Friday? Yes please, the list never needs to end.

Words: Ross McNeilage