Music has always been a way to voice opinions, to fight for equal rights. We would like to celebrate the progress that has been made towards equality for LGBTQIA+ individuals. The Gigstarter team gathered a bit of history behind Pride and highlight some musicians who are dedicated to the cause as well. Let's make changes in society with music!
The History Behind Pride - Stonewall Inn
Red stands for life, orange for healing, yellow for sunlight, green for nature, blue for harmony and purple for spirit. These are the colors of the rainbow Pride flag. The first version of the flag was design by Gilbert Baker, and it was flown for the first time on June 25, 1978, in San Francisco. It takes 20 seconds to realize how cheerful and colorful the celebrations for Pride nowadays are, but the reality of everyday life can be a little bit different than this. However, the progress made so far must be celebrated, therefore, in this blog, we are going to address some of the most important remarks of the history of this movement and analyze how the LGBTQIA+ community influenced the world of music.
The event takes place in New York City, on June 28, 1969. At this point in time, public demonstrations of homosexual relations were still condemned by the police and the oppression was massive. The bar called Stonewall Inn was said to be the epicenter of the Pride celebrations that we are now familiar with. Back then, the police started a raid in Stonewall In and people reacted very fiercely and fought back, gathering in the streets. Marsha P. Johnson, an African American self-identified drag queen, was only 23 years old when this happened, and she was one of the most active voices that stood up. Following this historical moment, Marsha and her comrade Sylvia Rivera founded STAR – Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries.
The LGBTQIA+ Community and Its Influence in The Music World
The power of music can be underestimated sometimes or even turned into a cliché. It should not. According to Glaad, “a media force who aims to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue”, 53% of the LGBTQIA+ music listeners claim they would be “lost” without music. It is immensely important to have representation not only to normalize and give support, but also to challenge discrimination. The statements of David Bowie, Freddy Mercury, and Elton John, through their videos, looks and lyrics, started to change the stigma and gave something more to their fans and the world. It is also important to notice that this was only the most visible and accessible part of the fight. The documentary “Paris is Burning” shows the queer, drag ballroom culture of the 80’s, involving styles like disco and funk.
More recent artists are also committed to the cause. Channel Orange, Frank Ocean’s first album, in which he expresses his sexuality, won a Grammy award for Best Urban Contemporary Album. SOPHIE, who passed away last year, revolutionized pop melodies and is one of the biggest icons for the queer community.
Frank Ocean - Good GuyThe fact that we still need to write about this subject carries an undeniable sadness with it. Getting to know the amazing history behind Pride, the people who fought and are still fighting and the music that represents, includes, and inspires the LGBTQIA+ community carries happiness, pain, but most of all, hope.
Sources:
Pride Month: Who was Marsha P. Johnson and why were they so important?
How did the rainbow flag become a symbol of the LGBTQ Pride
LGBTQ+ representation & activism in the music industry
Gigstarter is a diverse and inclusive community in which everyone is more than welcome: Let's make live music equal
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