LGBTQ Rock Musicians
There was a time when declaring your homosexuality as a rock musician was a big no-no if you wanted to get ahead in the music industry. In fact, this situation is what prompted the founders of the all-gay rock bank Pansy Division to create their group in 1991. John Ginoli, one of those founders, argues they were the first publicly out all-gay rock group (see his biography for a link to the story).
Today, there is a significant number of publicly out LGBTQ rock musicians from numerous countries around the world. The groups these musicians belong to are often familiar - The Styx, Savage Garden, REM, Sleater-Kinney, Placebo, Scissor Sisters, The Smiths, Placebo, Grizzly Bear, Primal Scream, Vampire Weekend, The Pogues, and many more. But do you know the LGBTQ individuals?
The following individuals have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame:
- Clive Davis, United States
- David Lawrence Geffen, United States
- Elton John, Great Britain
- Ma Rainey, United States
- Dusty Springfield, Great Britain
We have identified a large number of LGBTQ rock musicians. They hail from Brazil, Sweden, the United States, Great Britain, Iceland, Australia, Canada, Belgium, Argentina, and Ireland. The times have changed and being an out and proud LGBTQ rock musician is no longer a barrier to a successful career.
- Rostam Batmanglij, United States, Vampire Weekend
- Roddy Bottum, United States, Faith No More
- Cazuza, Brazil, Barao Vermelho
- Philip Chevron, Ireland, The Pogues
- Jayne County, United States, solo
- Ed Droste, United States, Grizzly Bear
- Cassia Eller, Brazil, solo
- Chris Freeman, United States, Pansy Division
- John Ginoli, United States, Pansy Division
- Tyler Glenn, United States, Neon Trees
- Debbie Googe, Great Britain, Primal Scream
- Laura Jane Grace, United States, Against Me!
- Rob Halford, Great Britain, Judas Priest
- Darren Hayes, Australia, Savage Garden
- Scott Hoffman, United States, Scissor Sisters
- Luis Illades, United States, Pansy Division
- Maja Ivarsson, Sweden, The Sounds
- Jobriath, United States, solo
- Jonsi, Iceland, Sigur Ros
- Paul Masvidal, United States, Cynic
- Brian Molko, Belgium, Placebo
- Steven Patrick Morrissey, Great Britain, The Smiths
- Bob Mould, United States, Sugar
- Frederico Moura, Argentina, Virus
- Kele Okereke, United States, Bloc Party
- Stefan Olsdal, Sweden, Placebo
- Chuck Panozzo, United States, Styx
- Joel Reader, United States, Pansy Division
- Sean Reinert, United States, Cynic
- Renato Russo, Brazil, Urban Legion
- Jake Shears, United States, Scissor Sisters
- Dusty Springfield, Great Britain, solo
- Michael Stipe, Great Britain, REM
- Justin Tranter, United States, Semi-Precious Weapons
- Corin Tucker, United States, Sleater-Kinney, and Corin Tucker Band
- Justin Utley, United States, solo
- Reg Vermue, Canada, Gentleman Reg
