Transgender Singers, Musicians and Composers

There are many prominent transgender singers, composers, and musicians around the world. They are active across the spectrum of musical genres: classical, pop, country, folk, jazz, rock, hip hop, and more. Some have won prominent awards in the profession, including the UK’s Mercury Prize, the Grammy Award, theatre's Tony Award, and the International Chopin Piano Competition.

Many of the contemporary musicians have relayed their experience of living as a transgender individual, or their transitioning from one sex to another, in their music and their performances (though certainly not exclusively). Some of their songs reflect trans activism and opposition to transphobia and homophobia. For others, being transgender is not necessarily reflected in their music at all.

A contingent of transgender singers includes opera singers, who face their own unique set of challenges (see LGBTQ Opera Singers for more).

We have identified transgender musicians from Spain, Angola, Turkey, Austria, Great Britain, Germany, Israel, the United States, Norway, South Korea, Canada, Vietnam, and Australia. To read their fascinating biographies, access stories, and view videos of their performances, simply click on their names:

Angola