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GRAMMYs

Island Records' Cheyenne Beam

Photo by Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Imagess

News
LGBTQ+ Artists And Industry Leaders Talk Allyship what-makes-good-ally-lgbtq-artists-and-industry-leaders-weigh-pride-diversity-more-new

What Makes A Good Ally? LGBTQ+ Artists And Industry Leaders Weigh In On Pride, Diversity & More In New York

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Queens rapper Dai Burger, electropop artist Saro, Island Records associate director of media relations Cheyenne Beam and Brooklyn-via-Oakland emcee Nappy Nina convene at Soho House in N.Y. to discuss issues of acceptance and representation
Bonnie Stiernberg
GRAMMYs
Jun 27, 2019 - 11:03 am

We're nearing the end of Pride Month, but the issues of acceptance and representation that LGBTQ+ artists—especially those of color—face don't disappear when June is over. With that in mind, the Recording Academy hosted a GRAMMYs Soundbite Conversation After Dark panel at New York City's Soho House Ludlow on Wednesday (June 26) to keep the discussion going.

Moderated by Recording Academy Editor In Chief, Digital Content & Strategy Justin Dwayne Joseph, the panel included Queens rapper Dai Burger, electropop artist Saro, Island Records associate director of media relations Cheyenne Beam and Brooklyn-via-Oakland emcee Nappy Nina explored a slew of topics that specifically impact black and brown members of the LGBTQ+ music community.

"It's kind of just like this double weight," Saro—who noted that while he has been out in his personal life for some time, he just recently came out in his career and started using male pronouns in his music—said. "You feel like you have this extra thing you have to break through."

Beam recalled feeling uncomfortable early in his career, but he said as he gets older, he has gained the confidence and experience to avoid that.

"I feel like the older I get, the more I know who I am and so I can go in any room and stand in my truth and also represent other artists, LGBTQ artists who are trying to make it in the mainstream business like every other artist," he said.

For Dai Burger, there was pressure to fit in, but she never succumbed to it. "It used to come back to me like, 'You should smooth this out a little, make it a little more prim and proper,'" she said "It was hard. I've had people tell me what I should change [and] shouldn't do, but we are who we are and you can't ever change that."

The panel noted that while the music business is more accepting than ever of LGBTQ+ artists, representation is important on all sides of the industry. Beam called for more diversity at record labels.

"We are who we are and you can't ever change that."

"There needs to be more diversity in the meetings, those brainstorming meetings, those creative strategy meetings, those conference calls," he said. "There aren't a lot of people of color in those meetings. A lot of times I walk into the room and I'm the only person of color. So therefore I'm the only person of color who also represents the LGBTQ community, you know what I mean? The more we hire and employ people of color and the more diverse these companies are, the better we can represent the artists and the talent."

Networking and collaborating with other members of the community was also brought up as an important tool. "I think if I do have an artist friend who is a part of the community, it just gives us that more energy and that more magnetism to work on something, and it usually is magical because we can just fully be ourselves together, just connect and make something beautiful," Saro said. "I don't have to wear that mask that I'm learning to shed."

The group discussed the need to book LGBTQ+ artists year-round, not just during Pride Month, and debated over whether or not straight artists like Ariana Grande, who will headline Manchester Pride, should be taking slots at pride events.

"I'm not the type to be like, 'Oh, he's not gay? No, get him off the stage,'" Dai Burger said, adding that she's not a fan of creating boundaries. "Just because someone doesn't announce or tell you their sexuality, you don't know what people are into, do behind closed doors. It shouldn't matter. If you are okay with me and my friends and who we are, then we're okay with you. So come as you are, straight or not. We're all friends, we're all musicians, artists, and there should be no cutoff on that based on what you do when you want to do it."

Nappy Nina disagreed, arguing that there's no shortage of LGBTQ+ artists to fill those performance slots.

"I think allyship looks like taking a step back," she explained. "There are plenty of queer artists. You don't have to go to whatever straight artists you're going to just because they're there and they're available and they're down with LGBTQ+ folks. Allyship does look like taking a step back sometimes. A lot of times." 

She also noted that as June comes to a close, it's important to remember the origins of Pride Month and the members of the community who often get overlooked.

"Pride definitely didn't start as a party, and it is the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots which started by black trans women and sex workers, not folks who are really currently uplifted or showcased in the forefront of Pride, so I think every year during this month I take time to really reflect on that," she said. "I'm from a place that has a super deep political background, and I think that I've always known to look for the real sh*t, the ones who paved the way for me, because it's not the gay white men who are on the floats at the forefront right now."

VINCINT, Brandon Stansell, Linda Perry & More LGBTQ+ Artists Share Their Journeys To Self-Acceptance

GRAMMYs

"Press Play"

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"Press Play" On Pride Month With New Episodes press-play-series-celebrate-pride-month-special-edition-episodes

"Press Play" Series To Celebrate Pride Month With Special Edition Episodes

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Every Wednesday in June, the Recording Academy will feature a new LGBTQ+ artist in our exclusive original performance series in celebration of Pride Month.
Nate Hertweck
GRAMMYs
Jun 4, 2019 - 11:42 pm

Pride Month is here! And the Recording Academy is celebrating with four new episodes of our exclusive performance series Press Play. Each Wednesday this month at 10 a.m. PDT / 1 p.m. EDT starting June 5, a new installment of Press Play will premiere right here on GRAMMY.com.. 

"Press Play" Celebrates Pride Month 2019

This special edition will feature up-and-coming musicians that represent the LGBTQ+ community including three-time GRAMMY nominated singer/songwriter Asiahn, country singer/songwriter Brandon Stansell, pop singer VINCINT, and soul singer Shea Diamond.

"Having my single where I'm singing about loving another woman on the radio is a big deal," said Asiahn when asked how music can help make progress toward equality, adding, "I feel like we still need some more representation out there, there's still people who aren't represented."

As we celebrate Pride all month long, get to know these four artists through their "Press Play" episodes each week.

Celebrate LA Pride With The Recording Academy & Special Guests

 

 

 

Pride flag

Photo: Sara Rampazzo

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Celebrate LA Pride With The Recording Academy celebrate-la-pride-recording-academy-special-guests

Celebrate LA Pride With The Recording Academy & Special Guests

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Join us for groovy beats and powerful conversations at Jewel's Catch One Lounge inside the LA Pride Parade Festival grounds on June 8-9
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Jun 1, 2019 - 3:44 pm

June 1 is a special day, not just because summer is around the corner, but because it signifies the start of LGBTQ+ Pride Month around the globe. This year also marks 50 years since the Stonewall Riots in New York City, which is widely recognized as the start of a larger LGBTQ+ movement across the U.S. and led to the organizing of the first ever Pride Parade on June 28, 1970 in N.Y.C.

Los Angeles also held their first-ever Pride parade that same day in West Hollywood, the historically gay neighborhood/safe haven in city. Next weekend, on June 9, the LA Pride Parade returns to WeHo to celebrate the struggles and triumph of its powerful LGBTQ+ community, past and present.

The Recording Academy is proud to announce that they are partnering with LA Pride for a takeover of Jewel's Catch One Lounge, sponsored by Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic, on the Pride Festival grounds June 8-9. Join us for lively music and empowering conversation on both Saturday and Sunday.

#JUSTUNITE It’s time to set aside our differences and celebrate what truly unites us.

Learn more: https://t.co/FY3hQTWgla

LA Pride Festival in West Hollywood#LGBT #LGBTQ #LGBTQ+ #Pride #LAPRIDE #LAPRIDE2019 #weho #westhollywood pic.twitter.com/RRPUI0E0wX

— LA Pride (@lapride) May 31, 2019

Related: VINCINT, Brandon Stansell, Linda Perry & More LGBTQ+ Artists Share Their Journeys To Self-Acceptance

The lounge is named after Jewel's Catch One, a dance club in Downtown LA that served as a safe space for both LGBTQ+ and underrepresented communities in the city for 42 years (the venue still operates as club and was recently renamed to Catch One in honor of its roots). Jewel Thais-Williams, a queer black woman, opened Catch One in 1972, standing up against hate and becoming a role model for fighting discrimination and breaking down racial, social and cultural barriers. For decades, the space represented a refuge for those during the AIDS crisis, celebrating fashion, celebrity, activism and music.

The Catch One Lounge at LA Pride will feature a GRAMMY Soundbite Playlist powered by Delta, along with DJ sets to keep the vibes upbeat. It will offer LA Pride participants Soundbites to get them closer to their music dreams and GRAMMY aspirations. Special guests, including music industry luminaries and queer advocates, will have intimate one-on-one conversations surrounding their impact on shaking up the music world. In between conversations, Soundbite Socials will allow for mingling and dream-sharing.

We hope to see you in the Catch One Lounge at LA Pride! Click here for more info on the festival, including a map, and stay tuned to GRAMMY.com for more Pride-related content.

Caly Bevier On Releasing First Music Video, Being A Part Of the LGBTQ Community, Surviving Cancer & More

Bonnaroo 2018

Bonnaroo 2018

Photo: Douglas Mason/Getty Images

News
Bonnaroo 2019 To Offer First Pride Celebration bonnaroo-2019-will-offer-first-ever-pride-celebration-complete-parade-drag-shows

Bonnaroo 2019 Will Offer First-Ever Pride Celebration Complete With A Parade & Drag Shows

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The Tennessee music festival will return for its 18th year this June and will be joining cities around the world holding summer LGBTQ+ Pride events
Ana Monroy Yglesias
GRAMMYs
Feb 26, 2019 - 5:37 pm

Today, Bonnaroo Music And Arts Festival revealed another exciting offering for its 2019 festival: its first-ever LGBTQ+ Pride parade and celebration hosted by one of Brooklyn's much-loved music and art venues, House Of Yes.

"The parade will include dance music, live music, art cars, circus, spectacle and is open to anyone and everyone who is down with the rainbow revolution," the club told Billboard.

https://t.co/3qO3PuOLOp

— Bonnaroo (@Bonnaroo) February 26, 2019

"The festival has always provided a place of inclusiveness and innovation, though Bonnaroovians will now see the spirit manifest into a trail of radical expression," Bonnaroo said in a statement.

House Of Yes will be returning to the festival's plaza area, the interactive community space that brings life to the fest's campgrounds every year. At their home at Plaza 3, attendees can share in their positivity and inclusivity once again, with drag shows and "Dirty Circus" events planned, and to top it all off, the new Pride parade. Their neighbors at Plaza 2, "The Sanctuary Of Self Love," will enjoy yoga, spa treatments and panels on mental health and self-care, curated by Paramore's Hayley Williams.

"House of Yes is beyond thrilled to be producing the first ever Bonnaroo Pride Parade, bringing together revelers of every expression into a radical roaming dance party in celebration of our diversity, sexuality and humanity. Together we honor the leaders that brought us to where we are today, and unite to inspire the revolutionaries that will guide our future," House Of Yes said.

The festival is set to return to its home on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tenn. from June 13-16. The previously-announced 2019 lineup boasts a diverse and exciting musical offering including 61st GRAMMY Awards winners Cardi B, Brandi Carlile, Childish Gambino and Kacey Musgraves. Phish, Solange, Post Malone, Odesza, Hozier, The Lumineers are among other notable acts.

2019 Music Festival Preview: Noise Pop, Coachella, Ultra & More

Shea Diamond

Shea Diamond

Photo: Ira Chernova

Feature
LGBTQ Women On Making Music Out Loud shea-diamond-keeana-kee-muna-life-out-lgbtq-artists

Shea Diamond, Keeana Kee, MUNA On Life As Out LGBTQ Artists

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These artists are changing the game with their unforgettable music and willingness to live life out loud
Renée Fabian
GRAMMYs
Jun 28, 2018 - 4:36 pm

Here's the deal: The future is female. It may not look that way now, but the time is coming when this will be a woman's world. Arguably nobody knows this better than singer/songwriters Shea Diamond and Keeana Kee and pop trio MUNA, who are already living their truth as musicians and out LGBTQ women. But we're not quite there yet.

MUNA Talk Emotional Pull Of "I Know A Place"

As we wrap up Pride Month this June, we asked these three artists to tell us a little about their experience as out LGBTQ musicians and how it impacts the music they create, their audiences and their relationships within the music industry, and why it's important for them to live out loud despite the challenges that may arise.

It's an exciting month for Diamond. We're just one short day away from hearing her debut EP, See It All. Produced by Justin Tranter, the album will include tracks such as "Good Pressure," "American Pie" and "Keisha Complexion," which was released in April. For Diamond, getting to this point was challenging.

"Access in the music industry for so long has been based upon discriminatory factors," says Diamond. "If you're black you need to be less black, heavyweights better lose weight, gays better hide it, and trans people if you get spooked ... forget about it!"

Kee has faced similar discrimination in the music industry.

"I've experienced getting refused to work with some producers after they have found out that I'm gay," Kee shares. "They would either get disappointed by losing hope to date me or be ashamed to having their name associated with a gay artist. It's tough."

Kee broke onto the music scene with "Coconut Rum And Coke" featuring Maffio in 2017. The tropical hit with a reggae flare grabbed people's attention because it was infectious — you can't get the song out of your head once you hear it. And Kee isn't willing to compromise who she was in her music. The track's music video portrays Kee's love interest as a woman, a courageous step for an artist even in 2018.

"It's a huge risk to present yourself as non-traditional," Kee shares. "It can be fatal for the artist's career."

The good news is we're seeing more out artists now than any time in history. In addition to Diamond and Kee, Tegan & Sara, Brandi Carlile, Kehlani, Angel Haze, Mary Lambert, Syd, Sophie, Hayley Kiyoko, and Kelea are all carrying the torch for LGBTQ women. And though some artists — Melissa Etheridge immediately comes to mind — have careers that transcend their sexual orientation, for those whose stars are still on the rise, such as MUNA, being out members of the LGBTQ community can be a mixed blessing.

"Our choice to be openly queer has put us in the press a bit more, but at the same time you could argue that it has led to our actual music being discussed less than our sexual orientation," say MUNA collectively, who recently released the EP About U: One Year On. "At the end of the day, we are grateful to live and create openly and we couldn't imagine it any other way."

"My debut premiere in the Huffington Post was written in the separate 'Queer Voices' column," adds Kee, who just released a new song, "Let's Make Love." "Even this is a sign that we are not treated equally."

There may be biases in the music industry and how the media covers LGBTQ musicians, but because of the transformative power of music, artists of all stripes have always had strong LGBTQ fanbases. In fact, walking the line between creating music that speaks to a wide audience while still appealing to an LGBTQ fanbase is a craft MUNA has given a lot of thought to.

"Our choice to use the second person ('you') in most of our love songs comes from a desire to obscure gender in an effort to bring people into empathy with each other regardless of orientation," says MUNA. "Yet at the same time we encourage our queer fan base to claim these songs as their own."

we are writing our album. sorry for our occasional absence. also sorry for posting old photos of us. they’re still good though so maybe you don’t care. anyway thanks for your patience. love you.

A post shared by MUNA (@whereismuna) on May 29, 2018 at 2:44pm PDT

Despite the challenges, for these LGBTQ women, the choice to live and create out loud is something they are proud of. And it's an invaluable gift they have given to all their listeners.

"As members of the LGBTQA+ [community] we get an amazing opportunity to inspire," says Diamond. "I'm a part of something bigger than myself. I have a rare opportunity to highlight the trials [and] successes [and] amplify voices and diverse stories of our community."

See How Music Brightened L.A. Pride 2018

"I was warned that coming out as gay will definitely make it harder for me to succeed in nowadays' music business and I had to prepare, but I wanted to be myself," adds Kee. "I write my own music about my own feelings, so why would I lie about who I am? If I want the world to believe me and my music I gotta be real. It was my decision to stay true to myself and I am grateful I did."

Catching Up On Music News Powered By The Recording Academy Just Got Easier. Have A Google Home Device? "Talk To GRAMMYs"

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Some of the content on this site expresses viewpoints and opinions that are not those of the Recording Academy. Responsibility for the accuracy of information provided in stories not written by or specifically prepared for the Academy lies with the story's original source or writer. Content on this site does not reflect an endorsement or recommendation of any artist or music by the Recording Academy.