I don’t know what scared me so much about coming out as a lesbian, when I found coming out as bisexual so easy, but I found it hard to say it out loud, even when I had admitted it to myself. But Rapp’s confidence in her sexuality and her huge popularity, as well as the positive reactions from her fans, gave me the confidence I needed to start saying I was a lesbian.
There’s a wealth of queer artists out there at the moment, providing much needed representation for young LGBTQIA+ people like me. This year’s Coachella festival was a case in point, even nicknamed “Gaychella” across social media in a nod to the array of LGBTQIA+ artists performing.
Rapp, for example, performed on a set that featured two giant sets of scissors, and was introduced by the cast of The L Word. Billie Eilish also performed, as well as rising star Chappell Roan, who are both queer and have written sapphic music. Roan’s latest song ‘Good Luck, Babe!‘ discusses the common queer experience of compulsory heterosexuality, but Roan also recently opened for Olivia Rodrigo’s Guts Tour, showing how queer artists and music are becoming more mainstream than ever before.
Other lesbian artists have had a huge impact on me. Hayley Kiyoko, recognised as a trailblazer and nicknamed “Lesbian Jesus”, has been so important to lesbian visibility and to the community. Kiyoko came out in the 2015 hit song ‘Girls Like Girls‘ which became a lesbian anthem and is still probably one of the first explicitly lesbian songs most people will think of. Zolita was one of the first lesbian artists I became aware of, and I vividly remember watching her music videos over and over again.
Being able to see lesbians across different music genres is really special to me. Listening to more lesbian artists has made me so much more comfortable and proud of my sexuality.
It’s so important to be able to see yourself in the music you’re listening to. It has such a big impact, and is so valuable to me, especially when lesbian representation isn’t always easy to come by. I can honestly say I wouldn’t be where I am now, finally feeling a sense of confidence in my identity, without being able to listen to lesbian artists and people who have similar experiences to me that I can relate to.
Ione volunteers as an ambassador for Just Like Us, the LGBT+ young people’s charity. LGBT+ and aged 18 to 25? Sign up here!
