Celebrating LGBTQ+ Pleasure With Music

Pleasure Month is all about embracing who you might be and feeling related to your LGBTQ+ neighborhood. Generally, music (typically pop!) is a go-to supply for queer empowerment and connection.

So, in honor of Pleasure, I spoke with some fellow LGBTQ+ teenagers to study how music fosters queer celebration, self-love and connectivity!

Queer Empowerment Via Music

After I consider empowerment, one tune instantly involves thoughts: “Dangerous Children,” by Girl Gaga. This observe is an anthem for anybody who seems like they don’t slot in. As she sings “You’re nonetheless good to me if you happen to’re a nasty child, child!” over an upbeat pop manufacturing, this tune by no means fails to carry my confidence. Gaga turns “unhealthy child” right into a time period of endearment for anybody who doesn’t slot in, reminding me to embrace and rejoice my queerness.

One other instance of an empowering tune is “Sofia” by Clairo. “I used to be simply beginning to settle for myself as a queer individual on the age of 12,” says Eddie (they/them), 15, of Lawrenceville, NJ. “And one among my first queer mates on the time confirmed me [Clairo’s] songs. Her lyrics, particularly in her tune ‘Sofia,’ had been ones that I may relate to as a ‘child homosexual,’ and I’ve been listening to her ever since.”

With lyrics equivalent to “You and I shouldn’t really feel like a criminal offense,” the tune tells the story of falling in love as a queer individual, regardless of heteronormative expectations. That is an expertise that many queer teenagers can relate to, and an enormous a part of feeling empowered is seeing your self represented in media like music.

Queer Neighborhood Via Music

Music can be a good way to attach with fellow LGBTQ+ teenagers! Listening to uplifting pop (“Emotion” by Carly Rae Jepsen involves thoughts) on night automotive rides with my queer mates has introduced us nearer. Inside and past these automotive rides, music has helped me discover a sense of neighborhood and study that I’m not alone.

It’s not simply pop but in addition different genres of music that may assist LGBTQ+ of us join. “The Broadway neighborhood [has] the largest community of queer teenagers bonding over a love of present tunes,” says Madeline (she/her), 18, of Ponte Vedra, FL. “These songs explode with vulnerability, emotionality and connectivity. They make us really feel like part of an entire, even in remoted circumstances.”

Connectedness is a sense that sticks with you, whether or not you’re with mates or by yourself. Music isn’t solely a car for queer bonding, but in addition an ongoing reminder of shared pleasure and pleasure in being queer.

Feeling the Pleasure

So, does that imply discovering queer pleasure by music is similar for everybody?

Nope! Individuals discover empowerment and connection by music in many various methods. To rejoice Pleasure this month, hunt down music that makes you’re feeling excited and glad to be precisely who you might be.

Flip up the music, and switch up the self-love!