Even before the days of MTV, artists have been rocking the needle forward for LGBT visibility with groundbreaking music videos showing the beauty of our lives, loves, and perseverance.
It’s a tradition that continues today, and while we’re thankful to have an army of allies who have used their art to stand with us in solidarity over the years, there is no substitute for the feeling that comes from seeing our stories told by members of our own community.
As we near the end of LGBT Pride month, we’re turning up the volume and celebrating our past, present and future with these 12 landmark videos by gay artists who were unafraid to let their rainbow flag fly high.
1. Village People, “Macho Man” (1978)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AO43p2Wqc08]This homoerotic-fueled ode to masculinity was a feast for snacking eyes in the seventies. The super-sized serving of sexuality was initially unnoticed by a majority of straight fans while this track was blowing up the charts, but gay men knew exactly what they were seeing.
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2. George Michael, “Outside” (1998)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwZAYdHcDtU]Only a few short months after George Michael was arrested for soliciting sex from an undercover cop in a Beverly Hills bathroom, the pop icon embraced his newly-out status with this satirical music video.
3. Divine, “You Think You’re a Man” (1984)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nAvN-tW6es]
Long before RuPaul commanded us to “work,” legendary drag diva (and John Waters muse) Divine rocked out with her wig out, and gave men everywhere a timeless lesson in masculinity.
4. Frankie Goes to Hollywood, “Relax” (1984)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFyq5IVbzIQ]
The original music video for the synth bands’ safe-sex anthem featured adventures at a BDSM gay bar. However, it was quickly banned by MTV and the BBC. The band was forced to film the SFW version that became a staple of the eighties, but the original continues to live on in internet infamy.
5. Le1f, “Wut” (2014)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nrnq4SZ0luc]
From the rhymes (“I’m gettin light in my loafers”) to the unabashed lap dance with a hunk in a Pokémon mask, Le1f’s “Wut” takes a wrecking ball to assumptions that hip hop is a realm reserved for heterosexual artists.
6. Troye Sivan, “Blue Neighbourhood Trilogy” (2015)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB3rC2axPY0]
A groundbreaking tale of young love unfolds over the course of three music videos from Troye Sivan’s sophomore album Blue Neighborhood, “Wild,” “Fools” and “Talk Me Down.” But it’s the cinematic director’s cut that combines the three music videos into one heartbreaking story that packs an unforgettable punch.
7. Culture Club, “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?” (1982)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nXGPZaTKik]
The video for the track Boy George later admitted was about his tortured love affair with fellow band mate (Culture Club drummer Jon Moss) is filled with queer imagery and subtext that seems obvious by today’s standards, but flew under the radar in 1982.
8. RuPaul, “Supermodel (You Better Work)”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vw9LOrHU8JI]
The glamazon who turned warring wigs into a television phenomenon first shifted drag into overdrive with this 1993 gem.
9. Years & Years, “Desire” (2016)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNb4FBawH_U]
Two pop powerhouses team up for a video that celebrates sexuality without limits.
10. Bronski Beat, “Smalltown Boy” (1984)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xuz94ZIPfJk]
The gay synth-pop trio’s (not so subtle) music video spotlighting the story of a young man who desires to escape the confines of his homophobic small town was a bold statement in 1984, and one of the many reasons this track has been an LGBT anthem for more than 30 years.
11. Steve Grand, “All-American Boy” (2013)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjiyjYCwNyY]
The singer-songwriter’s first music video went viral moments after it was uploaded to YouTube and proved same-sex love is as American as blue jeans, apple pie, and the 4th of July.
12. Sam Smith, “Lay Me Down” (2015)
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaMq2nn5ac0]
Sam Smith kicked down the closet door shortly before his debut album dropped and then went on to shoot this music video which shows the British crooner daydreaming of marrying the man of his dreams.
Amsterdirk
Shame SIRPAUL’s Black Leather is missing. 🙂 https://vimeo.com/93500204
Dave Downunder
@Amsterdirk: I think there’s a reason for that.
IDoNotHaveToAgreeWithYou
Clearly this list is incomplete without Azis Romania’s number one gypsy drag bear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyXGGF3alew
IDoNotHaveToAgreeWithYou
Oh no wait. Azis is Bulgaria’s number one gypsy drag bear. Romania’s number gypsy drag bears it totally someone different.
DDstar1me
I wouldn’t put Steve Grand and groundbreaking in the same sentence. That bitch is just another trollop trying to get by on her looks. lol!
Matt Achine
And yet none of these people would ever headline the most high profile pride events, because either they don’t want to be branded as too gay, or the slot already went to a hetero pop chick.
Stache
@DDstar1me: Ha. That’s what I was thinking too. Queerty needs to keep pimping that one out because there ain’t nobody else.
Ryan
CTRL+F Me’Shell Ndegeocello….Oh. *sigh*
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0N83NvSfk4
ErikO
None of these people are groundbreaking musicians.
Matt Achine
@Ryan: THAT should’ve topped the muthafuckin’ list.
Chris
I had never heard of the 3 additions; but I must admit that each has its own charms. Maybe Queerty should ask its readers to curate a list.
IDoNotHaveToAgreeWithYou
Tomboy – It’s OK to be Gay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjOOKb-DFZs
He BGB
My friend and I used to walk to Will Rogers Park in LA where the George Michael incident happened I think and I was horrified and embarrassed for him when it happened. But I never saw any guys cruising the bathroom (it was always daytime maybe at nite was when the action started). Lucky for him, he could just pick up and move back to the UK where they probably weren’t as aware of it or were used to tearoom antics. I wrote a really interesting comment about the Village People that must have deleted before it got posted. Oh, well.
fayroberts
Where are all the women? You know you can’t claim LGBT if you’ve only got G in there, right…?!