Ah, the late ’90s and early ’00s, a time when we were blissfully unaware of societal expectations and just starting to embrace our queerness.
Looking back, you can’t help but chuckle at the soundtrack that accompanied your journey of self-discovery. Certain songs from our childhood stick out louder than the rest that leaves us thinking “Yeah… they had to have known.”
So, get ready for a nostalgic trip down memory lane as we look back at 25 songs that, if you listened to them as a kid or teen, you’re probably queer today. Let’s dive in!
“Wannabe” by Spice Girls
Girl power, platform shoes, and catchy hooks—need we say more? The Spice Girls were our gateway into embracing our love for all things fierce and fabulous.
“Oops!… I Did It Again” by Britney Spears
Admit it, you practiced all the choreography in your bedroom mirror, complete with the all the sassy hair flips. Britney’s pop anthems spoke to our inner diva and set the stage for our queer awakening.
“It’s Gonna Be Me” by *NSYNC
Justin Timberlake’s perfectly coiffed hair and the synchronized dance routines? Yes, please! This boy band had us questioning our fascination long before we even knew what that meant.
“Hung Up” by Madonna
Madonna’s timeless music has inspired generations of queer individuals, and “Hung Up” was no exception. Her unapologetic confidence and provocative style resonated with our own desire to break free from societal norms.
“C’est La Vie” by B*Witched
BWitched’s “C’est La Vie” had us twirling our pigtails and shaking in our baggy pants, proving that even as kids, we knew how queen out to a catchy pop tune that featured very queer-coded lyrics.
“Can’t Get You Out of My Head” by Kylie Minogue
The undisputed queen of queer pop, Kylie Minogue’s infectious beats and sultry vocals could make anyone question their sexuality. If this song didn’t awaken something within you, we don’t know what would.
“All the Things She Said” by T.A.T.U
Two Russian teenagers kissing in the rain? It’s no wonder this provocative song sparked countless conversations and heart-fluttering moments among queer youth.
“Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera
Xtina’s powerful ballad about self-acceptance struck a chord with queer hearts everywhere. It became our anthem for embracing our individuality and owning our uniqueness.
“Survivor” by Destiny’s Child
Destiny’s Child’s empowering hit encouraged us to rise above the challenges and emerge as fierce queer warriors, ready to conquer the world.
“Livin’ la Vida Loca” by Ricky Martin
When Ricky Martin burst onto the scene, hearts fluttered across the world. His charm, catchy tunes, and hip-shaking dance moves made us question more than just our love for his music.
“Freedom! ’90” by George Michael
A queer icon who unapologetically lived his truth, George Michael’s smooth voice and timeless hits became the soundtrack for many queer individuals exploring their own identities.
“Believe” by Cher
Cher’s autotune-infused anthem became an anthem for the LGBTQ+ community, empowering us to believe in love and the power of transformation. Plus, who doesn’t love a good Cher impersonation?
“Spice Up Your Life” by Spice Girls
The Spice Girls’ colorful personalities, infectious energy, and message of inclusivity made them the ultimate queer squad, and had to make a second appearence on this list.
“It’s Not Right but It’s Okay” by Whitney Houston
Whitney’s powerful voice and empowering lyrics gave us strength during tumultuous times. Her music touched our souls and helped us navigate the ups and downs of queer life.
“Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” by Shania Twain
Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like A Woman!” had all of us wanting to grab our cowboy boots, let down our hair, and embrace our inner country diva.
“Together Again” by Janet Jackson
This infectious dance anthem helped us find solace in the beauty of shared experiences and the power of connection. Janet Jackson’s music was a constant reminder that we were never alone.
“Nothing in This World” by Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton’s “Nothing in This World” was the unexpected guilty pleasure that had us dancing in front of the mirror and secretly wishing we had a reality show of our own.
“Supermodel (You Better Work)” by RuPaul
RuPaul’s “Supermodel (You Better Work)” served as queers everywhere’s instruction manual, teaching us the art of strutting, posing, and embracing our unique selves.
“Upside Down” by ATeens
ATeens’ “Upside Down” made us spin, jump, and dance with joy, proving that our world was always delightfully topsy-turvy.
“Candy” by Mandy Moore
Mandy Moore’s sugary sweet anthem “Candy” had us dancing, singing, and craving a little extra sweetness in our lives—and maybe a rainbow lollipop or two.
”Another Dumb Blonde” by Hoku
Hoku’s “Another Dumb Blonde” playfully shattered stereotypes, giving us permission to embrace our heart and mind with pride.
“Intuition” by Jewel
Jewel’s “Intuition” spoke to our inner soul in a growing digital world, emerging trends and stereotypes, reminding us that following our intuition is part of queer DNA.
“A Public Affair” by Jessica Simpson
Jessica Simpson’s “A Public Affair” transported us to a world of retro-inspired parties, roller rinks, and the glitz of early 2000’s paparazzi, leaving us yearning for our own glamorous girls night out.
“Fantasy” by Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey’s sweet and sultry vocals took us on a whimsical journey, making us believe in a world where rainbows, butterflies, and queer fantasies come true.
“Waterfalls” by TLC
TLC’s heartfelt ballad reminded us of the importance of staying true to ourselves and not getting caught up in chasing societal expectations.
SDR94103
“25 songs from the late ’90s & early ’00s that probably turned you gay”
STUPIDEST HEADLINE IN GAY HISTORY.
MSM
i couldn’t agree with you more. I was born in 1947. Maybe Rosemary Clooney made me gay. Or perhaps it was a duet of Judy with Rosemary. Not that i recall one, but hey, they might have. roflmao. Oh and of course Johnny Mathis, Yes that’s it…..he made me gay.
MSM
P.S. I was gay before any of those songs were released. Long before. lol
abfab
I wish Rosemary Clooney woulda made her nephew Gay.
cedsback
Yep
inbama
@MSM
Born a year after you, and I have memories of singing along with Marilyn Monroe’s “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” at age five which did not sit well with my parents. I don’t remember being crushed on any male singers until Frankie Avalon.
Man About Town
I have no memory of Paris Hilton having a recording career. Maybe I just blocked it out!
abfab
I have no memory of Paris Hlton.
dbmcvey
“Career” is a strong word.
GayEGO
Well, I was born gay, September 17th, 1941 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and I met my lifetime partner of 57 years, married 15 years, March 4th, 1962 so the songs just ramped up my decisions to be gay using -Know thyself and To thine self be true!
Terrycloth
Hung up is pretty much ABBA with Madonna singing
MSM
That is even more awesome than my own 48 years with my bf/husband.
cuteguy
@GayEgo
Congrats to you and your other half (I hate the word partner bc that sounds like you’re in business together)
It’s nice to hear of stories before my existence and how much you and your generation had to overcome
Pietro D
Queerty is definitely trying to live its version of “la vida loca”.
It would be better if “Q” just gave us some better material to
digest instead of the usual, worthless crumbs it wants to
cram down our throats. This “nonsense” is even beneath “Q’s”
own standards.
abfab
Oh hang it up already. If anyone needs better material, it’s you.
michel_banen
Quick ! Give me some songs that will turn me straight again !
See, I’m not gay – it was the radio !
Huron132
Ok, I’ll be positive here. That was a fun list and a large portion were my favorites. They kept me bopping around. Here’s the big thing to it all. I’m and older man and am gay. Thanks for the fun summer list!
Thad
I replayed all the songs I’d forgotten and ended up dancing around the living room to “Upside Down.” I recommend this.
RobF
Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood (1984)
glowbear504
No Deborah Cox?
dario717
Absolutely Not!
frapachino
“unapologetically lived his truth” enough with the virtue signaling clichés already!
Den
Cliché? Perhaps, though apt in this case. Virtue signaling? Why is it the right winger never seem to understand the meaning of words or phrases, even ones they love to use?
dbmcvey
I can see why someone like frappers, who has no virtues, would be annoyed by this.
abfab
Yes, she (frap) does come across as a very demanding little bitch. Some here keep forgetting about the Gay Agenda……..
frapachino
@abfab you must be really old, referring to a gay guy as “she” went out ages ago.
abfab
Mary, please. Sit down, child.
Gz8p
I’ve been told my musical taste is that of a 16 year old girl
Yup ??
DennisMpls
Yikes! A few folks here could use some lightening up today. Dancing and singing is more fun than bitching and moaning.
DennisMpls
“the one with the wag-ily tail…”
abfab
Really. Care to waltz with me?
I had my mother’s 78 record…”How Much Is That Doggie In The Window”. I was 5 and twirling around the room and that was that! Then she went out and bought me a puppy which I had for 17 years. That song still makes me dance. I believe it was the fabulous Doris Day. Doris MADE me GAY!
Woof woof.
abfab
YES! And my sincerest apologies to the equally fabulous PATTI PAGE.
Joshooeerr
What’s most interesting about this list is how it demonstrates what an utterly vapid era of song the 90s was. It’s almost entirely empty bubblegum, and the few songs that aim for some kind of depth or artistry (eg Waterfalls) are not very good either. You could pick 25 songs from any Top 40 chart through the 60s and 70s and they’d be infinitely superior to these.
abfab
So you have a point you’d like to prove. Give us your superior list.
Den
If any song turned me gay, it was my father singing “Nature Boy” (a hit for Nat King Cole a few years before I was born) to me as a lullaby when I was a child. A great song, and covered by a huge number of artists from Sinatra through Ella to Ricki Lee Jones recently.
Always loved the Aguilera song though. She is a great vocalist and it is a timeless song.
Rugby8
How do you put Paris Hilton in yje same category as ANYONEwith TALENT?
…..same group as CHER, huh?
You’ve lost your tweaked-out minds
I am truly embarrassed for you….
mf12345678
It was the Thunderpuss remix of It’s Not Right But It’s Okay that turned me, not the boring album version.
FreddieW
“I Am (The Rising)” by Taborah Adams is what I couldn’t hear enough of in 2005, the year I stopped going to church and came out to my family and several of my friends.
Winsocki
I must be one of the few gay men who thought the Spice Girls were like The Monkees. I never liked them and wondered what was the allure. More the Patti Smith type I never saw that Titanic movie either with Leo cuz it sounded and looked stupid from trailer.
JDT
TLC, “Waterfalls”, love it though I was already gay.
shaniac
Some of these comments are hilarious. The boomers are losing their minds and need to just loosen up and have fun. Nobody is looking to Queerty for an in-depth analysis of the great social issues of our times.
I’d love for them to do one of these for the 80’s. On one side you’d have Culture Club, Dead or Alive, Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Bronski Beat, but then there’s the classic 80’s c*ck rock and hair metal, where Motley Crue, Poison and Cinderella used more make-up and hairspray than a small European nation.
It’s as though nobody from Gen-X was supposed to be straight.
Bosch
Born so gay, I came out of that c-section singing a Glenn Medeiros song.
Terrycloth
A song or a person.cant turn you gay if you already aren’t to begin with
abfab
What made you turn?
shaniac
and absolutely everyone here knows that. What some people don’t seem to be aware of is this is supposed to be light hearted entertainment.
wiggie
turned 10 in December 1980. Every time I hear a song from then, it triggers a memory.
mildredspierce
None of these tunes did anything for me. Eurythmics, early Madonna, Culture Club, Dead or Alive, Blondie, New Order, The Cars, A Flock of Seagulls, Chaka Kahn, Janet and Michael Jackson, Chic, Earth Wind and Fire, Berlin, Sylvester, Donna Summer, Diana Ross, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Pet Shop Boys… made me fey, but I was born gay.
GloryWhole
It’s dumb headlines like “turned me gay” that ad fuel to the idiot right wing haters’ fire. I wish Q would stop the shit clickbait.
jkb
Do You Believe by Cher brings back incredible memories: beaches, parties, clubs, Gay Pride. I got sick of it after a while as it was played so much, but still good times were had.
jkb
Do You Believe by Cher brings back incredible memories: beaches, parties, clubs, Gay Pride. I got sick of it after a while as it was played so much, but still good times were had. And those complaining about the title, it will be okay. breathe.
PascalZwolle
For me it was Secretly by Skunk Anansie. The video with the gay kiss helped with that.
dbmcvey
I hate to pile on but none of these songs turned anyone gay.
Terrycloth
Odd no I am what I am by Gloria Gaynor….I’m Coming out. Diana Ross.
Bill
apparently, as much as gay men worship masculinity, relatively few actually identify with it, hence this list predominated by the likes of Britney Spears, Spice Girls, RuPaul, Madonna…
if this is any guy’s favorite music, 9 out of 10 times he’s already lost me sexually
Major
I was already waaaaaaaaay gay by the end of the 1990’s, but when “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera came out, I found Xtina’s management company and sent Miss Aguilera a Thank You note for such a fantastic song and beautifully made music video.
OzJay
This is the era in which pop music started its inexorable slice into the dreck that it is today. Most of these tracks pretty much represent that.