It’s common knowledge that stars like Troye Sivan, Hayley Kiyoko and Janelle Monáe are out and proud.
Not only has their sexuality been dissected by the media, but they haven’t shied away from singing about same-sex romances throughout their catalog. But everyone’s relationship with their sexual orientation and gender identity is different.
Here are eight modern music stars who have opened up about their sexuality.
1. Teddy Geiger
Originally signed to Columbia Records as a teenager, Geiger’s 2006 debut album, Underage Thinking, spawned two hit singles, “For You I Will (Confidence)” and “These Walls.” She has since come out as transgender (in October 2017) and has become a high-profile songwriter, scoring two Grammy nominations for her work with Shawn Mendes. She is currently engaged to actress Emily Hampshire.
2. Jason Mraz
The singer-songwriter revealed he wasn’t straight in an interview last year: “I’ve had experiences with men, even while I was dating the woman who became my wife.” Feeling conflicted, he talked about it with his wife since 2015, Christina Carano. “My wife laid it out for me. She calls it ‘two spirit,’ which is what the Native Americans call someone who can love both man and woman. I really like that.”
3. Demi Lovato
The former Disney brat revealed that she was open to dating both men and women in her 2017 YouTube documentary Simply Complicated. She later clarified in an interview with InStyle: “I’m very fluid. I think love is love. You can find it in any gender. I like the freedom of being able to flirt with whoever I want.”
4. Jake Zyrus
The Filipino singer, formerly known as Charice, came out as a trans man in 2017. After performing on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2008, the star’s career took off, landing him a guest stint on Glee and high-profile duets with Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli.
5. Daya
The Pittsburgh-born singer gained attention after her Grammy-winning collaboration with The Chainsmokers became a global hit in 2016. The electro-pop singer initially came out during her headlining set at Milwaukee Pride in 2018. Later that year, on National Coming Out Day, the singer took to Instagram for a heartfelt note, stating: “I’m proud to be a bisexual member of the LGBTQ community with a girl I love who makes me feel more like me every day.”
6. Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day)
The Green Day frontman first opened up about his sexuality in 1995, telling The Advocate, “I think I’ve always been bisexual. I mean, it’s something that I’ve always been interested in. I think people are born bisexual, and it’s just that our parents and society kind of veer us off into this feeling of ‘Oh, I can’t.’ They say it’s taboo. It’s ingrained in our heads that it’s bad when it’s not bad at all. It’s a very beautiful thing.” He later explained that “Come Clean,” from the band’s breakthrough album Dookie, was about questioning his sexuality and self-discovery.
7. Brendon Urie (Panic At The Disco)
After causing speculation with the bisexual anthem “Girls/Girls/Boys” and it’s super sexy music video in 2013, the Panic! At The Disco singer came out as pansexual in 2018. “I’m married to a woman and I’m very much in love with her but I’m not opposed to a man because to me, I like a person,” he explained to Paper magazine. “Yeah I guess you could qualify me as pansexual because I really don’t care.”
8. Tove Lo
The bisexual Swede first broke through with her 2014 sleeper hit “Habits,” and has consistently delivered pure pop magic since. Known for her casual approach to sex positivity (“Did you go down on his birthday? / Did you let him leave a necklace?” she sings on her latest single, “Glad He’s Gone”), it’s no surprise that she’s the product of a liberal upbringing.
“I never came out to my parents or my friends. I just kinda did what I wanted with whomever I wanted,” she said in a letter to the LGBTQ community.
Related: Here are 20 sexy new anthems required for pride party playlists
bonbon
No, and I don’t really care either. I don’t listen to musicians for their LGBTness but for their …. music!
lord.krath
It’s good you listen because of the art produced. But, I think you missed the point of this article. Just like articles that point out works of art from other minorities… its an appreciation thing. There are more of us out there than people would have most believe and we’re functional contributing members of society (approval of art form or work product, notwithstanding). So, now you know about these artists. Now you know they are one of us. It is June and the month of Pride, as it were.
Donston
It’s kinda weird how non straight or gay identifying people can pretty get away with saying almost anything problematic (like Billie’s quote. However, it can be forgiven considering it’s from the mid 90’s). The article is pretty much about people who at some point said they weren’t straight but never made a big deal about, never really tired to politicize their lives and sense of self and are presumed to live entirely or mostly hereto love lives and hetero relationship ambitions. But with most of these people if you care to know you would know. Nothing anyone says about themselves goes unnoticed in this social media era.
EliottlovesLucas
Billie won’t talk about his bisexuality publicly out of “respect” for his wife.
Donston
And I can respect that. If you feel you are with the person that you truly want to share the rest of your life with the only main reason to “come out” or attach yourself to a “Label” is primarily identity politics.
Kangol2
I’ve heard of Demi Lovato but none of the others ring a bell, as singers or LGBTQ folks.
ShiningSex
I’ve never heard of her and looked her up. Now I’m glad I never heard of Demi. Her music is awful
ShiningSex
Daya bi? yeah right. GAY
who are these people (at least most of them).
ShiningSex
btw their music all sucks.
xanadude
OMG, you all need to turn in your gay cards if you don’t know ALL of these artists! 😉
Donston
Shiningsex seems to get off on being catty, dismissive and oblivious, which would be okay if he was in the least bit clever.
Donston
On another note, the link to this article says “gay singers”. But outside of the trans performers, none of these people are known to have relationships and overall preferences beyond their opposite cis gender. And none of these people have connected themselves to “gay” in any way. Or are we using “gay” as a synonym for “queer” and non-straight/non cis gender? The way this site (and many sites in general) can be completely random and nonchalant with identity one moment and then hardcore about the specifics of identity and the importance of identity the next moment is annoying.
Geeker
I appreciate them being open “when asked” but it’s a lot easier to say your bi when you’re married to a woman.
Donston
This is one of the persistent issues I have with the “bi pride” agenda. If you can truly love anyone, feel affections towards anyone and be content with anyone then why did you marry a chick and why are you not known to have had any legit relationships beyond a single gender? While yes, if you come out as a “bi guy” but you’re married to a woman or is in a serious, long-term relationship with a female then you don’t have to worry about most people referring to you as “gay” (god forbid). Nor do you have to deal with much of any sociological ramifications and only a bit of maybe a bit of career ramifications depending on what you do and your image/appeal. Outside of social politics and identity obsessed Twitter, everyone will just see you as a “straight guy” or “a straight guy with some dimensions”. It’s just not the same type of stuff.
To counteract choosing a hetero partnership, a lot of folks have gone the route of trying to “prove” just how “queer” they are and how much they don’t want straight privileges. That’s just as exhausting as some bi identifying guys who seek legit relationships out with guys desperately reminding people how not homo they are and making sure they keep a safe distance from anything “gay”. It’s all too much about sociological, political and ego maneuvering. However, none of the people listed here made much of a fuss when “coming out”.
dean089
Over the years, especially with men, I’ve noticed there does seem to be this element of “I married a woman to make mom and dad happy but still have sex with guys.” So let’s toss aside all this LGBTQ stuff and just say “I’m in a non-monogamous marriage/relationship.” That’s what’s really going on, why not just say that? Then, of course, whenever I hear “I’m in a open/non-monogamous relationship” my first question is always “Is your partner aware of this and are they cool with it?” But hey, let’s spin it as some LGBTQ thing because that looks better in the press.
Donston
dean089, your perspective is a bit outdated and one-note. Yes, there’s still plenty of people who are greatly influenced by sociology, politics, religion, familial pressures, self-resentment, and so on. And yeah, some people who hype their “lgbtq pride” do come off as a bit manipulative, insincere and/or like they’re unwilling to truly discuss their struggles, dimensions and journey. However, admitting to having some dimensions or fluidity or whatever within your orientation does not equate to wanting to engage in sexual activity outside of your relationship, especially not on the regular. And do you think every guy who says he’s not homosexual but seems to only be seriously interested in guys is indeed entirely homosexual and living completely homo lifestyles? While there are plenty of guys who have attractions or sexual enjoyment or certain types of affections beyond one gender but simply prefer the persistent affection, passion, romantic love, relationship from a particular gender. If you know you’re that type of guy then marrying someone beyond that gender is probably not a good thing.
Not everything is about being influenced by others. But as I always say, if we place less emphasis on identity, the drama of “coming out” and playing sociological games with your love and sex life, and focus more on people just being themselves, being honest, and being with who they really want to be with some of the nonsense goes away.
skeldare
Correction: Did you know these 8 musicians are bisexual or trans
Brian
I just read a article a couple of days ago that Teddy and Emily broke up.
nitejonboy
Man I’d love to get a piece of BIllie Joe Armstrong, he is hot.
Donston
Well, he hasn’t talked about it in twenty years. So, there is a chance he’s not particularly interested in dudes in anyway at this point.
mgconlan
What amazes me about this list is that no one on it is exclusively Gay or Lesbian. Like a lot of other people of their or younger generations, they don’t want to lock their sexuality into exclusive “Gay” or “straight” categories. They also don’t want to lock their gender identities into exclusive “cis” or “Trans” categories. While older Queer folk like me grew up regarding our sexuality and gender identity as either/or choices, these people are breaking down the artificial barriers and being who they are, and being with anyone they desire physically and identify with emotionally. More power to them!