UNISEX
Celebration of Female Queer Artists There have been so many important and inspiring LQBTQ+ women artists in history, who’s voices and legacies are often understated. To commemorate the remarkable contributions of LQBTQ+ women artists, ranging from literature to music, I’ve shared a few of their stories to continue to remember and appreciate their genius. - Beatrice Zanca
Ma Rainey
was an extremely influential blues singer and was one of America’s first African-American professional blue singers, dubbed as the “Mother of Blues”. Her emotional lyrics and her incredible, powerful sound influenced a generations of blues singers to come. Recording amongst the likes of Louis Armstrong and Thomas Dorsey, Rainey became a household name and a cultural icon in the blues scene. Rainey was proudly, unapologetically openly bisexual, and often referenced this in her lyrics. As a black women in the 1920’s her boldness and openness to explore her own identity and sexuality is extremely brave and inspiring, unfortunately this is also the reason Rainey has somewhat overlooked and forgotten. A recent new film, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom has aired on Netflix to commemorate the great artist and continue to give Rainey the praise and recognition she deserves. renced this in her lyrics. As a black women in the 1920’s her boldness and openness to explore her own identity and sexuality is extremely brave and inspiring, unfortunately this is also the reason Rainey has somewhat overlooked and forgotten. A recent new film, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom has aired on Netflix to commemorate the great artist and continue to give Rainey the praise and recognition she deserves.
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Images by Dana L. Brown, Jes Burgess, and Jon Beaupre on Flickr
