UNSEX

Celebration of Female Queer Artists

Beatrice Zanca

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.

Ma Rainey

Dana L. Brown on Flickr

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.

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Audre Lorde

Jes Burgess on Flickr

Audre Lorde

is my favourite writer; I’m constantly raving about Lorde’s books and poetry and recommend them to everyone. Zami: A New Spelling of My Name is my alltime favourite, it’s an ode to all the women that shaped her life, and how her different identities shape her life and how these identities affect her experiences. Lorde’s work mixes between different genres and styles, with a distinct poetic and visceral language, the emotion expression in her work is extremely moving. Self-described as “black, feminist, lesbian, poet, warrior, mother”, Lorde dedicated her life to feminism and political activism, through the exploration of her black female identity and her critiques of the prevalent injustices in society. Lorde was extremely critical on white, middle-class second-wave feminism, and was extremely influential to critical feminist thought as she argued all forms of oppression are interrelated. Lorde’s work continues to inspire and offers the language to explores one’s own identity as well as the tools to continue to fight against oppression and injustice in our society. through the exploration of her black female identity and her critiques of the prevalent injustices in society. Lorde was extremely critical on white, middle-class second-wave feminism, and was extremely influential to critical feminist thought as she argued all forms of oppression are interrelated. Lorde’s work continues to inspire and offers the language to explores one’s own identity as well as the tools to continue to fight against oppression and injustice in our society.

Wendy Carlos

Jon Beaupre on Flickr

Wendy Carlos is an incredibly important musician and pioneering composer. Primarily associated with electronic music, she helped to develop the first Moog Synthesizer, which became the first commercially available keyboard. Carlos’ rose to prominence with their pioneering album Switched-On Back, a synthesized adaptation of Bach’s classical museum, winning Carlos three Grammy Awards. Carlos’ continued to have an incredibly successful career, releasing electronic and experimental albums, and composing the score for Kubrick films and Walt Disney Productions. Carlos began to experience gender dysphoria at an extremely young age and transitioned the same year as Switched-On Back was released. However, Carlos was fearful of public reaction, therefore using a wig and stick-on sideburns she disguised herself a man for TV appearances and continued this disguise through her public appearances. After years of hiding her true gender identity, Carlos disclosed she was a woman, and began to advocate for transgender rights. Carlos is an incredibly gifted musical talent, and an incredibly courageous transgender women who decided to live her life authentically.