LGBTQ+ singers

Art by MICHELLE KIM voice of youth

LGBTQ+ SINGERS AS ROLE MODELS FOR GEN Z ro illustrate the frustration that comes with knowing who you love, but being scared to pursue it. The song “We Fell in Love in October’’ portrays girl in red’s deep infatuation with another girl. “Heather” by Conan Gray depicts unrequited love with lyrics complimented by the beautiful strumming of an acoustic guitar. “I personally connect with Conan Gray’s ‘Heather’ and ‘Maniac,’ because I have gone through the same exact sce“DO YOU LISTEN TO GIRL IN RED?” In the past year, this question has become synonymous with asking someone if they are lesbian or bisexual in a more discrete way. Girl in red, a 21-year-old Norweigan singer-songwriter who identifies as queer, is best known for her love songs. The phrase is commonly used on TikTok, a social media platform which has become a hot spot for lesser known singers to “A big part of that change comes with tearing down the current standards we reach a larger audience. The app has paved an unconventional path for Gen Z’s artists are fed through media.” narios as he did,” sophomore Nathaniel Ibuyan said. to shine, especially young LGBTQ+ sing- These artists, who are also part of ers who have a way with writing romantic — MARINA BUENDIA, senior the younger generation, have a strong lyrics and dreamy melodies that attract a bond with their audience and often inteenage demographic. These influential artists include girl in red, teract with them over social media. The more intimate relationship

Clairo and Conan Gray. has created an online community where those who enjoy the art-

According to Psychology Today, LGBTQ+ representation in ists can find like-minded people who share similar life experiencthe media can generate a sense of affirmation in identity, which can es, enabling many Gen Z teens to feel more comfortable in their boost feelings of self-worth. identities through music.

“These artists all in particular speak out about the difficulties “I think that having a community online can be really helpful of exploring and defining your sexuality, which for a lot in someone’s journey,” Buendia said. “Where we live it’s a little of people is not something they have the luxury of bit easier to be friends with someone else who is in the LGBTQ+ talking about with their peers or their family,” se- community and the stigma, while still there, is definitely not as nior Marina Buendia said. prominent than in other places.”

Not only do these artists act as an es- To Buendia, positive representation of LGBTQ+ cape for those who might not be able singers in pop culture is the first step to broadto express themselves fully in their ening the representation of all people in a own environment, they help community.

LGBTQ+ teenagers become “A big part of that change more connected to each comes with tearing down other through music the current stanand art. dards we are fed Young artists through melike Clairo, dia,” Buendia girl in red said. “Whethand Conan er it is race,

Gray appeal gender, weight, to a different sexual identity audience than or religion, we most main- need to live in a stream artists world where everybecause they cover one can see people emotional topics that similar to themselves resonate more with the in magazines, on bill-

LGBTQ+ community. boards, in movies and TV

The lyrics in “Sofia’’ by Clai- shows.” v