Gay Pop: Celebrating Artists Who Redefined the Genre

In the Mad Max musical landscape of the late 2000s, bands like Maroon 5 and Daughtry ruled the airwaves, blasting relentless heterosexuality into our ears. Fortunately, the LGBTQ community has since taken the wheel, sparking a renaissance for gay pop music. Now, bisexual rappers are shouting out Naruto. Lesbian singers are wielding crossbows at the VMAs. All is right in the world.

Whether you’re building a sex playlist that has the ideal BPM, adding more queer expression to your karaoke repertoire, or hyping yourself up for Pride, we’ve got you covered with these incredible gay pop songs. Some tell gripping stories of queer heartbreak and triumph. Others encourage you to love yourself unconditionally. Many are about getting your rocks off. The best of them do all three at once.

So, what are we waiting for? Let’s tune in!

What is gay pop?

Gay pop is music founded on queer storytelling. Sure, the songs are often dancey earworms, but they also communicate themes and experiences unique to the gay community.

Note that it takes more than a music video full of queerbaiting to achieve gay pop status; there’s a reason “I Kissed a Girl” doesn’t make the list. The genre is hard to define because it’s ascribed chiefly to songs that “give us life,” for lack of a better term (because there isn’t one).

Gay pop history

Gay pop was, in fact, not a new genre invented by JoJo Siwa, despite her claims. It has been around for decades, and many famous artists — Elton John, Little Richard, George Michael, and others — have made their mark.

Other gay icons like Cher and Madonna would add their voices to the chorus, giving us some of the most memorable gay music ever. A star doesn’t need to be a gay man to write a good gay pop song; they just have to resonate with the gay community. Today, artists like Charli XCX and Billie Eilish follow in their footsteps, creating fierce tracks that are as gay as the day is long.

Regardless of whether they are gay themselves, every artist who contributes to the gay pop canon displays reverence for the LGBTQ community. This respect goes beyond their music; many become allies who stand up for us and fight for our rights.

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Songs by queer and gay pop artists

Here are 13 examples of gay songs that are unabashedly queer — and not just because they’ll have you cutting up the dance floor like it’s a crop-top at a Pride parade.

1. “Born This Way” — Lady Gaga

If Lady Gaga is gay Beethoven, then “Born This Way” is her “Ode to Joy” (“Bad Romance” is “Symphony No. 5,” in case you were wondering). And what better topic for a timeless gay anthem than queer joy? That’s always been Gaga’s brand, but she says it best here: “We are all born superstars.”

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2. “Red Wine Supernova” — Chappell Roan

Chappell Roan’s absolute whirlwind of a year kicked off thanks to her queer AF discography that lesbians, gays, and theys alike can relate to. “Red Wine Supernova” provides the perfect example — a sapphic pop track so horny it turned her career into an actual supernova.

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3. “The Bitch Is Back” — Elton John

Elton John said what he said with this track. But really, did the bitch ever really leave? Elton is undeniably one of the founding mothers of gay pop, and his bitchy bop will show you exactly why. True queen shit.

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4. “Chosen Family” — Rina Sawayama

Rina Sawayam’s song “Chosen Family” is about the beauty of building a family that loves you for who you are — as a gay person, that’s sometimes born out of necessity. Much like Gaga’s “Born This Way,” it features a unique perspective on the gay experience, celebrating alternative families and queer friendships with bonds as strong as blood.

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5. “Vogue” — Madonna

Finding a song more influential on LGBTQ culture than “Vogue” is like finding a needle in a gaystack. Madonna’s discography is full of queer hits, but this song highlights a specific aspect of queer culture: ballroom. Few songs say “gay pop” more than “Vogue” (but we’re gonna press on anyway!).

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6. “Supermodel” — RuPaul

You. Better. Werq! Years before swathes of gays were calling her mother, the Queen of Drag released this timeless classic about hitting your spotlight with charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent. “Supermodel” has an undercurrent of pure confidence, one that RuPaul continues to exude in and out of drag. She encourages divas of all ages, shapes, and sizes to “give a twirl” on the runway.

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7. “Closer” — Tegan and Sara

Let’s go, girls. It’s time to talk about the incomparable Tegan and Sara. It’s not just physical; their hit album Heartthrob exploded onto the gay pop scene with a joyous sound. The lyrics might not be totally explicit in their gay-ness, but all that tense anticipation certainly isn’t directed at a man. Tegan and Sara stand alongside Indigo Girls and Hayley Kiyoko (more on her later) as peak lesbian artistry.

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8. “Immaterial” — SOPHIE

SOPHIE’s stamp on the world is immortal, even if she was gone too soon. “Immaterial” is a testament to this, declaring that the revolutionary transgender artist can be anything she wants, no matter what the haters say. If there’s any theme that’s universal to queer people of all stripes, it’s that.

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9. “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” — Lil Nas X

Lil Nas X has staked his claim among the modern gay pop icons. He’s best known for his hit song “Old Town Road,” but “Montero” was where he solidified himself as an unapologetically gay songwriter. And who could forget the music video? Nothing says gay pop more than giving the devil a striptease.

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10. “Unholy” — Sam Smith & Kim Petras

Like Lil Nas X, Sam Smith and Kim Petras belong to the new school of gay pop stars. They’ve made waves within the gay pop scene and beyond with “Unholy.” The song has salacious lyrics and a sultry music video featuring two of the biggest names in LGBTQ music.

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11. “Love Shack” — The B-52s

The B-52s are camp incarnate. Hits like “Rock Lobster” and “Love Shack” show just how wide-reaching the genre of gay pop really can be. Who else is talking about sprinkling some glitter on the mattress and making the whole shack shimmy? 

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12. “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’” — Scissor Sisters

Aside from the fact that Elton John plays piano on this track, “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’” stands on its own as one of many songs that solidified the Scissor Sisters as queer AF artists. With a band name like that, they’re not exactly being subtle about it; their moniker alone is as gay as they come.

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13. “Girls Like Girls” — Hayley Kiyoko

Last but certainly not least, more lesbian jams! Lesbian pop princess Hayley Kiyoko released this hit in 2015 to delight lady lovers and queer-core enjoyers everywhere. She’s paved the way for other pop artists to be more blunt about their sexual proclivities, and that’s something worth celebrating on the dance floor.

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Find someone who makes you feel like dancing

Don’t say gay; sing it with these gay pop artists and their even gayer hits! Put them on repeat and the party won’t be the only thing that’s popping.

Ready to find another born-this-way gay to dance the night away? Start your search on Grindr. Download the Grindr app today to meet a guy who makes your heart go padam padam.