Gay heavy metal

Sam Smith

Sam Smith, a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, has been a prominent figure in pop music since the early 2010s. Halford has been an open advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and often speaks transparently about what it was like to come out as a metal singer. In 1992, Halford was arrested for public indecency after being entrapped by an undercover police officer while cruising in a public restroom in Venice Beach, California.

Janis Joplin

Janis Joplin, one of the most influential rock singers of the 1960s, was known for her powerful, soulful voice and rebellious spirit. And that's all that matters. Black Sabbath and Deep Purple may have created heavy metal, but their song structures were based on the same blues influences that permeated conventional rock and roll. Her work continues to challenge conventions and celebrate diversity.

14.

Laura Jane Grace

Laura Jane Grace, the frontwoman of Against Me!, is a prominent transgender musician who came out in 2012. In Sad Wings of Destiny, Judas Priest stripped away the blues trappings to lay bare a bombastic sound of pure brute force. Openly bisexual, DiFranco’s music often addresses themes of social justice, feminism, and equality, resonating with audiences around the world.

15.

This revelation was groundbreaking in the metal community, challenging stereotypes and opening discussions about sexual orientation in a genre traditionally associated with machismo. Their openness and advocacy have made them an influential figure in the LGBTQIA+ community.

27. As an openly gay man, John has been a tireless advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and has used his platform to support numerous charitable causes.

8.

Known for hits like “A Little Respect” and “Always,” Bell’s openly gay status and vibrant performances have made him a beloved figure in the LGBTQIA+ community.

11. His openness has been influential in promoting LGBTQIA+ visibility in the music industry.

6. Her openness about her sexuality has resonated deeply within the metal community, inspiring fans and fellow artists alike.

The album, deeply influenced by blues and lacking any distinctive style to differentiate it from the many other hard rock bands competing in the market, was a commercial failure and received no attention from the press.

Judas Priest’s second album, Sad Wings of Destiny (1976), despite also being a commercial failure, marked a turning point both for the band and the heavy metal genre itself.

Known for his candid lyrics and innovative approach to music, Abstract’s openness about his sexuality has resonated with fans and has helped to challenge stereotypes within hip-hop culture.

23. Metalheads have bestowed Halford with the honorific nickname “Metal God” for his embodiment of the genre’s ethos.

Judas Priest, like most metal bands, has been critically derided throughout their career.

Obviously, Halford never had any dalliances with groupies, but he also never dared to take any male fans back to his hotel rooms either. 

“If I fancied a guy in the crowd,” Halford wrote in his autobiography, “how did I go about it? Lambert’s openness about his sexuality has made him an influential advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights.

12. The Dicks were infamous for their nonconformity and incorporated jazz and blues into their brutish rock.

As an openly lesbian artist, Lang has used her platform to advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and to celebrate diversity through her art.

Conclusion

The contributions of LGBTQIA+ musicians to the rock and metal genres are both profound and enduring.