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Sure, on the surface, metal culture can seem hyper-masculine, even exclusionary. But dig a little deeper, and you’ll see it’s not so simple.
While goth and metal subcultures are pillars of acceptance, there’s a darker side we need to confront.
As small movements such as this gain momentum, they give hope to fringe groups within the LGBTQ community and queers of color that their voices are important and essential to the progress of ending discrimination.
From the depths of shadows and the thundering power of guitars comes a truth that many don’t dare to acknowledge: Goth and Metal Subcultures Influence on LGBTQ Acceptance. Mainstream society often paints these communities as “dark,” “sinister,” or downright “evil,” but let’s be honest—what’s more twisted?
Exactly what the scene needs.
The reality is simple: goth and metal have long been spaces where queer individuals find their power, their voice, and their acceptance.
3. Originally from Boulder, Colorado, she enjoys writing about political activism, queer liberation, and feminist issues. This is where the truth gets loud, and we don’t apologize for it.1.
The mastermind behind Sopor Aeternus (meaning Eternal Sleep or Sleep of Death) is Anna Varney, a trans woman whose experiences largely fuel her music. “We do not need to add further colors to differentiate gay goths.”
Silly as it may be, the effort fueled by Darkness Vlad Tepes, whether successful or not, adds visibility to the fact that the flag is not all-inclusive.
Last year, Philadelphia’s campaign, More Color More Pride, added these colors in honor of Pride Month – raising the new flag outside of City Hall.
Tepes explains, “Very few goths are ever seen in the gay community, but when they are they are not always welcomed due to their dark gothic fashion. The misfits built it. Acceptance isn’t a trophy you win—it’s something we fight for every day.
In my article about the band, I touched on the rich political commentary the band touches on in their songs as well as the work of frontman Dusty Gannon in cultivating a safer, more accessible goth scene. Siouxsie’s gender-blurring looks and Rozz’s provocative lyrics made goth a subculture where gender and sexuality were fluid long before it was trendy.
Wear their merch.
Create safe spaces—whether that’s clubs, online communities, or festivals—that prioritize inclusivity over elitism. And to those still clinging to the idea that metal or goth can’t be queer: You’re the problem. Some of these songs focus on themes related to queerness while others simply intersect with the artist’s identity.
But as the fight for equality, civil rights, and progress endures, the erasure of non-white queers from the community is problematic and misguided.
The mastermind behind Sopor Aeternus (meaning Eternal Sleep or Sleep of Death) is Anna Varney, a trans woman whose experiences largely fuel her music. “We do not need to add further colors to differentiate gay goths.”
Silly as it may be, the effort fueled by Darkness Vlad Tepes, whether successful or not, adds visibility to the fact that the flag is not all-inclusive.
Last year, Philadelphia’s campaign, More Color More Pride, added these colors in honor of Pride Month – raising the new flag outside of City Hall.
Tepes explains, “Very few goths are ever seen in the gay community, but when they are they are not always welcomed due to their dark gothic fashion. The misfits built it. Acceptance isn’t a trophy you win—it’s something we fight for every day.
In my article about the band, I touched on the rich political commentary the band touches on in their songs as well as the work of frontman Dusty Gannon in cultivating a safer, more accessible goth scene. Siouxsie’s gender-blurring looks and Rozz’s provocative lyrics made goth a subculture where gender and sexuality were fluid long before it was trendy.
Wear their merch.
And to those still clinging to the idea that metal or goth can’t be queer: You’re the problem. Some of these songs focus on themes related to queerness while others simply intersect with the artist’s identity.
But as the fight for equality, civil rights, and progress endures, the erasure of non-white queers from the community is problematic and misguided.