Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!
Andrew J. Stillman is a freelance writer and yoga instructor exploring the world. Check him out at andrewjstillman.com or follow him @andrewjstillman on all the things.
Pride Month is always one of the most electric times of the year, and across the globe, some of the biggest parties are taking place.
Whether it's your first Pride or you've been around the block a few times, here's a look at our 2023 Pride Playlist for all the jams we're rocking to this year.
Sabrina Carpenter attends the 2025 Met Gala Celebrating "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" at Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 05, 2025 in New York City.
TheStewartofNY/GC Images
This week, Sabrina Carpenter unexpectedly announced the follow-up to 2024's Short n' Sweet album, leading to a new wave of all-too-familiar puritanical pearl clutching.
"My new album, 'Man's Best Friend' is out on August 29, 2025," she wrote alongside the album art — a picture of her on her knees in front of a faceless, suited figure holding her hair — and another close-up image of a dog wearing a collar with a tag reflecting the album title.
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The first picture is certainly evocative, and it took no time whatsoever for it to spark up the usual discourse surrounding the "Espresso" singer.
There are people of all ages lobbing criticisms at Carpenter, but there's the impression that a lot of it is coming from Gen Z. It's hard to say whether this is accurate or not, but it wouldn't come as a surprise that the generation pushing for less sex in movies and TV (in an era that's already regressing on that front), obsessed with age gap discourse, and against kink at Pride would struggle with Carpenter's whole schtick.
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Last year, "Im 17 and AFRAID of Sabrina Carpenter" became a whole meme after someone someone complained about Carpenter being too sexy during her concerts. Things like this only seem to reinforce the claim that Gen Z liberals have gone full "horseshoe theory" and ended up with politics that appear similar to rightwing extremists. In this case, that means embracing the belief that if something offends them, personally, rather than simply sit out and acknowledge that they aren't the target audience, they believe it simply shouldn't exist at all.
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Adding another dimension to the seemingly endless discourse is the question of intent. Many of Carpenters fans have repeatedly pointed out that there's a level of satire to just about everything she does. Her songs are frequently somewhat dismissive of men, her expressions of sexuality seem to be done for her own enjoyment, and so it would stand to reason that an album titled Man's Best Friend featuring album art of her being treated like a dog is more commentary on how men treat women than anything else.
But media literacy amongst the generation that fast forwards through the "boring" parts of movies and TV and then insists they made no sense isn't doing so hot. Combine that with social media's ability to platform knee-jerk reactions and controversy gaining clout and it's no wonder folks are failing to give Carpenter the benefit of the doubt.
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And even some folks who might get it seem to think it doesn't matter. In their world, there's no time to sit with art or the discomfort it might create. All that matters is what's on the surface. If it gives the appearance of misogyny, then it is misogyny, and it should be squashed. There's no room for nuance here.
Perhaps the most egregious part of any of this is that none of it feels worthy of discourse. Carpenter is an extremely talented artist, and she's clearly having a fun time putting her music out into the world, but her aesthetic and imagery isn't revolutionary. It isn't — or at least shouldn't be — pushing boundaries, regardless of whether you view it as satire or scandal.
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Make no mistake: that's not a criticism. Not everything has to inspire think pieces or revolutionize music. There should always be room for art that is fun and clever and that means something to individuals without changing entire landscapes. If anything, the fact that Carpenter's insistence on being exactly who she wants to be in this moment is causing such a stir is a depressing indicator that society is regressing from all the progress made by previous generations of artists who fought for exactly that.
"I don’t want to be pessimistic, but I truly feel like I’ve never lived in a time where women have been picked apart more, and scrutinized in every capacity," Carpenter recently told Rolling Stone. "I’m not just talking about me. I’m talking about every female artist that is making art right now."
It ultimately doesn't really matter whether Carpenter is sexualizing herself as satirical commentary on societal norms, or if she's playing into the male gaze, or if she's doing something else entirely — let alone whether she succeeded at any of these things or not. At least, it shouldn't matter through the lens of feminism, which is where so much of the criticism originates. All that matters is that she's doing what she wants to do. She isn't insisting her way of expressing femininity and sexuality is the only way or the "right" way, and she isn't hurting anybody in the process, no matter how much some folks would like to proclaim otherwise.
So let's all just sit back and enjoy the music — or don't. But that doesn't mean it shouldn't exist.
Are you ready to dance the night away with Galantis?
Mega-pop producer Christian Karlsson is gearing up for a once-in-a-lifetime performance at the WorldPride Music Festival where queer fans from across the globe will hear a specially-curated set made just for them.
The musician is also hoping that the event will help combat all of the negatively surrounding LGBTQ+ equality in these very troubling times.
"We all need it right now! Love is love and love will conquer always. They can't drown love. It's going to always conquer. We just need to stand up and stay stuff. You always have to fight back," Karlsson says.
As gay rights continue to serve as a hot button topic politically, the star is reminding queer people and allies to keep up the good fight and that love always wins in the end.
"It's insane to even have the conversation about love is love. That, to me, is a bizarre thing to even talk about. We're here! I love working on my sets and changing things. I want people to know that though sets are unique, it's for them."
For over 10 years now, Karlsson has hit the studio with every A-list artist imaginable, including Britney Spears, Dolly Parton, Katy Perry, Jennifer Lopez, Little Mix, Kylie Minogue, Madonna, and more.
It's certainly safe to say that fans will be able to sing along to every chart-topping single that'll be incorporated in Karlsson's very special performance.
"The DJ part of it is something that I love so much. I get to actually rework mashups of other people's music that I love. That's the best of being a DJ! I will never stop doing that."
As if the WorldPride Music Festival weren't enough, Galantis will be teaming up with Joel Corry at an official afterparty with Echostage.
The premiere party organizer recruited top talent including Trixie Mattel, Zedd, Purple Disco Machine, and more to make Pride in Washington, D.C. even more memorable for everyone in the LGBTQ+ community.
WorldPride Music Festival kicks off today! To see the full interview with Galantis, check out the video at the top of the page.
With a plethora of hits like "Let You Love Me," "Your Song," "Ask & You Shall Receive," "I Will Never Let You Down," and many more, the star is pulling out all the stops for her upcoming performance at WorldPride Music Festival in Washington, D.C.
"I'm literally so excited! I have performed at a lot of Pride's in my career and I just have this forever responsibility to show up for my LGBTQIA+ community, especially the ones that have had my back since 2012," Ora tells PRIDE.
Ora will not only be singing her catalog of hits, but she'll also be performing her newest steamy banger "Heat" for the first time at the queer festival.
"I keep coming back! One thing about Rita Ora... she's not going anywhere! My queens have always said that to me. You're getting everything you want! I'm going to take you through a timeline of feeling good. It's definitely sexy. It's perfect for summer. I'm going back into my sexy girl era!"
The bisexual singer has really found her home within the LGBTQ+ community and knows that she's very fortunate to have gay fans streaming her music all over the world.
"Where else can I go? Wherever the queens are, I'm going. Could I get any more queenie and any more fabulous? If that's not saying enough, I don't know what will. This is where I belong! This is where I'm happiest, so I'll be there."
"Heat" drops this Friday on all platforms. To see the full interview with Rita Ora, check out the video at the top of the page.
Pride Month is officially here and the LGBTQ+ community is coming together at a very crucial time to advocate for equality and celebrate queerness in a very visible way.
The WorldPride Music Festival in Washington, D.C. is bringing the biggest names in music together for a once-in-a-lifetime experience that queer people will remember for the rest of their lives.
MARINA is one of the entertainers slated to perform at the festival and the timing couldn't be better as her upbeat new record PRINCESS OF POWER drops the day she performs, Friday, June 6.
Ahead of her monumental performance, MARINA spoke with PRIDE about her exciting new album, why she believes gay people are more evolved than straight people, and what fans can expect at her upcoming tour later this year. Read below!
PRIDE: Congratulations on your new album, PRINCESS OF POWER! This is your sixth record, and your LGBTQ+ fans everywhere are so excited. How are you feeling in this moment?
MARINA: This moment in time... I feel remarkably calm! This is such a genuinely fun album for me. I want people to feel positive while listening to it. I think we need some light, joy, and celebration, and I know the gays are literally the best at continuing the party. Even when things are miserable, the gays are always partying! I always aim to empower people and give them strength, and my fanbase has done exactly the same for me. I wouldn't change anything about my fanbase.
How would you say this album stands out compared to your previous records?
This album is pretty varied. It still has those quite emotive tracks. Everybody knows I'm sad! There's still bangers, but the lyrics are tragic. That's just what I was needing in my life. I had some health issues that I hadn't been able to figure out for seven years. Once I started to recover from that, I wanted to change my life. I listened to a lot of 2000s Kylie, ABBA, Madonna, and a lot of '70s artists, actually. I had to write music at the energy I wanted to be in. That's how it started, and it exploded into this concept record. My intention was to always make music that had a bright energy.
The visuals from this album are so stunning, and some of your fans have even said that this era is taking them back to Electra Heart a bit. Would you say there are some similarities between the two records?
It could be the wig in "CUNTISSIMO!" It's also a really big pop record, but I don't know if it's that similar to Electra Heart. Electra Heart was about love being a threat and being very close-hearted to protect myself. This album is the complete reverse. It's about choosing to be open-hearted. It's actually really hard to be open-hearted in a world where it feels like you might get hurt. It's been very difficult, but it's been very positive. Love is the strongest and most powerful thing about me. It's not the vulnerable thing anymore. This album is going to hopefully enrich their lives in some way.
Not only is it amazing that PRINCESS OF POWER is coming out during Pride Month, but you're also going to be hitting the stage at the WorldPride Music Festival the day that it drops. You're really saying 'gay rights!'
It literally is for the gays! It was perfect timing. I didn't have to think about it! This community has been such a big part of my fanbase for so long. I'm so pro human rights, and we're living in a time where that feels threatened. The fact that this is taking place blocks from the White House is super powerful. We're going to look good, and I'm going to play seven or eight songs and maybe two new ones as well.
Following WorldPride, you'll also be performing at a slew of other big festivals over the summer. How excited are you to be hitting the road this year?
I'm ready! I haven't done U.S. festivals for a minute, and I'm doing some incredible ones. It's just going to prep me for my headline tour, which hasn't been posted yet, but will be soon! It's important for a record to live in the live arena. That's why I do this!
The LGBTQ+ community has really supported you since the beginning. What message would you love to send to your passionate gay fanbase?
You're all here for a reason... to teach humanity. Gay people are evolved in ways that straight people aren't. Your souls chose this path for whatever reason because you're strong people. I'm continually inspired by this community.
You've been there for us in so many ways. I think many people had their gay awakenings watching your "How to Be a Heartbreaker" music video!
Oh my God! That's too funny. I honestly didn't know that! I must be responsible, and I don't mind that. Honestly, I would love it.
Although Pride is a celebratory occasion, it's also rooted in protest and a fight for equality. What positive words would you like to share with people who may be a little fearful during these challenging times?
Sometimes, I don't know what to say to myself either. I will say, if you're going through a hard time, it means things are going to swing back around soon. That's how the life cycle works. You go from dark to light all the time. That's how you grow! My most difficult times in life... I've grown the most. We are here to be challenged and to grow through things together.
Taylor Swift attends the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy; Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Swifties are celebrating after Taylor Swift revealed that she finally regained ownership of her masters after six years of drama.
Rumblings that the original recordings of Swift’s first six albums were up for sale once again started earlier this month. On Friday, the "Anti-Hero" singer confirmed that her team had negotiated a deal for her to buy them back from Shamrock Capital.
"I've been bursting into tears of joy at random intervals ever since I found out that this is really happening," she wrote in a letter shared to her website. "I really get to say these words: All of the music I’ve ever made… now belongs… to me. And all my music videos. All the concert films. The album art and photography. The unreleased songs. The memories. The magic. The madness. Every single era. My entire life’s work."
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Swift losing the opportunity to purchase her masters has been a major plot point in the narrative of her life ever since Scooter Braun swooped in and purchased Big Machine — and the masters — for $330 million back in 2019.
The two already were already known to have a contentious relationship, and his new ownership led to Swift re-recording four of the six albums to encourage fans’ decision to boycott streaming the original recordings. Even Braun’s decision to sell the masters to Shamrock in 2020 didn’t end the standoff, as one of the conditions of the sale was that he continue to profit from them.
In her letter, Swift expressed gratitude to Shamrock for how they handled the recent sale, calling their dealings "honest, fair, and respectful," and joking that "my first tattoo might just be a huge shamrock in the middle of my forehead."
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Despite the joyous turn of events, it’s clear that any bad blood between her and Braun still remains. Page Sixpreviously claimed Braun was the one encouraging Shamrock to sell to Swift, but a source told People that he had absolutely no involvement in the deal.
"This moment finally happened in spite of Scooter Braun, not because of him," they said.
It’s given the celebration on Swift’s behalf a delightfully petty bent to it, as fans simultaneously cheer on her success and Braun’s continued slide into irrelevancy.
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"taylor got all her masters back and scooter got fired by all his A-list clients... THE WORLD IS HEALING."
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"taylor swift owning her master while justin bieber had to sell his, kanye at his lowest, kim irrelvant, and scooter braun going broke taylor swift always wins in the end"
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"and one last FUCK YOU to scooter braun and scott borchetta !!!!!!!!"
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"wishing scooter braun + scott borchetta an absolutely horrible day as always may everything continue to go wrong in your miserable lives for what you did!! xx"
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"me going to add again the original versions of all Taylor Swift albums to my Spotify library"
At the time of purchase, Swift still has two more albums for which she intended to release re-recordings — her self-titled debut and 2017's Reputation. She also shared an update on where both of those currently stand, telling fans that her debut has been fully re-recorded but that she's barely gotten through a quarter of Reputation.
And unfortunately for fans clamoring for the latter, it doesn't sound likely that's going to change any time soon.
"The Reputation album was so specific to that time in my life, and I kept hitting a stopping point when I tried to remake it," she admitted. "To be perfectly honest, it’s the one album in those first 6 that I thought couldn’t be improved upon by redoing it… So I kept putting it off."
However, Swift did hint that she may still share the unreleased tracks that didn’t make the original album cut, and that fans shouldn’t fully give up hope on hearing Taylor’s Version of either her debut or Reputation just yet.
"Those 2 albums can still have their moments to re-emerge when they time is right, if that would be something you guys would be excited about," she said. "But if it happens, it won’t be from a place of sadness and longing for what I wish i could have. It will just be a celebration now."