Queer Women Are the Future of Pop Music

The music industry is a constantly revolving door of artists, genres, and trends, but in 2018, music has found a new leader that's here to stay: queer women.

Whether bisexual, pansexual, or queer, for the first time in history there are multiple women on the radio singing about other women, singing about men and women, and hell, even singing about no partner at all and loving themselves as a woman who doesn’t have to choose anyone.

While some say Katy Perry kicked off this movement with 2008's infamous "I Kissed a Girl," the following eight artists have legitimized and emotionalized queer sexuality in a way that’s powerful, poignant, and downright badass.

Move the f*ck over, boys! The future of pop music is female AND queer!

Janelle Monáe

The singer/actress recently took the very courageous step of coming out via one of the most inspiring Rolling Stone articles to date: "I want young girls, young boys, nonbinary, gay, straight, queer people who are feeling ostracized to know that I see you…be proud."

If out-staging yourself is even possible, the singer then dropped her new visual album Dirty Computer (below) chock-full of incredible visuals, stunning lyrics, and a poignant message of self-love, queer pride, and female empowerment. A true proclamation of freedom!

Demi Lovato

Never one to shy away from speaking her mind, the pop singer has gone through a metamorphosis as of late. Not just in her music, but also in her personal life. Her documentary, Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated, dived deep into her struggles with drugs, a debilitating eating disorder, and her sexuality. Aside from her massive hit "Cool for the Summer" being about a female love-interest, Demi has also publicly stated she’s "looking for a human connection, and that doesn’t discriminate (between) men or women."

Kehlani

I'm going to let Kehlani's tweets tell her own story on this one: "I’m queer. Not bi, not straight. I’m attracted to women, men, REALLY attracted to queer men, non binary people, intersex people, trans people…i felt gay always insisted there was still a line drawn as to which ‘label’ of human I was attracted when I really jus[t] be walking around thinking ERRYBODY FINE."

Halsey

Halsey has been at the forefront of releasing songs about her love of sometimes men, sometimes women, and sometimes both. In her hit "Bad At Love" she perfectly weaves colorful narratives of troubled relationships with both guys and girls, while on "Strangers" she duets with Fifth Harmony's Lauren Jauregui, a love song between two women. Her latest single, "Him and I," is dark duet detailing her romance with boyfriend G-Eazy.

She’s also passionately spoken out via Twitter and other candid interviews about being bisexual and the trials and tribulations that come with it:"So if I’m dating a guy, I’m straight and if I date a woman, I’m lesbian. The only way to be a true bisexual is to date two people at once."

Lauren Jauregui

Speaking of Lauren, the Fifth Harmony alum came out just last year in an open letter to Trump supporters, promoting inclusion and women's empowerment. She said "[I am a] bisexual Cuban-American woman and I am so proud of it…I’m [also] proud that the sex between my thighs provides a strength and resilience in me that only other women can feel."

With two solo projects already under her belt (Halsey’s "Strangers" and Steve Aioki’s "All Night"), her solo career is on the brink of epicness and we are ready for it to explode!

Hayley Kiyoko

Hayley entered the business loud, out, and proud. The young singer opened up about her sexuality both creatively on songs like "Girls like Girls" and in conversation, telling Billboard: "I love being open and sharing my stories because it inspires other kids to hopefully be more comfortable with themselves at a younger age."

She’s also spoken out about prejudice in the music industry when execs complained that her songs kept centering on girls. "Taylor Swift sings about men in every single song and video, and no one complains that she’s unoriginal." Taylor Swift herself even jumped in on the conversation to lend her support to the matter. Queens supporting queens!

Fletcher

Getting her start on The X Factor, Fletcher has since grown into a solo artist with a bold creative vision for the future of pop, and an even bolder stance on sexuality as a whole: "I just express my opinion and stance on sexual fluidity and love and whatever that may be…It's really important to just be talking about sexuality, because the more we talk about it and it's normalized, the more the next generation will never have to come out. It's so stupid that people have to even come out."

Still an independent artist, Fletcher is on the brink of mainstream success with ideals of equality and empowerment guiding her way.

Kim Petras

The 25-year-old German singer-songwriter is increasing transgender visibility and has been doing so since the start of her career.

She broke onto the scene with the sassy "I Don’t Want It All," a campy anthem about spoiled, rich girls. Since then, she has focused her efforts on a debut album, hoping to release a song a month until it’s complete. With Pride Festivals, live shows, and a distant tour on the horizon, Kim is a much-needed voice in the world of pop!