June is both Pride and Black music history month. While there historically has not been a lot of intersection between the two communities in the past, that has changed in recent years. The following are some members of the community who have made significant contributions to the visibility and acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals in hip-hop, using their platforms to challenge norms and promote inclusivity.
1. Lil Nas X
One of the most high-profile members of both the hip-hop and the LGBTQ community, Lil Nas X came out as gay in 2019, using his platform to challenge homophobia in hip-hop and promote self-expression. He views his music and visibility as a means to inspire others to embrace their true selves.
2. Saucy Santana
An openly gay rapper, Saucy Santana has been vocal about his identity, stating, “I came in gay and I came in swinging,” emphasizing the importance of visibility and representation in hip-hop.
3. Yung Miami
The City Girls rapper has been vocal about not just her bisexuality (ad attraction to Megan Thee Stallion), but also her support for the LGBTQ+ community as a whole, launching a capsule titled “The Gays” for Pride Month last year.
4. Da Brat
One of the hottest female artists of the 1990s, Da Brat kept her personal life mostly private until 2020 when she announced her relationship with Jesseca Dupart. The couple married in 2022 and welcomed their first child in 2023.
5. Mykki Blanco
A transgender artist, Mykki Blanco has been an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, using their platform to challenge stigma and promote acceptance within the hip-hop community.
6. Young M.A
Open about her lesbian identity, Young M.A has used her platform to challenge stereotypes and promote acceptance, stating that embracing her sexuality made her music more authentic.
7. Doechii
A queer Black woman, Doechii has embraced her identity in her music, aiming to disrupt norms and promote LGBTQ+ representation in hip-hop, calling her “literal existence as a queer Black woman is a major contribution to the hip-hop genre.”
8. Bobby Lytes
An openly gay rapper, the Love & Hip Hop alum is not just an artist, but also an executive producer of “Bobby I Love You, Purrr,” a reality television LGBT dating show on the Zeus Network.
9. Janelle Monáe
Identifying as queer and nonbinary, Janelle Monáe has used her platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, stating that she aims to be a refuge for marginalized communities through her art.
10. Le1f
Another openly gay rapper, Le1f has been a pioneer in bringing LGBTQ+ narratives to hip-hop, aiming to redefine the genre’s boundaries and promote inclusivity.
11. Cakes Da Killa
Identifying as a queer Black man, Cakes Da Killa has used his music to challenge stereotypes and promote LGBTQ+ representation within hip-hop.
12. Quay Dash
A transgender rapper, Quay Dash has been vocal about facing transphobia and discrimination, using her platform to advocate for transgender rights and visibility in hip-hop.
13. Kevin Abstract
As a member of Brockhampton, Kevin Abstract came out as gay in 2016, aiming to normalize LGBTQ+ presence in hip-hop and inspire others to embrace their identities.
14. Princess Nokia
Identifying as bisexual, Princess Nokia has openly discussed her sexuality and experiences, using her music to challenge norms and promote LGBTQ+ acceptance.
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