17 Jun Pride Playlist: These Songs Gave Me the Courage to Be Myself

Kim Petras became the first transgender artist to win a Grammy in 2023, five years after this pride performance. (2018.06.10 Capital Pride Festival and Concert, Washington, DC USA 03314 by Ted Eytan / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0 license)

Commentary, Joseph De La Cruz

One of my earliest memories is watching Jennifer Lopez in that purple jumpsuit, lip-syncing to Selena Quintanilla. I danced in bed, singing along. My sippy cup was my microphone.

As I came of age, music was my way to escape as I was figuring things out about myself that I wasn’t able to put into words. I was listening to artists that were able to tap into my emotions — I was listening to gay artists and gay anthems.

>>>Read: The Reintroduction of Adam Lambert: How an Ex-American Idol Is Taking Charge and Being Unapologetically Gay<<<

So what makes a gay anthem?

To me, a gay anthem represents the strength and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community. They are songs that can make you dance but at the same time, make you feel empowered.

Some of the songs I have chosen are well-known in the community. Some are by queer artists that I saw myself in. Some are a perfect reflection of what it means to just be yourself.

“Deeper and Deeper” – Madonna

This house banger tells the story of a young man coming to terms with his homosexuality. I discovered Madonna at a time when I was embarking on my own such journey.

“¿A Quién Le Importa” – Thalía

This song was a 1986 hit for Alaska y Dinarama in Spain, where it was adopted as a gay anthem. Then came the Thalia’s 2002 cover. With lyrics such as, “¿A quién le importa lo que yo haga?” and “yo sé que me critican/me consta que me odian” (“I know who I am and I’m never gonna change”), this song celebrates who you are and not caring what others think. With its music video taking place in a gay club, this song is covered by drag queens in many Latino gay clubs. When I first heard it as a kid, it got me dancing even though I was too young to understand its message. As I got older, I realized the Queen of Latin Pop paved new pathways in Latin music.

“Rebelde” – RBD

This pop-rock anthem defined my early teen years. The opening song of the telenovela its members originated from, “Rebelde” is an expression of being who you are without caring about the expectations of others. “Y soy rebelde/cuando no sigo a los demas” (“I’m a rebel when I don’t follow others.”) RBD member Christian Chávez became one of the first public figures in Mexico to come out in March 2007, in spite of the traditionally conservative views of the time. It was the first time I saw myself in a public figure.

“Gimme More” – Britney Spears

This dance pop classic has stood the test of time and proved why she is the Princess of Pop. Its parent album, 2007’s “Blackout,” stood out as a bright spot in a dark time of Spears’ life, which was marked with a bitter divorce, endless court dates, even the media having obituaries ready. “Gimme More” is seen as a testament to Britney’s strength, and she gave me the courage to be myself.

“Sweet Spot” – Kim Petras

The argument can be made that the whole discography of Kim Petras — the first openly transgender artist to win a Grammy — is gay. But this song, channeling gay icon Kylie Minogue, might be the gayest of all. It gets people jumping and singing at the top of their lungs. You forget about your problems for that short time. You want to live in that pink pop perfect fantasy world that Petras makes with her music, giving you the courage to be who you are.

“Wild” – Troye Sivan

The opening song from his debut album, “Blue Neighborhood,” tells the story of falling in love. It isn’t something that hasn’t been done before in the pop world. But Sivan is gay and wasn’t shy about it being about a man, and in 2015, it was the first time I saw a song like that get a positive reception. The music video depicts Sivan and his love interest as children, developing their friendship, and having their feelings turn romantic. The video is not only genuine but also intimate, it and the song’s overall message about one thing only: love.

“Cozy” – Beyoncé

Am I biased having just been to the Cowboy Carter Tour in L.A? Yes. Is this song very gay? Also yes. Her 2022 album, “Renaissance,” was inspired by 1970s Black dance music, the queer pioneers of the times, and the ballroom scene. “Cozy” earns its place on this list because not only is it a great house track, Beyoncé references the Progress Pride flag in the lyrics, naming every color and what she associates with it.

“Born This Way” – Lady Gaga

What can I say about this song that hasn’t been said already? Gaga came at a point in my life where I knew things were going to change. I was a freshman in high school, still in the closet, and not willing to accept the feelings I had even though I had parents that I knew would always be there for me. Internalized homophobia had made its way to me at a young age, and I just didn’t know to break away from it. But then came a singer who was just different and unlike anything I feel we had seen before. Gaga just exploded into the world, and her music was inescapable. And she was a pioneer of being who you are and just not giving a damn. She was a bisexual woman breaking down barriers in pop music.

And then in 2011, “Born This Way” became this freedom song for the LGBTQ+ community. It was something that we just hadn’t heard before. I’m beautiful in my way/’Cause God makes no mistakes/I’m on the right track/Baby, I was born this way. This woman made it OK for me to be who I am with her music, gave me the courage to be myself and not care. The person I am today wouldn’t be here without Lady Gaga and her music.