Art has always been used as a means for change. The topic of gender has certainly not been an exception for this. These artists who showed us that gender is much more of a spectrum than we thought, keep giving people a sense of inspiration and courage.

 

Frank Ocean

Keeping his sexual identity a secret towards the start of his career, Frank Ocean bases his subject matter on his sexuality on a lot of his discography. His critically acclaimed “Boys Don’t Cry” album and magazine even gets its name from this conflict. He’s a part of the collective “Odd Future” that includes more LGBTQ artists within its roster. As he keeps advocating for everybody in the LGBTQ community, Frank was meant to release an album in 2020 which supposedly got cancelled due to Covid-19. Fans are excited for his long-awaited album after 4 years of not releasing a full-length project.
 

Dorian Electra

Identifying as non-binary, Dorian Electra’s music largely revolves around sexuality and how fluid it can be. Changing their look depending on how they feel about their identity at any moment, Electra can be seen looking much more masculine at times while they can also be the exact opposite when they feel like it. Dorian Electra is one of the pioneers of the Hyperpop genre, along with many more artists who belong in the LGBTQ genre. Electra also hasn’t worked with any record label yet, opting to work independently and release music through their own means. Inspiring many with the way they represent themselves, Electra recently had their tour unfortunately cancelled due to Covid-19.

Fiona Apple

Taking a rebellious stance against harmful gender roles, pop artist Fiona Apple was most recently in the spotlight for releasing her “Fetch the Bolt Cutters” LP and receiving very positive reviews, even getting a perfect 10/10 score from Pitchfork. Over the years, Fiona Apple has gathered a reputation for never being afraid to speak her mind on the injustices of the music industry. As a long-lasting woman in this scene, she is an experienced and inspirational figure for up and coming female artists.

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Sophie

Sophie, who we unfortunately lost towards the beginning of this year, was certainly a role model for Transexual artists who felt oppressed in music. She has lost her life in a balcony accident at a city she was touring at. Sophie definitely had a unique style when it came to production, which was the reason she was able to collaborate with various names like Flume, Charli XCX and Vince Staples. Helping people questioning themselves about their gender, Sophie shared her story through her music and inspired countless people.