Being both queer and a resident of Los Angeles is a beyond busy time for us gays in June. There are so many parades, pop-ups, concerts, drag shows, and friends to get brunch with that it can get overwhelming (and yes, having a whole month seems to be necessary considering how many outings we all have to attend). For those who are able to partake (and who have the stamina) it’s a month-long party. My gay volleyball league even paused our Sunday beach games to attend the upcoming parade in West Hollywood.

Regardless of the heavier themes in queer history, and the original Pride starting as a protest, I truly think the best protest now is celebration. With so much media attention focused around queer suffering in the world, it’s equally important to celebrate queer joy. One of the greatest joys is seeing the queer artists of our generation out and thriving, putting on flamboyant and colorful shows for queers and straights alike. The visceral, corporeal reaction I have to seeing my favorite queer artists live is always like a release of pent-up emotions that I didn’t even realize I had. There’s joy and there’s tears and I’m always so grateful.

We are fortunate enough to have more queer artists than I can name (or am even aware of), and rounding them up is no small task. The sheer quantity of out and proud artists succeeding in popular culture in America is a testament to the distance we have come. To sum up some of the best queers currently putting out music, we made a list of our 100 favorite LGBTQ+ artists. Think of this as a love letter from a queer and her friends. Happy Pride!

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1. Amindi – “Haircut”

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2. Snail Mail – “Madonna”

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3. Fletcher – “girls girls girls”

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4. G Flip – “GAY 4 ME ft. Lauren Sanderson”

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5. Lauren Sanderson – “QUEEN BEE”

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6. 070 Shake – “Skin and Bones”

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7. UMI - “Pretty Girl hi!”

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8. Dua Saleh – “pretty kitten”

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9. Amber Ryann – “SITUATIONSHIP”

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10. Cub Sport – “Be Your Man”

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11. Chika – “Cinderella Pt. 1”

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12. Hayley Kiyoko – “Girls Like Girls” 

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13. King Princess – “Pussy Is God”

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14. Troye Sivan – “Angel Baby”

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15. YUNGBLUD – “hope for the underrated youth”

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16. Raveena – “Temptation”

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17. Arlo Parks – “Softly”

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18. The Regrettes – “You’re So Fucking Pretty”

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19. Kim Petras – “Treat Me Like A Slut”

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20. The XX – “On Hold”

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21. ppcocaine ft. NextYoungin – “3 Musketeers”

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22. Dreamer Isioma – “Bad Ting”

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23. Brandy Carlisle – “Broken Horses”

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24. Lil Nas X – “Montero (Call Me When You Want)”

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25. Kehlani – “Honey”

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26. Tinashe ft. SchoolBoy Q – “2 On”

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27. Omar Apollo – “Bi Fren”

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28. Starrah – “Codeine Cowgirl”

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29. Young M.A. – “Petty Wap”

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30. David Davis – “Little Mo Betta”

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31. Remi Wolf – “Shawty”

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32. Kevin Abstract – “American Boyfriend”

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33. Janelle Monae – “Electric Lady”

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34. Angel Olsen – “Chasing The Sun”

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35. Yves Tumor – “Romanticist / Dream Palette"

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36. Clairo – “Sofia”

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37. Tyler The Creator – “Garden Shed”

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38. Steve Lacy – “Hate CD”

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39. Blood Orange – “Orlando”

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40. girl in red – “two queens in a king sized bed”

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41. Saucy Santana – “Material Girl”

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42. Orville Peck – “C’mon Baby, Cry”

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43. Evann McIntosh – “What Dreams Are Made Of”

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44. Willow – “Female Energy, Part 2”

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45. Claud – “Wish You Were Gay”

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46. Christine and the Queens – “Girlfriend”

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47. Conan Gray – “Astronomy”

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48. The Aces – “Girls Make Me Wanna Die”

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49. Syd – “Out Loud”

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50. serpentwithfeet – “Cherubim”

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51. VINCINT – “Be Me”

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52. CATTY – “Bella Donna”

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53. Todrick Hall – “I Like Boys”

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54. Sir Babygirl – “Flirting with Her”

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55. JoJo Siwa – “Every Girl’s A Super Girl”

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56. Angel Haze – “Werkin' Girls”

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57. Greyson Chance – “Athlete” (from Love, Victor)

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58. Victoria Monét – “Experience (with Khalid & SG Lewis)

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59. Måneskin – “I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE”

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60. Oliver Sim – “Hideous”

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61. Tash Sultana – “Pretty Lady”

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62. Rina Sawayama – “This Hell”

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63. St. Vincent – “Candy Darling”

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64. mxmtoon - “ok on your own (ft. Carly Rae Jepsen)”

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65. DijahSB – “Girls Give Me Anxiety”

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66. PineappleCITI – “Hide Yo Body”

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67. Ryan Nealon – “What Makes A Man”

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68. Brittany Howard – “Georgia”

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69. Kaash Paige – “Girlfriend”

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70. RYAN BEATTY – “GOD IN JEANS”

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71. Ashnikko – “Slumber Party (ft. Princess Nokia)”

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72. LP – “Girls Go Wild”

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73. Deb Never – “Sweet & Spice”

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74. Cookiee Kawaiii – “Press Play (Gamer Girl)”

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75. Frank Ocean – “Self Control”

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76. Sam Smith – “Dance (‘Til You Love Someone Else)”

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77. Wrabel – “11 Blocks”

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78. Pabllo Vittar – “Follow Me (ft. Rina Sawayama)”

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79. Hope Tala – “All My Girls Like To Fight”

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80. Honey Dijon – “Where My Girls At? Honey Dijon remix, 702”

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81. Dizzy Fae – “Her”

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82. Orion Sun – “dirty dancer”

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83. Tommy Genesis – “A Woman Is A God”

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84. FHAT – “Packin'"

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85. Big Freedia – “Louder (ft. IconaPop)

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86. SOPHIE – “Immaterial”

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87. Perfume Genius - “Jason”

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88. Taylor Bennett – BE YOURSELF

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89. Joy Oladokun – “look up”

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90. Amaarae – “Fluid”

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91. Moses Sumney – “also also also and and and”

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92. CupcakKe – “LGBT”

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93. Emily King – “Georgia”

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94. Betty Who – “All Things (From Queer Eye)”

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95. 100 Gecs – “ringtone (remix) (ft. Charlie XCX, Rico Nasty, Kero Kero Bonito)”

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96. Mykki Blanco – “Summer Fling”

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97. KILLBOY – “U + ME”

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98. Shea Diamond – “I Am Her”

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99. BRONZE AVERY – "Boys!"

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100. Jamila Woods – “SULA (Paperback)”

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For a comprehensive playlist, in order, of these 100 songs, see the link below:

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