There are a plethora of creatives out there that continue to gift us beautiful artworks and also provide audiences with a community to be a part of and identify with. Yes, it is June, and it is pride month, but these LGBTQ creatives matter every single day of the year.
Across art forms, from active advocacy and awareness-raising to being unapologetically themselves, there is a lot that is incredibly inspiring from these artists. Let’s take a look at those that should always be on your radar.
LGBTQ creatives through the lens
Jess T. Dugan – Focused mainly on capturing portraits, Jess T. Dugan is not only preoccupied by the visuals but by what lies beneath them. The artist goes a step deeper with the subjects they photograph, raising awareness and sensibility to their personal stories. There is a beautiful, touching nature to Dugan’s work in its coherence, rawness, and balance.
Menelik Puryear – New York City-born and Brooklyn-raised, Puryear mostly works with lifestyle and fashion magazines.
Blending modern with retro he finds a certain depth in everything he captures and his photographs see no boundaries in terms of perspective, deco and style.
Through his work, he also uses his platform to support other creatives’ achievements and important causes being fought for.
For your ears
Muna – The American electronic-pop trio consists of artists Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin, and Naomi McPherson. Known for advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, they are constantly engaging in conversation with their audience on Twitter. In honour of pride month, they curated a playlist asking their followers for input. You can stream the playlist here.
Overall, the band never ceases to drive and inspire their community.
Cayley Spivey – With a Spotify bio that reads “the ginger tomboy you never knew you needed”, the pop-indie-rock artist is as relatable as it gets. As playful and sarcastic as she often is, nothing stops her from getting very real and speaking out for LGBTQ+ rights.
With a new EP on the way, keep an eye out for Spivey’s upcoming music.
In writing
Samra Habib – A Pakistani Canadian photographer, Habib is not only virtuous behind a camera but with a pen in hand. This year, her memoir We Have Always Been Here, was recommended by Mauree Turner, Oklahoma’s first Muslim lawmaker.
In it, Habib not only addresses queerness and gender but also ties it in with questions of religion, specifically Islam.
On another front, the Oprah Daily recently compiled a series of book recommendations from queer authors who explain why each novel was inspiring and important in their lives. The list is not short of compelling suggestions, with the contributions of a total of 115 LGBTQ+ writers. Take a scroll through it right here.
LGBTQ creatives inspire and understand, everyday
Whether it be June or any other month, there are artists to inspire you. Creatives shine every day of the year even if it is not Pride Month.
LGBTQ creatives bound to make you feel less alone through their art and the communities they foster. And they ought to be celebrated.