Stories By LGBTQIA+ Vocal Creators & The Perfect Songs To Go With Them

Every time a new challenge is announced on Vocal that interests me, I jump at the chance to enter. That's the logical thing to do, right? And the most recent challenge that asked Vocal+ members to create a Pride Playlist seemed right up my alley considering that my playlists are full of songs by LGBTQIA+ artists. So I did what anyone would do in that moment and submitted my entry.

24 hours later, I was putting in a request to have it moved back to my drafts.

Why would I do that and risk my chance of winning? Well, that's the answer. As soon as I submitted it, I got to thinking about what if I actually did win? While being a little bit richer is typically not something I'd turn away from, to me it felt counterproductive as a straight cisgender person to potentially win a contest that was designed to highlight LGBTQIA+ artists.

( Sidenote: This isn't meant to be some self righteous take or an attempt to shame all of the cishet people who entered in the challenge. There are many different ways to be an ally, this was just my personal conviction.)

So today, I want to highlight some of the LGBTQIA+ Vocal creators who inspire me to be a better writer, while also putting my Pride Playlist to good use. I'm one of those people who hates complete silence so when I'm reading, I have to have music to accompany it. But not just any music; it has to match the vibe and mood of whatever I'm reading. And I'm proud to say that I have found the perfect songs to go along with some of my favorite stories by my favorite LGBTQIA+ creators on Vocal. So give these stories a read and try out these songs to make the experience even better.

1. Derek Evers

Song: "Basics" by Apollo Knight

In his poem "How Lucky Was I?" Derek Evers (a 25 year old gay man) gives us a glimpse into the world of a young gay person finding himself by going out and experiencing the world.

The song "Basics" by gay former TikTok star, Apollo Knight (FKA Michael Thornwell), also speaks about a young man experiencing the world but rather than finding himself, he loses himself and is now on a journey to rediscover who he is.

Both Derek and Apollo show the journeys that many LGBTQIA+ people have to go through in order to be their most authentic selves and whether your journey looks more like Derek's or more like Apollo's, both are valid and both are inspirational.

How lucky was I to be able to run off/for four long years, free to find myself/dancing like a fool with drag performers,/hopelessly romanticizing a future of epic love stories/and learning about the lives of people just like me

- Derek Evers, "How Lucky Was I?"

I was a maverick/But I lost my soul to the hustle/Spent a whole lifetime in a duffle/Was a reckless man in the service, it was worth it/Was a martyr in the careless hands of the city/What a godless place, awful gritty/All the lights burn like an inferno/This is eternal

- Apollo Knight, "Basics"

2. Ariana GonBon

Song: "Stronger Than You" from Steven Universe

Ariana GonBon is a 24 year old Xicana who often writes about her experiences as a bisexual woman and her process to decolonize her thinking. Her story highlighting some of her favorite female-lead movies focuses on the importance of women solidarity and proving to a misogynistic world what women are capable of. Ariana has also written about her love for the show Steven Universe, making the song "Stronger Than You" from the show an even more perfect choice to accompany this story.

In Steven Universe, the song "Stronger Than You" is sung by Garnet, a gem who is a fusion of two female gems whose love keeps them together. This song celebrates their love and the fact that they are stronger together.

Both Ariana and Garnet/Estelle (the voice actor who plays her) give us the girl power we need and also show us examples of women loving women that melt our hearts.

I’ve written about enjoying queer kids shows that allow me to sit with my inner child, but I also enjoy sitting with my adult self and enjoy the exchange of women with possibly-more-than-friendships. I’ve dated too many white boys who tell me I have to watch this movie, because it’s a classic!, for it to end up being extremely misogynistic and that that's the part that's funny. When all-women remakes of Oceans 11 and Ghostbusters were announced, and men spewed their hatred, I relished in their spite.

- Ariana GonBon, "Think Cult Classics, but Female Friendships"

Go ahead and try to hit me if you're able/Can't you see that my relationship is stable?/I can see you hate the way we intermingle/But I think you're just mad 'cause you're single/You're not gonna stop what we've made together/We are gonna stay like this forever/If you break us apart we'll just come back newer/And we'll always be twice the gem that you are

- Garnet/Estelle, "Stronger Than You"

3. Laquesha Bailey

Song: "Hit Like A Girl" by Meet Me @ The Altar

In her article "The Intersection of Black Femininity and Queerness" Laquesha documents her own experience as a queer Black woman and sheds light on some of the Black queer women in music who are often overlooked in the media.

"Hit Like a Girl" by Meet Me @ The Altar matches the vibe of this article perfectly because as a pop punk band that consists of all women of color (two out of three who are openly gay) they are already doing wonders to provide a different kind of representation in the music world. This song also focuses on being unapologetic and proud of being a woman in a world that often tries to put women down or put us in a box.

Both Laquesha and Meet Me @ The Altar are showing that representation matters and for women who happen to be Black and queer, all of those parts are important to who they are.

I grew up curious and queer. Out of place amidst the expectations of a violently heteronormative and denominational country. When I got accepted to attend an all-girls secondary school, I distinctly remember family members joking: "Don't become a lesbian. We'll disown you." Haha, super funny. This was the early 2000s when being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community was still something you whispered about in hushed tones and hid relentlessly from your family and friends. There was virtually no queer representation in the media and even less so for those who happened to be queer and black (at the same time!).

- Laquesha Bailey, "The Intersection of Black Femininity and Queerness"

I'm tough/I'll save the world and won't even break a sweat/No bluff/I'm witty, yeah, I know how to use my head/Said, I'm too loud/I should sit down/No, I've got a lot to say/So what?/I'm rowdy, yeah, I hit like a girl

- Meet Me @ The Altar, "Hit Like a Girl"

4. Skeegii the Writer

Song: "Stuck" by Durand Bernarr (ft. Ari Lennox)

Many of Skeegii the Writer's poems talk about her attraction to women and this poem "Red" is all about a no strings attached kind of relationship and just enjoying the moment for what it is.

Durand Bernarr's song "Stuck" also documents a similar kind of relationship, making it clear that he doesn't want for the person he's involved with to fall in love with him because he's still trying to discover who he wants to be.

Both Skeegii and Durand paint of picture of how knowing what you want (or don't want) is just as valid as being ready to commit to someone (as long as you're honest about it).

This isn’t love but love is the color red, but tonight I only care to get inside of your bed-I mean inside of your head because.../Tonight./It’s of no concern,/That red is the color of love.

- Skeegii the Writer, "Red"

I won't catch you if you fall but I can love you on your way down/So you can never say that I kicked your emotions around/You're on the main road, I took a detour/So if you decide to play, you know what you're getting into now

- Durand Bernarr, "Stuck"

5. RJ

Song: "Girl Baby" by Ezra Michel

RJ is probably a familiar name to most Vocal readers. Having placed in several challenges and even being featured by Vocal Spotlight, RJ is a gay woman who is making an impact on this website. In her story "Femininity Through the Eyes of a Tomboy" RJ writes about growing up as a tomboy and finally realizing that her womanhood is not defined by how feminine she dresses.

Ezra Michel is a trans man who identifies as polyamorous and has stated that he is attracted to men, women, and non-binary people alike. In his song "Girl Baby" he writes about being born a girl and how even as a child, he was dissatisfied with what the world showed him being a girl meant.

Both RJ and Ezra show us that gender is not defined by social norms and at the end of the day, doing and being what makes you happy is the most important thing.

I still feel like a kid who has nothing figured out. Only now, I'm wearing what I want and building a life for myself that reflects my aspirations. Before, I would have been happy to follow the path lined out for me. It's easier to live a lie and be praised than live your truth and be rejected. But just because it's easier doesn't mean it's the right choice.

- RJ, "Femininity Through the Eyes of a Tomboy"

Girl baby, girl baby/Boys will be stomping on your feet/I guess that must just mean they like you/Genderizing their piece of meat/Whoa, why she doesn't like it/I just can't conceive/Wish she'd quit her crying/Girl baby, mean so much to me

-Ezra Michel, "Girl Baby"

6. Jillian Spiridon

Song: "Save Myself" by VINCINT

In her story, "Being Asexual in a Hypersexual World" Jillian mentions how like many people, one of her earliest introductions to romance was through Disney animated movies. But romance looks different for her as an asexual person.

VINCINT, an unapologetically gay music artist, also presents romance in a way that subverts the expectations we were given by Disney. In most Disney movies, we see someone being rescued or saved by their love interest, but in his song "Save Myself" VINCINT shows that being loved by someone doesn't mean he needs someone to save him because he can do that himself.

Both Jillian and VINCINT are showing the world that love and romance don't have to follow a formula to be worth celebrating.

We're told from a young age that what you should want is that happy relationship which would then lead to marriage, then to consummation, and finally to children. Me? Even before I knew what sex was, I knew I didn't want it—and everything that came with it in society's strict view.

- Jillian Spiridon, "Being Asexual in a Hypersexual World"

Not asking for devotion/I just need you to care/Not asking for Nirvana/I just want you to be there/Just 'cause I'm crying rivers/Don't mean I'm asking for help/I'll save myself

- VINCINT, "Save Myself"

~Click below to listen to my full Pride Playlist~

Shout out to all of the amazing LGBTQIA+ Vocal creators out there. Whether you're apart of the community or not, it's important to support those who are and a good first step is to support LGBTQIA+ creatives, not just during June, but all year long.

-------------------------------------------

If you enjoyed this, feel free to leave a like and/or tip and check out some of my other stories. Also, follow me on Instagram @c.r.hughes

Thanks for reading!

-Chanté