LGBTQ representation in jazz
There has been a longtime but relatively unknown history of LGBTQ representation in jazz .[ 1]
History
Since the Jazz Age , the genre has been popular with LGBTQ audiences. In Chicago, the Bronzeville and Woodlawn neighborhoods were home to several gay bars that hosted jazz performers and drag balls . These events on the South Side were often racially integrated with working-class queer crowds and provided a space for diverse identities at jazz clubs, until the clubs closed by the 1960s.[ 2]
LGBTQ jazz musicians
Patricia Barber ,[ 3] Spencer Day ,[ 4] Tiny Davis ,[ 5] Fred Hersch ,[ 6] [ 7] [ 8] Billie Holiday ,[ 9] Tony Jackson ,[ 10] Dave Koz ,[ 11] Allison Miller ,[ 12] Ma Rainey ,[ 13] [ 14] Billy Strayhorn [ 15] Sammy Rae & The Friends is a "multi-genre pop/rock/jazz septet fronted by a charismatic queer- and bisexual-identifying female singer-songwriter."[ 16]
Jazz has been known as "notoriously macho", but there were more openly gay and lesbian musicians by the 2000s, such as Barber, Andy Bey , and Gary Burton , who have inspired later generations of LGBTQ performers.[ 17]
Events
The first queer jazz festival in the United States took place in Philadelphia in 2014.[ 18] [ 19] [ 20] Dalston in 2025.[ 21]
Various LGBTQ-friendly bars have hosted jazz nights and queer jazz performers, such as Scandals in Portland, Oregon ,[ 22] Charlotte, North Carolina , which uses jazz nights to be both an artistic and queer space and shape the local music scene.[ 23] New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival has also hosted drag queen brunches.[ 24] [ 25]
See also
References
^ Gavin, James (2024-08-18). "Homophobia in Jazz" . JazzTimes . Archived from the original on 2024-10-08. Retrieved 2025-05-04 . ^ Edgar, Hannah (2022-06-30). "Decades Before Boystown, South Side Jazz Clubs Were A Haven For Queer Chicagoans" . Block Club Chicago . Archived from the original on 2025-05-06. Retrieved 2025-05-06 . ^ "Who the F Is … Jazz Musician Patricia Barber?" . www.pride.com . Archived from the original on 2017-09-23. Retrieved 2025-05-04 .^ "This Gay Jazz Singer Has Performed for Mike Pence's Mother" . www.advocate.com . Archived from the original on 2025-02-16. Retrieved 2025-05-04 .^ Cherry, Nina (2022-06-03). "The Forgotten History of a Leading Lesbian Jazz Trumpeter Driven from KC" . Kansas City Magazine . Archived from the original on 2025-02-13. Retrieved 2025-05-04 . ^ Shapiro, Gregg (2022-06-07). "Q-Music: All that (queer) jazz" . Philadelphia Gay News . Archived from the original on 2025-01-25. Retrieved 2025-05-04 . ^ "Fred Hirsch's Life In & Out of Jazz" . www.out.com . Archived from the original on 2024-12-05. Retrieved 2025-05-04 .^ "Memoir addresses jazz and sexuality" . The Columbus Dispatch . Retrieved 2025-05-04 .^ Kim, Michelle Hyun (2021-01-12). "Watch Andra Day as Black, Bisexual Icon Billie Holiday in New Biopic Trailer" . Them . Retrieved 2025-05-06 . ^ "The Openly Gay Pianist Who Dazzled Chicago in the Early Twentieth Century" . WTTW Chicago . 2019-06-12. Archived from the original on 2025-02-12. Retrieved 2025-05-04 .^ "Jazz Musician Dave Koz on Going Silver and Gay Cruising" . www.advocate.com . Archived from the original on 2025-02-16. Retrieved 2025-05-04 .^ "How Unapologetically Queer, Feminist Jazz Drummer Allison Miller Built a Career Based Around Truth-Telling" . Pride Source . 2022-08-30. Retrieved 2025-05-04 .^ Friederich, Brandon (2017-06-07). "Ma Rainey's Lesbian Lyrics: 5 Times She Expressed Her Queerness in Song" . Billboard . Retrieved 2025-05-06 . ^ "Gertrude "Ma" Rainey Biography" . Gertrude “Ma” Rainey Biography . Retrieved 2025-05-06 .^ Mohamed, Suraya (November 3, 2016). "The Lush Life of Billy Strayhorn" . NPR . Retrieved June 5, 2025 . ^ Rule, Doug (December 28, 2024). "D.C.'s Hottest Gay Bars for Your New Year's Eve Party Plans" . Metro Weekly Archived from the original on January 17, 2025. Retrieved May 6, 2025 . ^ Gavin, James. "Provincetown's busiest jazz player is ready to reintroduce himself to Boston - The Boston Globe" . BostonGlobe.com . Archived from the original on 2025-05-06. Retrieved 2025-05-06 . ^ "A Queerly Cool Jazz Festival in Philadelphia" . WRTI . September 15, 2014. Archived from the original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2025 .^ Petenbrink, Troy (September 3, 2014). "Philly celebrates gay jazz artists" . Metro Weekly Archived from the original on October 26, 2017. Retrieved 2025-05-04 . ^ "London Event Series Queer Jazz Launches | News" . Clash Magazine . June 1, 2023. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved May 4, 2025 .^ Hansford, Amelia (January 13, 2025). "Queer jazz night launching in London" . PinkNews the original on March 28, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2025 . ^ Scandals in Portland, Oregon :
"Portland's Best LGBTQ+ Bars and Parties" . Portland Monthly Archived from the original on June 5, 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2025 . It hosts karaoke, drag shows, dance parties, art shows, jazz concerts, the odd TV viewing party—you name it. Hilton, Thom (April 21, 2017). "The Liveliest LGBTQ Bars and Clubs in Portland" . Eater Portland . Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2025 . Scandals features art shows, DJs, jazz nights, karaoke... ^ Ruller, Kayleigh (June 28, 2024). "Queer-friendly music venue and more: Petra's Bar in Charlotte is full of life" Charlotte Observer Archived from the original on June 28, 2024. Another event locals really look forward to occurs every Monday: The Bill Hanna Legacy Jazz Session ^ Brasted, Chelsea (2024-04-25). "Drag queens go big at Jazz Fest 2024" . Axios New OrleansArchived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved May 4, 2025 . ^ Choum, Bun (April 26, 2024). "New Orleans Jazz and Heritage festival welcomes back drag brunch" . WDSU Archived from the original on May 8, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2025 .
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