Outward | From Hit Parade: The Hidden History of Queer Pop Icons Pt. 2

Outward is going on a little summer break, in the meantime we’re
leaving you with a delightfully queer episode of Slate’s Hit Parade
with Chris Molanphy called Mighty Real. This is part two—catch part
one in our previous episode. Little Richard was rock ‘n’ roll’s
flamboyant architect. Lesley Gore sang that no one owned her.
Sylvester was a gender-fluid icon who helped define disco. Freddie
Mercury made rock operatic, and George Michael demanded freedom.
What all of these LGBTQ artists had in common was bold
hitmaking—and fear of being fully out of the closet. For decades,
queer acts topped the charts while cloaking their true identities
and paving the way for today’s more openly queer stars. For Pride
Month, join Chris Molanphy as he traces the hidden history of queer
hitmakers on the charts—including those that managed to be both out
and No. 1, right up through our modern age of Lil Nas X and
Chappell Roan. It’s a celebration of these artists’ quest to feel…
mighty real. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
megaphone.fm/adchoices