Every year on October 11, the LGBTQ+ community in the U.S. comes together to mark National Coming Out Day, celebrating the millions of people who have decided to come out to the world about who they are, while encouraging those who haven't yet to come out publicly about the identity their.
It's an especially important day in 2024, at a time when queer artists are finding more chart success than ever before. From Chappell Roan's rapid rise to pop dominance to Billie Eilish's anthem about women who love women reaching the upper echelons of the Billboard Hot 100, 2024 has been a banner year for LGBTQ+ pop artists looking to prove that identity it is an asset, not an obstacle to success.
However, in 2024, legislative attacks on LGBTQ+ people continue to increase. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is currently tracking over 500 anti-LGBTQ bills in the United States. Former president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, meanwhile, has doubled down on his anti-trans talking points in a recent series of ads.
However, a June report from Axios notes that momentum for anti-trans and anti-queer legislation has slowed in 2024, signaling a light at the end of the tunnel for queer and trans advocates in the U.S. “There's a lot of hope right now. . said HRC President Kelley Robinson. “Our opposition is excessive. They are attacking not only our community, but our children as well.”
In celebration of National Coming Out Day, Bulletin board takes a look back at some of the artists who chose to talk about their identity in 2024:
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Maren Morris
Image credit: Leon Bennett/Getty Images
When she posted a set of photos from her RSVP Redux Tour stop in Phoenix, Ariz., Maren Morris decided to let her fans in on an important event about herself. “Happy to be B in LGBTQ+,” she wrote, before wishing her fans a happy Pride Month.
In a later interview with Bulletin boardMorris revealed that she didn't find the moment particularly bombastic — but felt a responsibility to share that she identifies as bisexual with her fans. “I think it was one of those things where I thought, 'Is an Instagram post really necessary?' I didn't feel like, 'Oh, this is going to be a big f-king bomb,' I just think that for any kind of artist that makes a public appearance, it feels inclusive to let people know,” she said. “Also, I feel like I'm not really hiding anymore. no part of me. That makes me sleep better at night.”
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Chapel Roan
Image credit: Rick Kern/Getty Images
While Chappell Roan has been open about being queer for years, the singer became more specific during a tour in Ohio earlier this year. “Some s–t changed but b–ch, I hope you're happy, because I'm a lesbian now,” the singer told the crowd in a fan-recorded video.
Talking to you Rolling Stone for their September cover, Roan confirmed that she's come to terms with her sexuality recently after considering why she never seemed to enjoy sleeping with men. “Eventually it's like, 'Oh, I know why. It's because I'm gay and nothing actually happens to me,” he said. “I just wasn't supposed to sleep with guys and now I feel a bit repulsed at the thought of kissing a guy because nobody's going to be as good as girls.”
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Rene Rapp
Image credit: John Nacion
Like Chappell Roan, Reneé Rapp already publicly identified as queer before 2024 — but the “Not My Fault” singer made the decision to be more open with her fans. During her appearance at Saturday Night Live, Rapp participated in a skit where she introduced herself as “our little lesbian intern Reneé”, which she later confirmed. Their it was a choice he made to officially come out.
“I didn't want to do it and say, 'Oh my God, I don't use the word bisexual,' and make bisexual people feel s—ty. “I also didn't want to say, 'OK, I'm gay,' and have all the lesbians say, 'Say you're bisexual, then,'” she said. “I kept my phone off for a couple of days because I was terrified and felt so shy, but then it was just something and I felt good.”
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Julia Fox
Image Source: Stephanie Augello
While Julia Fox may have been thrust into the limelight following her romance with Ye (formerly known as Kanye West), the Uncut gems The actress revealed that she identifies as a lesbian in a TikTok video. Pairing her video with one from creator Emily Gracin making a joke about lesbians “hating” their boyfriends, Fox confirmed that the joke was very real for her. “Well, that was me,” he said. “I was that lesbian. So sorry guys, it won't happen again.”
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Johan Vera
Image credit: Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images
In August, Ecuadorian singer Johann Vera released his song “Closet”, in which he came out to the public as queer. “Why should I hate and fight myself just because I love differently?/ How can a parent decide to lose a child just because they love differently?” he sings in the song.
In the next interview with Bulletin boardvera said he resisted coming out for a long time, but finally decided he had to tell his truth. “I realized now that all my life I had this idea that sexuality should not be touched in my music or my art. I wanted to be a private artist and not talk about my personal life,” he said. “I wrote the song so that everyone would understand the struggle. Throughout your life, you feel that you have this flaw, deep down you felt that there was a problem. It's very difficult to break that barrier.”
