Charli xcx gay icon

It took an entire weekend of people recommending the album for me to finally put it on. Otherwise, I felt like enjoying pop music was too girly. In her upcoming sixth album, Charli XCX bares her soul about being the object of public scrutiny, challenging pop culture and using her voice in ways that matter. That really solidified it for her gay icon status. At which point she really began leaning into it with the poppers jokes and stuff.

I will respect this album is not for me while continuing to listen to it on repeat. But Charli XCX knows how to be a queer ally, and how to be one effortlessly. Even though I have a wide variety of queer friends of lots of genders! Instead I enjoyed super heterosexual music by the guy who used to kiss his sax player and the guy who wrote music with Phoebe Bridgers and raised me on sad songs about older girls not wanting to date him.

This was retweeted by friend, writer, and longtime Charli stan Georgie Morvisand I understand its sentiment. From shouting ‘gay rights!’ in viral Twitter videos to calling for a ban on conversion therapy to dedicating a single in her new album to her friend and late trans producer Sophie, Charli has found ways to use her voice in ways that matter not only to her, but to the people that predominantly make up her fanbase.

I shrugged her off again and again. By unapologetically embracing her sexuality, Charli XCX has become an icon for many individuals within the LGBTQ+ community, serving as a symbol of empowerment and self-acceptance.

    Charli XCX has been recognised with the GAY TIMES Honour for Allyship in Music. On Thursday (21 November) night, the pop superstar and longtime LGBTQ supporter appeared via video message at the GAY TIMES Honours ceremony, which honours queer people and their allies who have had a profound impact on the community over the last 12 months.

The connection runs so deep that last year, one straight person went viral for asking if he was gay because he likes Charli’s music. Girls Night Out, a charli xcx gay icon club night aimed at queer people, is named after a Charli XCX song. By unapologetically embracing her sexuality, Charli XCX has become an icon for many individuals within the LGBTQ+ community, serving as a symbol of empowerment and self-acceptance.

Where many critics panned Charli’s new sound the gays loved it especially when N1A and Pop 2 released and she collabed with a bunch of queer or queer adjacent icons. But even with my ass stationary on a subway seat, I was floored. The only pop music I let myself listen to throughout my adolescence was Kesha, because the person I had a crush on was a fan. Charli linked up with friend and fellow pop saviour Troye Sivan to discuss their “futuristic” new collaboration and support from LGBTQ community.

Eventually I did come out, and my scope of pop increased even more. How can I claim my gender lies at the intersection of dyke and faggot, while overlooking such an essential voice for the latter? To quote that girl from college, I was a fucking idiot. In honor of the release of her ambitious third studio album Charli, here are 5 reasons why Charli XCX is a great example for LGBTQ allies everywhere.

How had I dismissed this artist all these years? Even though she worked with artists I liked, I never sought out her own music. She knows how to be one in a fun, trivial sense – be that when she’s signing the oestrogen of her trans fans, the douches of her gay fans, yelling “Gay rights” while holding poppers, or writing music for lesbian high-school comedy film Bottoms. Suddenly, a whole new world had opened up to me.

Accountability is important in the queer community. There's no male gay icon that can be compared to Judy Garland, or Madonna, or Lady Gaga, and Charli is that but on a smaller scale. The anger? Then you get gay meme culture referencing Charli. How could I ever make amends? Even though I famously love poppers!

You can hang around waiting for Lil Nas X or Troye Sivan to disprove it but I don't think that's gonna happen personally. I sheepishly bought 4 on iTunes and discovered she was right. Despite it being the genre my friends most associate with my taste, the truth is I came to pop music late. Stef was right that it demands I get my ass on the dance floor.