Gay acceptance songs?

[Trek234]

Hi all,

Does anyone know of any songs (and who they were composed by) that regard gay acceptance/rights?

One of my friends is writing a paper involving these songs and society, and she is having a difficult time finding examples of such songs.

Thanks for any songs you know of!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. The killing of Georgie was a hit for Rod Stewart back in the

early 80's. I don't know what you mean by "gay acceptance" Can you elaborate a bit more?

Also Jill Sobule, I Kissed a Girl was an alt- rock song that got decent airplay.

[Trek234]

2. By gay acceptance

I mean any song that might be advocating gay rights/acceptance. (either directly or indirectly)

Also if a song simply deals with a gay concept (like the song you mention "I kissed a girl) that would be good too, but preferably any songs that might be advocating gay rights/acceptance in society (in law, the person on the streets mind, etc) would be better.

[Kamika]

3. not sure

Maybe some village people songs?

[vi5]

4. In the punk realm I can think of 2 off the top of my head....

"Homophobes Are Just Pissed Because They Can't Get Laid" by Propaghandi

"I Wanna Be A Homosexual" by Screeching Weasel

The entire catalog of the band Pansy Division

[ButterflyBlood]

12. here's another one i thought of

Three Nails For A False Prophet - Message Boards and Bathroom Stalls

[Nikia]

5. All the Things She Said

By TATU. There's a ska song called "She's Got a Girlfriend Now". Melissa Ethridge and k.d. Lang are lesbain, but I am not sure if they directly addressed this in their songs.

[ButterflyBlood]

6. Thursday - M. Shepard

[arcos]

7. several:

"Yes I Am" by Melissa Etheridge (originally it wasn't about acceptance it was only a love song... but the circumstances made it different, according to her)

"Homosexuality" by Pet Shop Boys (I don't know if it is original or a cover, but it was included in the Equality Rocks concert in Washington DC)

and I think this is not true, but a guy I know once told me that "So Much To Say" by Dave Matthews Band was Dave Matthews coming out as bisexual. Don't know if this is true, but the lyrics fit.

Hope this helps!

on edit:

Outside by George Michael (WilliamPitt's mention of him reminded me )

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

8. I am what I am..Gloria Gaynor was a semi disco hit

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

9. Lola the Kinks

[WilliamPitt]

10. Freedom

-George Michael

[Bossy Monkey]

11. You might want to look into the work of Tom Robinson Band or Phranc

I can give you some AIDS songs ("The Slim" by Sugar, ie Bob Mould, "Tomorrow Wendy" by Andy Prieboy, also covered by Concrete Blonde) but songs specifically about tolerance for gays slip my mind. Not to be flippant, but camp as they were the Village People definitely conveyed that message, even if most of the people dancing to them thought it was a joke.

[Paragon]

13. "The Last Song" - Elton John

About a man dying of AIDS who reconciles with his father on his deathbed.

Used over footage of AIDS victims (and survivors, namely Magic Johnson) at the end of the HBO movie "And The Band Played On".

[roughsatori]

14. "Glad to Be Gay" by the Tom Robinson Band, about 1978

Great song.

[roughsatori]

15. some of the earlier ones were in the "womyn" music: like Ferron

I remember hearing some interesting songs by her. The lesbian "womyn" music people were pretty advanced politically, now that I think about it.

They sang about lesbian and gay issues before the punks, and they did not do it out of trying to shock, but by expressing authentic same sex feelings and scenarios. Though I am from the punk period, in retrospect the honest expressions some of these now unknown women sang of, turn out to be far more revolutionary then much of the gay themed punk stuff.