And let’s not forget about songs like ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” and Madonna’s “Express Yourself,” which are beloved by the LGBTQ+ community for promoting unabashed happiness and celebration - feelings that many individuals strive for in situations where their sexualities aren’t embraced. In fact, there are many reasons queer people gravitate toward particular songs, whether their relatable lyrics recall hardships often experienced by LGBTQ+ individuals ( Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors,” Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive”) and help listeners feel less alone or feature the belting chops of a big-voiced diva á la Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” Other songs receive queer anthem status for tongue-in-cheek nods to coming out ( Diana Ross’s “I’m Coming Out”) or more straightforward references to gay cruising ( Village People’s “YMCA”). Like those who make up the LGBTQ+ community, queer anthems cannot be defined by any single characteristic.
