Pride Month is here! To celebrate, Remezcla is digging through the archives to revisit our past interviews with Latine pop stars and musicians who spoke with us about their love for their queer fans. Among the artists who have previously talked about their connection to their LGBTQ+ fans are Mexican singer Danna Paola, Colombian rocker Juanes, Mexican-American banda star Chiquis, and more.
While we’re looking back on these Latine allies to the LGBTQ+ community, it’s important to note that queer people and artists should be especially uplifted during Pride season. Also in the mix of these past interviews is Mexican-American singer Rebecca Black, who identifies as queer, and Argentine singer Lali, who identifies as bisexual. During a turbulent time for LGBTQ+ rights in the U.S., allies need to speak up as queer people continue to thrive through adversity. It’s the work of everyone to show that the LGBTQ+ community is here and not going anywhere.
When I became a journalist, I made it a mission always to represent my Mexican-American and queer identity in my work. As a kid, I wondered what my favorite pop stars thought of my community. Now that I’ve had a chance to interview artists, I bring up the queer community so that the LGBTQ+ fans reading my work can feel seen and represented. I’ve especially had that freedom as a contributor with Remezcla, so it’s exciting to revisit some of these interviews I did from the past few years. Happy Pride Month to my fellow queer people!
This post is part of Remezcla Pride 2023: The Joy Edition. Read more posts like this here.
Danna Paola
Danna Paola is known for her support of the LGBTQ+ community. The Mexican pop star has released anthems for the community, like “TQ y Ya” and “Agüita,” the latter written by queer Chilean singer Javiera Mena. “As a human, I want to express being free without any judgments in my music,” Danna told Remezla back in 2020. “I want to put love into the world, and if I can do that with my music, I will always. I’m really grateful for the LGBTQ+ community that makes me feel like I’m a part of their family. Love is love. Love is not ordinary.”
Kenia Os
Another Mexican pop star who has embraced the LGBTQ+ community throughout her career is Kenia Os. In her music videos like “Plutón” with CNCO and “Todo My Love,” she centers same-sex couples and queer love. “I wanted to give this message that was super important,” Kenia told Remezcla last year about supporting her queer fans. “Like everything I do in my career, I like that it has a message. I always try to put that detail in my songs and my work. I’m always super in contact with [my LGBTQ+ fans]. I always give them a lot of love. They are a fundamental part of my fandom, and I’m so happy and grateful for each and every one of them.”
Juanes
On his latest album Vida Cotidiana, Juanes released a song that the LGBTQ+ community could relate to in “Amores Prohibidos.” On the track, the Colombian rock star sang about enjoying the fruits of a forbidden romance. Juanes also teamed up with one of his country’s strongest queer voices Mabiland in “Canción Desaparecida.” “Don’t let anything get in the way of your happiness,” Juanes told Remezcla last month. “I really respect people who just take the decision to live the life they want to live. We all have to be respectful of that. I realized that even more when I had my kids. What if one of my kids says, ‘I’m gay’? I have to support them.”
Chiquis
Just like her mother Jenni Rivera, Chiquis supports the LGBTQ+ community. In the regional Mexican music space, which has historically excluded queer people, she is all for inclusion. The Mexican-American singer dedicated the feel-good anthem “La Que Está De Moda Soy Yo” from her last album Abeja Reina to the LGBTQ+ community. “I love you guys! This song is for the LGBTQ+ community,” Chiquis told Remezcla last year. “Be proud, and don’t let anyone dim your light.” In 2017, when her younger brother Johnny came out as bisexual, she expressed her full support for him.
Ana Bárbara
Another artist who has always made space for the LGBTQ+ community in the regional Mexican genre is Ana Bárbara. Last year, the Mexican icon re-released her classic “Yo Soy Una Mujer.” She shared a sweet story with Remezcla that her male makeup artist thanked her for having that song as part of his childhood. “I love that someone from the gay community can vibe with the lyrics, ‘Yo soy una mujer de carne y hueso!’” Ana Bárbara said. “That was a beautiful moment for me because, at the end of the day, music is for whoever receives its message. I believe that the gay community has given me so much. I love the idea of being able to give them a song that makes them feel strong and empowered.”
Rebecca Black
In 2020, Rebecca Black came out as queer. With the release of her debut album, Let Her Burn, the Mexican-American singer has proudly represented her queer identity. In the heartbreaking song “Sick To My Stomach,” Black used female pronouns to describe her ex-lover. “My biggest focus, at least at this point, is being an artist and a source of comfort and understanding to my audience,” she told Remezcla in February. “And being that that’s something that me, and a lot of my audience share is, being a part of the queer community. Having music out like that, I know is something that we can never have too much of.”
Lali
In more recent interviews, Lali has been open about identifying as bisexual. The Argentine pop icon has released countless anthems throughout her career that have been embraced by the LGBTQ+ community, like a collaboration with Brazilian drag pop star Pabllo Vittar. “They’re a big part of my audience,” Lali told Remezcla in 2019. “They’re the best. They’re my family. We’re super united through the music. My songs like ‘Soy,’ ‘Boomerang,’ ‘Reina,’ and ‘Caliente’ with Pabllo Vittar are ones that I do for my gay fans so that we can come together and live in a free and happy musical world.”
Tini
Another Argentine pop icon is Tini. Last year, a video went viral of her bringing a fan wrapped in a rainbow flag onto the stage during a concert. That fan perfectly executed the choreography for Tini’s global hit “La Triple T” alongside her. “I’m happy to express a message of freedom, of love, of loving yourself, and being yourself,” she told Remezcla in February. “It makes me so proud to be able to share that feeling with people around the world and to spread that message constantly in my shows and songs. To see a lot of people at shows embracing that message, it’s beautiful. It’s beautiful to be part of that movement.”
Emilia
Coming up behind Lali and Tini in Argentina is Emilia. The Argentine singer had endured so much adversity and setbacks in her career to finally release her debut album Tú Crees En Mí? last year. LGBTQ+ people can relate to her overcoming tough times, and they have embraced her songs as anthems. “I love them!” Emilia told Remezlca last year. “I feel like they care about me unconditionally. My music is for everyone. I love that they can feel represented with the music that I make. And to be able to sing those songs to them, they inspire me.” Last month, she teamed up with Brazilian star Ludmilla, who identifies as bisexual, for the baile funk banger “No_se_ve.mp3.”
Don’t forget that this post is part of Remezcla Pride 2023: The Joy Edition. Read more posts like this here.