Queer Country ⋆˖°.𖤓𓄀🂾𐚁𓃗.°˖⋆

I just finished writing an essay for my English class, a "public statement" on a topic of my choosing and thought I'd share it here 

ps. writing essays is NOT my strong suit but I'm kinda proud of how this one turned out

I’m queer and I love country music, often these two statements don’t go hand in hand. (I just happen to also love women, drinking, and highways) I’m grateful that country music is coming back, though unfortunately aware that the rise of conservatism is one of the reasons why. The image of country music that has been persistent through most of the last 20 years and what many associate with the genre, is not what country music is about. 

Until 9/11 a lot of popular country artists sang about critiquing the government policies. Johnny Cash built his career by opposing systematic oppression, Willie Nelson famously supported legalizing marijuanna throughout the later half of the 1900s, and Dolly Parton was outspoken about queer rights. The events of 9/11 steered country music into a more patriotic direction that aligned with Bush’s America, often dubbed as “stadium” or “bro” country. Country songs coming out after 9/11 had strong themes of traditional values and nationalism. The artists topping the charts at the time were faces like Blake Shelton and Luke Brian, pictures of “perfect” American men who would sing on behalf of corporations about a hard day's work and go home to their million dollar homes. Many of these popular country artists during the 2000s were white, cishet men who had also publicly voiced their own homophobic beliefs. Fans of this genre were the ones whose own personal values aligned with this image, those who benefited from Bush’s idea of America. 

 The values in a lot of country music that plays on the radio don’t align with the values of queer people, or other marginalized groups. As a queer person the association of country music with conservatism produces a conditioned response to seeing camouflage, cowboy hats and white men sporting denim on denim. The people who yell and honk at my girlfriend and I in the streets are 9 times out of 10 driving a lifted truck. I couldn’t in good conscience invite my queer friends out for drinks at an establishment called “The Long Horn” or “The Branding Iron”. The lack of visible queer representation in the country genre has led many queer people, even if they were raised on country music, to distance themselves from the genre and fan base for safety reasons. This is especially difficult for queers in rural communities where the culture often forces them to remain in the closet, face discrimination or move away. 

Though queer people have always existed within the country genre, it's never been easy for a queer country artist to make it in the industry.  Queer country group Lavender Country released the first known queer themed country album in 1973, a milestone for country queers (and really, queers in general). But due to how much country music relies on radio plays for success, and how their most popular song is titled “Crying’ These Cocksucking Tears” they didn’t make it very far. The group disbanded shortly after the release of their debut album, with lead singer Patrick Haggerty citing backlash and homophobia in the industry making it difficult for them to continue. Though Lavender Country didn’t last long, they paved the way for queer country artists today like Orville Peck, Trixie Mattel, Lil Nas X and Chappell Roan. Queer country artists are bringing the genre of music back to its anti-oppressive roots. 

These roots are crucial with people like Trump in office and more “anti wokeness” spreading across the globe. Songs like Cowboys are Frequently Secretly Fond of Each Other and The Giver are taking back space for queer folks within the country music genre. This pushback made it possible for Lavender Country to make their second studio album, over 50 years after the original release of Lavender Country. Queer country is the new outlaw country, it’s loud and proud and I’m personally very excited to see how the genre will bend in the years to come. (I’m mainly just hoping my friends will stop judging me for being a country music enjoyer)