Spotlighting 2SLGBTQIA+ Musicians
This spotlight series highlights the creativity, talent and diverse experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ musicians.
This spotlight series highlights the creativity, talent and diverse experiences of 2SLGBTQIA+ musicians.
Though much progress has been made in terms of securing rights for gay and transgender people, it is important to remember that Pride started as and remains a protest. There is still a long way to go. This year has marked a terrifying trend of anti-2SLGBTQIA+ legislation in the United States, leading the Human Rights Campaign, a 2SLGBTQIA+ advocacy group in the U.S., to issue a state of emergency for 2SLGBTQIA+ people. Being Canadian, it can be easy to think this type of discrimination is far away and doesn’t affect us, but that is simply not the case.
Every year, June is marked as a time to celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, as it marks the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots of 1969. The Stonewall Inn in New York City was a long-standing safe space for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. After facing pervasive police oppression, a group of drag queens and members of the community fought back against the violence. These riots are largely considered to be the spark of the gay rights movement.
Bandology is a Halton-based non-profit dedicated to bringing more music to more kids in our community. In recent years, in the Halton region, there were protests against drag performances. Being an active ally and providing support for members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community is as important now as it ever has been, and Bandology strives to be a group which supports and advocates for anyone and everyone who loves music. Drag is an art form just like any other, one that allows those who perform to be uniquely and unapologetically themselves. These kinds of performances align with our own mission to inspire youth to express themselves through music.
As an arts-based organization with programming geared towards children and youth, we understand how important it is that we remain a safe and inclusive space for all students who attend our workshops, perform gigs with us or join us at Band Camp. We remain dedicated to providing these safe spaces year-round, as every child deserves to be themselves without fear of judgment or being excluded. Bandology also continues to remain focused on being an equal rights employer with an inclusive workplace for all. This has been and will continue to be an important part of our mandate.
Music is a universal language and every student should have the chance to be involved in this art that will provide them with tools to be successful in whatever they pursue. As a part of our dedication to supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, we have linked some resources below. We encourage everyone to take the time to educate themselves this month and throughout the year, so we can all be effective allies.
Rainbow Health Ontario is an organization that works to ensure 2SLGBTQ+ communities receive equitable health care in Ontario through provider training, resources and advocacy.
PFLAG Canada is a national charitable organization created by the parents of 2SLGBTQ+ people looking for help supporting their loved one. They work with communities including families, friends, allies and loved ones, to provide peer support, education, and advocacy.
Egale is Canada’s leading organization for 2SLGBTQIA+ people and issues. They improve and save lives through research, education, awareness, and by advocating for human rights and equality in Canada and around the world.
Meet some 2SLGBTQIA+ artists who have helped shape Canada’s musical landscape through their creativity and advocacy.
k.d. lang is a groundbreaking lesbian Canadian singer-songwriter whose music and advocacy have made a lasting impact on both the Canadian music industry and the LGBTQ+ community. Rising to fame in the 1980s, she became known for her distinctive voice and genre-defying sound, blending elements of country, folk, pop, rock and alternative music. Throughout her career, lang has earned numerous accolades, including four Grammy Awards, nine Juno Awards and appointment to the Order of Canada. In 1992, lang publicly came out as a lesbian in an interview with The Advocate. Since then, she has been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and HIV/AIDS awareness and research. In recognition of her contributions to the community, she was inducted into the Q Hall of Fame Canada in 2011.
Tegan and Sara are a Canadian indie pop duo made up of identical twin sisters Tegan and Sara Quin. Beginning their musical careers as teenagers in the 1990s, they released their debut album, Under Feet Like Ours, in 1999 and have continued to create and perform music for audiences around the world. Throughout their career, they have earned numerous accolades, including three Juno Awards and two GLAAD Media Awards. Both openly gay, the sisters have also become influential advocates for LGBTQ+ rights. In 2016, they founded the Tegan and Sara Foundation, which supports economic justice, health and representation for LGBTQ+ women and girls. Through fundraising initiatives, partnerships and community programs, they have used their platform to help create positive change beyond the music industry.
Vivek Shraya is a Canadian musician, writer, visual artist and advocate whose work explores identity, belonging and self-expression. Since releasing her first album in 2002, she has built a multidisciplinary career spanning music, literature, film, photography and theatre. Her creative work often draws on her experiences as a queer, trans woman of colour and the child of immigrants. In addition to her artistic achievements, Shraya is dedicated to supporting underrepresented voices. She founded the award-winning publishing imprint V.S. Books, which provides opportunities for emerging BIPOC writers. Shraya has also served as a director on the board of the Tegan and Sara Foundation and as Pride Toronto Grand Marshal. Today, she continues to inspire others through her advocacy, creative work and role as a creative writing professor.
The Queer Songbook Orchestra is a Canadian chamber pop ensemble that celebrates and preserves LGBTQ+ stories through music. Founded in 2014 by Artistic Director Shaun Brodie, the group is known for creating orchestral arrangements of songs that hold special meaning within the queer community. Their performances combine music with personal stories, highlighting how certain songs have shaped, comforted or inspired LGBTQ+ individuals. The group frequently collaborates with queer and BIPOC artists and storytellers, helping to amplify diverse voices and experiences. Committed to inclusion, mentorship and anti-oppression work, the Queer Songbook Orchestra has toured across Canada and become an important platform for celebrating queer history, culture and community through the arts.
Jeremy Dutcher is a Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) musician, operatic tenor, musicologist, activist and proud Two-Spirit community member from Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick. He is dedicated to preserving and revitalizing Indigenous language and culture through his music and research. Dutcher worked with archival recordings of traditional Wolastoqey songs, reimagining them into contemporary compositions on his acclaimed debut album, Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa. Blending Indigenous musical traditions with classical training and Western instrumentation, the album earned the 2018 Polaris Music Prize and the 2019 Juno Award for Indigenous Music Album of the Year. His work is guided by Elders and family who helped reconnect him with traditional songs and stories. As a queer and Two-Spirit artist, Dutcher advocates for greater visibility and inclusion of Indigenous and LGBTQIA+ identities. Through music and activism, he continues to advance Indigenous rights, language preservation and reconciliation across Canada.
Bells Larsen is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter whose intimate, emotionally resonant music explores themes of identity, transformation and belonging. A trans artist known for his thoughtful lyricism and folk-inspired sound, Larsen has quickly emerged as one of Canada’s most compelling new voices. His work reflects on gender, relationships, memory and self-discovery, creating songs that feel deeply personal while remaining widely relatable. His sophomore album, Blurring Time (2025), is a reflection on change and transition, designed to mirror the timeline of his gender transition. The record weaves together his pre-transition voice with new vocal arrangements recorded post-transition, created in collaboration with Georgia Harmer. The result is a layered dialogue between past and present selves, blending lo-fi indie textures with folk balladry. Larsen’s music has been praised for its honesty and emotional depth, and through both his artistry and advocacy for LGBTQIA+ visibility, he continues to contribute to a more inclusive Canadian music scene.
Kat Steeves is an emerging queer singer-songwriter from Guelph, Ontario, known for their soulful, uplifting vocals and engaging stage presence. Blending folk, jazz and pop influences inspired by artists such as Noah Kahan, Donovan Woods, Fleetwood Mac and Norah Jones, Steeves creates a warm and welcoming sound. Their songwriting draws from personal experiences and everyday life, infusing each track with honesty and vulnerability that allows listeners to form a genuine emotional connection. Steeves began their musical journey busking in downtown Guelph in 2019, later performing at local bars and open mic nights. Since then, they have played over 500 shows across Southern Ontario, including appearances at Gain Fest (2022, 2024), the Blue Mountain Guitar Trail (2022, 2023), Exhibitionist Magazine events and the main stage at RiverFest Elora 2024. They are currently recording new music with plans for future releases.
Beverly Glenn-Copeland is a legendary singer, composer and transgender activist whose genre-defying work spans more than five decades. He studied classical piano from an early age and later attended McGill University in Montreal, where he focused on European art song before expanding his creative direction into a broader, more global musical language. His early self-titled album (1970) explored folk and jazz influences, but it is his 1986 release Keyboard Fantasies that has brought him renewed international recognition. Rediscovered decades later, the album’s blend of electronic synthesis, minimalist new-age textures, and early techno influences has earned it cult status and critical acclaim. Across his career, Glenn-Copeland’s music has resisted categorization, unified by spirituality and connection. Now performing again across Canada and Europe, he continues to inspire new audiences while celebrating themes of transformation, belonging, and artistic freedom.