The best live LGBTQ performances of all time
Pride is not over and neither are our celebrations as we highlight some of the best live LGBTQ performances of all time
Date published: 28th Jun 2024
You've had music, you'd had artists, now it's time to celebrate some of the best live LGBTQ performances of all time.
As pride month draws to a close, it doesn’t mean the celebrations have to stop going, so we've come up with a list that we hope will keep you talking all year round. From the most groundbreaking to a few controversial ones, and a little fave that always sparks a little something in us. We have it all.
So what are you waiting for, crank your speaker up, and get into it!
Macklemore has always been on the right side of history, and it truly showed during his 2014 Grammy performance. The singer/ songwriter bared all with the heartfelt song, Same Love at the 56th Grammy Awards, where he was joined by fellow bandmate, Ryan Lewis. Plus queer artist, Mary Lambert; Madonna, and Queen Latifah officiated 33 gay marriages.
In our eyes, we view that as one of the best LGBTQ performances of all time, for their strong message, but also the fact that a year later America got the hint and made Gay marriage officially legal on the 26th of June 2015.
Billie Porter
Billie Poter has been a long-standing queer icon for many reasons. From their looks to their undeniable musical talents, they are possibly one of the most prominent LGBTQ creatives to open doors for POC from the LBGTQ community.
Billie has been in some iconic LGBTQ shows too like Pose - which highlighted the community and their connection to Ballroom, and Billie brought the Ball with him. As Ballroom legends joined him for some iconic death drop excellence at the BET Awards in 2022.
Elton John and Backstreet Boys
It's not every day you can say you've sung on stage at one of the most highly-rated music awards shows with one of the most well-respected gay artists in the music industry. However, if you're a part of the Backstreet Boys then you can scream it from the rooftops.
In 2000 Elton John and the Backstreet Boys took the stage and sang Philidelphia Freedom, a tribute to Billie Jean King; one of the greatest tennis players, who stood up for women in sports and LGBTQ rights.
This performance goes down as one of the best LGBTQ live performances for many reasons, and the harmonies that graced the stage were just the nail on the head.
Lil Nas X came onto the scene with his hit song 'Old Town Road', but the artist wasn't done hitting us with some quirky bangers and came out with MONTERO, which he performed at the Grammys in 2021. This performance came not long after the artist confirmed his sexuality finding a comfortable space for his craft.
The performance itself faced a bit of controversy as Lil Nas X glided, swung, and sang on the stage with a load of hot sweaty men by his side. It shook up the game but opened doors for more outlandish LGBTQ performances to hit the stage. Especially when it was praised by, Sir Elton John, Miley Cyrus and Adam Lambert, whom all cheered for more queer expression on stage.
It must come as no surprise that Sam Smith has made this list as they have been nothing but on point with their new art direction, and they have taken some serious heat for it.
Last year Sam Smith came out with a single, Unholy featuring Kim Petras which has proved that they did not come to play. Shifting their usual slacks and blazers for more revealing corsets and thigh highs - unholy gained a whole new meaning. However, for us, we'd list it as one of the best live LGBTQ performances for the true essence of unapologetic fierceness.
'Born This Way' will go down in history as one of the best LGBTQ anthems, paired with some of the best performances Lady Gaga had to give; especially during her Grammy performance in 2011.
The natural-born performer took no prisoners when she was carried out in a giant egg (yes you read that right), and took to the stage singing 'Born This Way' with ease. Accompanied by camp outfits and her dancers staying on theme; this is simply just one of the best live LGBTQ performances of all time.
Eugene Lee Yang
10 years of gay icons, it doesn't get any more iconic than that. If you're not familiar with Eugene Lee Yang, he is a comedian, writer, and actor famous for his part in the YouTube channel, Try Guys.
During one of their shows in 2019, Eugene showed his love and passion for the LGBTQ community performing an original medally of gay icons live on stage. The show flourished with high production filled with glitter, rainbows and more really embracing the beauty of the LGBTQ community. It was special and fun, and one of the best live LGBTQ performances.
Boy George did big things with the Culture Club in the 80's and, was not going to allow society to conform him or them into a box. 'Karma Chameleon' was a big hit for the band as it reached the top of the charts for six weeks in the UK.
Due to it's success, meant a lot of live performances, and one that will always be memorable is their Top Of The Pops performance in 1983. The band rocked up in top hats and sequined jackets; just a whole head-toe of colourful outfits. It was eye-catching and definitely caught the attention of the audience, who loved this new form of expression.
Though we don't have the exact video of the performance, it will stand as one of the best live LGBTQ performances. Why? Let us tell you.
Green Day is a band that stands for taking no sh*t, with their punk rock ethos at an all-time high, the band took to displaying them during their 'American Idiot' performance during the Grammys in 2005. Bisexual icon Billie Joe Armstrong told us how he felt about the state of America and it's a speech that will be forever carved in our brains as totally bada**.
It's hard to match the flamboyance of Freddie Mercury, but Adam Lambert came pretty close, especially during the live performance for the Queen's Jubilee party in 2022.
Adam took to the stage with Brian May as the two rocked away with a medley of Queen's most iconic songs. For us, this is one of the best live LGBTQ performances, due to the fact that an American had the British crowd gripped from the start. Plus you can never go wrong when it comes to Queen.
Janelle Monáe is the artist we all need to pick up our spirits and give us the joy and excitement we've been looking for, and she did that with ease at the Oscars in 2020.
The highly camp performance dived into the beauty of musical theatre as she danced and jived featuring the films that were trending at the time. Plus to top it all off, she has Billie Porter join her which gave us powerhouse realness that we never knew we needed until now.
So thank you Janelle for your pure excellence and for giving us one of the best live LGBTQ performances of all time.
Ricky Martin
Livin Da Vida Loca, we have Ricky Martin who gave one of the best live LGBTQ performances of all time when he performed at the Grammys in 1999. Ricky took all his Latin heritage on the stage for all to see, paving the way for Latin pop music in the USA.
It is an iconic performance to this day as it highlighted the lack of diversity in the music industry at the time, which helped grow not only Ricky's career but also opened doors for other Latin Americans in the music industry.
Some may call this a little sneak, and you may be right, but we couldn't forget to include the performance of two icons in the LGBTQ community on one stage. That's right we're talking about no other than one of THE highest-viewed performances at the VMAS.
We had Britney Spears and Madonna on one stage doing what they do best, putting on a show like no other; it was a collaboration that filled many with excitement. And the buzz didn't stop there as Britney gave camp in her wedding dress, and Madonna in her androgynous fit it couldn't get any better.
But it did as towards the end, Britney and Madonna shocked the crowd by locking lips, and though it didn't last long it'll remain with us forever.
Pride Month is more than just a month, it is an all-year-round celebration of the greats to the everyday person who makes the community wonderful. And if you want to celebrate pride by attending some LGBTQ+ events across the country click - HERE.
You can also check out our playlist full of LGBTQ+ bangers in our pride playlist.
Check out our What's On Guide to discover more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.
Header image credit: Gaga Media Archives