A History of LGBTQ Music from 1969-2000

In his new book “Mighty Real: A History of LGBTQ Music 1969-2000” music critic Barry Walters looks at how music produced and performed by gay and straight musicians has been embraced, celebrated, and defined by queer culture. As he notes, queer musicians “have made an art of saying what can’t be overtly said” and their LGBTQ listeners “have learned to hear what others can’t.” Walters traces the influence of rockers, pop stars, country crooners, R&B artists and disco queens from David Bowie to Sylvster, the Village People to the Petshop Boys, Grace Jones to k.d. lang. We talk to Walters and hear from you: What’s a song that helped define queer culture for you? Guests: Barry Walters, author, "Mighty Real: A History of LGBTQ Music, 1969–2000" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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A History of LGBTQ Music from 1969-2000 is an episode from KQED's Forum by KQED.

This episode is 54:48 long.

This episode was published on Jun 5, 2026.

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