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“Billboard” celebrates pride month with a list of gay musical moments

Billboard has jumped on board the Pride train by compiling a list of 20 musical moments that “were pivotal in advancing the understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.” That may be overstating the case, but we like the list anyway – especially the lesbian part. So here are highlights of the pub’s “20 Great Gay Moments In Music.”

Kurt and Blaine on Glee

OK, Kurt and Blaine are guys, but their special holiday duet, “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” had enough warmth to melt the even the frostiest lesbian heart. I should know.

Of course, had they been lesbians, this would be followed by a trip through the snow to rent a U-Haul.

Jill Sobule Kissed a Girl

Thank the goddess that Billboard realizes that Katy Perry’s song had nothing to do with lesbians. Sobule’s “I Kissed a Girl,” however, was a heartfelt, intimate song about genuine affection between women. And in 1995, the song was pretty subversive.

For Souble, the song wasn’t an ode to a drunken night on the town, but a sort of coming out party. She toldThe Advocate that it helped her acknowledge her bisexuality. The video, which is very funny, is even better knowing that it’s based on truth.

Chely Wright comes out

We know the story by heart: Wright defied the conspicuously hetero country music community by coming out in 2010. Since then, she’s been loud and proud – and is one of the LGBT community’s strongest spokespeople. Chely’s career – and life – were threatened by her choice to live openly, but she says she’s never been happier. We suspect her fiancĂ© Lauren Blitzer has something to do with that.

Lady Gaga takes the stage

From the gay anthem “Born This Way” to her political activism and insistence on being exactly who she is every minute of her life, the openly bisexual Lady Gaga goes to the mat for the LGBT community at every opportunity. She brought gay and lesbian soldiers to the VMAs to support the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and is tweeting like crazy to ask her followers to call New York Senators about the state’s gay marriage vote. We’ve never been so honored to go Gaga.

Melissa Etheridge says “Yes, I Am”

Etheridge’s coming out as a lesbian was no surprise to anyone who had seen her rocking swagger in person. But her 1993 album confirmed her sexual orientation to the rest of the world – and spent more than two years on the Billboard charts.

Additionally, Melissa’s battle with breast cancer served to heighten awareness of the lesbian community’s greater risk of the disease – and saved lives in the process.

I wish k.d. lang had been included, since she has been a musical icon to the lesbian community for many years. Maybe she’s just not “Billboard-y” enough for the magazine.

Check out the rest of Billboard‘s list at billboard.com and tell us what you think. Do these people represent the top gay moments in music? What would you add or omit?

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