Pride
If you’re looking to freshen up your playlists with some new tunes from your favorite queer artists, you’ve come to the right place. Billboard Pride is proud to present the latest edition of Queer Jams of the Week, our roundup of some of the best new music releases from LGBTQ+ artists.
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
From Cynthia Erivo‘s dramatic new ballad to Betty Who’s empowering new anthem, check out just a few of our favorite releases from this week below:
Cynthia Erivo, “Worst of Me”
Sure, Cynthia Erivo has proven time and time again just how good her singing voice is — but with her new single, she’s proving that she’s a singular artist, too. “Worst of Me,” the second single off Erivo’s forthcoming new album I Forgive You, takes her powerhouse vocal to new levels as she bids farewell to a toxic relationship. Sweeping strings and layered harmonies bring richness to the track, as Erivo sends her unparalleled voice to new heights on this dizzying new song.
Trending on Billboard
Betty Who, “Run”
Looking for a little hit of ’80s synth-pop? Allow Betty Who to help with “Run,” her electrified new song paying homage to the thrilling camp of the era. Over glittering synths, Who riffs and, well, runs her way through this upbeat homage to perseverance, and doing so with the kind of gusto that you can only hope for from a pop star of her caliber. “Don’t you give up on me,” she asks at the end of the chorus. “I just wanna run.”
Yeule, “Evangelic Girl Is a Gun”
To anyone still earnestly trying to put art-pop star Yeule in box; how’s that going? The titular track off the Singaporean star’s forthcoming new album Evangelic Girl Is a Gun is a masterclass in experimentation, as Yeule and producer Kin Leonn dabble in early 2010s electronica, trip-hop, rock and pop, all while creating one of the wildest-sounding new songs of the year thus far. After finding breakthrough success with Softscars in 2023, Yeule is clearly going for another immediate classic — and judging by their output thus far, they’re on the right track.
Trixie Mattel & VINCINT, “Supermodel (You Betta Work)” (RuPaul cover)
Who doesn’t love RuPaul’s classic house anthem “Supermodel?” What queer person hasn’t looked at themselves in the mirror at some point and yelled “you betta work?” For the uninitiated (and everyone else for that matter), drag star Trixie Mattel and pop virtuoso VINCINT are here to give you a modern take on the dance classic. With Mattel on DJ duty and VINCINT utilizing his silky-smooth voice, the updated rendition of “Supermodel” manages to pull off what every cover hopes it can by giving the original its flowers while standing out as a track of it’s own. To paraphrase fellow drag star Plane Jane: Kudos to Trixie and VINCINT for doing this. For spilling.
Chrissy Chlapeck, “Cherry Do You Love Me”
After breaking through with her clubby 2024 EP Girlie Pop, Chrissy Chlapecka is ready to zig where you thought she might zag. Taking on the persona of “Nicole Vegas,” Chlapecka dropped “Cherry Do You Love Me,” her raucous, rocked out new single that trades in her pounding club beats for blown-out guitars. Her voice naturally fits this style, as she impressive wails her way through this fiery ode to the titular Cherry. If this is any indication of what’s to come for Chlapecka, then buckle up — her new era is already promising to be a wild ride.
Bells Larsen, “Might”
There is a moment on Canadian singer-songwriter Bells Larsen’s latest single “Might” where something magic happens. As his soft, falsetto voice descends from the song’s chorus, where he opined that his voice “might get deep,” Larsen’s old vocal comes in contact with his new, affirmed voice — a beautiful baritone — harmonizing with his past self. Having the foresight to create a loving tribute to the process of transitioning by duetting with your pre-transition self is one thing; but to execute that idea as deftly and lovingly as Bells Larsen does here is another, more profound accomplishment entirely.
Check out all of our picks on Billboard’s Queer Jams of the Week playlist below:
Canadian singer-songwriter Bells Larsen is cancelling his forthcoming U.S. tour after the Trump administration made it impossible for him to travel in the country as a trans man.
In a lengthy post to his Instagram on Friday (April 11), Larsen revealed that, according to an email from the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), he would not be able to apply for a travel visa to the United States since his Canadian passport designates his gender rather than his biological sex.
“To put it super plainly, because I’m trans (and have an M on my passport), I can’t tour in the States,” Larsen wrote. “I hesitate to include a ‘right now’ or an ‘anymore’ at the end of my previous sentence, because — in this sociopolitical climate — I truly don’t know which phrasing holds more truth.”
Trending on Billboard
Billboard has reached out to the AFM for comment.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigrant Services (USCIS) announced at the beginning of April that they had updated their policy at the outset of April to only recognize biological sex on immigration forms, in accordance with the Trump administration’s executive order requiring travel documents (including passports and visas) to designate a person’s sex as assigned at birth.
In his post, Larsen admits that he was already feeling trepidatious about touring the U.S. amidst an onslaught of anti-trans initiatives being pursued by the current administration, especially when it came to the administration’s treatment of trans people crossing the border. “If random people are getting randomly questioned/stopped/detained at borders, how can I — as someone wanting to make money abroad by exhibiting my lived experience as a trans person — expect to pass go and get out of jail free?” he asked. “My plan was to tour with harm reduction in mind.”
Larsen said that after speaking with two separate immigration lawyers and the AFM, he decided that there was “no way to move forward” with his scheduled tour, despite his eagerness to see his U.S. fans. “This new policy has crushed my dreams,” he wrote. “I’m cradling a very broken heart and the realization that I don’t know if or when I will be able to tour in the States again.”
The singer-songwriter was set to bring his forthcoming new album Blurring Time stateside this June, with dates in Boston, New York City and Los Angeles throughout the month. The new LP deals extensively with Larsen’s experience transitioning while using vocal recordings from both before and after his transition (his “high” and “low” voices, as he calls them in a statement) to create harmonies between his former and current self. The latest single from that album, “Might,” was released on Wednesday (April 9).
“I was hoping that the album would help me break into the US music market and connect with cool, likeminded American musicians,” he wrote. “More than anything, thought, I just really wanted to perform my album for queer and trans people in the US who saw their stories reflected in my own.”
Bells Larsen’s new album Blurring Time drops on April 25 via Royal Mountain Records. Read his full statement on his cancelled U.S. tour below:
The Elton John AIDS Foundation is making sure that the world knows what a recent action from Russia means for the those living with HIV and AIDS in the country.
In a statement released April 3, the prosecutor general’s office of the Russian federation banned both the British and U.S-registered foundations of the EJAF from offering its services in Russia, designating the non-profit as an “undesirable” organization — a classification that would allow the state to prosecute and potentially jail individuals affiliated with the charity if they continue working in Russia.
In response to the government’s ban, the EJAF shared a statement with Billboard, saying that it were “devastated” to learn of its new label under Russian law. “This decision by the Russian Federation will undoubtedly endanger lives and disrupt critical HIV prevention efforts for ordinary Russian citizens,” the statement reads. “At a time when we have the tools and knowledge to defeat HIV, it is heartbreaking to be unable to support them.”
Trending on Billboard
The organization pointed out in its statement that, according to the Russian government’s own reporting, more than 1.2 million people were living with HIV in the country as recently in 2024, with nearly half a million of those individuals not receiving proper treatment. “For more than two decades, we have worked in collaboration with federal and non-governmental partners in Russia to provide hundreds of thousands of people with vital HIV services, including testing, treatment and care,” the EJAF tells Billboard. “Despite this setback, we will continue our work across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, where the Foundation is the largest philanthropic HIV/AIDS funder.”
The prosecutor general’s office of Russia cited the EJAF’s support of LGBTQ+ rights, including “non-traditional sexual relationships, Western family models, and gender reassignment,” as well as the organization’s “negative attitudes” toward countries promoting “traditional spiritual and moral values,” as primary factors in its decision to deem the group “undesirable.”
“When a musician plays along with those trying to sow the seeds of democracy, it is propaganda,” the statement (translated from Russian) read. “And when it’s Elton John calling the tune, then it’s more than just anti-Russian propaganda, too.”
This is far from the first time that John has expressed his concern regarding Russia’s treatment of the LGBTQ+ community. In 2019, he penned an open letter to Russian president Vladimir Putin criticizing the leader’s “hypocrisy” in saying he cared for LGBTQ+ people while also promoting anti-LGBTQ+ policies.
“I find duplicity in your comment that you want LGBT people to ‘be happy’ and that ‘we have no problem in that.’ Yet Russian distributors chose to heavily censor my film Rocketman by removing all references to my finding true happiness through my 25 year relationship with David and the raising of my two beautiful sons,” he wrote at the time. “I am proud to live in a part of the world where our governments have evolved to recognise the universal human right to love whoever we want.”
Read the EJAF’s full statement to Billboard about Russia’s ban below:
Thirty years ago, HIV began by affecting a community that no one wanted to support. We failed that group then, and as a result, HIV continued its destructive path across the globe, eventually infecting more than 80 million people worldwide. What began as a disease outbreak grew into a global pandemic.
As one of the leading HIV/AIDS organizations in the world, we recognize that the compassionate and effective way to fight HIV is by acknowledging our common humanity and providing funding where it is needed, regardless of gender, race, sexuality, or faith. This is why the Foundation’s mission is to leave no one behind.
We are devastated by the decision of the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation, which will prevent the Foundation from providing lifesaving care to people living with HIV in Russia.
For more than two decades, we have worked in collaboration with federal and non-governmental partners in Russia to provide hundreds of thousands of people with vital HIV services, including testing, treatment and care. This work is urgent: In 2024, there were over 1.2 million people living with HIV in Russia, with over 430,000 not receiving treatment.
This decision by the Russian Federation will undoubtedly endanger lives and disrupt critical HIV prevention efforts for ordinary Russian citizens. At a time when we have the tools and knowledge to defeat HIV, it is heartbreaking to be unable to support them.
Despite this setback, we will continue our work across Eastern Europe and Central Asia, where the Foundation is the largest philanthropic HIV/AIDS funder.
Before she gets back to defying gravity on the silver screen this fall, Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning actress Cynthia Erivo wants to give you something that’s 100% her.
On Thursday (April 10), Erivo announced the impending release of her sophomore studio album, I Forgive You. Set to drop on June 6 via Verve Records/Republic Records, the new project will feature Erivo not just as a performer, but a songwriter, as the actress has co-writing credits on each of the album’s songs.
In addition, the Wicked star announced that her second single, “Worst of Me,” will drop at midnight ET on Friday (April 11). The song, which Erivo has spent the last week teasing in snippets across her social media, sounds like a sweeping, orchestral ballad as she opines about heartbreak and loss. “I came here for love, oh, no I don’t want it anymore,” the star sings. “I gave you my home, but you took the worst of me.”
Trending on Billboard
“Over the last 2+ years, between all the flights, the filming, the interviews, and the awards shows, I went to the studio with my dear friend [Will Wells, songwriter and producer on I Forgive You] and created this project for you and me,” Erivo wrote in her announcement on Instagram. “This album, this collection of songs, is something I’m so proud to share with you. First with ‘Replay,’ and now/today/tonight with ‘Worst of Me.’ I gave you one chapter with the first album, and now I have a couple more for you. Thank you in advance for coming with me on this journey.”
The news comes amid a huge year for the actress. After the runaway success of Wicked in 2024, Erivo was nominated for best actress at the 2025 Oscars, where she also delivered a stunning performance of “Defying Gravity” with her co-star Ariana Grande. Looking ahead, Erivo is set to host to 2025 Tony Awards, star as Jesus Christ in an upcoming Hollywood Bowl production of Jesus Christ Superstar and headline the post-parade stage of WorldPride in Washington, D.C., all before the much-anticipated final chapter of her blockbuster hit Wicked: For Good debuts on Nov. 21.
Pre-save Cynthia Erivo’s new album I Forgive You here, and check out her Instagram post below:
No offensive language will be tolerated on Celebrity Big Brother UK.
Mickey Rourke was issued a warning from the reality television series’ producers after a series of comments he made toward fellow competitor JoJo Siwa, according to BBC. During the 24th season, the actor asked Siwa if she liked “girls or boys,” to which the “Karma” singer explained that she’s attracted to women and that her partner Kath Ebbs is non-binary.
“If I stay longer than four days,” the 72-year-old then responded, “you won’t be gay anymore.”
Explore
Explore
See latest videos, charts and news
See latest videos, charts and news
Siwa replied by assuring, “I can guarantee I’ll still be gay and I’ll still be in a very happy relationship.”
Trending on Billboard
Later in the series, when the cast mates were called to vote someone out of the house, Mickey explained that he’s “going to vote the lesbian out real quick,” to which Siwa — who overheard the comment, replied, “That’s homophobic, if that was your reasoning.”
At one point in the series, Rourke said that he needed a “f–,” and gestured to the 21-year-old star and said, “I’m not talking to you.” When fellow competitor Chris Hughes called him out for the language, the actor said, “I know. I was talking about a cigarette.”
After using the slur, which is slang for a cigarette in the U.K., he was warned by the ITV series’ Big Brother about his actions in the confessional room. “Big Brother thinks your language was offensive and unacceptable,” he was told. “As a result, Big Brother is giving you a formal warning. Further language or behaviour of this nature could lead to you being removed from the Big Brother house.”
Ultimately, the actor explained that he didn’t have “dishonorable intentions” and apologized to Siwa. “I want to apologize. I’ve got a habit of having a short fuse,” he told her. “And I don’t mean nothing by it. I do mean it [sorry]. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t say it to you.”
“I appreciate your apology,” she replied. Siwa has yet to publicly address the situation.
With RuPaul’s Drag Race bringing back their Rate-a-Queen system for season 17, Billboard decided to rate each of the new queens every week based on their performance. Below, we look at the final main stage challenge of the season to see who made the cut for the finale. Spoilers ahead for episode 14. Fourteen episodes […]
Even at the young age of 26 years old, Clairo has done a lot of reflecting on her own life. And now, she’s revealing why she’s kept a “huge” part of it largely undefined. In a new cover story for Seventeen, the “Sexy to Someone” singer explained why she prefers not to put a label […]
Kesha is standing up for the transgender community.
The superstar sat down with Bob the Drag Queen for Paper this week, where they opened up about messages they want to share with their U.S. fans as the current presidential administration continues to put measures into place to dismantle the rights of trans people.
“I would love to be able to stand in front of my fans and be like, ‘Everything’s fantastic and don’t you worry,’” Bob shared. “But I don’t think that’s real. Sometimes things get worse before they get better. Sometimes things get worse and they don’t get better. But you have to remember the resilience of queer people, of Black people, of women, of any marginalized person to exist despite it all. To exist no matter what.”
Kesha agreed, adding, “Trans visibility day has me thinking about what a huge support the trans community has been. The queer community has been my community and has always been there for me. That’s where I belong. And beyond that, to any marginalized person, like you were just saying, I want everyone out there to know that they have an ally, someone that is a warrior. I will not lay down, I will not be quiet about basic human rights. And as someone who’s had her freedoms taken away from her and fought like hell to get them back, I’m going to echo that throughout my work until the day that I die.”
Trending on Billboard
Transgender Day of Visibility started back in 2010 when trans activist Rachel Crandall created the holiday to celebrate “the lives of transgender people” as a whole rather than just the discrimination against the community, according to GLAAD.
Kesha, who is gearing up to release her sixth album, . (Period), revealed that she wants the upcoming project to be a “safe space for people to feel fully embodied and liberated.” She continued, “If you want to find your community and find a safe space for you to fully embody exactly who you are and be celebrated, I invite you to come join us. I would like to start a revolution of love. I want to create a traveling summer of love, a community of love. I want to give all of us a place to come and be ourselves.”
As for the current government, Kesha said, “I have never seen a less embodied group of individuals waving around their chainsaws. It’s terrifying. In the midst of all this chaos, the most political thing we could do is love ourselves and love one another and create a space where we can come together and spread as much love as possible. So that’s my objective for the summer.”
Kesha’s . (Period), arrives via Kesha Records on July 4.
Over the years, Lil Nas X has dealt with his fair share of criticism over his creative choices, and the star is reflecting on how things would be even worse in today’s political climate. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news The Grammy-winning singer appears on the most recent […]
For 17 seasons, RuPaul’s Drag Race has served as a launch pad for new pop icons. Now, the show is honoring its inspirations by recognizing EGOT winner Liza Minnelli as a cultural icon who paved the way for entertainers like RuPaul. On Tuesday (April 1), Drag Race announced that RuPaul will present Minnelli with the […]