Well-known on-demand music app Spotify have added a third gender option, non-binary, to their registration form for some countries.
Countries that have three options include the UK, Australia, and theUS, and countries that still have only the standard M/F include Canada, Turkey, Germany, France, and the Philippines. If you’re in a different country that we’ve not mentioned, please click through to their sign-up form here and tell us in an ask which country you’re in and how many gender options they offer! We’ll edit this post to give as complete a list as possible.
This follows a support request over 3 years ago for adding more gender options, which received over 300 votes. We found that request and blogged about it, appealing to followers to add their votes and comments, and the request was reviewed by Spotify soon after. In the mean time Spotify were willing to remove the gender information from users’ accounts manually.
If you’re in a country that doesn’t have three gender options available, you can contact Spotify here or on Twitter, @SpotifyCares, to express your support for the move being expanded to more countries. There are Twitter accounts for individual countries too, for which Google or @SpotifyCares can point you in the right direction.
And if you’re in a country that does have a non-binary option now, you can contact Spotify or tweet at them to say thanks!
“Popular music is built upon artists that have toyed with the gender
binary. The influence of musicians like Prince, Wendy Carlos, and
Genesis P-Orridge on the musical landscape is especially being felt in
the modern age, where gender has become a much more openly discussed
topic.
Artists that identify as transgender or non-binary are finally
beginning to see an increased acceptance in the musical world.
However this acceptance does not immediately equal an open door, which
many of these artists are still fighting to kick open. The cisnormative
lens of popular music keeps these musicians fighting for attention.
It’s important to highlight artists existing in certain minorities,
as other people belonging to these groups can see themselves and see
someone with a similar identity existing successfully. There is hope in
recognition, and mainstream music is often very exclusive when it comes
to someone who is not straight, cis, or white. Personally, I identify as
nonbinary, and it is comforting to see musicians like me being
successful in their fields.”
The Next Wave of Queer Hip-Hop: 12 Upcoming Legendary Children
In 2012, Pitchfork wrote up an extensive article heralding a new wave of queer hip-hop. Featuring insightful interviews with artists Mykki Blanco, Le1f, and Zebra Katz, the piece somewhat rightfully anticipated the beginning of a movement, despite ignoring an older generation of LGBT rappers like Yo! Majesty, Cazwell, Gravy Train!!!!, and a handful of other rap and electroclash superstars. Even before the post was published, the artists featured in the piece had been dismissive of grouping together gay rappers (or, conversely, putting them against each other). They claimed that while they’re all on good terms, their disparate art hardly amounts to a “scene” or subculture: “I’m not trying to be competing with my friends based on their race and sexuality,” said Le1f to Pitchfork. “The whole ‘room for one’ mentality is homophobic… if the world is ready for a gay rapper, then they’re ready for multiple gay rappers. If we were straight, no one would be comparing us.”
That being said, a handful of queer artists working in and around hip-hop music have gone on to semi-mainstream success. Mykki Blanco, Le1f, and Brooke Candy have since been signed to major labels. Big Freedia has gotten her own reality television show. Zebra Katz has become a rather well-known fashion icon after his song “Ima Read” was featured in a Rick Owens show. DJ MikeQ (a prolific ballroom beatmaker) has toured the globe, schooling the world on vogue music. Angel Haze is a regular topic of gossip columns. And, Azealia Banks is, well, Azealia Banks.
Gay rap isn’t “over” now that these artists have succeeded, nor was it ever really “a thing” to begin with. LGBT artists of all colors, shapes, and sizes have always made music and will continue to emerge in the hip-hop world. Now, we’re looking at 12 newer, up-and-coming legendary children and some of the older stars finally getting the recognition they deserve.
Canadian trans artists Ivan Coyote and Rae Spoon perform Gender Failure, a multimedia show featuring animation by Clyde Petersen about their hilarious and heartbreaking attempts at fitting into the male/female binary at the 27th London Lesbian & Gay Film Festival.
Visitors to Nova Scotia singer-songwriter Molly Thomason’s website may have noticed a surprise announcement on Monday, but is isn’t a new album or tour dates.
The video was directed by Selfridges’ Resident Film Director Kathryn Ferguson and director Alex Turvey. The creators write that:
The film is an evolving journey through a subtle push and pull between masculinity and femininity, captured entirely in one unbroken shot, utilising in-camera camera effects in a world populated by out-scaled physical props inspired by Faye Toogood’s in store realisation of Agender. The cast of dancers and performance artists are all styled in Agender brands available at Selfridges, including Nicopanda, V Files, Yang Li x Genesis P-Orridge, Bodymap and Rad Hourani.
THE TRANSGENDER BLUES: a mix to help punch that body dysphoria right in the face and to feel just a little bit safer listening to these jams than you do out there in the good ol transphobic world. PLAY
Well… here’s the tale of one young misunderstood gender variant child. Their struggle with trying to understand why society mocks them, their family’s struggle with acceptance, and the worlds struggle. The child’s father is forceful and extreme in some cases, while mother tries her best to help. By the end of it all… does it change?
This is quite possibly the best thing we’ve seen so far this month. Grab a box of tissues. This might hurt a bit.
