Expanding the Queer Country Empire
Hi, cowpokes! Are you keeping cool?
In New York, it seems like the first hot day of the year always falls on Pride. It’s homophobic, honestly – everyone is drunk and partying, AND you’re gonna make us extra dehydrated??? That’s why I headed to the beach and enjoyed swimming with a torso unencumbered by mammary glands.
I also want to announce (since I think I forgot to last time) that the queer country podcast you’ve been waiting for is here!!! This month, I interviewed Alex Riggs (whom you may know as al) about their transition, married life, music, and whether or not the queer country scene has peaked. (Something I’ll dive into more next time.) You can listen on your favorite podcast app or stream here, where you can also catch my interview with Jessye deSilva. It would totally rule if we could get to 100 downloads this month! (Also, if you subscribe for $4 a year, you can hear about the time Alex met Dave Chapelle, and what they really think of astrology.)
So…what else do you want to see? More exclusive newsletter content? Interviews? Weekly updates? How about a website that publishes daily news and music????
I know you get a zillion e-mails, so I want to make sure this is must-read for you. I don’t think the scene has peaked, and we gotta make sure it stays awesome by making sure people know about it – hence my attempts to expand this queer country media empire.
Rainbow Roundup
- My colleague Bobby Moore wrote a beautiful profile on Patrick Haggerty, the first known queer country artist, over at Wide Open Country
- Have you watched Rachel Garlin’s viral video about the perils of shopping at TARGAY?
- Love trans folks with all of your being, wear it on a t-shirt, and support trans country artist Eli Conley
- McKain Lakey’s got a rad new video
- Fancy Hagood and Kacey Musgraves are friends and they made a song together! I’ll put it on the Spotify playlist.
- Did you know that country music is hugely popular in sub-Saharan Africa? (If Twitter isn’t your thing, here’s a Bandcamp article)
- Lots of people everywhere need help, but Color Me Country could use some cash to support BIPOC country artists for summer touring season!
- GolemZine is looking for essays by Jewish folks in the “occupied” Mountain West. Maybe that’s you?
- You can get almost 50% off the book Queer Country using this code: F21UIP
- This thread gives advice on self-managed transition in Alabama and other states that restrict our bodily autonomy
Rainbow Rodeo Playlist
Updated every two weeks!
Rainbow Rodeo: LGBTQ+ Country, Americana, and Blues - playlist by Rachel C | Spotify
Rachel C · Playlist · 20 songs · 24 likes
Artist Resources
- Submit your music and events to The Q LGBTQ Creative Network
- Submit your profile to the Country Everywhere which seeks to unite BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disabled artists and professionals
- Sign up to the Black Opry Revue’s [interest form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfm6VnV19TOXHkG-5886_42PHGtIe_XU0AbNB4FzChY_6u8oQ/viewform%3E%5D(%3Chttps://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfm6VnV19TOXHkG-5886_42PHGtIe_XU0AbNB4FzChY_6u8oQ/viewform%3E)!
- Check out the weekly Queerfolk Fest show in Nashville