Coachella may be known for its sun-drenched music and fashion, but it also owes a debt to the legacy of queer music festivals. These gatherings have been spaces of liberation, community building, and artistic expression for the LGBTQIA+ community, with a lasting impact that ripples through today’s festival scene. This year, Coachella featured a diverse lineup of openly queer artists like Renee Rapp and Ludmilla, a testament to the growing visibility and acceptance of LGBTQ+ identities. But the history of queer music festivals goes back much further than Coachella. It includes lesbian separatist land communities, circuit parties, and protests that transformed into outdoor dance parties. Festivals like the Michigan Women’s Music Festival, which ran for 40 years, were groundbreaking examples that showcased the power of music to create inclusive spaces for queer joy and community.
While some queer festivals have closed, others continue to thrive. They are sites of both joyful celebration and urgent protest, fueled by the enduring power of music, identity, and the freedom to fully express oneself. As you experience the energy of Coachella, remember the revolutionary spirit pulsing through the lineage of queer festivals – a spirit that reshapes the modern festival landscape and ensures spaces for vibrant community and continued activism.
