Vee Donart

With the release of her album “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess,” Chappell Roan has inspired and supported all aspects of the LGBTQ+ community.

Rising pop star Chappell Roan’s recent dominance of the music industry is transforming pop music into a safe and inspirational space for queer listeners. 

Born in Willard, Mo, Chappell Roan never imagined she’d be a star singer. Roan struggled to fully express her queer identity in the small-town Midwest trailer park where she grew up but found comfort in music. Now at the center stage of mainstream music, Chappell Roan uses her platform to effectively promote inclusivity and understanding of the LGBTQ+ experience. 

Roan’s single “Pink Pony Club” has become an anthem for queer acceptance. It details the life of a young conservative woman as she escapes the oppression of her rural midwest hometown to become a dancer at a gay bar in West Hollywood. The main chorus of the song, ”I’m gonna keep on dancing at the / Pink Pony Club / I’m gonna keep on dancing down in / West Hollywood” shows the young woman’s self-love and acceptance when she assimilates into the vibrant community of Los Angeles. 

Other songs like “Good Luck, Babe” and “Red Wine Supernova” universalize homosexual relationships, specifically those between women. “Chappell Roan has become an outlet for a movement that has been around for a long time to become ‘mainstream.’ Her storytelling has especially helped lesbians to have their relationships heard and better understood,” explained Chappell Roan fan Kylie Figanbaum. “She allows people to express themselves in ways that have been taboo for a long time. She is a proud drag queen that allows us to join a party that we have always wanted to join,” added Figanbaum. 

In conjunction with her music being queer-coded, Roan performs her shows in flashy, drag-inspired outfits. Roan also recruits local drag queens to perform as opening acts for her tour shows. Fans notice how everything Chappell Roan does is fueled by hope of inclusivity for all. “I think the most important way Chappell Roan has used her platform is by normalizing the queer experience. Her whole career she has performed in drag and has taken the time to include and highlight other drag artists. Her popularity gives a platform for other LGBTQ+ individuals to see themselves in her and for other people to look beyond their past preconceptions to see the joy found in the queer community,” said Chappell Roan listener Sophia Pomykala.

Chappell Roan’s use of music to discuss controversial topics makes it easier for the public to understand experiences that have no direct connection to them. Roan’s music acts as a bridge, connecting the mainstream masses to the LGBTQ+ values of love and acceptance. “Her most popular song, ‘Good Luck, Babe’ is about struggling with compulsive heterosexuality and now millions of people who wouldn’t have previously consumed media discussing this topic are actively listening to it,” continued Pomykala.

Chappell Roan’s music encourages acceptance and normalizes the LGBTQ+ experience. From performing in drag to writing inclusive lyrics, Roan promotes self-love and expression. Her powerful and unique lyrics allow listeners to find comfort in a shared experience. For some, Roan’s lyrics highlight struggle and educate others on the importance of authenticity and inclusion.