2021 Pride Playlist

Pride Month 2021 is beginning to wind down, but just because June is over doesn’t mean our celebration of lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender, queer, intersexual and asexual people, plus all other sexual orientations and genders, is.

Here at Abodus, we want to continue doing just that— Celebrating our LGBTQI+ residents through hosting informative events, sharing resources, and even some fun blog posts such as this one!

As part of our extended Pride Month mini blog series, we have put together a list of our favourite LGBTQI+ celebratory anthems. Read on below for the full list to add to your Pride Playlist!

  1. “Born this Way” by Lady Gaga – We love this song because it celebrates individuality, pointing out that we were all born to be exactly who we were meant to be.
  2. “I’m Coming Out” by Diana Ross – A well-known LGBTQI+ anthem, this classic song empowers those within the community to be fearless in being their true selves.
  3. “Free to Be” by RuPaul – This song declares what we all know to be true: We are free to be who we want to be.
  4. “I Want to Break Free” by Queen – This unforgettable anthem is all about yearning for freedom and independence, and that is exactly why we love it!
  5. “Firework” by Katy Perry – This song has an encouraging and uplifting message that we can all get behind – One about individuality and pushing forward in the face of adversity.
  6. “YMCA” by Village People – Known as one of the most iconic gay anthems to this day, we don’t think this song needs much of an introduction… Or a reason as to why it has made it onto our Pride Playlist!
  7. “Brave” by Sara Bareilles – This self-empowerment pop anthem is rumoured to have been written by Bareilles for a friend struggling with the decision to come out, and it celebrates courage in all its forms, encouraging the listener to be brave in all they do.
  8. “You Need to Calm Down” by Taylor Swift – This song shuts down bigotry and advocates for LGBTQI+ rights.
  9. “Dancing Queen” by ABBA – While the true meaning of this song has long been debated, it has been adopted by many within the LGBTQI+ community as a ubiquitous gay anthem.
  10. “Girls Like Girls” by Hayley Kiyoko – This song is a simply charming lesbian anthem, making it clear that, “Girls like girls, like boys do.” As Kiyoko says, that’s “nothing new.”
  11. “Follow Your Arrow” by Kacey Musgraves – We know that country music isn’t for everyone, but this message about celebrating self-love and staying true to yourself absolutely is!
  12. “Freedom! ‘90” by George Michael – This classic song is not only fun and catchy, but even after all this time, it continues to serve as a powerful anthem about embracing your true self.
  13. “Secrets” by Mary Lambert – This tune is fun, bold, and unapologetic in declaring that we shouldn’t feel ashamed of or hide our true selves.
  14. “This Is Me” by Keala Settle – This inspirational song encourages us all to loudly and proudly declare who we are, pushing away judgment, fear and all other background noise.
  15. “Vogue” by Madonna –This iconic classic has an infectious beat, celebrating finding escape on the dance floor no matter who you are!
  16. “Girls/Girls/Boys” by Panic! At the Disco – This catchy track celebrates bisexuality and polyamory, declaring that “love is not a choice.” And we think that line says it all.
  17. “Everyone is Gay” by A Great Big World – This fun, upbeat, and celebratory song is the perfect LGBTQI+ empowerment anthem! Its crystal-clear lyrics say it exactly how it is: We are who we are, and we shouldn’t judge or be judged for that.
  18. “Same Love” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, featuring Mary Lambert – Although this song is a bit melancholier, it makes an especially powerful statement about same-sex relationships, and we thought it deserved a spot on our 2021 Pride Playlist, so we’re giving it an honourable mention.

As we stride into a new month, we hope this list of LGBTQI+ anthems inspires you to continue being unapologetically you! We also hope that you will continue supporting your peers within the community and encouraging them to also embrace their individuality.

At Abodus, we will continue doing our part to support all of our residents through fun and informative blogs, events and even our partnership with Student Minds. Keep an eye out on Instagram and right here on our website as we work with Student Minds to carry on this important conversation of supporting the LGBTQI+ community throughout the month of July!