Janelle Monáe Deserves The World
First if you do not love the person that is Janelle Monáe (They/She), leave. This whole article is just a love letter to the person who continuously reminds me that my Blackness and Queerness are never to be separated and those that don't get that can leave.
2010
A freeze from of Janelle from their music video of Tigthrope in a black and white suit.
I remember listening to Tightrope until my ears bled. I remember imagining what it would be like to wear a suit like that. I remember everyone being like “they gay” and my nervous laughter hiding the secret that this was literally the coolest person I had ever seen. Before they had the words or were willing to share it with others, Janelle was a nonbinary icon that made me want to be “gay”.
Nonbinary
NowThis quotes Janelle saying “I’m non-binary. So I just don’t see myself as a woman solely. I feel all of my energy. I feel like God is so much bigger than the ‘he’ or the ‘she’. And if I am from God, I am everything.”
When Janelle shared that they were nonbinary, I remember one post saying that “it’s never okay to assume someone’s identity before they share it but Janelle has always been nonbinary to me.” This validated so much for me. Janelle also shared this information for the first time with Black women on a Black show, this was a great example of Blackness of Queerness coexisting without one being prioritized over the other.
Gay Gay Gay
A picture of Quinta Brunson saying “people be gay”, captioned in yellow lettering.
In the words of Quinta Brunson (She/Her), “People Be Gay”. Y’all know I love Black Queer representation in music, see Heaux Tales. Their whole album ain’t even out yet and I can already promise y’all that this summer will be gay. If you have not been hypnotized/converted by Lipstick Lover yet, please buy your pride outfit before pressing play.
Mhm, you gay now. Janelle’s authentic existence makes me happy to be the Black genderless Queer blob that I am and excited to continue to exist as such. Janelle deserves the world.
Thank you for reading through! Hi, I’m K Mataōtama Strohl (They/Them). I’d love to be able to continue to share stories like this but I need your help to be able to do so. Please visit my Ko-Fi page to tip what you can and gain access to my other work. You can learn more about me and my work at the link below.
