FIRST TAKE
How Music Professionals Can Support LGBTQ + Creatives
By Dani Oliva
When I began the process of transitioning a decade ago , there were very few trans and gender non-conforming professionals in the music industry . Without accessible role models , it took me a long time to find my power . Today , I am thankful to advocates like Ashlee Marie Preston who have given me language to talk about my queer identity . Because of their efforts , society ’ s attitude toward queer people has vastly improved : gay marriage is recognized , LGBTQ + programming is openly available , and many companies have implemented initiatives that acknowledge and protect queer customers and employees .
A significant shift is happening . A prosperous future is blooming , but it will take work to secure queer creators and professionals their seat at the table .
I know this because I ’ m an artist advocate , music lawyer , consultant , and music manager with more than 17 years of experience . I run a music law firm , Oliva Law Group , P . C . and Dani Oliva Music Consulting , that represents independent artists ( who are my fav !), Grammy Award winners , Billboard Hot 100 songwriters , and music companies . I also coown an Ontario-based music management company , Muk Posh , whose roster focuses on LGBTQ + and BIPOC talent .
For these reasons , I have a strong sense of how music professionals can support LG- BTQ + creatives . Here are some of the fundamentals :
Commission LGBTQ + Creators Too often creatives are asked to work for free in exchange for visibility . Pay creatives . Pay LGBTQ + creatives . Further , I ’ d encourage you to pay creatives competitively .
This should be obvious , but what you pay creatives goes beyond their livelihood : you are investing in a broader creative community . Commissioning LGBTQ + artists ensures that creativity thrives in queer communities and that difficult-to-tell , intersectional stories receive adequate financial support .
Champion LGBTQ + Experiences Queer perspectives are extremely valuable . Queer people , simply by existing , challenge heteronormative ideas about gender and sexuality . Their unique life experiences make them more aware of the nuances , subtleties , and complications of gender , sexuality , and identity .
So , invite LGBTQ + folks to your writing sessions ( and compensate them ). Partner with them on music projects . Hire them as producers . Watch the magic results ! Queer people make everything better , and your projects will benefit from their perspective .
Educate Yourself & Others Instead of asking queer people to educate you about the wider LGBTQ + community , take time to learn about queer people and their history . Not sure what genderqueer means or how to use gender neutral pronouns ? Lots of information is available online . Share this information with friends ! You ’ ll find that queer people contain multitudes , and you may even learn something about yourself , too .
If you own a business , you can go a step further . You can create an equal opportunity / non-discrimination policy . Own a rehearsal studio , music company , recording studio ? Post safe space signage in your workplace . Make it undeniable that everyone should feel safe and welcome . If you haven ’ t already , switch to gender neutral bathroom signs then watch your employees and projects ascend ! To create art , people need to be open and receptive . To be open and receptive , they need to feel safe .
Celebrate LGBTQ + Joy Among the most important things you can do to support LGBTQ + creators is to spread messages that inspire young people to embrace their identities and thrive . Do that by celebrating queer joy and successes .
I am constantly in awe of work by LG- BTQIA + creators and creators who uplift LG- BTQIA + art and storytelling . Here are some of the creators that I ’ m currently celebrating :
Canadian rising star IDMAN recently signed a record deal with Arista Records , in partnership with Golly Geng , a Torontobased independent record label and multimedia group . IDMAN just released her single “ Down for It ,” alongside a brand-new video , and I can ’ t wait to see what this brilliant group will come out with next !
Along with U . S . writer Amos Mac , Canadian filmmakers Chase Joynt and Aisling Chin-Yee recently debuted their film No Ordinary Man , which is about the extraordinary life and career of jazz musician Billy Tipton . The movie explores the broader context of transgender representation in media . Canadian artist Rich Aucoin is the composer of the film , mixing both Tipton ’ s work and his own .
Canadian Indigenous artist and actress Jayli Wolf ’ s self-directed EP , Wild Whisper , about the Sixties Scoop , sexuality , and mental health is a visual masterpiece .
Canadian artist Vivek Shraya , whose body of work crosses the boundaries of music , literature , visual art , theatre , and film , is currently adapting her debut play , How to Fail As A Popstar , for television with the support of CBC . Can ’ t wait for that !
I want to thank Evan Kleekamp for their time , input , and for editing this piece .
Transcend and transform , Dani
CANADIAN MUSICIAN 9