Deciding the most suitable way for any queer individual to honor Pride can be challenging, something I’m experiencing anew at the age of 30-soon-to-be-31 (which, admittedly, is Not Old by any means, yet it still leaves me feeling like an older person each time I visit the Woods on a Wednesday evening and everyone appears youthful and fresh-faced enough to be my offspring). Gay venues remain a favored option, but predictably, they become congested and stifling each June. As for marches? Apologies, but I possess more than enough promotional bank T-shirts.
During my mission this month to discover novel spaces to connect with my queer identity without becoming a) perspired, b) overwhelmed, or c) unattractively inebriated, I’ve stumbled upon a Pride haven in an unexpected corner: the Instagram comments of one Ms. Chappell Roan, also known as the Femininomenon herself, whose provocative lyrics and recent evolution into a chaps-wearing Statue of Liberty—not to mention her bold decision to decline performing at the White House—have solidified her status as an LGBTQ+ icon for our era.
For those who are queer, trans, or gender-nonconforming, Instagram comment realms can resemble chaotic wastelands, but Roan’s are warm, rainbow-infused, celebrity-packed hubs, featuring everyone from Ariana Grande to Rina Sawayama to indie brand Fashion Brand Company stepping in to showcase their admiration. (Moreover, Roan recently earned a follow from none other than the club-banger queen Carly Rae Jepsen…possibly a collaboration soon, royalty?) Observe the magic unfold below:
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