Every year on Oct. 11, the LGBTQ+ community in the U.S. comes together to commemorate National Coming Out Day, celebrating the millions of people who have decided to open up to the world about who they are, while also providing encouragement those who have yet to speak publicly about their identity.
It’s an especially important day in 2024, at a time when queer artists are finding more success than ever on the charts. From Chappell Roan‘s rapid ascent to pop domination with to Billie Eilish‘s anthem for women who love women reaching the upper echelons of the Billboard Hot 100, 2024 has been a banner year for LGBTQ+ pop artists looking to prove that identity is an asset, not a barrier to success.
Yet in 2024, legislative attacks on LGBTQ+ people continue to rise. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is currently tracking over 500 anti-LGBTQ bills in the United States. Former president and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, meanwhile, has doubled down on his anti-trans talking points in a recent set of advertisements.
But a June report from Axios points out that momentum for anti-trans and anti-queer legislation has slowed in 2024, signaling a light at the end of the tunnel for queer and trans advocates around the U.S. “There’s a lot of hope right now,” HRC president Kelley Robinson said. “Our opposition is overreaching. They are attacking not only our community, but our kids.”
To celebrate National Coming Out Day, Billboard is taking a look back at some of the artists who chose to open up about their identity in 2024:
