"I’m Coming Out"

The Role of Music in LGBTQ+ Identities

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v25i1.4218

Keywords:

bisexual, pride, qualitative survey, queer, reflexive thematic analysis, trans

Abstract

Research shows that music holds great importance to the LGBTQ+ community. However, only a handful of studies have explored personal and private music consumption and particularly its role in individual identity formation and the coming out process – typically, with a focus on gay men and lesbians. This experiential qualitative study explored the role of music in LGBTQ+ identities before, during and after the coming out process. Data were collected from 30 participants who identified as LGBTQ+ and/or in the process of coming out using an online qualitative survey; four of these participants also took part in follow-up interviews. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, generating three themes: 1) Music to come out to; 2) Queer artists promoting individual authenticity, pride and empowerment; and 3) Queer music for community and belonging. The findings can inform the work of music therapists, music educators and community musicians working with LGBTQ+ individuals and communities.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all the participants for their contributions in this research and for taking the time to openly share their experiences.

Funding: There was no funding for this research.

 

Author Biographies

Karen Jones, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom

Karen Jones (she/her) graduated with a MA in Music Therapy from the University of the West of England, Bristol, in 2023; her dissertation research was supervised by Victoria Clarke. Karen is a rock musician and a practising Music Therapist in the Southwest of England. She is the founder of Inner Sound Music Therapy and is currently a Music Therapist for Cornwall Music Service Trust. [Karen@innersoundmusictherapy.co.uk]

Victoria Clarke, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom

Victoria Clarke (she/her, they/them) is an Associate Professor in Qualitative and Critical Psychology in the School of Social Sciences at the University of the West of England, Bristol, UK, where she teaches research methods to music therapy students and supervises MA music therapy dissertation projects. Her own research addresses issues of difference and social justice, and with Virginia Braun she has written extensively about thematic analysis —see www.thematicanalysis.net—including most recently the award winning textbook Thematic Analysis: A Practical Guide (2022, Sage). They also write about qualitative methods more broadly and have a particular interest in developing the story completion method (see www.storycompletion.net) and the qualitative survey method.
[Victoria.Clarke@uwe.ac.uk]

Luke Annesley, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom

Luke Annesley (he/him) is a jazz/improvising musician and a Senior Lecturer in Music Therapy in the School of Health and Social Care at the University of the West of England, Bristol, UK. He worked for 12 years in the National Health Service for Oxleas Music Therapy Service and has been published in several academic journals, including the British Journal of Music Therapy, Journal of Music Therapy and Approaches: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Music Therapy. He has hosted the British Association for Music Therapy podcast Music Therapy Conversations since 2017. [Luke.Annesley@uwe.ac.uk]

Autor photo of Jones et al.

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Published

2025-03-01

How to Cite

Jones, K., Clarke, V., & Annesley, L. (2025). "I’m Coming Out": The Role of Music in LGBTQ+ Identities. Voices: A World Forum for Music Therapy, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.15845/voices.v25i1.4218

Issue

Vol. 25 No. 1 (2025)

Section

Research

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Karen Jones, Victoria Clarke, Luke Annesley

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