aAh! Magazine
You are here: Home / News / LGBT Music – Should it have a message?
News

LGBT Music – Should it have a message?

27th February 2014 By 0 219

Words by Ellen Le Messurier

Manchester Metropolitan University’s (MMU) LGBT History Month continued with a fantastic and innovative talk by none other than singer songwriter Claire Mooney. Patron of Manchester Pride and LGBT Youth North West, her talk reflected on LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) music, and whether they have a message or are just tunes to get up and dance to. 
The audience, albeit small, was relaxed and welcoming, and there was no lack of conversation or chat. Mooney was introduced by Chris Wills, a member of MMU’s research administration team, in which he informed the group that this was the first time in the university’s history that it had marked LGBT History Week – a huge step in itself. 

When it was time for Mooney to take to the stage, full of confidence she apologised for her use of a flip chart in her presentation due to a lack of technological skill. She talked of how LGBT music is fundamentally important and how “music can bring us together” through anything. In her opinion LGBT music is ground-breaking and provides messages to youngsters through generations.

She played a list of famous anthems in which the audience united and sung along drawing upon personal and sentimental memories from the past. One member, Sue Sanders, Co. Chairman of BM LGBT History Month, spoke of how the song Somewhere from the musical West Side Story kept her going through the tough period when she was coming out. It was that little bit of hope that gave her the courage to carry on. LGBT anthems are all about inclusivity, providing something for the LGBT community to feel a part of. As Ms Sanders put it, “We are passionate about inclusivity in the LGBT community,” which is why the music is so relied upon. 

Throughout the talk Mooney was adamant to allow members of the audience to speak openly and contribute to her lecture. This dynamic worked particularly well in relation to the topic, and I was left feeling euphoric and optimistic about the future even though I am not a part of the LGBT community. I was keen to hear Mooney perform, and luckily I was able to. For her finale, she invited us to create our own LGBT anthem, which the audience keenly participated in, creating much laughter and ruckus in the auditorium. Mooney produced her guitar which had been hiding under her coat in the back and performed the verse to us. It was brilliant, showing how talented a musician she is to improvise like that. Her voice alone was soulful completely matching the tone of the verse written. A perfect way to conclude the talk. 

Ms Sanders reflected that Mooney’s talk had been ‘fascinating’, and allowed her to reflect on many LGBT anthems, and how they affected her personally, and others in a similar position. Many audience members were surprised at how the music united them and, as Mooney herself said, “We are as one.”

Ellen is a first year English student at MMU. She loves to dance, play music and let her hair down with friends in the evening.

About the author / 

aAh!

aAh! Magazine is Manchester Metropolitan University's arts and culture magazine.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More News Stories:

  • 31st December 2025

    Opinion: “We need to leave colourless living in 2025”

    Every December, celebrities flood social media with snapshots of their Christmas celebrations – and their decorations. This year, stars including Victoria Beckham shared images of pared-back, aesthetic trees and minimal décor. While undeniably elegant, these displays hardly embody the spirit of Christmas – appearing stripped of colour, character and warmth. The festive season no longer…

  • 16th December 2025

    Louder Than Words Festival 2025: “Music and literature go hand-in-hand”

    Featured image: Anna Torrance Blending music and literature in a whirlwind of a weekend of talks, performances and discussion, Louder Than Words Festival returns to Manchester for 2025, bringing together musicians, writers and photographers from around the UK. Set within the intimate chambers of the INNSiDE Hotel, the festival offers a packed programme of acoustic…

  • 9th December 2025

    The REAL Issue: Print call for submissions – Get involved with your student magazine

    aAh! Magazine invites all Manchester Met students with a passion for journalism, writing, design, illustration, and photography to pitch ideas for our upcoming print issue: The REAL Issue. This issue will explore what realness means today, especially for young people and students navigating a world dominated by digital life, social media and AI. What does authenticity…

Latest Articles