Country Queer

Lifting up LGBTQ+ voices in country and Americana.

About

ABOUT COUNTRY QUEER

Country Queer is all about fostering community among LGBTQ+ fans and creators of country music. We believe that the culture of country music needs to change, and that change happens by lifting up LGBTQ+ voices. We stand in solidarity with all marginalized voices in country music.
 
We think you deserve to feel free to enjoy the music you love while being completely and beautifully yourself.

What We Offer

  • This here website, with a ton of coverage of queer artists in country, Americana, and folk.
  • A store that sells a bunch of high-quality merch, so you can fly your Country Queer colors wherever you go.
  • A podcast, Country Queer Spotlight, hosted by Rachel Cholst, who does a deep-dive with one queer country artist in each episode.
  • An Artist Directory that lists queer country, Americana, and folk artists from around the globe (it is definitely consulted by industry folks looking for talent)
  • Spotify playlists that are frequently refreshed, for your listening pleasure
  • A thriving community of country queers on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
  • Some pretty cool videos.

Staff

Mya Byrne, Editor-at-Large

An award-winning performing songwriter, Mya’s music has been featured across media, and she’s collaborated with many of queer country’s brightest stars. Her recent directorial debut about trans activist Lou Sullivan is making the rounds at film festivals, and she’s in pre-production for her next album. She/her.

IG: @myabyrne


Rachel Cholst, Senior Editor

Rachel is an educator, comic book writer, and music journalist in New York City. She produces the podcast and blog Adobe & Teardrops. (Twitter: @adobeteardrops, Insta @adobeandteardrops) She/her.


James Barker, Senior Writer

James lives in the United Kingdom, studying a PhD on Dolly Parton. He is a big fan of ’90s country and hopes that some day country radio will finally be inclusive of everyone! He/him.


Profile photo for Adeem (they/them)

Adeem Bingham, Senior Editor

Adeem is a cast-iron pansexual in East Tennessee, steeped in the hot waters of roots and Americana music. They/them.

Contact: adeem@countryqueer.com


Annie Parnell, Managing Editor

Annie Parnell is a music and pop culture journalist based in central Virginia. Currently, she co-hosts the radio show Cowboy Church and runs the blog Tugboat. Her writing and reporting has appeared in We Are The Mutants, WTJU, Gayly Dreadful, and the Virginia Literary Review.


Holly G, Director of Community and Advocacy

A music journalist, artist manager and self-proclaimed “country music disrupter,” Holly G is a freelance writer, works with changecountrymusic.com and founded the website blackopry.com, where she profiles Black artists who work in Country, Folk, Americana, and adjacent genres.


Dale Henry Geist, Director of Media

Dale says, “Country Queer was a natural outgrowth of my professional life in digital media, my love of American music, and my identity as a queer person. If we can move the needle on visibility and community for LGBTQ+ country and Americana fans, then we can change the culture of country music – and the larger culture as well.”

Dale lives in Portland, Maine.

Contact: dale@countryqueer.com