Country Queer

Lifting up LGBTQ+ voices in country and Americana.

Toddler Time: CQ Turns Three

By Dale Henry Geist

On September 11th, 2019, I hit “Publish,” sending up the first beacon* from the newly-minted Country Queer website. Three years and 800-odd posts later, we are still, as our motto has it, “Lifting up LGBTQ+ voices in country and Americana.”

It has been a ride. Thank you for riding shotgun: it means everything.

Help Us Celebrate

In appreciation, we’re running an anniversary sale: 15% off CQ shirts, pins, stickers, and more. And if you become a Patreon member (for as little as $3 a month), on top of the other benefits, you’ll get one of the coolest items we’ve ever made, the iconic CQ patch. Both offers are good through this weekend (September 18th).

Your financial support continues to be essential in enabling us to carry out our mission. Thank you!

The CQ Patch, baby

Look What You’ve Done

Here are just a few things you helped us accomplish over the past three years:

  • Covered more than 500 queer country and Americana artists(!)
  • Introduced them to 12-15,000 readers every month
  • Served 10,000 downloads of “Country Queer Spotlight,” the podcast featuring in-depth interviews with notable queer country artists
  • Premiered “Sip & Spin”: the video series that pairs a wine with an album in every episode
  • Served on – and curated – a slew of panels on equity in country music

Birthday Lists

We know you like lists. Here are some special ones, just for this occasion (with our most popular interviews mixed in).

All-time Most-Read Posts

  1. 10 Positively Gay-Ass Country Songs
  2. 12 Country Songs for the Queer Liberal
  3. Amythyst Kiah Is Done Hiding
  4. Iconic Women of Queer Country
  5. Ten More Legendary Lesbian Country Songs
  6. Ten Supremely Sapphic Country Songs
  7. Trans Country Artists You Need to Know
  8. Jaimee Harris: Strong, Badass, and Vulnerable
  9. Nine Essential Black, Queer Country Artists
  10. Brandy Clark Gets Personal

Dale’s Favorite Posts

  1. Mary Gauthier: The CQ Interview
  2. Amy Ray’s Queer Country Story
  3. Allison Russell Is Shamanic In Portland, Maine
  4. Honky-Tonk Revolutionary: A Conversation with Patrick Haggerty
  5. Aaron Lee Tasjan: The Americana RuPaul?
  6. Chris Housman Wants to Be the Next Gay Country Star
  7. 10 Queer Country Protest Songs
  8. Singing Through the Cracks (Lilli Lewis)
  9. Catching Up With Brandy Clark
  10. White Supremacism vs. The American Ideal (Response to Jan. 6th, 2020)
  11. BONUS: 10 Best-Dressed Queer Country Artists

Top Sellers in Our Etsy Store

  1. Round sticker
  2. Bumper sticker
  3. Brown patch
  4. Copper Pin
  5. Enamel pin – brown
  6. CQ Patch Trucker Hat (Sold Out)
  7. Black Tank Top
  8. Embroidered Trucker Hat (Sold Out)
  9. Bandana – Black and White Logo
  10. Rose-and-cream charcoal hoodie

A heartfelt thank you for joining us in this mission. Stick around – we’re just getting started.

Peace,
Dale

*The post? “CQ Caps Are Here”. Cool merch was always part of the vision.