Showtunes

Showtunes are songs drawn from Broadway and other stage musicals. They hold a special place in LGBTQ+ culture, and the affinity between gay men and musical theater is a well-documented part of that history. Part of the connection is practical, since many gay and lesbian writers, composers, and performers built careers in theater. Part is emotional, since musicals often center big feelings, spectacle, reinvention, and outsider characters who long to belong. Performers like Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, and Liza Minnelli became beloved figures within this tradition. The love of showtunes has been both celebrated and stereotyped, but for many queer people it remains a genuine source of joy and community.