When Alex Anwandter broke into the international Latin indie music scene with the explosive “Como Puedes Vivir Contigo Mismo” in 2012 — its music video brimming with voguing, ballroom battles, and queer celebration — all hell broke loose. The visual, a nod to the queer nightlife of the iconic 1990 documentary Paris Is Burning within a uniquely Chilean context, solidified Anwandter as one of Latin America’s boldest LGBTQ+ voices. A filmmaker, artist and producer, he continues to challenge norms with boundary-pushing songs like “Manifiesto” (where he boldly declares in Spanish, “Today I’m a woman/ The people’s f—-t/ Even if they set me on fire”) and “Maricoteca” (paired with an BDSM-leaning music video). “Being Chilean is not the only thing I am. I’m also Latino, and I’m part of the, quote unquote, queer community,” he told Billboard Español in 2022. “For me it is a purpose to transcend identity politics in music.”

The Brazilian superstar has openly discussed her bisexual identity. “I kissed a girl before I kissed a guy,” the “Envolver” singer said during an interview with the Los Angeles Times. “I only told my mom after I kissed a guy, because … I didn’t know how to feel. I thought there was something wrong with me for wanting to kiss a guy and a girl. But my mom just said, ’So what?’”

Included in Billboard‘s 2021 list of the 50 Best Producers of the 21st Century, Venezuelan singer, songwriter, producer and DJ Arca is undoubtedly a leading force in the world of electronic, noise and experimental music. Since rising to prominence in the 2010s, she has released albums including the Grammy and Latin Grammy-nominated KiCk I (2020) and the Latin Grammy-nominated KICK ii (2021), while also producing or collaborated with stars like Björk, Kanye West, Rosalía, Frank Ocean, Lady Gaga, Sia, Tokischa, and more. Arca —who came out as non-binary in 2018 and later added that she identifies as a trans woman — is not only a major Latin American icon in her musical genre, but also one of the most influential LQBTQ+ Latin music figures.

As a Latin American trans woman, Venezuela-born, Mexico-based artist Emma has something to say, and she does it in an honest and eloquent way. “Being myself has been a challenge, but I face it with a lot of dignity and a lot of strength,” the singer-songwriter previously told Billboard Español, and that is evident in her songs – eclectic offerings including reggaetón (“Tantito”), bachata (“No Era Yo”), pop (“Como Una Mujer”) and salsa (“Esos Ojitos No Mienten”). Through her music, Emma presents herself as she is, addressing her challenges and professing the importance of self-love. Her latest release, the pop song “Vibrando a la Altura,” arrives Thursday (June 5) in celebration of Pride Month.

Colombian singer-songwriter Esteman has proudly embraced his coming-out journey throughout his career. With his soft, dreamy vocals, the artist celebrates the freedom to express his art and creativity openly, supported by the love of his husband, Mexican actor Jorge Caballero. While Esteman came out to his family and friends early in his career, it was not until 2019 — when he released his album Amor Libre — that he openly revealed his sexuality to his fans. In a 2021 interview with Billboard, Esteman shared that he felt liberated as if the “weight has been lifted off my shoulders.” Coming out to his fans marked a significant turning point in his career and art, enabling him to fully embrace his authentic self and express his love for another man.

Javiera Mena has cemented her status as one of the best female Latin pop artists of all time and a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ representation since her musical inception. Hailing from Santiago, Chile, her unapologetic queer narratives (“La Isla de Lesbos,” “Entre Las Dos” with Miranda!, “Espada”) and lush electropop soundscapes have made her an undeniable force in music. Beyond her artistry, Mena has been outspoken about embracing and reclaiming LGBTQ+ identities, particularly the term “lesbian.”

“Lesbian is a term that a lot of people find harsh compared to ‘gay,’ which feels more connected to the rainbow and the more accepted side of the movement,” the artist previously said. “For me, it’s super important to bring some of that magic to the word ‘lesbian,’ which I personally find beautiful, and to say it over and over again. Honestly, I’m the first person to openly say it in my country, and there are so many women who still need to say it.”

Jhonny joined Grupo Firme — led by his younger brother Eduin Caz — in 2019 as one of the band’s vocalists. Since he’s marked a before and after for regional Mexican music. The band created a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community within a realm of Latin music that hasn’t always felt welcoming to it. Jhonny is openly gay and proposed to his boyfriend onstage at one of the band’s concerts in 2021. “You can go to one of our concerts and see rainbow flags, trans flags — something you’ve never seen at any other regional Mexican concert,” Caz previously told Billboard. “It’s a message to the industry that no matter how you want to live your life and how you express yourself, we all enjoy music the same way.”

In 2016, Johann Vera earned his first Billboard entry with debut single “Pretty Girl (Tu Canción).” Last year, he opened up about his sexuality for the first time, and released songs such as “Closet” and “Cielo,” powered by authenticity and transparency. “All my life I had this idea that sexuality shouldn’t be touched in my music or my art. I wanted to be a private artist, and not talk about my personal life,” the Ecuadorian pop artist told Billboard. “With family, it was a hard part — because coming from Ecuador, I would see their perspective on the LGBTQ+ community — so I always had that fear. I just want to do music with purpose. I want to be more honest on that side. If I fall in love with a guy, I’ll sing about that, but it’s more about purpose and making an impact.”

Joy Huerta, one half of the beloved Mexican pop duo Jesse & Joy, experienced one of the happiest moments of her life in 2019 with the birth of her first daughter, Noah. That spring, Huerta opened up to her fans about her sexuality and her relationship with her partner for the first time. Since then, the artist has become an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, emphasizing the importance of ongoing efforts to achieve equality — and not limited to specific dates.

In 2020, Jesse & Joy released a music video titled “Love,” which addresses issues of discrimination, in collaboration with the civil organization Yaaj México. Yaaj México’s mission is to combat discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community and promote human, sexual, and reproductive rights for young people in the sector. Joy previously told Billboard, “As a pop artist who started out in Latin America, coming out meant redefining my whole career. It redefined me as a person and my music as well.”

In 2016, Puerto Rican singer-songwriter Kany García came out on social media, when she officially revealed she was in love with another woman. Since, García has gained a lot of credibility in her career, once telling Billboard: “That kind of credibility doesn’t come from songs or lines of thought, but rather from real authenticity […] having credibility gives me a lot of liberty to write about what I want, and that’s why I’ve dared to touch upon topics I might not have touched before.”

In 2023, La Cruz went viral on social media with his single “Quítate La Ropa,” where in the music video he’s seen perreando (twerking) with other men in a gym locker room. As a result, fans coined his music as “regayton,” and the rising Venezuelan act ultimately caught the attention of acts such as Young Miko, Danny Ocean, and Villano Antillano. “Sometimes as gay people we limit ourselves a lot from achieving our dreams because we believe they won’t happen on the basis of being gay,” he previously told Billboard. “That’s something that we need to get out of our heads. I love being a reference for those kids who want to make music but don’t do it because they’re afraid. The fear only stops you. You have to go for it.”

As the self-proclaimed Rainha da Favela (or Queen of the Favela), Ludmilla not only reigns over Brazil’s music charts but also stands tall as an outspoken LGBTQ+ icon. In 2019, the star married dancer Brunna Gonçalves, and recently, the couple welcomed their first child. “For you two: thank you for making me write such beautiful things,” Ludmilla wrote on May 29 on Instagram, referencing her upcoming single. “’Paradise’ is coming, and many couples will relate and remember the beginning, when everything was a secret, and we were afraid of the world,” she wrote on the caption, reflecting the couple’s early days of love, marked by secrecy in a largely homophobic country. Spanning funk carioca, Latin trap, samba and R&B, Ludmilla continues to shine as one of South America’s most versatile talents.

Venezuelan singer-songwriter MARI, previously featured on Billboard‘s Emerging Latin Artists On the Radar, is most known for her reggaetón, swag-heavy tunes that best show off her versatility and confidence. On social media, she’s a fun and relatable person, where she often shares her day-to-day, including special moments with her partner, Cecilia. In one of her recent singles, “Chicas Como Tú,” Mari pens a love letter to her girlfriend. “You know you’re my best friend/ But that doesn’t mean you’re not mine/ You can’t control yourself anymore/ You know I’m in a class of my own,” she sings at the top of the song.

Born in Sonora, Mexico, Michelle Maciel describes himself on social media as a “Pisces, musician, and student.” On his Spotify profile, he simply states “Break my heart for art,” which is very reflective of the type of music he sings about—love, infatuation, and heartbreak. His suave, bad-boy look and dulcet vocals back up edgy fusions of indie pop, urban ballads, and Regional Mexican music, as heard in viral singles such as “eScoRpión :)” with newcomer Ramon Vega, and his two Eden Muñóz collaborations: “No Sabia Cuanto” and “CCC.” With over two million followers, Maciel has gained a solid fanbase on TikTok thanks to his video reactions, dance trends, and overall engaging content for today’s youth.

Musteerifa is one of the leading female voices in the Cuban Reparto music scene — she also forms part of the LGBTQ+ community. The rising Cuban act, known for reparto bangers such as “Las Ganas,” “Bonito y Sabroso” and “Ojalá,” where she often sings to other women, has opened up about her sexuality, stating that “nobody can control feelings, and I felt an attraction to women,” in an interview with local Cuban outlets.

In 2021, Peruvian singer-songwriter Nicole Zignago shared a set of photos on Instagram with her girlfriend, Mexican athlete, and photographer Fernanda Piña. “How important is love in all its forms? How important is it to recognize yourself with who you have next to you? How important is it to be honest? How important it is to let yourself be. You are my destiny and constant reflection! Loving is fine. With you everything is fine,” she captioned the heartfelt post. The couple is no longer dating.

Niña Dioz is a trailblazer in Latin hip-hop, breaking barriers as one of Mexico’s most visible female rappers in to proudly embrace her lesbian identity. From her beginnings in Monterrey, the artist has consistently used her voice to tell raw, impactful stories — like in her track “Magdalena,” where she calls out hypocrisy, rapping in Spanish, “If you live off hate, if your gold is fake, if you hate gays, you’re not who you claim to be.”

“I am the first openly queer rapper in Mexico, in a macho society like the one in Latin America,” the Mexican artist once said in an interview. “Being a woman, rapper and queer has not been an impediment when it comes to making music, but it has been a challenge to make my way and position myself in this industry, to earn respect and be considered one of the best Spanish-speaking rappers. This is something that I have earned and that I have been building for more than a decade.”

This Mexican-American singer-songwriter has never hidden who he is. The R&B artist — who was up for best new artist at the 2023 Grammy Awards — has also been very clear about what he’s into. See his response to a tweet that accused him of “queerbaiting.” In 2022, the Indiana-born singer delivered Ivory, a very personal set that showcased Apollo’s strength in his vulnerability. It was named by Billboard as one of the best Pride Albums of the year.

Spanish crooner Alborán is known for his timeless ballads such as “Prometo” and “Saturno” powered by his sweet and tender vocals. The Grammy-nominated artist came out in 2020 during a three-minute video he posted on social media. “Today, I want my voice to be louder and for it to have more value and weight,” he said in the clip. “I’m here to tell you that I am homosexual and it’s okay. Life goes on, and everything will remain the same, but I’m going to be a little happier than I already am.”

Born in Las Palmas Canary Islands in Spain, Ptazeta (real name: Zuleima del Pino Gonzalez) stepped into the Latin music world with her trap, reggaeton, and dembow fusions but also her queer and open-minded lyrics. “I want to normalize a woman singing to another woman and what that means to the community,” she previously told Billboard. Ptazeta has collaborated with artists such as Nicki Nicole, Farina, and Bizarrap, to name a few, and is signed to Interscope Records.

In 2020, Mexican electrocumbia singer announced he was gay in a nearly 5-minute video he posted on YouTube. “Officially announcing I’m gay” he captioned the clip with a smiley face at the end. “Everything seems fine,” Raymix then told Billboard. “Nothing has changed. I’m still me. Only I’m now a gay man.” Subsequently, Raymix — known for his cumbia anthem “Oye Mujer” — delivered the song “Llámame,” with a music video that, for the first time, featured a man as the artist’s love interest.

Deriving from the underground hip-hop scene in San Jose, Calif., Snow Tha Product (real name: Claudia Feliciano) admits that being a gay Latin female recording artist is not always easy but through her art she can express herself freely. “I can speak about certain things even though I’m still not very forward,” she told Billboard. “I say things with a lot of double meanings but I feel like being able to talk about girls in my songs, at least people can understand me more now.” She also advises those who are unsure about coming out that “being honest definitely helps your art.”

A force to be reckoned with, Puerto Rican artist Villano Antillano broke out in 2018 carving a lane for herself in a male-dominated genre as she normalized a queer perspective. A leading voice in the Latin queer and trans artists movement, Villano previously told Billboard, that there’s still work to do to create respect for queer artists in Latin music. “I have helped make queer musicians and artists more visible perhaps; but tolerance, respect and equality are not things we have at the moment. That’s just the truth,” she said bluntly.

Hailing from Añasco, Puerto Rico, Young Miko was discovered by Latin hitmaker Caleb Calloway, who produced her debut single “105 Freestyle” in 2021. Since, top-tier acts such as Karol G, Bad Bunny, and Feid, have reeled her in for collaborations, primarily thanks to her effortless ability to tackle sultry-yet-fierce rap bars as well as belt a sugary chanteo. As Billboard’s 2024 Women in Music Impact honoree, Miko is aware that “people are listening and paying attention to what I say […] For me, it’s a blessing that life has decided to put me in a spot where my voice matters,” she said to Billboard.