Very true

kewl!

No matter gay, straight, or bi, these two have done a lot for the medias perception to gay rights in the past five years! If you wanna make it a decade, you should add Madonna too!

And people have always tried to deny BTW's impact.

Gaga's impact is real. LGBT icon!

Obviously they're not the only ones who deserve to be recognized. Anyone who has ever used their voice to help push change deserves to be recognized as well.

And tbh, I can't even tell you how many straight guys I've seen come out in support of gay marriage because of Same Love. Slay.

"Actual activists," like the bisexual woman who has walked in marches, spoken at pride conventions, paid thousands of dollars to visit the President to talk about the community, has been threatened with death for her LGBT support, and has used her voice more than any other popstar of this generation to encourage her fans to speak up and defend equality?

I'm happy any time that homosexuality is portrayed positively in the media. I don't think you can give much props to any one person. The gay rights fight has been gaining ground since Bush left office. Prop 8 was a huge deal and around that time, being pro-gay was the thing. Modern Family aired around that time, which features a gay couple in a major role on a major network.

While homophobia is still rampant, being publically homophobic is worse for careers than being pro-gay. People get fired for homophobia now and get lauded for being pro-gay.

P!nk's been pro-gay since she started. It goes all the way back to when it started. Nobody appeared overnight and changed people's ideas. Like all minorities and oppressed, they become liberated with time. Some artists fight for change while others ride the tide

I thought BTW had no impact whilst other songs were the true equality anthems?

Both Gaga and Macklemore are being highlighted here because their hit songs were explicitly pro-LGBT. It's very on-the-nose and unavoidable, which is why they had such impact and influence. No hiding behind vagueness or metaphors, and the artists themselves are outspokenly positive voices beyond.

Not to say others aren't deserving of praise though, because they certainly are, and many have contributed over time to make being so pro-LGBT possible now in top 40. Gaga and Macklemore are simply two notable artists from the current wave in the movement.

Too bad those songs are really cringeworthy. To me at least.