Freddie Mercury is one of LGBTQ+ history's most iconic names.
In 1970, three years after the UK decriminalized homosexual acts, he joined a band with Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon.
Fast-forward another three years and that group would go on to enter the British charts for the first time before one day officially cementing their status as music royalty in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
That band was of course Queen, who owes much of its success, including its name, to the king that is Freddie Mercury.
While the Queen frontman was never openly out, his sexuality was the subject of much speculation, which he himself fanned time and time again throughout his lifetime.
Some of the most memorable examples of Mercury's fearless expression of his queerness include dressing in drag for Queen's 'I Want To Break Free' music video.
Then, of course, there were the many times that he literally wore the colors of the rainbow.
He also once reportedly secretly took Princess Diana to a gay bar in London. Comedian Cleo Roberts claims that she, fellow comic Kenny Everett, and Mercury managed to the royal into the Royal Vauxhall Tavern back in 1988 – an adventure they were inspired to take after watching an episode of The Golden Girls together. As per GQ, the trio dressed Diana up in drag and nobody was any the wiser.
Mercury also pushed the boundaries of gender, frequently wearing androgynous clothing. One of the most famous examples being when he wore a customized wedding dress to open a concert in 1975.
Meanwhile, 'Bohemian Rhapsody', which is arguably Queen's most iconic song, has been interpreted as his way of coming out.
In an essay for Pitchfork, comedian Guy Branum noted that the song begins with the speaker asking if what they are experiencing is real life or fantasy, it then goes on to describe their sexual desires before ultimately saying that there is "no escape" from them.
Songwriter Tim Rice echoed these claims, per Pink News, claiming that the line "Mama, [I] just killed a man" refers to Mercury killing off his old, inauthentic self, and "Put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger, now he's dead" is a reference to him embracing his true sexuality.
As per Pink News, when a New Musical Express reporter asked the singer in December 1974: "So, how about being bent?"
Mercury joked back: "You're a crafty cow. Let's put it this way: there were times when I was young and green. It's a thing schoolboys go through. I've had my share of schoolboy pranks. I'm not going to elaborate further."
Mercury was subsequently described by the British tabloid The Sun a "bisexual rock star" in 1986, who had "confessed to a string of one-night gay sex affairs."
However, Mercury was famously engaged to a woman called Mary Austin – whom he described as his common-law wife despite never actually being married. The former couple dated from 1970 to 1976.
In a 1985 interview, the singer said: "All my lovers asked me why they couldn't replace Mary, but it's simply impossible. The only friend I've got is Mary, and I don't want anybody else. To me, she was my common-law wife. To me, it was a marriage. We believe in each other, that's enough for me."
Freddie and Mary are pictured below at a bar in the 1980s.
Throughout his life, Mercury kept his reported relationships with men a secret from his parents. He even allegedly told his mother and father that one of his alleged male lovers who lived at his London home was actually just the gardener.
It's believed he never told his parents out of fear they would disapprove. As per Biography.com, Mercury's parents practiced Zoroastrianism, which regards homosexuality as a form of "demon worship".
However, while there has always been intense speculation over his sexuality, Mercury is adored around the world for his incredible contribution to music. Some of his biggest hits with Queen include 'Bohemian Rhapsody', 'We Will Rock You' and 'Under Pressure'.
After parting ways with Queen, he also went on to enjoy a successful solo career. In 1988, he collaborated with Spanish soprano vocalist Montserrat Caballé on the album Barcelona. Although it was described as "the most bizarre CD of the year", the record was a commercial success.
One of Mercury's most memorable live performances was at the Live Aid concert in 1985. Despite feeling ill at the time and being advised not to sing, he did so anyway. It is now recognized as one of the most iconic performances of the 20th century.
The frontman's life, however, was tragically cut short by HIV, which developed into AIDS.
Mercury was first diagnosed with the disease back in 1987, but he only confirmed that he had the illness a day before his death in 1991.
In a statement announcing his death at the time, the Guardian wrote that the singer had become a "virtual recluse" in the last two years of his life as he battled the disease.
A brief statement announcing his death was issued by Mercury's publicist, Roxy Meades, which said: "Freddie Mercury died peacefully at his home. His death was the result of bronchio-pneumonia, brought on by AIDS."
Mercury's death sent shockwaves throughout the world and prompted one of the biggest fundraising events ever held for AIDS a year after his death: The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for Aids Awareness.
As per Rolling Stone, the funds raised at the 1992 concert helped to found the Mercury Phoenix Trust, which has donated over $20 million to assist in the ongoing fight against AIDS in 57 countries around the world.
Ultimately, while Mercury was never out, his free expression of his sexuality was no doubt an inspiration to many at the time, and he is remembered by LGBTQ+ history as one of its brightest stars.
As John Marshall of Gay Times opined in 1992: "[Mercury] was a 'scene-queen,' not afraid to publicly express his gayness, but unwilling to analyze or justify his 'lifestyle' […] It was as if Freddie Mercury was saying to the world, 'I am what I am. So what?' And that in itself for some was a statement."
Freddie Mercury is important to LGTBQ+ History because he became a household name for his talent, he has left a lasting legacy - not only as a queer man who raised the profile and existence of queer performers, but also as one of the most prominent figures who passed away from AIDS.
Despite not being hugely open about his sexuality during his lifetime (likely due to the climate of the time) his flamboyance on stage and in his music means he will remain one of the brightest stars of the LGBTQ+ community.
LGBTQ+ History Month – to fully understand the present, we must educate ourselves on the past.
