Music

Harry Styles nominated alongside Sam Smith and Lil Nas X for LGBT+ award

Harry Styles smirks in a lace shirt.

Harry Styles at the 2019 Met Gala in New York. (Theo Wargo/WireImage)

Harry Styles has made the shortlist for the British LGBT Awards 2021 music artist category, joining JoJo Siwa, Lil Nas X and Sam Smith.

The awards ceremony, which spotlights LGBT+ role models, allies and queer rights organisations, has been running since 2015 and will take place this year on 27 August.

In its shortlist, the British LGBT Awards said of Styles: “While Harry Styles may have begun his career through One Direction, he has since skyrocketed to another level of celebrity through his work in the fashion industry and his solo music career.

“His unapologetic approach to gender-fluid fashion and his frequent references to inclusivity in the music industry has marked him out as an icon for young queer generations.

“Styles also branched out into the film industry. His most recent role will see him play a gay police officer in period drama, My Policeman.“

Styles, who has been an outspoken advocate for the queer community, has never publicly defined his sexuality. 

In an interview with The Guardian in 2019, the musician explained: “Am I sprinkling in nuggets of sexual ambiguity to try and be more interesting? No.

“In terms of how I wanna dress, and what the album sleeve’s gonna be, I tend to make decisions in terms of collaborators I want to work with.

“I want things to look a certain way. Not because it makes me look gay, or it makes me look straight, or it makes me look bisexual, but because I think it looks cool.

“And more than that, I dunno, I just think sexuality’s something that’s fun. Honestly? I can’t say I’ve given it any more thought than that.”

He added: “It’s not like I’m sitting on an answer, and protecting it, and holding it back.

“It’s not a case of: I’m not telling you cos I don’t want to tell you. It’s not: ‘Ooh this is mine and it’s not yours.’

“It’s: ‘Who cares?’ Does that make sense?

“It’s just: ‘Who cares?'”

Fans, however, were thrilled that Styles was nominated as an LGBT+ artist rather than an ally, with one writing on Twitter: “Harry Styles being shortlisted for the British LGBT Awards makes my queer heart so warm.”

https://twitter.com/copyofafineIine/status/1384238604214358021

 

Another wrote: “Harry isn’t in the ally category he’s in the LGBT+ artist category, I’M SO PROUD OF HIM.”

Other shortlisted stars include Elliot Page, Cara Delevingne, Tan France, Gillian Anderson and Demi Lovato for celebrity of the year, and Michelle Visage, Jane Fonda and Jodie Comer in the ally category.

According to Metro, Sarah Garrett, British LGBT Awards founder, said in a statement: “These awards shine a light on those who have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the LGBT+ community, during what has been an extremely challenging 12 months.

“The nominees, which include an exciting mix of famous LGBT+ faces, allies and organisations have all demonstrated a commitment to advancing LGBT+ rights.

“The awards on 27 August, which will take place after lockdown restrictions are eased, will be a huge celebration that’s needed more than ever.”

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