Every year, the JUNO Awards bring the spotlight, but it’s the artists who decide what to do with it. This Pride Month, we’re shining a light on the moments that brought queer visibility to the JUNO stage. From standout performances to powerful acceptance speeches, these are the artists who’ve used their moment to inspire, represent, and amplify.
Toronto-based comedian Kyle Brownrigg has spent years carving out a space for himself in Canada’s comedy scene. Known for his sarcastic humour and observational wit, Brownrigg won the 2024 JUNO Award for Comedy Album of the Year Presented by SiriusXM for his album A Lylebility.
During his acceptance speech, Brownrigg reflected on how rare it is for gay men to be recognized in stand-up comedy and what the win meant to his younger self, someone who once felt there was no place for him at the comedy table. “Tonight,” he said proudly, “I get to sit at the head of it.”
Charlotte Day Wilson has long been a staple of Canada’s R&B and soul scene. Her work often explores themes of love, longing, and identity, but in recent years, she’s embraced an even deeper level of personal authenticity in her songwriting.
At the 2022 JUNO Songwriters’ Circle, Wilson opened up about writing “Take Care”, one of the first songs where she explicitly referenced her lesbian identity. For years, she had toned down her lyrics, worried about outing herself or pushing listeners away. But with “Take Care,” she made a deliberate choice: “I’m just gonna write the song that I want to write about who I want to write it about.”
As the frontwoman of Rough Trade, Carole Pope brought queer sexuality unapologetically to the forefront in the early ’80s, pairing raw, provocative lyrics with a defiant onstage presence that challenged norms and pushed mainstream boundaries.
At The 1982 JUNO Awards, Pope made headlines during a now-iconic performance of “High School Confidential”, a song that openly explores lesbian desire. When asked to tone it down, Pope did the opposite. She leaned in, delivering a crotch grab during the lyric “she makes me cream in my jeans,” cementing the moment as one of the most unforgettable in JUNO history.
In 2019, Ali Eisner took home the JUNO Award for Video of the Year at the JUNO Opening Night Awards for their direction on Bahamas’ “No Depression”, a music video that pairs whimsy with a candid exploration of mental health.
Eisner, who is trans, used their acceptance speech to highlight the importance of visibility and self-acceptance: “This is a super awesome treat for a small trans person like myself.” Wearing a bold “Crystal Queer” t-shirt, Eisner made a point of pausing mid-speech to show it off, holding their jacket open with a proud smile.
Few Canadian artists have done more for LGBTQ+ visibility than Tegan and Sara. In 2024, Tegan and Sara received the Humanitarian Award at the JUNO Awards, honouring their work supporting LGBTQ+ youth through the Tegan and Sara Foundation.
Presented by longtime friend and actor Elliot Page, the moment was a celebration of progress, but also a reminder that the work isn’t done. Their speech acknowledged the strides made for queer rights over the years while urging continued action and solidarity. The two closed their speech with a playful affirmation of their identities and an invitation for everyone to embrace who they are: “We love being gay…try it out.”
If there’s one thing The Beaches don’t do, it’s play it safe. The Toronto-based group has built a loyal following with their sharp lyrics, unapologetic attitude, and a clear sense of who they are both as musicians and as individuals.
During their performance at the 2024 JUNO Awards broadcast, bandmates Kylie Miller and Leandra Earl shared a quick onstage kiss, a playful blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment that still managed to resonate. Rather than turning queerness into a declaration, The Beaches let it exist casually, confidently, and without explanation for millions to see.
Few Canadian artists are as revered, or as fearless, as Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee k.d. lang. A trailblazer for queer visibility, lang came out publicly in the early ’90s, defying industry norms and cultural expectations at a time when such openness was still rare.
When she was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, lang used the moment to send a powerful message about self-acceptance. In front of a national audience, she reminded Canadians that individuality isn’t just something to tolerate, it’s something to celebrate: “It is OK to let your freak flags fly and embrace the quirkmeister that’s inside of all of us.”
