Rapper Säye Skye on music as LGBTQ activism around the world

By Xtra Video • March 3, 2020 2:27 pm EDT

“My genre of music is a mix of electronic futuristic sounds topped with Persian rap.” Forced to leave Iran, Toronto-based rapper Säye Skye sought asylum in Turkey before moving to Canada. Skye talks to Xtra about how his music is helping to raise awareness about LGBTQ issues in Iran and around the world. “Yes, we do have queers in Iran,” Skye says. “This is happening right now—this is the movement.”

Listen to songs by Säye Skye here, plus more tracks from other Xtra featured artists like Jordan Alexander, Ché, Sydanie and more.

Read More About:

Video, Inspired

Keep Reading

Actors Ian McKellen and James Laurenson in 'Edward II', which featured the first gay kiss on British television

We've Been Here

The history of the first gay kiss on British TV

In 1970, Sir Ian McKellen and James Laurenson made history with a kiss in a filmed production of “Edward II”

Censorship

FCC explores adding warning labels for trans content on TV

The U.S. government agency is taking comments on whether television ratings should be updated to signal “controversial gender identity issues”

On the left, Jason Collins on the cover of Sports Illustrated coming out as gay. On the right, a photo of Collins playing for the Brooklyn Nets.

We've Been Here

Remembering Jason Collins, the gay NBA player who changed the game

The late trailblazer made history when he came out in 2013

Senior Director for Counterterrorism Sebastian Gorka speaks during the Semafor World Economy Summit.

Politics

U.S. counterterrorism strategy takes aim at ‘pro-transgender’ groups

The Trump administration’s updated counterterrorism strategy targets “left-wing extremists” and groups who are “radically pro-transgender”