Melissa Etheridge on how 'my queerness protected me' in a music scene unforgiving to women

Melissa Etheridge has enjoyed a long and storied career as a rock and roll trailblazer, but she doesn't think her success comes in spite of her queerness — in fact, the icon recently said that she's instead gotten through some situations because of it.

In honor of International Women's Day on March 8, Tunecore released its fourth annual Be The Change: Gender Equity In Music Report, shining a light on the challenges facing women and nonbinary people in the industry, due in part to a lack of representation at all levels.

The report includes a forward written by Etheridge, who opened up about the discrimination she's faced as a queer woman throughout her career. While it hasn't been easy, there were times in her life where Etheridge said she felt she benefited from being queer.

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While her LGBTQ+ identity sometimes served to alienate her, Etheridge said she feels that it also shielded her from much of the harassment faced by straight women. In a way, she noted "what was the hardest for me was also a blessing."

https://www.yahoo.com/news/melissa-etheridge-queerness-protected-music-174840187.html