Waving the Rainbow Flag: Famous Gay & Bisexual Women

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Ma Rainey
Ma Rainey, one of the first blues singers to record, also married a man William “Pa” Rainey when she was 18 years old. The two performed together in minstrel shows. It was while she was traveling, doing shows that she met fellow blues singer Bessie Smith. Rainey served as a mentor for Smith and the two began performing together. It’s rumored they were also together romantically. Whether they were or not it’s hard to refute some of Ma Rainey’s lyrics. For example in “Prove it to Me Blues” the singer says flat out: “I don’t like me no mens.”

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