Following the heartbreaking passing of Jill Sobule on Thursday, the president and CEO of GLAAD issued a statement commemorating the pioneering singer/songwriter.
“Jill was not only a pioneer in the music scene—she represented a light for queer artists, and I feel tremendously fortunate to have been her close friend,” Sarah Kate Ellis shared on Friday morning (May 2). “Long before it was considered safe or mainstream, Jill was composing and performing pieces about sexuality and identity with unfiltered honesty and humor.
“At a moment when expressing such truths could have jeopardized everything for her, she opted for authenticity,” Ellis went on. “That bravery helped open doors for today’s performers like Brandi Carlile, Tegan and Sara, Lil Nas X, Sam Smith, Adam Lambert, and many more who now express their truths proudly in their music.”
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After highlighting Sobule’s Drama Desk-nominated musical F*ck 7th Grade, the GLAAD leader wrapped up with, “Jill was an extraordinary presence—humorous, brave, and compassionate. Her influence will persist through her art and all those she inspired. Rest in power, Jill. You are deeply cherished.”
Sobule passed away in a house fire in Minnesota at the age of 66. The folk-pop artist was the first to reach the top 20 of a Billboard chart with a song explicitly about gay themes when her 1995 hit “I Kissed a Girl” reached No. 20 on what is now the Alternative Airplay chart. She was also recognized for her single “Supermodel,” which appeared on the Clueless soundtrack.
View GLAAD’s social media tribute honoring Sobule’s life and contributions here.
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
