“Rainbow Superpowers,” a new kids’ song written, recorded, and mixed by queer and non-binary artists and activists in the family music community, is an expression of pure queer joy! Listen and watch the video here!
The song is a collaboration between Austin-based family music band Strawbitty Yops and leading children’s music artists Julie Be (from Ants on a Log, whom I’ve written about before), Lavender Blues, Carrie Ferguson (The Grumpytime Club), and Jam Phelps.
Co-writer Cindy Haws of the Strawbitty Yops explained in a press statement, “We wanted to join together in community to send positive messaging and affirmations to children and anyone identifying on the LGBTQIA spectrum.”
Haws’s 5-year-old, Theo, who is “very into rainbows,” inspired the song by coming up with its name, Haws said. This motivated Haws and bandmate Woody Hill to think about “what kinds of superpowers every kid has, and what kinds of strengths they can identify in themselves.”
Hill explained, “Being exactly who you are in this world and finding community to celebrate that uniqueness with IS a superpower, and we wanted to spread that message to the world.”
Haws and Hill have been queer artists and activists for many years, performing together as musicians and as drag kings. “We’ve done activism through performance for many years,” says Haws, “so it makes sense for us to want to put something out into the world that is affirming, especially for young people who might be questioning their sexuality or gender identity.”
Cindy’s grown daughter Autumn Haws is also a member of the band.
There’s definitely some drag flair in the video—and it looks like the Yops and their guests had a ton of fun making it! Watch it below, and listen to it on Spotify and Apple Music:
This single is the first song from the Strawbitty Yops’s upcoming album What Does Love Look Like?, out August 15th.
Also catch the Strawbitty Yops, Ants on a Log, Alphabet Rockers, BenAnna Band, Laser the Boy, and other artists at the Queer Kid Stuff Pride-a-Palooza virtual event on June 28, 2023!