Lu'kas Porter and His Queer/BIPOC Honky-Tonk Celebrates Country Music Diversity
With bite-sized updates, Lu'kas Porter has featured almost 400 artists in a year of crafting his series Queer/BIPOC Honky-Tonk
Launched in February 2024, Queer/BIPOC Honky Tonk is a groundbreaking daily web series dedicated to shining a spotlight on Queer, BIPOC, Disabled, and Religious Minority artists within the Country, Bluegrass, and Americana music scenes. Hosted by Lu’kas Porter, the series introduces fans to diverse and talented musicians who might otherwise go unnoticed in mainstream country music. The web series is a celebration of intersectional identities and a call to broaden the lens through which country music is viewed.
Each episode is a one-minute deep dive into the life and music of a different artist, with an emphasis on those who are not always in the spotlight but whose contributions to the genre are vital. Whether they’re up-and-coming voices, unsung legends, or artists known for their work in other genres who also dabble in country, each story is unique and important. With frequent appearances by Porter’s “needy cat,” Lupita Meowng’o, Queer/BIPOC Honky Tonk has garnered a following among country music fans eager to celebrate the genre’s diverse talent.
In our interview, Porter explains why the project is so important.
What inspired you to begin this project?
As a queer person with a large and diverse family, intersectionality has always intrigued me. Everyone in my family is a fan of country music, but growing up, I didn’t see my family reflected back to me. The lack of diverse voices in a genre I cherish bothered me. So, I began doing my own research and connected with a wide array of artists from across the globe. So, Queer/BIPOC Honky Tonk just felt like something I’ve been destined to create since I was a child.
Why does working in video appeal to you?
Social media is how everyone gets their information nowadays. Posting daily videos introducing like minded fans who crave fresh perspectives and unique points of view to these artists just seemed like the most direct way to get these artists into people’s ears.
How do you choose whom to feature?
I have networked with hundreds and hundreds of artists who have given me permission to showcase them on one of my posts. Each post is very subjective and only one minute long. A quick bite on someone new. Each artist has either given me direct permission to feature them, or has been kind to me at some point in my life. I use a randomizer app where I’ve uploaded all of their names, and whoever it lands on is who I do a post about.
What's the most exciting aspect of this project? What's the most challenging?
It’s been exciting to find such a wide array of artists who make music under the Umbrella of Country. Over the last year of my posts I have featured artists from no less than 27 countries, proving Country Music is global, so that’s been very exciting. The challenging part comes from the hate I get online for being a face of diversity in Country Music. I’ve received death threats just for promoting artists who don’t conform to the white heteronormative stereotype many fans of country music cling to.
How can people get engaged in the project?
If you’re an artist who is queer, BIPOC, disabled, or a religious minority… I want to feature you. Or, if you know an artist, send me one of their videos and I’ll go engage with them! I post daily on my personal verified Instagram (@lu.kas_porter) and TikTok & YouTube channels (@queerbipochonkytonk)
Anything exciting you want to give us a sneak peek at? ;)
I am encroaching on my 400th post, and I still have hundreds of artists to showcase. From all levels of fame, newbies to icons, and artists who cross genre boundaries to express some country flavor. And my adorable little grey Tuxedo cat Lupita Meowng’o love to pop up ever now and then.
