Chaka Khan Challenges Assumptions About Her Sexuality, But This Isn’t Her First Time!

Chaka Khan has had it with your labels. The ten-time Grammy Award-winning “Queen of Funk” called out a reporter who labeled her a “straight icon for queer visibility.”

In the interview done last week with Patrick Smith for the British publication Observer, Khan hit back, questioning the label: “A straight icon? What’s the straight part?” Khan replied. “What do you mean—straight in what way?”

In response, Smith clarified that “straight” meant “heterosexual.” Khan then further responded, saying, “Am I? How do you know what the f**k I am? I don’t ever share that part of my life. That’s nobody’s business but mine.” She went on to emphasize her inclusivity, saying, “I am for everybody. I don’t care what you sleep with at night. If your heart is in the right place, that’s all I care about.”

This isn’t the first time Khan has spoken openly about her sexuality. In a 2007 radio interview with Wendy Williams, she acknowledged having same-sex relationships earlier in her career, saying, “All little girls and all little boys experiment.” Khan also reflected on her lifelong effort to unlearn the Catholic repression she experienced growing up, describing sex as “not a real big thing” for her.

She added, “If men could be more like women, I would definitely be more interested in them,” explaining that she felt many men denied their feminine side. For Khan, there was something deeply beautiful about a man who could embrace that side of himself and understand a woman because “he feels it

While Khan may not want to divulge the details of her same-sex relationships these days, one thing is clear: she is an icon to many queer people. Her 1978 hit “I’m Every Woman” has long been a favorite within the LGBTQ+ community, embraced as an empowering anthem celebrating confidence, self-expression, and inclusivity.

In 2025, Billboard ranked it No. 12 on its list of “The 100 Greatest LGBTQ+ Anthems of All Time.” The publication noted that, despite Khan’s original rendition often being overshadowed by Whitney Houston’s 1993 cover, it has stood the test of time, distinguished by its “exuberant string intro” and “funkiest disco beats.”

In addition to being a mainstay in many LGBTQ+ playlists, Khan has stood firm in her allyship towards the community.

In a 2013 interview with GoPride Chicago, Khan spoke about her longstanding relationship with the LGBTQ+ community, saying, “I find my gay and lesbian followers to be the most un-fickle of all my followers. I tell you, when times got a little rough, when I had any rough spots, I could always do some track dates at some gay clubs [laughs].”

She continued, reflecting on her bond with her LGBTQ+ fans: “I don’t know exactly what my appeal is; maybe it’s the butch in me, I don’t know. I know I’m kind of butchy. That’s cool. I love it. I truly embrace that part of myself.” She added, “Whatever it is, I’m not the kind of person to look gift horses in the mouth. I take it, embrace it, love it, nurture it.”

In 2019, while speaking with GLAAD at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, Khan once again championed the LGBTQ+ community. When asked what message she would send to her LGBTQ+ fanbase, she simply said, “Be your damn self. Just be yourself. What else can I say?”

When asked why being an ally to the community is important to her, she said, “It’s important for everybody to love everybody in all honesty. People who are tripping about something someone else is doing is because they have a problem.

Khan finished the interview by revealing that, without her LGBTQ+ fanbase, she wouldn’t be where she is today, calling them “the most faithful audience that I have ever had.”

These days, Khan is gearing up for the release of her thirteenth studio album, “Chakzilla,” scheduled for September 18, 2026.

In addition to releasing a fresh set of tunes, Khan has also been the subject of the 2026 jukebox musical I’m Every Woman – The Chaka Khan Musical, which premiered at London’s Hackney Empire with The X Factor UK alum Alexandra Burke starring as Khan.