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Beyoncé Kicks Off Renaissance World Tour With One of Her Queerest Shows Yet
Beyoncé Kicks Off Renaissance World Tour With One of Her Queerest Shows Yet
The Beyhive is abuzz following the tour's opening night in Sweden.
Beyoncé kicked off her Renaissance World Tour in Stockholm, Sweden, on Wednesday and fans are buzzing over just how queer the show was.
The tour — which gets its name from Beyoncé's seventh studio album, Renaissance —is set to hit 57 arenas around the world, meaning stans from across the globe will have to chance to see the pop legend perform for the first time since 2018.
The album was heavily influenced by the Black queer origins of house music.
Opening night attendees shared updates from Stockholm, and before the show even began there were signs that Beyoncé's heart is with her LGBTQ+ supporters. Some of the first fans who entered the stadium were met with a massive widescreen image of the Progress Pride Flag backing the stage, leading to dozens of social media posts celebrating Beyoncé's commitment to pride.
\u201cBEYONC\u00c9 INCORPORATING THE PROGRESS PRIDE FLAG INTO HER STAGE IS A NEW LEVEL OF MOTHERING WOAH\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\ude2d\u201d— \ud835\uddf1\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude06\ud83e\udee7\ud83d\udc9a (@\ud835\uddf1\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddfb\ud835\uddfb\ud835\ude06\ud83e\udee7\ud83d\udc9a) 1683730790
Also of note were the concert's gender-neutral bathrooms, which were indicated by Renaissance World Tour signage. One Twitter user noted that Florida's trans bathroom ban will be in effect when Beyoncé's tour stops at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on August 16, meaning she could face heat for designating bathrooms as gender-neutral in that state. "Beyoncé' vs DeSantis is a fight I'm here for," the user wrote.
\u201cBeyonce vs DeSantis is a fight I'm here for.\n\nFlorida's new trans bathroom ban would be in effect during Beyonce's August 16th tour stop at Raymond James in Tampa, FL. The stadium is government owned and subject to the trans bathroom ban, HB 1521.\u201d— Alejandra Caraballo (@Alejandra Caraballo) 1683758642
When the concert proper began and Beyoncé launched into her sprawling, 36-song setlist, the queer love continued. At one point, the star hosted a dazzling onstage ball, again winning praise from queer fans on social media. "Beyoncé was quintessential to my childhood as a queer child and to see her celebrate queerness LOUDLY is just amazing," one supporter tweeted in response.
She also hired noteworthy LGBTQ+ talent for her tour cast, including ballroom dancer Honey Balenciaga and New Orleans legend Big Freedia.
Though at least one fan wondered if the Renaissance tour would be as queer as the album — which Beyoncé dedicated to her late, gay uncle — this opening night show should put any concerns on that front to rest.
Beyoncé will perform again in Stockholm before traveling to France, the Netherlands, and beyond. The Renaissance World Tour will conclude on September 27 in New Orleans.
