Troye Sivan, born Troye Sivan Mellet, emerged as a significant figure in the techno-pop world. His 2015 debut album “Blue Neighborhood” took listeners by storm and bore the torch for the diverse community of LGBTQ indie and EDM pop lovers. 

Sivan gained early recognition as a YouTuber before transitioning to music with his debut EP “TRXYE,” which debuted at No. 1 in over 50 countries in 2014. Sivan’s musical stylings combine personal storytelling with EDM, pop, indie and R&B influences. 

In recent months, Sivan and his longtime friend and fellow artist Charli XCX embarked on their collaborative “Sweat” tour. The duo sold out arenas in the U.S. and Canada on their North American tour after XCX’s July release of her ultra-popular album “Brat,” which Sivan is featured on. 

Before fame, Troye Sivan grew up in an Orthodox Jewish household and was raised by his Jewish father and convert mother. Sivan’s grandmother was a Holocaust survivor who escaped Nazi persecution and fled to Johannesburg, South Africa. Born in Johannesburg in 1995, Troye and his family relocated to Perth, Australia, where he grew up attending a modern Orthodox day school. 

Though he does not consider himself to be religious, Sivan has expressed his pride in his Jewish identity in the past. 

“I don’t believe in God, for example, personally, but I feel extremely Jewish in my culture. It’s the way I grew up,” Sivan told IndieWire in 2022. “I think I would love to do Shabbat with my kids one day. There’s a lot that’s really important to me. I wanted to show that it’s nuanced.” Sivan also stated he “got really lucky” to find Orthodox Jews who accepted his gay identity. 

In 2023, Sivan released his iconic song, “One Of Your Girls.” The music video featured Sivan in drag, transformed into a stunning pop diva. 

Sivan explained that the song was about being an openly gay man who is the object of a straight man’s affection. The music video embodies this unique experience through themes of desire and identity. One major detail in the music video was that Sivan wore a Magen David necklace in and out of drag, an accessory that could easily be overlooked, but one that was significant to Jewish fans. Sivan defied gender norms and broke the boundaries of religion within the music industry.

The Magen David, or Star of David, is a religious symbol that commonly identifies Jews to one another. It signifies both a religious image and community. 

The overwhelmingly prideful reaction to having Sivan’s Jewish representation is a reminder of the love and support that the tribe of the Jewish people symbolize. It isn’t often that you see mainstream Jewish musicians incorporate Judaica into their art. This was an extremely monumental moment for the Jewish community – a gay Jewish singer with millions of fans around the world representing their community. 

But why is it so significant that Sivan wore a Magen David in a video that explores the gay experience? 

The intersection of Judaism and queerness is significant to LGBTQ Jews because it embodies the uniqueness of their experiences and identities. Embracing both Jewishness and queerness can highlight the diversity and shared resilience in the histories of two communities. Just as it is important to share Jewish history and pride, it’s important to share pride in queer history as well. When artists incorporate an element of relatability, in this case for queer Jews, they can touch the hearts of their audiences. 

Highlighting queer Jews in pop culture, particularly Jews who are vocally proud about their heritage and religion, is crucial today with antisemitism on the rise. Having Jewish figures in the popular media serves as a reminder that we’re not going anywhere. 

Turning the spotlight on unique experiences within the Jewish community is also integral to the foundations of who the Jewish people are. The Torah teaches to love your neighbor as you love yourself, and so we must embrace all Jewish people. 

Having an openly gay Jewish man headlining an extremely successful tour represents steps towards visibility and inclusivity in both the LGBTQ and Jewish communities, especially for individuals whose identities intersect. Sivan’s presence in the mainstream music industry challenges antisemitism and creates a culture that celebrates gay and Jewish identities simultaneously.