Troye Sivan’s 'Heaven' Is a Call to Arms For LGBTQ Youth

Troye Sivan released his powerful music video for “Heaven,” the artist’s latest single off his excellent 2015 debut album, Blue Neighborhood.

“Heaven,” also features the vocals of pop artist Betty Who, who's soaring, sweeping anthem that tells Sivan’s personal story of grappling with the confusion many gay youth experience when coming out, especially due to religious beliefs.

“Without losing a piece of me / How do I get to heaven? / Without changing a part of me / How do I get to heaven?” Sivan sings, his voice equal parts pained and empowered.

The video also pays homage to the LGBTQ movements and accomplishments that have come before him, from iconic activist Harvey Milk to various protests and same sex nuptials, drawing a link between Sivan’s personal experience as a young gay man and the broader experience of the queer community throughout modern history—a time-relevant topic, considering the upcoming inauguration of a man whose VP has been known to spew homophobic rhetoric and promotes anti-LGBT legislation.
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“We have always been here. We will always be here,” Sivan said about the video on his YouTube account. “This video is dedicated to all who’ve come before me and fought for our cause and those who now continue the fight. In dark and light times, let’s love forever.”
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On Twitter, he referred to the track as “the most important song I’ve [ever] made.” And truly, that may be the case.