'You should be heard': Why Tegan and Sara fuse music with activism

Calgary-born indie pop duo Tegan and Sara havehad a transformative 20-year music career, opening for superstars such as Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, taking the stage at major festivals like Coachellaand Bonaroo and performing at the 2015Academy Awards.

As the latestrecipients of the prestigious Governor General's Performing Arts Award, the identical twins, 37,say the past decades have offered a "front-row seat" to something even more powerful than being part of the music industry alone.

• Meet the Canadians taking home the country's highest award in performing arts

"When we started out in the late '90s, there was still rampant sexism and homophobia in the press that covered us,"TeganQuin, 37, told CBC hostRosemary Barton during aninterview in Ottawa that aired Sunday on The National.

The openly gaymusicians, who began recording in high school but wouldn't gain mainstream success until years later with songs like Walking with a Ghost (2004) and Closer (2013), point to a positive evolution when it comes to how their sexual orientation has been perceived.

All through junior high, Sara and I are wearing 'No means no'shirts.- TeganQuin, on the duo's early activism

Tegan and Sara receive Governor General's Performing Arts Award

6 years ago

Duration 3:46

Calgary-born indie pop duo Tegan and Sara accept the prestigious award at an official ceremony in Ottawa

"Before, it was sort of defensive," said Sara Quin. "We were explaining ourselves to people. Now we feel like we are expressing something about our identity that we're really proud of. And the social recognition and acceptance, it feels much more broad now."

• Tegan and Sara: 'Not a lot of bands make it to 8 records'

The Juno-winning sisterscredit asupportive family, including an open-minded and politically active mother. Their own ideaswere shaped, they say, whenthey joined her for women's marches as teens and became aware of her workat a sexual assault centre.

"I was looking for pictures of us, and all through junior high, Sara and I are wearing 'No means no'shirts," said Tegan.

"I think we saw that you should be heard. You should stand up for people. Stand up for yourself," said Sara.

'We thought our mom was so cool': Tegan and Sara on their mother's influence and activism

6 years ago

Duration 2:35

Pop duo Tegan and Sara discuss how their mother introduced them to ideas like anti-racism, anti-homophobia and feminism at a young age

The Calgary-born twins have since created a namesake foundation to help raise awareness and money for non-profit organizations working withLGBT communities, particularly girls and women. They say the current political climate in the U.S. has given them greater purpose.

"In the time that's passed since (the election), we're definitely motivated and hyper vigilant to make sure that we're giving back and doing as much as we possibly can to support the communities that are under attack," said Tegan."Specifically, obviously, women and LGBTQ people. Those are communities that we've really focused on."

"We know that we have access and a platform," said Sara.

Tegan and Sara's positive, empowering message to LGBTQ youth

6 years ago

Duration 1:30

The Tegan and Sara Foundation helps raise awareness and money for non-profit organizations working with LGBT communities, particularly LGBTQ girls and women

More from CBC

- WATCH: Rosemary Barton's interview with Teganand Sarafrom The National:

Tegan and Sara combine music and activism

6 years ago

Duration 10:39

Indie pop duo Tegan and Sara sit down with Rosemary Barton to discuss combining music and activism