Daniel Prakopcyk
Artists
Katy O'Brian
Meet some of the artists, disruptors, educators, groundbreakers, innovators, and storytellers who all helped make the world a better place for LGBTQ+ people.
Before her starring role in this year’s Love Lies Bleeding, Katy O’Brian, 35, acted in many beloved superhero and sci-fi productions, including The Mandalorian, Westworld, and Ant-Man and the Wasp. Clearly, she had the superpowers needed to carry (on her very strong shoulders!) the hit romantic thriller alongside Kristen Stewart.
O’Brian auditioned six times for the new queer classic. Yet it seems as though the role of the driven strongwoman Jackie was written specifically for her. But the real-life bodybuilder needed more than physical strength to get through the challenges of 2024.
“I lost a dear family member unexpectedly, totaled my car, and I had to have surgery…it seemed like one disaster after another,” O’Brian shares. What helped her cope? She and wife Kylie Chi set aside time for mindfulness exercises to “refresh a positive mindset.” The queer star is seeing fruitful dividends ahead: She has upcoming roles in Mission Impossible 8 and the zombie movie Queens of the Dead, with more projects to be announced soon. @thekatyo
Stacey Yvonne
Stacey Yvonne is a critic and entertainment journalist who can be found in Los Angeles eating snacks at events. She loves to uplift the LGBTQIA+ community and specifically highlight Black and female members. She can be found at SYvonneCreative.com
Stacey Yvonne is a critic and entertainment journalist who can be found in Los Angeles eating snacks at events. She loves to uplift the LGBTQIA+ community and specifically highlight Black and female members. She can be found at SYvonneCreative.com
Ramon Rivas
Maleah Joi Moon
Meet some of the artists, disruptors, educators, groundbreakers, innovators, and storytellers who all helped make the world a better place for LGBTQ+ people.
Ramon Rivas
Maleah Joi Moon lived her dream in 2024, making her Broadway debut in the Alicia Keys musical Hell’s Kitchen, for which she won a Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical. Her Broadway bow is the accomplishment she’s most proud of for the year, calling it an “absolute dream come true.”
“Impostor syndrome” is the biggest obstacle she’s faced, says Moon, who uses she/they pronouns. “I am my own worst enemy,” they say. “But honestly, my truth is that it doesn’t really go away — which is OK! With every new day and every show, I’m given the opportunity to overcome my doubts and insecurities as a performer by staying grounded in the truth.”
“I’m a storyteller!” she adds. “I go onstage every night with the goal of getting a message across to the audience in hopes that they’ll leave the theater having felt something.” On LGBTQ+ equality, Moon’s message is: “Life is short, time is precious. Love who you love and love them entirely.” @maleahjoimoon