Rowan Daly
Disruptors
Nurse Blake
Meet one of the artists, disruptors, educators, groundbreakers, innovators, and storytellers who all helped make the world a better place for LGBTQ+ people.
Blake Lynch, known as Nurse Blake to his many fans, blends his passion for care with comedy. The gay nurse from Orlando has a simple mission: make nursing fun and spark laughter. Lynch tours the world hosting nursing conferences and connecting with health-care professionals from all walks of life. Performing at the Sydney Opera House was a particular highlight this year.
Lynch is a survivor of conversion therapy, a traumatic time that is a “driving force” for his activism. “It was a difficult and painful experience that caused a lot of internal conflict and confusion about my identity,” he says. “However, I overcame it by seeking support from friends and allies who accepted me for who I am.”
"Here’s the deal: Love is like a good nursing home — everyone deserves a comfy spot!” Lynch says of his guiding message. “Seriously, whether you're gay, straight, or somewhere in between, we all deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.” What’s next? “Sleep! I’m about to brush my teeth, take my PrEP, and go to bed.” @nurse.blake
Gabriella Angelina
Anonymous
Bernardo SimBernardo Sim is the deputy editor of Out, as well as a writer and content creator. Born in Brazil, he currently lives in South Florida. You can follow him on Instagram at @bernardosim.
Bernardo Sim is the deputy editor of Out, as well as a writer and content creator. Born in Brazil, he currently lives in South Florida. You can follow him on Instagram at @bernardosim.
Bernardo Sim is the deputy editor of Out, as well as a writer and content creator. Born in Brazil, he currently lives in South Florida. You can follow him on Instagram at @bernardosim.
Natalie Wynn
Meet one of the artists, disruptors, educators, groundbreakers, innovators, and storytellers who all helped make the world a better place for LGBTQ+ people.
Anonymous
Known to fans as ContraPoints, Natalie Wynn amassed 1.83 million YouTube subscribers by creating what she says are “video essays about politics and social issues, from online hate movements to the madness of J.K. Rowling.”
The transgender lesbian influencer makes epic, hours-long video essays that approach topics with academic rigor while creating hilarious and profound pieces of media that involve sets, costumes, ambient lighting, and the intellectual threading of philosophy with pop culture. This year, Wynn released a three-hour-long video where she “mapped the intricate depravities of heterosexual fantasy by studying The Twilight Saga.” In six months, the video amassed 4.5 million views.
However, being continually online has its pitfalls. “My biggest obstacle is the mental illness that afflicts anyone with an online reputation,” she says. “The love and the hate are equally dangerous. Narcissism and paranoia go together. The only cure is knowing when to step away.”
Wynn, an essential voice for her generation, wants the world to know that “LGBTQ+ people are just like everybody else, except more gay.” @contrapoints