Actor & heartthrob Jonathan Groff's career reached new heights in 2017

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Actor & heartthrob Jonathan Groff's career reached new heights in 2017

Lena Waithe, Chelsea Manning, and Shayne Oliver were also cover stars for the Out100.

Jonathan Groff, Lena Waithe, Chelsea Manning, and Shayne Oliver were the cover stars of the Out100 in 2017, which was a gigantic year for LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream media despite this being Donald Trump's first year as U.S. President.

Films such as Call Me By Your Name, The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson, and God's Own Country left an indelible mark in pop culture. Moreover, we got shows like Riverdale, GLOW, Star Trek: Discovery, When We Rise, The Handmaid's Tale, Money Heist, Anne With an E, One Day at a Time, 13 Reasons Why, Harlots, and The Bold Type all premiering on TV and featuring queer characters from the very start. Considering the momentum that the conservative movement was experiencing under Trump's presidency, any and all visibility of the LGBTQ+ community was much needed.

OUT100: Jonathan Groff, Entertainer of the Yearwww.out.com

Through his performances in Hamilton, Looking, Frozen, Glee, Spring Awakening, and The Normal Heart, Jonathan Groff's career reached a new peak in 2017 when he was cast to play the lead character of David Fincher's second-ever work on television, Mindhunter. It felt like a significant milestone for Groff to play a male lead who didn't necessarily have his sexuality (whatever it was) be the show's central focus. An out gay actor was cast to play a male protagonist on a big-budget, mainstream TV series — something that out LGBTQ+ actors are still struggling with to this day.

Groff, who came out in 2009, has generally kept a private personal life. But when it came to his work, the actor became unstoppable in the years that followed his inclusion on the 2017 Out100: from Hair to Little Shop of Horrors to Merrily We Roll Along on Broadway; from And Just Like That… to the Spring Awakening: Those You've Known documentary to Doctor Who; and from Frozen II to The Matrix Resurrections to Knock at the Cabin in film. We stan the Groff sauce!

OUT100: Lena Waithe, Artist of the Yearwww.out.com

Lena Waithe was born and raised in Chicago to a family of immigrants from Barbados. Over the years, she earned herself a degree in cinema and television arts from Columbia College Chicago and worked various jobs to become involved in showbiz. Even though Waithe didn't necessarily have to come out to the public as lesbian, she was featured in the 2017 Out100 right as her star was beginning to shine brighter. The following year, she was named one of the 100 Most Influential People by TIME as well.

Besides her standout roles on Master of None, Dear White People, and Westworld, Waithe has somehow found even more success and accolades as a producer and/or writer for projects like The Chi, Queen & Slim, Twenties, Boomerang, Them, and Ain't No Mo'. In fact, Waithe won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing — Comedy Series in 2017 for her work in the eighth episode ("Thanksgiving") of Master of None season 2.

OUT100: Chelsea Manning, Newsmaker of the Year Photography: Roger Erickson

As a United States Army soldier, Chelsea Manning leaked hundreds of thousands of classified and/or sensitive documents via WikiLeaks, which led to her imprisonment in 2013 for violating the Espionage Act. That same year, Manning identified herself as a trans woman in a statement that clearly stated her name, gender, and pronouns. However, due to the crimes she had just been convicted of, certain publications continued to deadname and misgender Manning for some time.

Over the years, LGBTQ+ organizations and outlets advocated for Manning to be identified as a trans woman and for her request to receive gender transition surgery to be granted. Manning was only released from prison when, in 2017, outgoing President Barack Obama commuted her sentence. In the years that followed, Manning was able to continue her gender-affirming care and began a career as a public speaker.

OUT100: Shayne Oliver, Stylemaker of the Year Photography: Roger Erickson

Shayne Oliver entered the Out100 for his work as a New York-based fashion designer and creative director. Most notably, he cofounded the fashion brand Hood By Air in 2006 and became one of the most popular and influential out gay Black designers around the globe.

Oliver took a hiatus from Hood By Air around 2017, but eventually returned in 2020 with a complete relaunch for the company that included none other than Naomi Campbell in its first marketing campaign post-rebranding.

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In 2015, Barack Obama showed us what it truly meant to be an ally

Also honored in the Out100 were Dan Levy, Candis Cayne, Russell Tovey, Roxane Gay, and Cynthia Nixon.

Barack Obama, Ally of the year. When he was sworn into presidency on January 20, 2009, there were only TWO states where same-sex marriage was legal. By the end of the 44th president's second term, same-sex marriage was legal NATIONWIDE. From the historic legalization of same-sex marriage across the nation to the repeal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy in the military, Obama's unwavering commitment to equality continues to resonate. Barack Obama continues his advocacy for equality and is a major supporter of President Joe Biden's campaign.

2015 was a massive, groundbreaking year for the LGBTQ+ community. Same-sex marriage became legal nationwide, progress was finally being made. The power was taken from the states and it forced the ugliest parts of America to see that love is LOVE. Turning over the marriage laws in 13 states, on the day thousands of couples rushed to get married, even in the most conservative towns across the country.

It was also a transformative year for trans visibility, as Laverne Cox was on the cover of TIME and Caitlyn Jenner came out on Vanity Fair's cover. Both making huge leaps for the trans community.

Although it was a year of progress for many, the climate created a lot of tension. In November, the attacks on Paris took the world by storm. A massive attack, with the loss of 103 lives and hundred other civilians wounded. Not too long after the attacks, Donald Trump became a frontrunner in the 2016 presidential election, causing more division in the country.

In 2015, LGBTQ+ media reached new heights of visibility and influence, with groundbreaking moments in television, film, and politics that explored the diversity of LGBTQ+ experiences.

Television saw the rise of trailblazing shows. Transparent, an Amazon Prime series created by Joey Soloway, The show centers around a family's journey after their patriarch comes out as a transgender woman, played by Jeffrey Tambor, won numerous awards, including a Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy. Its portrayal of gender identity and family dynamics resonated with audiences and sparked important conversations about transgender issues.

Orange Is the New Black, the Netflix series that already made waves with its diverse cast and complex characters, continued to shine in 2015. The show featured several LGBTQ+ characters, including the groundbreaking representation of a transgender woman, Sophia Burset, played by Laverne Cox. Cox's performance and visibility furthered the conversation around transgender rights and representation in the media. Shows like Empire, Supergirl, Rosewood, The Royals, and Blindspot also showed incredibly fluid and diverse characters throughout the year.

In films, Carol directed by Todd Haynes stunned audiences with its portrayal of a romantic relationship between two women in the 1950s. Starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, the film received critical acclaim and multiple award nominations, highlighting LGBTQ+ love stories. Also in the film genre, Eddie Redmayne had been nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in The Danish Girl. A biographical film inspired by the life of trans woman Lili Elbe.

Social media also played a pivotal role in LGBTQ+ media in 2015. YouTube and other digital spaces became important platforms for queer voices and stories. Content creators like Tyler Oakley, an out gay YouTuber, continued to grow their audiences, using their platforms to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and share personal experiences. Additionally, the rise of web series such as Her Story, which focused on the lives and loves of trans women, showcased the power of social platforms in promoting underrepresented voices.

In music, out LGBTQ+ artists continued to make cultural contributions. Halsey, a bisexual singer-songwriter, released her debut album Badlands, which received commercial success. Her openness about her sexuality and mental health issues resonated with fans and added to the growing representation of LGBTQ+ individuals in the music industry.

2015 was a year of transformation, change and movements. A year that proved to be tough but also beautiful in many ways. With representation soaring in the press, in the government and in the media.