Billy Porter & queer people fought back against the Trump era in 2018

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Billy Porter & queer people fought back against the Trump era in 2018

SOPHIE, X González, and the original Fab Five cast members of Netflix's Queer Eye reboot also graced our Out100 covers.

As Donald Trump entered his second year as President of the United States in 2018, fighting back against his conservative policies through art and self-expression became an even more prominent focus in the entertainment industry.

The fight against anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric manifested itself at the time through the release of queer-inclusive films and TV shows like Pose, Boy Erased, the Queer Eye reboot, Love, Simon, Killing Eve, Élite, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, Vida, Legacies, and 2018's A Star Is Born, to name a few.

This was also the year when Janelle Monáe released their unapologetically queer album Dirty Computer, Lil Nas X released the original version of his breakout hit "Old Town Road," Cardi B released her debut album Invasion of Privacy, and RuPaul's Drag Race won its first-ever Emmy Award for Outstanding Competition Program. And between Tessa Thompson, Brendon Urie, Kehlani, Lee Pace, Rita Ora, Jason Mraz, Amandla Stenberg, and Lucas Hedges, this was also a busy year for celebrities who came out.

The cover stars of the 2018 Out100 were Billy Porter, SOPHIE, X González, and the original Fab Five cast members of Netflix's Queer Eye reboot.

Out100-slideshow-750x422 OUT100 2018: Generationswww.out.com

A Broadway veteran known for stage productions like Grease and Kinky Boots, Billy Porter's career was elevated to new heights with his role as Pray Tell on Pose — for which he won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2019. Porter was subsequently cast in other TV shows and films such as Prime Video's Cinderella (2021), American Horror Story: Apocalypse, 80 for Brady, and Our Son.

Porter also explored other creative outlets over the years, such as making his directorial debut in the coming-of-age romantic comedy Anything's Possible featuring a trans lead character in 2022 and releasing the studio album Black Mona Lisa in 2023. Over time, Porter also turned legendary looks on the red carpet while attending awards shows, special ceremonies, and fashion events.

Grammy Nominee SOPHIE Was Misgendered on the Red Carpet OUT100: SOPHIE, Artist of the Yearwww.out.com

DJ, music producer, and songwriter SOPHIE maintained a pretty anonymous image of herself for many years, but was featured in the 2018 Out100 after appearing for the first time to the public in the music video for "It's Okay to Cry," which also served as SOPHIE's coming out as a trans woman. Between 2015's Product and 2018's Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides, Sophie's body of work has had a huge influence on pop and electronic music moving forward.

SOPHIE tragically passed away in 2021 at age 34. However, her legacy is very much still alive, with artists like Charli XCX, Sam Smith, St. Vincent, and Kim Petras referencing SOPHIE's work and shouting out her name in both recent and upcoming projects.

Paul Morigi/Getty Images for March For Our Lives

X González was a survivor of the 2018 Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, which is the deadliest high school shooting in U.S. history. González, only 18 at the time, has since become an advocate for gun control and cofounded the Never Again MSD organization that popularized social media tags #NeverAgain and #EnoughIsEnough.

Besides being honored at the 2018 Out100, González was also named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People that same year. In 2021, González disclosed the use of they/them pronouns and updated their name to X González.

With the ongoing rise of conservatism in 2018, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy cocreator and producer David Collins envisioned the idea of a reboot that became the Netflix series Queer Eye featuring an all-new Fab Five cast of experts: Antoni Porowski (food and wine), Bobby Berk (design), Jonathan Van Ness (grooming), Karamo Brown (culture and lifestyle), and Tan France (fashion). All five Queer Eye stars became overnight sensations around the world and were featured on the Out100 list this year.

OUT100: The Cast of Queer Eye, Entertainers of the Yearwww.out.com

In subsequent years, Porowski released two cooking books, launched an acting career, and made appearances on various shows. Berk also became a bona fide television host, released books, and became the first cast member of 2018's Queer Eye to depart the series in 2023 after filming eight seasons. Van Ness, who disclosed they were nonbinary in 2019, has created a multimedia empire consisting of podcasts, books, comedy tours, and product sponsorships.

Brown made several cameos on TV shows, grew his popularity with mainstream audiences, and eventually guest-hosted several episodes of Maury. Eventually, Brown was named the official successor of Maury Povich and landed his own syndicated talk show, Karamo, with NBCUniversal. Last but certainly not least, France has also become a superstar who's gone on to cohost Netflix's competition series Next in Fashion, write a memoir titled Naturally Tan, and even host the reunion of Selling Sunset.

OUT100: The Cast of Queer Eye, Entertainers of the Yearwww.out.com

See All 2023's Most Impactful and Influential LGBTQ+ People

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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.