See All the Names From the 2021 Out100 List Here

This is the 27th Annual Out100.

The Out100 is the longest standing large scale portfolio recognizing members of the LGBTQ+ community for their groundbreaking, ripple-inducing, and culture-shifting impact on the world.

This year's honorees include the Storytellers, Groundbreakers, Disruptors, Artists, Educators, and Innovators who in their local communities or on the world stage made us proud this year. It honors and recognizes not only their accomplishments, but the internal fortitude it took to make them.

Cassandra Peterson, aka Elvira

Read Cassandra Peterson's full cover story.

Symone

Read Symone's full cover feature here.

Sara Ramirez

Read Sara Ramirez's full cover feature here.

Law Roach

Read Law Roach's full cover feature.

Ariana deBose

Read Ariana deBose's cover feature.

Jared Polis

Read Jared Polis's cover feature here.

Elliot Page

Read Elliot Page's feature here.

'We're Here' Cast: Shangela, Eureka, and Bob the Drag Queen

HBO's reality drag series We're Here, created by Stephen Warren and Johnnie Ingram, may have been groundbreaking and GLAAD Award-winning, but not even it was impervious to the effects of the ongoing global pandemic. And while the first season got off to an inspiring start, the future of the show was almost up in the air after production halted when most of the world went into lockdown.

Luckily, the folks at HBO and the show's queens -- Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O'Hara, and Shangela -- were able to roll with the punches and come back for a bigger, even more heartfelt second season of the show, which sees the drag legends traveling to conservative pockets of small-town America to help LGBTQ+ folks find community and love where they least expect it.

"I think that we all had some pretty big obstacles," Bob says of the challenges that she has experienced this year as a continued result of the pandemic. "2021 is kind of an extension of 2020, and I think that reconnecting, getting back in the world, and overcoming our global trauma surrounding the coronavirus" were high priorities.

"My dreams have continued to come true this year: being able to showcase myself on All Stars [season] 6 of RuPaul's Drag Race, and the new season of American Horror Story: Double Feature, and wrapping season 2 of HBO's We're Here," Eureka adds. "Every step of my journey this year has reminded me that regardless of my size, shape, or anything in between, I do have a place in this industry. Regardless of any barriers or obstacles I've had to face in my career, I continue to walk the path for plus-sized individuals...or waddle. It just shows that hard work and passion is really what it takes to make your dreams come true."

"In 2021, in the midst of still navigating through a global pandemic, I was able to navigate challenges, work within tough guidelines and still complete a really phenomenal season of our HBO show We're Here," Shangela says. "The largest obstacle I've ever faced has been learning to wholeheartedly love, accept, and value myself. Growing up in a place that didn't offer me much visibility or affirmation for being gay led to me to believe I wasn't worthy of the freedom that comes with true acceptance. I work daily on strengthening my core of self-love so that I can truly share that with the world." --Raffy Ermac, Photo Johnnie Ingram HBO

Billy Eichner

Actor, writer, producer, comedian
@billyeichner

Some may have written off Billy Eichner as a one-trick pony when he was hustling through Manhattan, asking rapid-fire questions to pedestrians for his show Billy on the Street. Over the course of the next decade, the Queens native proved his versatility, co-starring on Hulu's scripted Difficult People for three seasons, segueing into the Ryan Murphy universe with roles on American Horror Story, and voicing Timon in 2019's live-action remake of The Lion King. And just this year, Eichner took on the role of Walt Whitman on Apple TV+'s Dickinson and sentient SEO machine Matt Drudge for Murphy's American Crime Story: Impeachment.

Upcoming is Eichner's Netflix special and a forthcoming movie called Ex-Husbands. The queer world is already quaking for Eichner's other upcoming film, Bros, an LGBTQ+ rom com he co-wrote, and is also producing and starring in. Only this amiable gay celeb could bring together out legends like Guillermo Diaz, Ts Madison, and Amanda Bearse for the first gay romantic comedy from a major studio. "My biggest professional obstacle over the years has been navigating mediocre, heteronormative gatekeepers who operate out of fear and underestimate their audience," he says. --Neal Broverman, Photo Getty Images

Quinn

Athlete @thequinny5

If anyone deserves to rest on their laurels, it's Canadian soccer star Quinn. First, they came out as trans and nonbinary in September, opening the door for other trans and nonbinary athletes to follow in their footsteps. Then this year they helped Team Canada take home the gold medal in women's soccer at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo. It was the first gold medal for the squad, and also the first time an Olympic medal was won by an out trans athlete.

Despite the historic nature of their win, though, Quinn, 26, is quick to keep their eye on the ultimate goal. Ever the team player, they see the win as less a personal achievement and more as another step to a more just and inclusive world.

"Even at the highest level at the Olympics, there's still a lot of barriers in place for trans folks," Quinn says.

Along with New Zealand weight lifter Laurel Hubbard, Quinn brought much-needed international visibility to the cause of trans athletes during the Olympics. "Visibility is really significant, but I don't think visibility always equates to acceptance," they explain.

When asked about the greater significance of their performance in Tokyo, Quinn says it's "the message that everyone should be accepted in sports and that sports can be a place to find joy.... I think that I would love to just give the message that there's a hopeful future." -- Donald Padgett, Photo Naomi Baker/Getty

Emma Corrin

Actor
@emmalouisecorrin

When Emma Corrin first appeared on screen as Princess Diana in Netflix's drama The Crown, a star was born. The 25-year-old actor took the world by storm, exuding a mysterious charisma not unlike that of the famous royal. Then, she started sharing more of their self with the world. After coming out in April by self-labeling as "ur fave queer bride" in a photoshoot of her in a wedding dress, Corrin also came out as using both she and they pronouns in July, something she says was "liberating" and "terrifying in equal measure." At the same time, they revealed that, sometimes, they like to wear a binder, a compression garment often worn by trans and nonbinary people to alleviate chest dysphoria.

Whether it's coming out, winning a Golden Globe, getting nominated for an Emmy, or finishing their first screenplay, Corrin doesn't give up easily. Corrin says they face obstacles every day, but when they need support, they turn to "the great people around me" along with reading, "mining other people's experiences for insight," and "a ginger shot is always a good idea." For their next roles, they star opposite Harry Styles in the upcoming bisexual drama My Policeman, and is set to star in Netflix's adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's infamous novel Lady Chatterley's Lover. Both movies are expected to draw awards attention. The only question remaining is: How many awards can Corrin be nominated for in one year? -- Mey Rude, Photo David-Simon Dayan

Pierre Phipps

Producer

Before this year, Pierre Phipps had put his name in the history books as a rapper. As one half of the Freaky Boiz duo, he established himself as a pioneer of the gay rap movement. But now, he's also an Emmy-winning film producer.

Los Angeles-based for the past few years, Phipps has been working as a freelance producer with the likes of NBC, ABC, and CBS. With that work, he's often "the only Black person in the room, the only Black person on set, or the only Black person on the email thread." As a result, he's cultivated a side-business of passion projects where he and his friends create the content and environments they want to see.

In 2020, Phipps and his best friend, Dr. Louis Deon Jones, submitted five projects for the Emmy Awards. As they received updates on the progress of the titles, they felt fairly confident about quite a few, namely Cycles and NoHo: A North Hollywood Story. But instead, it was their dark horse, a short film called The Girl in Apartment 15 that made it onto the nominations list. And then, to the surprise of all involved -- given that the work was the first short film for Phipps as producer, Jones as director, and Marquez Williams as writer -- the movie won in the category of Outstanding Short Form Daytime Fiction Program.

"My life has changed," Phipps says. During quarantine, in addition to undergoing surgery, and found himself reaching into his own self. He now feels rejuvenated

"Being a black gay industry professional I always felt like I wasn't noticed, like I work so hard and my peers do not notice me and this year, with winning this Emmy and so many people giving me my flowers while I'm alive, it just means a lot to me," he says. "I feel like the pandemic had a lot to do with that." This fall has also seen the reemergence of Freaky Boiz, which dropped its debut album Freak Show in October. It will see them back on stages, likely through Pride 2022 season.

What's next? "I'm going after the EGOT," Phipp laughs. "After obtaining an Emmy I realized that anything is possible."

"I'm no longer afraid to show the world that I'm talented."

-- Mikelle Street, Photo Ruben Glimpse

Raven Saunders

Athlete @giveme1shot

This past summer was a bittersweet experience for Raven Saunders. On August 1, the 25-year-old lesbian athlete won a silver medal for shot put at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, only to come crashing back down to Earth days later.

"I had no doubt in my mind that I would win a medal," she says. "But what I'd do on the podium after a summer filled of protest was uncertain in the moment."

That initial uncertainty ultimately gave way to a gesture of solidarity with Black people, the LGBTQ+ community, and folks like Saunders dealing with mental health issues, as she crossed her arms above her head on the podium as a symbol of intersectionality. The move recalled the famed Black Power salute by Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. Saunders's salute sparked an investigation by the International Olympic Committee, but she was unconcerned. On social media, she stood her ground and dared Olympic officials to take her medal. The issues she elevated with her gesture remain so important to her that she defines that moment, and not the medal, as her crowning personal achievement.

"This year I was most proud of my demonstration on the podium stand," she declares.

On August 3 came news that her mother, Clarissa Saunders, the woman she described as her "number one guardian angel" on social media, had died in Florida. The IOC's investigation was dropped and Saunders announced she would be tending to her family and mental health.

"The largest obstacle that I've had to overcome was facing myself and my mental health," she says. "A lot of times we all struggle with battling the outside world and we fail to realize that the real battle goes on internally."

Saunders describes her work today as "transformative in the way people are seen and accepted around the world," adding, "I try to give voice to the voiceless." She will "continue to inspire" through her motivational speaking as well as by being a visible representation of marginalized communities. --D.P., Photo Leidos

Kylie Sonique Love

In winning season 6 of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, Kylie Sonique Love became the Comeback Kid, returning to the franchise after a decade (she first appeared in season 2!) and beating the odds to snatch the crown. The Georgia native's story is even more inspiring because she made herstory as the first transgender winner in a U.S.-based Drag Race -- a milestone in a franchise that has a troubled history with trans inclusion. Moreover, her final lip-synch -- in which she trips but gracefully tumbles head over heels into a somersault to complete the number -- is one of the most iconic saves in the reality competition's run.

Love's head is still spinning from the events of the past year. "I know what it's like to lose it all and win it all back," she says. "[The pandemic] was extremely hard [on] entertainers, as I was homeless, jobless, moneyless. Winning Drag Race completely changed everything, as I saw all...the hard work and love that I've put towards my goals and dreams pay off. I am grateful for all the ups and downs, as they have allowed me to truly appreciate who I am and everyone who believes in me."

Love hopes her story inspires others to reach for the stars and "hits in a deeper place than just the show -- as far as me being transgender, and that people can see themselves accomplishing their goals no matter what their circumstances are," she says. "I also hope that my experiences that helped me heal can help others in a similar way, as that was always my intention as I shared them on the show. I never went on Drag Race to win but rather to challenge myself. Winning was simply a cherry on top. Winning is temporary but the growth that I had on the show will stay with me my whole life."

So, what's next for the reigning All Stars champion? "The world is what's next for me!" -- Daniel Reynolds, Photo Alexander Fost

Lana Wachowski

Filmmaker

Lana Wachowski is one-half of the writing-directing duo who brought us the original Matrix trilogy of films, sharing honors with sister Lilly. Now she is going solo with the fourth installment of the Matrix franchise, The Matrix Resurrections. And while this won't be her first turn at the wheel of a Matrix movie, this time, she'll be making history as the first out transgender director to helm a major blockbuster.

Lana is in a rarified space when it comes to moviemaking. She's has been called a visionary for her unique cinematic style in the Matrix movies, and was given high praise from the LGBTQ+ community for the allegorical story of the transgender experience woven throughout. But breaking barriers and setting new precedents is nothing new for Lana and Lilly. The pair's first movie, the 1996 neo-noir lesbian crime thriller Bound, became an instant underground classic in part because of its validation of butch-femme gender identities.

Lana, who announced she is transgender in 2012, had not planned on making another Matrix movie, but the loss of both parents and a close family friend in a short span of time caused her to reflect on the connection she has with the franchise. It's still unclear what message Lana will tell in Resurrections, but the road she has helped blaze over the years means that she won't have to use subtext to be heard. -- Donald Padgett, Photo Vera Anderson/Getty

Curt Miller

Coach @coachcurtmiller

Curt Miller, the gay general manager and head coach of the WNBA's Connecticut Sun, is a man with no peers.

"I am currently the only out gay male head coach in either pro basketball or Division I men's or women's basketball," says Miller, noting there are currently over 700 such coaching positions.

Very few straight coaches can match Miller's legacy of winning. In his 19 years as a head coach, Miller's teams have suffered only three losing seasons. This past season has been among his best, as he coached the Sun team to the best record in the league, thus earning his second WNBA Coach of the Year honor. The Sun's season ended when the team fell to the Chicago Sky in the semifinal round.

Miller took an abrupt sabbatical from coaching in 2014 for health reasons, leaving his position at Indiana University to also spend more time with his partner and their sons. He also used the time away from coaching to come out publicly. After his return to coaching, this time with the WNBA's Sun, he's intent on setting the path for future gay coaches.

"Representation and visibility are so important to the young men struggling in locker rooms around the world," he says. "I want to model that you can thrive in team sports either as an athlete, coach, or in the front office."

The 53-year-old Miller now judges his success as a coach not only by wins and losses on the court but also by the impact he's making.

"The legacy that I would like to leave during the back nine of my career is being a role model for young gay males in sport," Miller says. -- D.P., Photo Steven Freeman

SonicFox

Gamer @sonicfox

Although competitive video gaming -- or e-sports -- has been around for a while, as the years go by, the industry is becoming more and more mainstream. And it's folks like Dominique McLean -- better known to the world as SonicFox -- that are helping lead the charge.

In fact, the gay, nonbinary gaming professional, who is probably best known for donning their signature red, black, white, and blue fox fur suit whenever they compete, has used their massive platform of competing in some of the world's biggest e-sports competitions to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community -- like the time they waved the trans flag and had the announcer call them the "defender of trans rights" at this year's WePlay Ultimate Fighting League Mortal Kombat 11 tournament.

Although they humbly deny the label of "the LeBron James of gaming," it's a simple fact that SonicFox is one of this generation's best fighting game players, and to see the kind of inclusive impact they are having on the world of video games is something we absolutely need more of. -- Raffy Ermac,
Photo Leon Bennett/Getty

Brooke Karzen

Producer @brookekarzen

One of the most influential names in reality TV is Brooke Karzen, who just so happens to be a lesbian. Karzen is head of unscripted programming at Warner Horizon Television, where she oversees the creative direction of hits like ABC's The Bachelor and NBC's The Voice. Additionally, she has a passion for projects that support historically marginalized representation; she served as an executive producer of HBO Max's Equal, a miniseries that chronicled major events and honored the "unsung heroes" of LGBTQ+ history. "My team takes creative ideas from inception through birth and then helps them sustain life beyond premiere," she says.

Karzen is proud of her work producing two landmark TV reunions: Friends: The Reunion and HBO Max's A West Wing Special to Benefit When We All Vote. There are also collaborations with Ava DuVernay and DC Comics in the pipeline.

Karzen accomplished these goals in the midst of the pandemic: "Production came to a screeching halt, and we had to find new ways to work together. I decided to focus on what we could do to stay productive and to keep morale up, which meant ramping up development and selling more shows than ever before."

"I don't take success for granted -- complacency is not afforded to those who fight to be equal," she adds. However, it is her private triumphs that she values above all. "My wife ... [and I] saw our daughter graduate college -- nothing compares to that," Karzen says. -- Daniel Reynolds, Photo Kit Karzen

Carl Clemons-Hopkins of 'Hacks'

Actors Hannah Einbinder, Carl Clemons-Hopkins (photographed by Qurissy Lopez), Poppy Liu, Johnny Sibilly, Megan Stalter,
and Mark Indelicato
@hannaheinbinder, @carlclemonshopkins, @poppyrepublic, @johnnysibilly, @megsstalter. @markindelicato

One of the brightest spots of the year's TV landscape was Hacks, the HBO dramedy centered on a legendary comedienne, Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), looking to reinvigorate her career in Las Vegas. Created by Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky, the show has received acclaim and accolades; Smart won an Emmy for her delicious portrayal of the Joan Rivers-ian diva. But Out also took note of the plethora of trope-defying LGBTQ+ talent onscreen, which made Hacks a significant contribution to queer culture.

Hollywood has also taken notice. In addition to Smart, Hannah Einbinder and Carl Clemons-Hopkins were Emmy-nominated for their roles, which are both LGBTQ+. Einbinder, who is bisexual, plays Ava (also bi), a comedy writer looking to restart her career after cultural cancellation. Nonbinary actor Clemons-Hopkins portrays Vance's queer CEO, Marcus. Rounding out the out ensemble are Johnny Sibilly as Wilson, a water inspector and Marcus's love interest; Megan Stalter as Kayla, the hysterical-but-unreliable assistant to Ava's agent; Poppy Liu as Kiki, Vance's favorite blackjack dealer; and Mark Indelicato as Damien, Vance's personal assistant.

Together, the LGBTQ+ Hacks cast reads as a Who's Who of young queer Hollywood. Indelicato was already famous from his groundbreaking role as Justin Suarez, a gay youth on Ugly Betty. Stalter routinely goes viral for her zany characters on social media; her spoof of a fumbling small-business rep shamelessly gay-baiting almost broke the internet this year. Liu made The Advocate's Champions of Pride list in 2019 for her work bringing visibility to queer Asian stories; she'll soon be starring in an Amazon Prime Video series called Dead Ringers alongside Rachel Weisz.

Moreover, in addition to starring in Candyman this year, Clemons-Hopkins stole the red carpet at the Emmy Awards in a Christian Siriano-designed outfit printed with the colors of the nonbinary flag. Einbinder, in the vein of Vance, has long been acclaimed on the standup comedy circuit. And Sibilly is preparing to continue queer TV domination as a cast member on the Queer as Folk reboot.

Hacks's LGBTQ+ visibility means a great deal to each of these actors. "I can't even count how many times I've Googled 'gay movies' or 'gay girl bi TV' desperate to find something I can relate to in that way," shares Stalter, who is bi. This representation "means the world" to Clemons-Hopkins. "It means more connectivity, more healing, and more confirmation of our glory," they affirm. Einbinder adds that this contribution is "incredible, especially getting to play a bi character. She feels so real to me and is someone I personally have yearned to see on TV for so long. Love Ava so much."

Sibilly notes that the success of Hacks is a milestone for out entertainers everywhere. "It's incredibly important especially in an industry that often used to tell our LGBTQ+ family to hide and stifle who they were," he says. "This moment is for them as well as those future baby queers."

That these characters are not defined by their identities is especially important to Liu in an industry still plagued with stereotypes. "I love queer people just getting to be regular [people], nothing extraordinary, not unpacking our trauma, not coming out over and over again -- just doing regular stuff like checking neighborhood water levels or being mediocre at our office job or being annoyed at our boss or complaining about our kid," Liu says.

"It's always a dream to work alongside those that you can relate to," Indelicato concludes. "I can't stress enough how inspiring it has been to be a part of a queer ensemble like that of Hacks, but also to be a part of a show that cherishes and champions queer artists and artistry. I would hope that the impact of such representation is yet another reminder that the notion of the 'queer body' is not a monolith. We, as the queer cast members of Hacks, have such varied lived experiences and relationships to our queerness. Being given the opportunity to be in a space where we can share those stories with one another and with the world is truly a gift." -- D.R.

Hannah Einbinder of 'Hacks'

Hannah Einbinder photographed by Justin Bettman

Johnny Sibilly of 'Hacks'

Johnny Sibilly photographed by Sean Barrow

Meg Stalter of 'Hacks'

Megan Stalter photographed by Alexa Visicus

Poppy Liu of 'Hacks'

Poppi Liu photographed by Jennelle Fong

Mark Indelicato of 'Hacks'

Mark Indelicato photographed by Lili Pepper

Max Harwood

Actor
@max.harwood

One of the year's breakout queer hits was Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Amazon Prime Video's musical film about a teen who dreams about becoming a drag queen. At the heart of the production is Max Harwood, a young British actor who brought sass and soul to the titular role. "The project really helped me personally to step into myself -- with courage! I hope Jamie's story can give people around the world that same courage, to be unashamed of the things that make them truly unique," he says.

Harwood says he still "cannot quite believe" he carried a movie that has been streamed in over 200 countries. Through production of the film -- based on the acclaimed West End play -- he, like Jamie, fought to find his voice as an artist.

"An obstacle for me had been struggling with self-confidence," he says. "I was fearful of not being able to deliver what was expected of me when the time came. I've learnt to listen and trust those around me. The more experience I gain, the more I can see my confidence growing."

Harwood is looking forward to making more movies and even his own music in the near future. "My biggest personal accomplishment this year has to be moving into my own place," he adds. "I have always wanted my own space to be creative, decorate, and call my own." -- D.R., Photo Joseph Sinclair

Sam Jay

Comedian, writer
@samjaycomic

Through her brand of unapologetic, honest, and relatable comedy, Sam Jay, the stand-up comic and Saturday Night Live writer, has garnered all sorts of fans and become a much-needed and refreshing voice in a field that is slowly but surely becoming queerer and less male-dominated -- and she has a lot fun with her craft as well.

"I am a writer, producer, stand-up...really just stepping into this role of being a multi-hyphenate," Jay says, describing her work. "I feel the work I do is as important as it is unimportant -- sophisticated ignorance mixed with humor and a sprinkle of a message. There are layers to it if you want to unravel it but, if you don't, it's fun too."

And Jay's star is still on the rise. In early 2022, she's set to star in the upcoming comedy series Bust Down with Chris Redd, Langston Kerman, and Jak Knight on Peacock and is in the process of filming a Kenya Barris movie with Eddie Murphy, Jonah Hill, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus for Netflix. And of course, she's also working on a second season of her critically acclaimed HBO variety series Pause with Sam Jay. -- R.E., Photo Erica Gray

Polo Morin

Actor @polo_morin

Earlier this year, when American audiences tore through the first two seasons of Netflix's Mexican mystery thriller Who Killed Sara? -- making it, as of April 2021, the most watched non-English language show the streaming giant ever aired -- they joined people in countries like Guatemala, Columbia, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Brazil, where the series became the most popular streamer as well. The thriller, about a man wrongfully convicted of his sister's death, gave viewers murder, sex trafficking, gay love, and dozens of delicious red herrings -- and introduced U.S. audiences to one of Mexico's few out gay actors: Polo Morin.

The 31-year-old, born in Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico, has been steadily acting in films and TV in his home country, beginning in 2010 in La rosa de Guadalupe (for which he won a Bravo Award). He was featured in MTV Mexico's Ultimo ano and Gossip Girl: Acapulco. And then he was outed in December 2016, when a hacker posted pictures of him and his boyfriend at the time -- but he emphasized he wasn't closeted, just private.

Morin's turn as a gay man in Who Killed Sara? changed that. It was "a huge challenge.... I kind of refused to do gay characters for a while, because...usually in Latin America, they don't represent the community the way I think it should be represented."

He says gay roles are often played for laughs and mockery in Latin America, but he read this script and loved it. "[T]he part that got me the most is how Alex reacts to [Morin's character of ] Chema coming out to him...and it doesn't change anything."

What resonated with audiences, especially gay audiences, was how universal the experience of Chema, was. "That's literally my story...I was very confused. And I was really scared to come out and...of people's reactions."

Being outed, he says, was ultimately for the best. Morin explains that even though his career up until that point was successful, "I never felt accepted."

While his managers told him to deny being gay, Morin spoke with his family and realized, "I hadn't been happy for a long time. And I had been stressing out about something that I shouldn't. I decided to come out and start talking about myself, not hiding myself.... So I decided that for my little Polo, and for all the kids...I was going to come out. And I did in television, and it was pretty harsh. I did lose many, many fans."

Yet, it was a surprising relief, too, admits Morin. "Then I started gaining followers back.... It's about the quality of the followers and the quality of the fans that I have now. -- D.A.M. Photo Luis De La Luz

Niecy Nash

Actor, TV host
@niecynash1

After coming out when she announced her marriage to singer Jessica Betts, Niecy Nash has been living her best life. "Actually, I'm living my Betts life," she laughs. "For the first time in my life I feel fully seen." From there, she can't stop gushing about her spouse. ''We just celebrated our one-year wedding anniversary," she says. "I've been down the aisle twice before, and even though those relationships ended, the call on my life did not. I'm meant to be a wife and I'm proud of my resilience to answer the call in spite of my experiences." It wasn't just finding the right partner that got her to this point. She also recommends therapy, as it helped her overcome years of childhood trauma.

Nash is thriving. She played civil rights activist Florynce Kennedy in the Hulu miniseries Mrs. America, took over as a temporary host on The Masked Singer, and is set to host both a revival of Fox's game show Don't Forget the Lyrics! and her own syndicated daytime talker for CBS. -- M.R., Photo Karl Furgerson Jr.

Mason Alexander Park

Actor
@masonalexanderpark

Nonbinary actor Mason Alexander Park, who made headlines this past year after being cast in the role of Gren in Netflix's live-action adaptation of the beloved anime series Cowboy Bebop, knows how important representation is, especially for marginalized people.

"I would describe my work as an artist as something at the intersection of education and entertainment. It's impossible to separate my identity as a nonbinary person of color from my work as an actor or writer," Park says. "For a lot of audiences, I'm generally one of the first like me that they are encountering, and with that comes a learning curve and responsibility."

After the difficulty of the past year and a half, Park doesn't take their work for granted. "In a time where so many of us artists had been unemployed, this year made me feel incredibly lucky to be able to work on multiple dream roles, including Desire in Netflix's The Sandman," they say. "I was lucky enough to do my first in-person auditions and director sessions for a role that I've been chasing for quite some time. It ended with a chemistry read with a remarkable actor I adore...and as a trans/nonbinary actor it was the very first time that I have been in the position of playing the love interest in a queer relationship." -- R.E., Photo Naje Lataillade

Justice Smith

Actor
@standup4justice

Ever since publicly coming out as queer in 2020, Justice Smith has been solidifying his status as one of young Hollywood's best and brightest voices. At 26, he's already starred in big Hollywood productions like Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and Pokemon: Detective Pikachu. And through his craft, he has been helping to increase visibility on the small screen as well.

This was most evident when he took on the lead role of Chester in HBO Max's mostly queer teen drama series Genera+ion, in which he portrayed a supremely confident and out gay student navigating the blossoming social scene in a typical Southern California high school. Though Smith is used to playing more laidback, low-key roles (he also starred alongside Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney in this year's erotic thriller The Voyeurs on Amazon Prime Video), Chester embodied a youthful and unapologetic queerness that the older generations of the show's viewers wish they had growing up, and that younger generations could try and emulate in their lives.

Though Genera+ion is over, the impact of a character like Chester, made alive by Smith's performance of him, is surely going to be felt in the decades to come, especially as LGBTQ+ representation becomes more and more a prerequisite in the media fans consume. -- R.E., Photo Pietro S. D'Aprano/Getty

JoJo Siwa

Dancer, singer, actor
@itsjojosiwa

The future for upcoming generations of LGBTQ+ kids is bright, and that's thanks to people like JoJo Siwa. A true entertainment industry multi-hyphenate, the 18-year-old dancer, singer, actress, and social media star (whose big break came after appearing on Lifetime's hit reality series Dance Moms back in 2015) has been hitting the ground running ever since publicly coming out at the start of 2021, doing everything from starring in a Paramount+ movie, JoJo Siwa: My World, to producing her own reality series where she searches for the next big pop girl group, to slaying the competition on ABC's Dancing with the Stars with dance partner Jenna Johnson; the two made history as the show's first same-sex dance couple to compete in the ballroom.

Though she has received the typical conservative hate that visible, out-and-proud queer folks get when they are simply trying to live their most authentic lives, Siwa has fought that hate with love and openness and has been unapologetic in her special brand of positivity and happiness. So much so, she has become exactly the kind of role model Gen Z needs in a world still filled with so much negativity and hostility towards LGBTQ+ people. -- Raffy Ermac, Photo Maarten de Boer ABC

Jasika Nicole

Actor
@jasikaistrycurious

Actor, designer, and artisan Jasika Nicole spent 2021 like a lot of us, holed up with her partner (who is trans and nonbinary). The resulting challenge was "releasing the idea that my value rests solely in the work I do," she admits. "Once the world shifted and productions ground to a halt, many of us actors had to navigate a life without yes's, affirmations, and hype from others."

Nicole, who plays pathologist Dr. Carly Lever on ABC's hit series The Good Doctor, came to fame as Astrid, the lab assistant turned field agent on Fox's cult fave, Fringe. She's showed up in other notable film and TV roles, including Scandal and the remakes of Punky Brewster and She's Out of My League, bringing Black queer energy to characters and the world.

Nicole's end goal is "the kinds of characters in TV and film that I so desperately wished to see when I was a little girl," she says. In addition to narrating the horror podcast Alice Isn't Dead and running her own DIY fashion blog, Try Curious, Nicole spends most of her time making art. This "has turned into an empowering act for me."

This year, she's most proud of an article she wrote for Entertainment Weekly about her own privilege as a "cis, queer, light-skinned Black actor" and why she's no longer appearing on cop shows.

"I want to keep learning how to stand up for what I believe in without fear of making others uncomfortable," she says. -- Diane Anderson-Minshall, Photo Jess Nurse

Devery Jacobs

Actor
@kdeveryjacobs

Mohawk actor Devery Jacobs broke out on FX's hit Reservation Dogs this year. The show made headlines not only for its wit and unique perspective but for having all Indigenous writers and directors and an almost entirely Indigenous cast and production team. "I've always dreamed of a leading role -- let alone a leading role in a groundbreaking show for Indigenous creators," she says. "Playing Elora Danan was an experience I'll forever cherish. I had a chance to explore all sides and surprise myself with a character I connect with so deeply."

Jacobs is also a writer, director, and producer who wants to tell stories from queer and Indigenous communities. And she says it's about time someone like her got a chance to be a star. "It feels overdue, and like a huge sense of responsibility -- one that I'm happy to embrace," she says. "As excited as I am that we're finally beginning to see our stories on-screen, as [a] queer Mohawk woman, I've still yet to see myself resembled. I want to see Two-Spirit rom-coms, powwow comedies, Native horror films, Indigenous crime dramas. Being Indigenous doesn't look one way -- there are over 500 different nations and tribes across North America -- and until we have as many Native stories out there as we have storytellers, I will keep fighting to forge our place through the industry." The next step in her fight involves starring in Ark: The Animated Series, which features fellow Indigenous actors Zahn McClarnon, Tatanka Means, and Madeleine Madden alongside Vin Diesel and Michelle Yeoh. -- M.R., Photo Mauricio J. Calero

Aubrey Plaza

Actor
@plazadeaubrey

Aubrey Plaza has been a favorite of comedy and indie film nerds for years, and broke out on the popular NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation. Even though she told The Advocate five years ago that she falls in love with both guys and girls, Plaza became a true queer icon when she starred as the sexy and single doctor Riley in Clea DuVall's gay holiday rom-com Happiest Season opposite Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis. Plaza was a lot of viewers' favorite part of the film, and many fans thought her chemistry with Stewart's character was the hottest thing in the movie. While she didn't end up with Stewart's character, Riley ended the film with romantic entreaties from every sapphic person who watched. And she's not content to be left standing by the wall the next time around. "I'm honored to be on this list, and I'm so proud of being a part of Happiest Season and almost getting the girl," she says. "Next time, she's mine."

Plaza isn't done with her Christmas content yet. Next up, she has a children's book, The Legend of the Christmas Witch, written with her creative partner Dan Murphy; it comes out in November. The book reveals the tale of Santa Claus's twin sister, the much-misunderstood Christmas Witch. It follows the release of Plaza's film Black Bear, a drama about the entertainment industry in which she received rave reviews for her performance. Then, in the new year, she'll be starring in Guy Ritchie's next action blockbuster, Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, about an MI6 agent (Jason Statham) and his team who recruit a Hollywood star to help them on an undercover mission. If Plaza wasn't your Christmas crush last year, it's not too late to make her yours this holiday season. -- Mey Rude, Photo Emily Assiran/Getty Images

Dalila Ali Rajah

Artivist
@dalilaalirajah

To call Dalila Ali Rajah a purveyor of Black queer joy is true on a few counts. First, she literally founded the Instagram account @BlackQueerJoy, which highlights happy couples and thriving individuals.

"I am a vessel with the intention of illuminating and expanding our capacity for compassion, love, and unapologetic acceptance of our authentic selves," Rajah says. "I'm committed to telling stories with some sparkle and some fun whether it be in front of the camera, as a writer or producer, or curating experiences of joy and healing with the Black Queer Joy movement."

A creator and star of the late-aughts lesbian series Cherry Bomb, Rajah also recently appeared in the series 9-1-1 and Noah's Arc: The 'Rona Chronicles. As a mom, she has also just done the work of "processing my son coming out as trans/nonbinary."

"The journey I needed to take to truly surrender to unconditional love while doing my best to keep him safe required that I reach into a part of myself I didn't know I never touched," Rajah says.

Next up for Rajah is the gay-themed series Boy Culture, and a pilot she and her son are writing together about their journey. -- Tracy E. Gilchrist, Photo Cornelia Connie Kurtew

Gracie Cartier

Host, disco diva @madamejeuge

In April, Gracie Cartier -- a former celebrity hairstylist who has worked with Alicia Silverstone and Jada Pinkett Smith -- came out as living with HIV on her newly launched show, Transcend. The moment marked a major turning point for Cartier, a self-described "proud Black trans queen" who now wanted to use her platform to uplift marginalized people.

"I envisioned that moment for almost 20 years since being diagnosed," Cartier says. "Not to mention, I once modeled for an HIV medicine campaign that was featured in [the] Out Hot List 2012. Talk about full circle."

One person who inspired Cartier is her mother -- she learned the art of hair from her. Her mother sadly passed this year. "She was my everything. Understanding her guidance from the other side gets me through each day," Cartier says.

Now, Cartier is helping others live their truth on Transcend, a series on the platform +Life, co-founded by ABC reporter Karl Schmid to destigmatize HIV. As host, Cartier leads conversations on wellness, mental health issues, health disparities, and more. "I would describe the work I do as an ever-evolving inward journey of self-reflection and discovery," Cartier says. "One that humanizes, informs, and inspires others in such a way to advance dialogues."

It's the latest career move in the Philadelphia native's dazzling resume, which includes runway modeling for Marco Marco and acting in projects like The Pantheon of Queer Mythology, a selection in last year's Tribeca Film Festival. She is also known as Madame Jeuge, "the disco diva of L.A.'s nightlife scene."

But Cartier knows that change is natural: "We are all transforming and coming into the most powerful versions of ourselves." -- D.R., Photo Martin Salgo

Victoria Alonso

Executive @victoriaalonso76

In terms of origin stories, the Marvel Cinematic Universe owes a great deal to Victoria Alonso, the out executive who began as a co-producer on the project that started it all, Iron Man. (She began work at Marvel Studios in 2005 as an executive vice president of visual effects and postproduction.)

Since then, it's been up, up, and away for Alonso with Hollywood's most profitable franchise in history. On 2012's Avengers and every MCU film afterward, Alonso has served as an executive producer. And this year, she made headlines for her promotion to president at Marvel Studios, where she oversees physical, postproduction, visual effects, and animation.

While historically, the MCU has struggled with diversity -- LGBTQ+ representation has been nearly nonexistent or excised -- there have been signs of progress. Loki was revealed to be queer in his eponymous Disney+ series, and this fall's Eternals boasts the first gay superhero, Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry). In an interview with Variety this year, Alonso hinted there was more queer content to come.

"It takes time, we have so many stories that we can tell," said Alonso, adding, "There's a lot that we have coming up that I think will be representative of the world of today. We're not going to nail it in the first movie or the second movie or third movie, or the first show or second show, but we will do our best to consistently try to represent."

Off-screen, the Argentine-born creative also married within the MCU; her wife is Agents of Shield actress Imelda Corcoran. The pair have an adopted daughter, Olivia. -- Daniel Reynolds, Photo Yuri Hasegawa

Sarah Burgess

Writer, showrunner

Sarah Burgess has made a successful career as a writer and playwright for years, picking up a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for her play Dry Powder in 2018. She's been widely praised for how quotable, witty, and smart her writing is. This year, she made a wildly successful transition to television, where she served as head writer, showrunner, and executive producer of Impeachment: American Crime Story, the latest installment of the Emmy-winning Ryan Murphy anthology series. Impeachment stars Sarah Paulson as Linda Tripp, Clive Owen as Bill Clinton, and Beanie Feldstein as Monica Lewinsky, and gives us one of the best looks ever at the scandal that rocked late '90s America. It's sure to be an award-season favorite, and the performances by Feldstein and Paulson, especially, are some of the best of their careers. It's also giving an entire generation of viewers a chance to get to know the women who had been erased from the narrative for so long. But even in a year when she's brought life to one of the most important political and social stories of that time, her work in TV isn't her most rewarding accomplishment. "This year I am proudest of the ways I've been able to be there for my family when needed," she says. "And in reciprocation, for the times they have helped me." -- Mey Rude, Photo Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Getty

Russell T Davies

Television writer, creator, producer @russelltdavies63

It was a project that only a queer person could, or should, make: the sublime miniseries It's a Sin. Released in the U.K. and the U.S. in early 2021, Russell T Davies's 1980s-set drama follows a group of London friends caught up in an exploding pandemic; its release coincided with a deadly winter wave of COVID. But it wasn't just the parallels of misinformation and denialism that made Sin such a critical and commercial triumph. The acting prowess of Olly Alexander and Lydia West paired with Davies's exquisite writing came together to create a fresh take on a disease now over 40 years old. In fact, Davies -- who created the original Queer as Folk -- was told a drama about HIV was inherently "boring" by three network bosses. But HBO Max and Britain's Channel 4 put their faith in the esteemed creator.

Unlike some other depictions of HIV's scourge, Sin contains as much joy as heartbreak, refusing to disregard the bonds of friendship, love, and, yes, sex that existed alongside the death.

For Davies, the adoration of Sin is nice, but not the biggest takeaway. "I wrote some characters with a catchphrase, 'La!,'" Davies says of the Sin group's greeting/goodbye. "A man called Philip Normal -- a complete stranger -- was watching, liked it, printed a T-shirt the next morning, saying 'La!' And eight months later, that T-shirt has raised PS500,000 for charity. Half a million quid! Changing lives for the better. Never mind ratings or awards, that's a result!" -- Neal Broverman, Photo Fabio De Paola

Leslye Headland

Writer, showrunner, director @veryleslyeheadland

Serving as writer, executive producer, and showrunner for history's first female-centric Star Wars series, The Acolyte for Disney+ -- all while being the first queer showrunner to helm a Star Wars franchise -- is enough to land Leslye Headland on this list. But the Emmy-nominated writer, producer, and director isn't resting on her laurels.

"I feel breathtaking pressure," Headland admits. "The only thing that relieves it is gratitude. I am so grateful to be working on Star Wars, a universe that generates joy for millions."

Headland also served as writer, director, and showrunner for Netflix's series Russian Doll, which was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards and nine Creative Arts Emmy Awards, the latter of which it won three. Headland is also currently directing and executive producing the Freeform pilot, Single Drunk Female. She also signed a multi-year, overall deal with Fox 21 Television Studios.

Taking the reins of one of the most iconic franchises as a woman, much less a lesbian, is really one of those "we've made it moments," but it was that Fox development deal that first made her feel that. "It's such a milestone for a creator and showrunner to achieve that," she admits.

Headland is trying to pave the way for those from marginalized communities through her production company, Shoot to Midnight. Additionally, Headland is working to change the culture of assistants in Hollywood, where lower-level employees are often used, abused, and excused. "I promote [assistants]. I push them to follow their passion. And I advocate for them in our community when they move on from working for me."

And the person who pushes her? Actor Rebecca Henderson, her wife of five years, with whom she also collaborates as director. "Rebecca has changed my life, my art, my soul," Headland says. "She also handles things I do not understand, like where the new heads for our electric toothbrushes come from." -- Diane Anderson-Minshall, Photo Zack DeZon

Clea DuVall

Actor, writer, director @officialclead

Clea DuVall "aims to tell stories that prominently feature LGBTQ+ stories and characters" and has been doing just that for decades. Early in her career, she starred in the seminal queer film But I'm a Cheerleader, and last year stepped behind the camera to make a queer movie of her own. That movie was Happiest Season, a lesbian romantic comedy set at Christmas that broke viewership records on Hulu.

The movie was widely praised for its authenticity and for being the kind of film that queer people have been wanting to see for a long time. Part of the reason DuVall wanted to make the movie was to overcome "the incorrect belief that LGBTQ+ stories cannot have wide appeal," she says. "To overcome it, I surrounded myself with a group of talented, inspiring collaborators and told a story rooted in authenticity and compassion."

DuVall isn't even close to slowing down. She's currently working on the second season of HouseBroken, the animated show she co-created for Fox this year, and is writing and directing a show for IMDb TV based on High School, the memoir by lesbian rock stars/twin sisters Tegan and Sara. And if you've missed her in front of the camera, she'll be appearing in the Showtime series The First Lady as Malvina "Tommy" Thompson, a "very close friend" to Eleanor Roosevelt, set to be played by Gillian Anderson. Now, that's a power couple. -- Mey Rude, Photo Art Streiber

Craig Robinson

Executive

Last year's killing of George Floyd forced individuals and institutions alike to reaffirm their commitment to ending racism and bias in America. Craig Robinson is spearheading this effort at Comcast NBCUniversal, where, as chief diversity officer, he works with CEO Brian Roberts "to drive a culture that embraces all voices," he says.

In his role, Robinson oversees his company's three-year, $100 million commitment to advancing social justice and equality, which includes building programs and collaborating with local and national groups that work toward this goal. Internally, Robinson created an education series with employees to spark conversations about diversity and helps to hire executives with inclusion in mind.

"We made a commitment to our employees that we would pay attention to this watershed moment in our society and commit to real change in everything that we do," Robinson says. "Gaining and sustaining that trust is a job that will never be done, and one that we take very seriously."

In one of his proudest moments of the past year, the gay executive, who is Black and Asian, helmed changes that made the workplace more LGBTQ-inclusive. "Many years ago, a very wise person told me that in order to drive change you must not only engage people's minds, but also their hearts," he says. "That will be a primary focus for me and my team going forward." -- Daniel Reynolds, Photo Dario Acosta

LaQuann Dawson

Artist @laquanndawson

A self-taught Brooklyn artist, filmmaker, creative director, and photographer originally from Ohio, LaQuann Dawson is a true multi-hyphenate using his work in photography, film, fashion, performance, discussion, writing, and community organizing to express himself.

"The work is complicated; it is diverse, intellectual, erotic, emotional, fun, and curious. It can be challenging and sometimes heartbreaking, well-intentioned, and full of movement," says Dawson, who helped produce the 2021 iteration of MOBIfest (an "interactive wellness experience that celebrates Black queer voices in fashion, music, visual arts and media") as well as his own gay erotic art anthology Our Light Through Darkness. "The work is gay as fuck and Black as hell, too. We are still building this world but it is getting bigger and bigger every day."

On what's next for him, Dawson says, "I'd love to find some time and space to deeply and intentionally study my crafts. I'd like to go down a YouTube and MasterClass rabbit hole without feeling guilty or exhausted. I'd like to apply for a fellowship or a residency, work on myself and execute some personal projects. I also want to perform more...take classes and end up on somebody's TV show or web series, or maybe my own. I've always been someone who goes wherever I am called to and where I am needed. Hopefully, they keep needing me in the places I [want] to be needed." -- Raffy Ermac, Photo LaQuann Dawson

Ann Thomas

Talent agent, business owner @transgendertalent

In 2015, Ann Thomas founded Transgender Talent -- one of the first management and production companies that cater to transgender and nonbinary actors. The service is a two-way street. When Hollywood productions need to find a trans actor for a job or advice on a trans storyline, they consult with Thomas's company, which is also trans-owned and -operated. Behind the scenes, Transgender Talent helps its clients secure an agent and even provides medical advice.

Thomas says the launch of the company's consulting division was a major point of pride this year: "This gives a focal point to help writers, directors, and producers navigate...getting transgender performers on-screen in a global market."

She also sees the company's relative longevity as evidence of its necessity in an industry that is still fumbling to portray authentic trans lives. "We've seen several transgender-focused companies come and go over the years," Thomas says. "We're still here after six and a half years!"

It's been a banner year for Transgender Talent's actors. They include Zoey Luna, a star of The Craft: Legacy who was also featured in the Dear Evan Hansen film, as well as Good Trouble's Emmett Preciado. And Thomas knows that every meeting can lead to the next big break. "We have lots of small steps planned -- that's what keeps us going over the years," she says. -- Daniel Reynolds, Photo Bobby Quillard

Owain Wyn Evans

Weatherman
@owainwynevans

BBC North West Tonight weather presenter Owain Wyn Evans made headlines this year during the United Kingdom's LGBT History Month, when he opened up about the difficulties of coming out in the media world. Evans specifically detailed what it was like for him growing up in South Wales, the industry pressure to stay closeted, and how he still receives homophobic messages on social media.

"I was fortunate enough to be able to share my coming-out story -- from growing up in a working-class coal mining town, going back into the closet when I got my first TV job, to now, where I'm completely able to be myself on camera," he says. "The response I got from older and younger LGBTQI+ people was incredible."

Wyn describes himself as an "unapologetically flamboyant TV presenter, weatherman, and drummer with a penchant for a nice three-piece suit, brooch, and pocket square."

"Being unapologetically camp on TV can lead to criticism from inside and outside the LGBTQI+ community," Evans says. "The harder obstacle was feeling the need to balance the ridiculous expectation of being a 'masculine' drummer and being a camp TV personality. I decided to reject that overly masculine energy that can sometimes be associated with drumming and be myself -- and do it deliberately, dahling!" -- D.G,. Photo Ali Mills

Ryan Pfluger

Artist, advocate
@ryanpfluger

Even when we're isolated from each other, art has the power to bring us all together, and that's what makes the work of creators like Ryan Pfluger so important.

A beloved photographer and storyteller, Pfluger's diverse range of portraits capture honest, intimate, and emotional moments that you wouldn't be able to embody through words alone. And though it's been a rough year, Pfluger says he's able to keep his passion for photography going during a time when passion and happiness is exactly what we all need to carry on.

"It's been mentally taxing on all of us and finding ways to navigate that while being a semi-functional human is the best we can ask for," he says of surviving the pandemic, one of his largest obstacles to date, over the past year and a half. "Luckily, I found my comfort in creating."

And that comfort helped him with his latest project, Holding Space, a series of photographs featuring the stories of interracial couples (due out as his first monograph next fall through Princeton Architectural Press). The project helped him "create community and conversation," he says. -- Raffy Ermac, Photo Travis Chantar

Ross Murray

Deacon
@inlayterms

In the never-ending culture wars, LGBTQ+ people and religious folks are often pitted against one another. Activists like Ross Murray show a more enlightened path forward. The Lutheran deacon founded a youth ministry for LGBTQ+ youth and allies, the Naming Project, which shows that faith and queer identity can walk hand in hand. The ministry's success inspired Murray to write a book, Made, Known, Loved, a guide for religious leaders "who want to build communities of faith where LGBTQ youth know they are loved in the eyes of God," he says.

Creating a welcoming space is personal for Murray. "Because I had found such acceptance as a gay man in my home and college communities, I assumed that I could be my own charming self and win others over to the idea that someone could be Christian and part of the LGBTQ community. But it didn't work out that way," says Murray, who was once told he was "desecrating" a ministry and kicked out.

Now, Murray preaches the LGBTQ-inclusive gospel as a producer of the Yass, Jesus! podcast. He's also the senior director of education and training at the GLAAD Media Institute, which teaches acceptance nationwide.

"There are a lot of well-intentioned people who feel like they don't know how to stand up and speak out.... I want to help them build those skills because our world...needs more vocal allies," he says. -- D.R., Photo Richard Garnett

Revry

Streaming moguls LaShawn McGhee, Jonah Blechman, Damian Pelliccione, and Christopher J. Rodriguez
@revrytv, @lashawnmcghee, @jonahblechman, @damianmedia

While streaming queer-themed content is becoming more and more accessible on big-name services like Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, and Disney+, it's important that there are other platforms out there that are founded and run by queer folks, especially since many mainstream platforms have corporate interests that don't always align with those of the greater LGBTQ+ community.

That's why services like Revry are so important. Besides offering an extensive library of LGBTQ+ TV series, films, and music, the streaming network was founded by a diverse group of LGBTQ+ folks. And in the six years since its founding, Revry has become a go-to place for many queer fans to get all the content they could ever want.

"Cofounding Revry has afforded me the opportunity to present LGBTQ+ voices and perspectives to a global audience," cofounder and chief product officer LaShawn McGhee says. "I facilitate queer representation and, through streaming media, put a human face on our vibrant culture. Revry is a place where we can be seen and where we can discover other experiences within the queer community."

"On a high level, it's a wonderful mix of creativity, strategy, and problem solving," cofounder and chief business officer Christopher J. Rodriguez adds. "In a start-up, every day comes with its own set of hurdles, and you just have to roll with it. That's the fun and the challenge of it all."

"When you are an entrepreneur/founder of a business, there are many large obstacles. It's never really just one," cofounder and CEO Damian Pelliccione says. "Part of being a CEO is learning how to prioritize the challenges being thrown at you constantly. If I could narrow it down to one major obstacle I face year over year, [it] is proving to the investment communities the size and potential scale of the LGBTQ+ market. In the USA alone, LGBTQ+ people spend over $365 billion a year in disposable income. If you were to bottle the spending power of that market it would be the 12th-largest economy in the world. There is power there. Part of my job as CEO is to evangelize this massive growing market and the opportunity as it relates to media and streaming. This year I made a point to speak as loud as I could in public mainstream forums like Forbes magazine and Ad Age. When these articles were published, my inbox was flooded with positive responses. I feel like my message was received and I hope to continue to bring this message to the global stage."

"Amplifying LGBTQ+ representation by growing Revry as head of development and production, while producing and acting in projects with artists I respect and admire," Revry executive Jonah Blechman says about what's next for his work with the streaming platform, which helps up-and-coming creators showcase their work. "And stepping into my directorial feature debut. Of course, I'm always open for collaboration!"

"I want to continue to help Revry scale and eventually produce my own story ideas," McGhee says of her plans. "I also want to join organizations and develop partnerships where I can continue making a difference for the LGBTQ+ community." -- R.E.

Christopher J. Rodriguez, Damian Pelliccione, LaShawn McGhee Photographer Bird Lambro; Jonah Blechman Photographer Gregory Zabilski

George M. Johnson

Author
@iamgmjohnson

After establishing a career as an activist and journalist, George M. Johnson made an indelible mark in the literary world with his 2020 "memoir-manifesto," All Boys Aren't Blue -- a series of essays about growing up Black and queer. The New York Times praised the "wit and unflinching vulnerability" they displayed in the retelling of their life's darkest times. Actress Gabrielle Union is now developing the book into a TV series with Johnson.

"The work I do as a Black queer storyteller ensures that Black stories, which have always existed but rarely get told, finally get the attention and respect they deserve from our lens," Johnson says.

The writer follows their successful debut with another memoir this year, We Are Not Broken, which chronicles Johnson's childhood growing up with his brother and cousins, who were all raised by their grandmother. We Are Not Broken "was a way for me to grieve the loss of my grandmother and center her and how she took care of Black community," Johnson shares.

In the past year, Johnson, who identifies as nonbinary, struggled with the isolation brought on by the pandemic. "Being a writer can be isolating which is even harder during a period of life in COVID which further limits human interaction," they say. "My spirituality carried me through it."

There is more writing on the way: a middle-grade novel called Five Second Violation and a nonfiction YA book, Property of No State. -- D.R., Photo Vincent Marc

Denne Michele Norris

Storyteller
@thedennemichele

Denne Michele Norris made history this year when she became the editor in chief of Electric Literature; she is now the first Black transgender woman to helm a major American literary publication. She is a published writer herself, as her work has appeared in esteemed outlets like McSweeney's and American Short Fiction. The New Yorker also cohosts the podcast Food 4 Thot, a popular roundtable about sex, identity, and reading.

While Norris wears many hats, she ultimately identifies as a storyteller. "As an editor, I support many writers in helping them craft and refine stories, essays, novels, and memoirs," she says. "As a writer, I work through the complexities and contradictions of my own life for the sake of better understanding the world and telling the stories I most needed to find and didn't find during the darkest and most joyous moments in my own life."

Norris, a former figure skater and "lapsed violist," cites her embrace of her trans identity to the world as her proudest accomplishment this year. "Every step I've taken -- whether writing about it or simply stepping out of my apartment in an outfit that helps me feel closest to my authentic self -- feels like a small step in reclaiming who I am and doing it in the image of who I've always known myself to be," she attests.

Norris was also surprised to have gotten her EIC post; initially she "almost withdrew my resume from consideration" due to self-doubt, but she is "working hard to break" that mindset. Look out for her debut novel, which is "finally just about ready." -- D.R., Photo Hilary Leichter

Chaya Milchtein

Automotive educator
@mechanicshopfemme

Chaya M. Milchtein knows cars. And she wants you to know them better too. The automotive educator founded Mechanic Shop Femme, Inc. "with the mission of helping the average car owner and driver better understand their vehicle," she states.

The queer femme empowerment speaker also spreads the automotive gospel through a variety of mediums: teaching classes at universities, libraries, nonprofits, and companies; writing for publications like Real Simple and Parents; and sharing lessons on her website, mechanicshopfemme.com. "I conquered my fear of video this year, growing a platform to continue my mission on TikTok to over 400,000 people," she touts.

Folks aren't tuning in just for lessons on maintenance and used car purchasing. In a 2020 profile, The New York Times described Milchtein as a "style influencer" who also specializes in writing about plus-size fashion and queer lifestyle. And she's not afraid of sharing her personal life with her fans. During the pandemic, thousands virtually attended her self-advertised "Biggest, Queerest Wedding of the Year" to her partner, JodyAnn Morgan.

While acknowledging her successes, Milchtein -- who also identifies as Jewish, a first-generation American, and a former foster kid -- is also plain about the hardships everyone has faced recently. "The last two years have been rough for all of us...no matter what our personal struggles [may be]," she says. --D.R., Photo Chana Milchtein

Charles Blow

Newspaper columnist, author, TV host
@charlesmblow

As a New York Times columnist for 13 years, Charles M. Blow has maintained an extraordinary reach and relevance through four presidencies and a stunning degree of social change. Now 51, the bisexual writer, thinker, and father of three has seen his influence grow even wider this year. In January, Blow released The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto. The critically acclaimed book lived up to its bold title, urging Black Americans to move away from northern and western states and return to the South as a way to regain political power and reverse entrenched racism. Blow argues the Great Migration to the North has come full circle -- many police killings of Black Americans are in states far from the old Confederacy. And white power structures in blue and purple states are as harmful to Black lives as the overt anti-Blackness of places like Louisiana, where Blow grew up, impoverished and abused. Blow recounted his painful past and his inspiring ascent in the beloved 2014 memoir Fire Shut Up in My Bones. Just this fall, the Metropolitan Opera in New York premiered an opera based on the book -- the work, composed by Terence Blanchard, was the first opera by a Black composer in the Met's 138-year history.

The writer, who often appears as a commentator on MSNBC and CNN, made the full leap to television personality when his weeknight news show, Prime With Charles Blow, premiered on the Black News Channel in May. The program doesn't just recap the day's news but digs deep, exploring issues like the Black gaze and the influence of Christianity on African-American life. On top of all this, Blow -- walking the walk of The Devil You Know -- moved to Georgia this year.

"I love Atlanta, but change is tough even when it's positive," Blow tells us. --Neal Broverman, Photo Sonia Recchia/Getty

Justin Sylvester

Host
@justinasylvester

Reality television aficionados will know Justin Sylvester as Kyle Richards's "ladysitter" on Bravo's The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. But Sylvester has grown into his own cultural force. He cohosts E!'s Daily Pop, an Emmy-nominated program about the entertainment industry; figures like Rihanna and Jared Leto often stop by to liven up the hour. And the gay host also gets to guest star on Today with Hoda & Jenna, where he brings his pop cultural insights to a network TV audience in a weekly segment, "Trendsday Wednesday."

"I am the person you can rely on for one hour to feel good and hopeful. Everyone needs their own happy hour," says Sylvester. He cites his Out100 inclusion as the year's proudest accomplishment. "I can recall my first time reading an Out magazine as a closeted high schooler in south Louisiana," he says. "I remember wondering if I would ever get a chance to even meet a man influential enough to be in Out. So, to be one is beyond that little boy's dreams."

"I grew up Catholic, went to Catholic school half my life -- so I was taught that being gay was a sin and an abomination," Sylvester adds. "The challenge was coming to the realization that I wasn't a mistake and God knew exactly what they were doing -- all while redefining my faith."

Sylvester will soon make a film cameo in Marry Me with J.Lo and is also starting the long process of fostering a child. -- D.R., Photo Brandon Sosa E! Entertainment

Alexander Cheves

Writer
@badalexcheves

In Out's Last Call column, Alexander Cheves dispenses advice ranging from the need for gender-inclusive packaging of sex toys to the ethics of fashion's fetish appropriation. Although barely 30, Cheves has offered advice related to queer sex since his intern days at The Advocate and later through his popular blog, Love, Beastly, where folks of every age can learn about better bottoming and kink culture alike. Cheves summarizes, "I work in sex, both on the page and off. I am an author, columnist, advice blogger, and sex educator. I am also an occasional sex worker, providing intimate experiences and companionship."

Cheves's life experiences are chronicled in his new memoir, My Love Is a Beast: Confessions, detailing his upbringing on a farm by Christian missionaries alongside his queer sexual awakening. The book -- already in its second printing from Unbound Edition Press and promoted by Cheves in venues like the Folsom Street Fair and fisting festivals -- is a hit, which surprised Cheves. "I had no idea that so many people would want to read about the life of a sex pig," he confesses.

Cheves credits the "men of previous generations" for their support. "They gave me my identity, my HIV meds, and my ability to live as openly as I do, and so much of queer male culture abandons and isolates these great men, these fighters and survivors. I cannot do that -- I was raised by them," he says. "So this book is my love letter...[to them and anyone who] journeys to find where they fit. That's all my story is, just with more lube." -- D.R., Photo Jason Holland

Gottmik

Gottmik became a transformational figure on season 13 of RuPaul's Drag Race, where she made history as the first trans male contestant (Gottmik prefers she/her pronouns in drag). Her makeup, fashion, and winsome personality charmed fans, the judges, and RuPaul himself, earning her a spot in the Top 4 and making drag's most visible stage a more trans-inclusive space.

"I would describe the work I do as a physical manifestation of the punk rock movement and 'crashing the cistem,' no matter what form of art I am partaking in at the time -- whether it's fashion, painting, makeup, music -- nothing inspires more than that chaotic, in-your-face, rock-n-roll vibe of dismantling the patriarchy," Gottmik declares.

Reflecting on the past year, Gottmik says she is proud she was able to "tell my story on such a huge platform. The way I have been able to connect with so many people this past year has been mind-blowing, and I still can't believe this is my life."

"I went through years of self-hatred and sadness because I was scared of what other people would think or how they would react, but I realized that the people that are meant to be in your life will be there no matter what as long as you're truly happy," she adds.

And the sky's the limit now. "I want to try everything," Gottmik says. "I am a very open person both mentally and spiritually, and I've learned that the best things happen when you just trust the universe." -- Daniel Reynolds, Photo Marco Ovando

Chaya Milchtein

Automotive educator
@mechanicshopfemme

Chaya M. Milchtein knows cars. And she wants you to know them better too. The automotive educator founded Mechanic Shop Femme, Inc. "with the mission of helping the average car owner and driver better understand their vehicle," she states.

The queer femme empowerment speaker also spreads the automotive gospel through a variety of mediums: teaching classes at universities, libraries, nonprofits, and companies; writing for publications like Real Simple and Parents; and sharing lessons on her website, mechanicshopfemme.com. "I conquered my fear of video this year, growing a platform to continue my mission on TikTok to over 400,000 people," she touts.

Folks aren't tuning in just for lessons on maintenance and used car purchasing. In a 2020 profile, The New York Times described Milchtein as a "style influencer" who also specializes in writing about plus-size fashion and queer lifestyle. And she's not afraid of sharing her personal life with her fans. During the pandemic, thousands virtually attended her self-advertised "Biggest, Queerest Wedding of the Year" to her partner, JodyAnn Morgan.

While acknowledging her successes, Milchtein -- who also identifies as Jewish, a first-generation American, and a former foster kid -- is also plain about the hardships everyone has faced recently. "The last two years have been rough for all of us...no matter what our personal struggles [may be]," she says. --D.R., Photo Chana Milchtein

Jordan Budd

Advocate @colagenational

Jordan Budd is a family man. The executive director of COLAGE, the organization that offers support to people with one or more LGBTQ+ parents, has dedicated himself to helping to connect people, often kids, with mentors and peers. And Budd, who refers to himself as "second-gen queer spawn," knows something about queer caregivers.

An organizer and strategist, Budd served as Florida's Youth and LGBT Vote Director in 2012 for President Obama's reelection campaign "where he solidified his commitment to elevating the voices of young people and people of color."

While Budd, who is Black and queer, has focused a great deal of his advocacy on LGBTQ+ issues, he's also worked as international representative for the Office and Professional Employees International Union. In that position, he advised, organized, and represented union members with "contract negotiations and pro-labor workplace demonstrations and campaigns."

Budd, who lives in Rhode Island with his partner, describes COLAGE as "the only national organization expressly dedicated to supporting people with one or more LGBTQ+ parents or caregivers, uniting them with a network of peers and supporting them as they nurture and empower each other to be skilled, self-confident, and just leaders in their communities."

Part of the 30-year-old organization's ongoing work has been to grow with ever-expanding LGBTQ+ families. And Budd's mission is to continue that trajectory.

"My plan is to continue to grow COLAGE's footprint across the United States with more opportunities for POC-led LGBTQ+ families to participate in our programming," he says.

Although COLAGE has three decades of infrastructure, the past 18 months have presented challenges. The pandemic threw up roadblocks to how to move forward for so many, and Budd navigated those obstacles personally and with COLAGE. "My biggest accomplishment this year has definitely been the successful and safe return of Family Week, the largest gathering of LGBTQ+ families in the world," Budd says. -- Tracy E. Gilchrist, Photo Cedric Wilson

Crystal Hudson

Politician @chudchud

Public service figures prominently in Crystal Hudson's life, and it will continue to do so as she becomes one of the first queer Black women elected to office in New York City. After winning the Democratic primary in June and facing no major opposition in November, Hudson will join the New York City Council in January. She'll represent District 35 in Brooklyn.

"I am a public servant who has committed my life to making government more accessible for more people," says Hudson, who's worked in the New York City Public Advocate's office and founded a nonprofit organization, Greater Prospect Heights Mutual Aid. "I know firsthand how hard government is to navigate -- I was the only child caring for my single mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. My mom cared for New Yorkers as a nurse for over 40 years in our city's hospital systems. But when she needed care herself, it felt as though there was none, and we were fighting battle after battle just to keep my mother safe at home and meet her basic needs."

"My new role," she adds, "will allow me to ensure that those with the greatest needs are at the center of our city's social safety net -- from new immigrants seeking fair employment to elders who are fighting to stay in their homes and age in place to young people fighting for access to a quality education and meaningful change in their communities."

Hudson, who is Caribbean-American, Afro-Latinx, and masculine-of-center, is proud of her diverse district and the fact that her campaign reflected that diversity. "I am most proud of building -- and winning -- a transformational, change-oriented campaign that welcomed everyone to our table," she says. "I am honored to represent an incredibly diverse district in Brooklyn -- the cultural hub of Brooklyn, countless Black-owned businesses, safe spaces for LGBTQ+ communities, a rich Orthodox Jewish community, longtime Black residents who have fought for justice and opportunity for my existence to quite literally be possible, and so much more.... My job starting in January is to deliver for my community." -- Trudy Ring, Photo Katrina Hajagos

Mars Wright

Artist, designer @mars.wright

In a media landscape where trans representation is largely confined to political scapegoating and horrific violence, the art and clothing of Mars Wright is a welcome antidote.

The queer trans mixed-media artist has built a thriving business of LGBTQ-themed works for your wall and back. With face masks that declare preferred pronouns, and shirts, shorts, and hoodies that carry messages like, "trans is beautiful," Wright's designs celebrate the community.

The L.A.-based designer first realized they could make a living selling their mantra-infused clothing after producing a small batch of T-shirts. The tees sold out within a day. After emblazoning postage stickers with messages of resiliency and sticking them around his neighborhood, Wright began drawing the messages online and found willing buyers. This modest success led to a full clothing line and website. The sales are great, but the response is better.

"I'm most proud of the impact my art has had on the trans community," says Wright, who awards a portion of proceeds to the Black trans community via the Unique Women's Coalition. At a Pride event, customers "told me how much it meant for them to see a trans person out in the world, being successful and happy."

"So often our lives are filled with a lot of fear, pain, and trauma," says Wright, who hopes to one day open a brick-and-mortar shop. "I want a space for us to enjoy art and community in a place where we often don't take up space." --Neal Broverman, Photo courtesy

Paulette Jordan

Politician @electpaulette

A Two-Spirit citizen of the Coeur d'Alene tribe, Paulette Jordan is a former Idaho state representative, vice chair of the Democratic National Committee Native American Caucus, cofounder of the DNC Council on Environment & Climate Crisis, and secretary of the National Indian Gaming Association. She considers herself "a daughter and hereditary leader of the Pacific Northwest" whose work involves "carrying on the legacy of leadership that comes with being Indigenous to this land." She is "a voice and a representative for balance and peace, for all people, and for the land and water that gives us life," she says.

In 2020, Jordan became the first Native American woman to win a major party nomination for U.S. Senate when she ran as a Democrat in Idaho. "What makes me proud is knowing that we've made significant progress in bringing to the forefront the voices of women, people of color, Indigenous people, LGBTQ+, young people, and other underrepresented communities," she says. She's a devoted mother and a nationally elected leader among the tribal nations. She's also extremely passionate about restoring balance to our relationship with nature, and started an organization, Save the American Salmon.

"Staying connected to your purpose -- what you came to this world to do -- will always help you overcome," she says. -- M.R.

Queen Victoria Ortega

Community organizer @queenvictoriaortega

Queen Victoria Ortega wears many crowns. The Angeleno activist is the national president of FLUX, a network of transgender leaders that seeks to uplift trans and nonbinary people. She is also queen of the Royal Court, a community group that uses events like drag shows to raise funds for LGBTQ+ causes. This found family is near and dear to her. "Losing my father Prince Adrian Ortega was quite difficult," Ortega shares. "He was my sounding board and a steady force of unconditional love. With help from the Royal Court members, I have been able to deal."

Ortega has shared her own love and wisdom as an advisor to a host of entities, including the Los Angeles County Prevention Planning Council, the Los Angeles County Commission on HIV Health Services, and the Transgender Service Provider Network. Her mission is "to show that trans people are capable and powerful, not victims but instead victorious!"

One of those victories includes the Connie Norman Transgender Empowerment Center, which was launched by members of FLUX. Named after the late transgender AIDS activist, the West Hollywood facility will provide employment and legal services to the trans community. -- D.R., Photo Paolo Jara Riveros

Silvia Vásquez-Lavado

Mountaineer @silviavasla

Making history is nothing new for adventurous mountaineer, explorer, entrepreneur, author, and activist Silvia Vasquez-Lavado. After just over a decade in the sport of mountain-climbing, Vasquez-Lavado became the first Peruvian woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 2016. Two years later, she completed climbing the Seven Summits (the tallest mountain on each continent), becoming the first out woman to do so.

In her activism and humanitarian work, Vasquez-Lavado is an outspoken advocate for sexual abuse survivors. In 2015, she created the nonprofit Courageous Girls, dedicated to helping survivors of sexual abuse and trafficking "with opportunities to find their strength and cultivate their voice by demonstrating their physical strength."

Vasquez-Lavado opens up about her own trauma in her recent memoir, In the Shadow of the Mountain, which is being adapted into a feature film starring Selena Gomez. She says the book "is my most personal journey to unmasking the deepest pain and shame inflicted by sexual abuse, and how it created self-destructive behaviors."

She is a member of the prestigious Explorers Club and is a sought-out public speaker. Vasquez-Lavado is gearing up for skiing the South Pole in Antarctica and the North Pole in 2022, and climbing the Seven Summits for a second time. -- Desiree Guerrero, Photo Emily Assiran

Regan de Loggans

Educator, agitator @phaggot.planet

Regan de Loggans is not afraid to be arrested for a cause. This past year, the Two-Spirit advocate was detained three times for protesting an extension of Line 3, an oil sands pipeline, which would stretch from Canada to Wisconsin and, in the process, endanger Anishinaabe and Dakota communities. The fallout from these arrests has been the year's greatest obstacle for de Loggans -- but the reality is, the struggle is a long game.

"I seek to be in harmony with land, waters, and community," de Loggans says of their mission. "That has manifested as an educator, historian, curator, agitator, and, through the state's eyes, a criminal. I want my work to be described as an unwavering commitment to Indigenous sovereignty, by any and all means necessary."

The Mississippi Choctaw activist has also participated in "teach-in" protests at institutions like the American Museum of Natural History, the Whitney Biennial, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art "in response to continued settler colonialism and institutionalized racism and violence."

De Loggans is based in "so-called Brooklyn," which they note is rightfully Canarsee land. In NYC, they are part of the Indigenous Kinship Collective, a community of Indigenous women, femme, and gender-nonconforming artists, activists, and educators. Wherever the fight may be, de Loggans will be there "in solidarity with Indigenous struggles for sovereignty and liberation." -- D.R., Photo courtesy

Rosalynne Montoya

Educator @rosalynnemontoya

Before the pandemic, Rosalynne Montoya was a full-time makeup artist at a cosmetics counter. After being laid off, she turned her Instagram into a full-time job.

"The average American learns about the trans community through media representations," notes the Hispanic, bisexual, nonbinary trans woman who friends call Rose. "Social media allows trans people to represent ourselves on our own terms. Seeing queer and trans people be visible online saved my life."

Montoya says she grew up "not knowing an LGBTQPIA+ person." It wasn't until YouTube and Orange Is the New Black that she learned she wasn't alone.

Montoya acts and models -- she recently worked with lesbian-owned TomboyX, a gender-neutral fashion label. Still, it's her job as an educational content creator that fuels her. After this year's record-breaking amount of anti-trans legislation, Montoya has "had hundreds of trans people, especially youth, reach out to me about their grievances. My mental health has suffered every time. Trans people deserve basic human rights."

This past year, "I also had the privilege of leaning into my gender euphoria," she says. "Since September of 2020, I've had three gender-affirming surgeries. For a long time, I thought having surgery meant that I didn't love my body enough. This last year I learned that having surgery is an act of self-love." -- Diane Anderson-Minshall, Photo Jacob Ritts

Luke Christian

Designer, entrepreneur @mrlukechristian

Luke Christian wants to be the role model he never had growing up. The deaf, gay entrepreneur created his own fashion brand, Deaf Identity, from scratch. And despite not seeing himself represented before in the business world, he hopes that his work lets people know that they are not alone.

"I always felt as though there was nobody in the public eye who was deaf that I could look up to," he says. "I wanted to create a brand that broke down stigmas and barriers surrounding the deaf community and, having faced many adversities growing up, I want to show the world that there is no 'right' or 'wrong' way of being deaf"

"I have had quite a few accomplishments that I have been proud of this year, but one personal one was becoming the first deaf-owned business to have its own pop-up week in the iconic department store John Lewis. To have achieved this within less than two years was mind-blowing, but to have the pop-up week take place during Deaf Awareness Week U.K. was the icing on the cake!"

Christian still faces people not taking him seriously as a business owner because of his sexuality and disability. "I often get underestimated and at times don't feel as though I'm being heard," he says. "It's a rewarding feeling when I prove them wrong." -- Raffy Ermac, Photo Sophia Carey

Chi Ossé

Politician @osse2021

Chi Osse, 23, is poised to become one of the youngest people ever elected to the New York City Council, but his campaign is about something bigger than him, he says. "I'm proud of creating a political revolution within my community that engaged young folks in local politics," Osse says. "Through registering and inspiring thousands of young people, my team and I were able to win against a 40+ year Democratic machine to govern in a district of over 200,000 people. I now have the opportunity to fight for progressive values such as a Green New Deal and affordable and low-income housing for all in the city of New York."

Osse, a gay man of Haitian and Chinese descent who has worked as a nightlife promoter in the city, founded an activist group, Warriors in the Garden, last year in response to the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. This year he ran for City Council from the 36th District, centered on Brooklyn's Crown Heights and Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhoods. He won the primary in June and was unopposed in the November general election.

"The largest obstacle I faced was people telling me that I was too young, too inexperienced, and too queer to win my seat in the City Council," he says. "I overcame these obstacles by doing the work and providing for my community. We got hundreds of our seniors vaccinated, helped many of our neighbors with rental assistance, and hosted food distributions at some of my community's public housing developments." He'll continue that work on the council, he says.

"I'm going to continue to fight for all of my neighbors, whether they're Black folks, seniors, children, the homeless, trans and/or queer -- I will put my blood, sweat, and tears into uplifting all of these communities," he promises. -- T.R., Photo Ryan McGinley

Kayden Coleman

Educator @kaydenxofficial

Kayden Coleman is the go-to source for trans folks -- and health care providers --seeking guidance on pregnancy.

The educator provides lessons on transmasculine fertility and birth to doctors, individuals, and organizations alike. His expertise is sorely needed in the medical field, where too many professionals are still ignorant about the needs of trans patients. "I also use my platform to educate people on different topics such as sexuality and anti-Blackness as it pertains to the transmasculine community," adds Coleman, who in addition to consultations offers sensitivity training.

And it's been a banner year for Coleman, himself a father of two. Laverne Cox featured him on her Instagram, which boasts over 5 million followers. And the R&B singer Ari Lennox contacted him "to tell me how amazing she thinks I am.... I am still not completely certain that I am not in an extremely long and drawn out dream," he marvels.

While Coleman has been a target of anti-trans conservatives in the past, he pointed to his own self-doubt as the hardest obstacle he faced this year. "I have a tendency to downplay and underestimate myself and in doing so, I hold myself back from a lot of things," he shares. "I overcame that by speaking love and life into myself. I forced myself to see the accomplishments I have achieved and actually be proud of myself for once."

What's next for Coleman? "I am going to continue to work towards encouraging education and visibility for the transmasculine community -- while simultaneously holding space for and uplifting the transfeminine community -- in an attempt to gain inclusivity and equity for us all. I have some amazing projects I am working on with some equally as amazing people and I am excited to see it all come into fruition." -- Daniel Reynolds, Photo courtesy

Geo Soctomah Neptune

Basket maker, educator @niskapisuwin

Geo Soctomah Neptune is a queer, nonbinary, Two-Spirit artist and educator from the Passamaquoddy tribe of Motahkomikuk, or Indian Township, in Maine. Geo is their English name; their traditional name is Niskapisuwin, which roughly translates as "two medicine spirits stand as one person."

A master basket maker, Neptune learned their art from their grandmother. Neptune was named a 2021 United States Artists Fellow, which comes with a $50,000 reward.

Neptune believes in passing on knowledge to the next generation -- and has also made history in the process. In 2020, they were elected to the school board in Indian Township, thereby becoming the first out trans elected official in Maine.

"I am an artist and educator with a public health organization that serves Indigenous communities in Maine," they say. "I create my own art while teaching traditional techniques and methods to Passamaquoddy children, and guide them through the process of applying for markers and promoting their art online."

Neptune looks to their elders to help reclaim Two-Spirit traditions. "Future generations of Wabanaki Two-Spirits are going to experience a world that is much more accepting than the one I have become accustomed to," they say. -- D.R., Photo Sipsis Peciptaq Elamoqessik

Dr. Van Bailey

Educator @dr__handsome

For over 15 years, Dr. Van Bailey has worked in higher education, establishing himself as an advocate for equity on college campuses. His resume boasts many firsts. He was the inaugural director of the LGBTQ Student Center at the University of Miami as well as the first director of BGLTQ Student Life at Harvard College, where he launched a resource center for LGBTQ+ students. His expertise makes him a coveted speaker in areas like intersectionality. He is also part of bklyn boihood, a collective that celebrates the creativity and beauty of queer and transmasculine people of color.

"I am an innovator and a creative. I am a builder and a lover of community. I believe it is important to center the most vulnerable people no matter what work we are engaged in," he says, adding, "For me, this work is about making sure no Black or brown LGBTQ+ person has to suffer in silence on college campuses."

Bailey cities the launch of Harvard's LGBTQ+ center as one of his most challenging and rewarding projects. "For me, it was about making sure I had community and people around who believed in me," says Bailey, noting his own experiences with anxiety and depression. "I made sure to get a therapist who understood how racial trauma shows up in queer and trans communities. It was important to have a network established of people I trusted. Radical care is community work!"

At present, Bailey is pursuing a master's in social work. "Also, being a parent to an amazing human is pretty remarkable. Seeing them grow really is phenomenal." -- D.R., Photo Courtney Ramsey

Christina Carr & Pili Tobar

Washington warriors @christinacarr @pilitobar87

Pili Tobar and Christina Carr are a D.C. power couple for 2021. Tobar is deputy White House communications director, part of an all-woman senior communications team and Carr is press secretary at the Small Business Administration.

Both express enthusiasm and pride about their work. Tobar (pictured below) says she is "proud of the work we're doing to make life better for the American people and working families -- through historic legislation we've passed like the American Rescue Plan, impactful policies like the child tax credit to reduce poverty, our efforts to combat COVID, and furthering President Biden's Build Back Better agenda and the bipartisan infrastructure deal."

Carr (above) notes of her job, "American small businesses and their leaders come from every zip code, every background, and have so many things to share and to learn from. It's fascinating to talk to business owners across the country." SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman often calls small businesses "the giants of our economy," Carr points out, adding, "It's true -- they're leading the way to economic recovery. I love helping the SBA and Administrator Guzman to formulate a message to convey the work the Biden-Harris administration is doing to help small businesses grow and thrive." -- T.R., Photos Andrea De Leon; courtesy Tobar

Dr. Demetre Daskalakis

Physician @drdemetre

Dr. Demetre Daskalakis joined the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in late 2020 as the director of the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, but he soon found his duties encompassed another epidemic.

"My biggest challenge was getting pulled into the COVID-19 response three months after I started with CDC," he says. "This experience confirmed for me that it is possible to overcome any barrier if you promote science, listen to the community, and try different approaches if problems arise -- especially if it is the right thing to do for public health."

Daskalakis helped increase the COVID vaccination rate in the U.S. and assure that vaccines were delivered equitably. He also hopes to use the lessons of the COVID response in fighting HIV, just as the lessons of the HIV epidemic informed the efforts against COVID.

Daskalakis came to the CDC after several years with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and has become known for his sometimes unorthodox style -- for instance, dressing in drag to deliver meningitis vaccines.

As the CDC endeavors to end the HIV epidemic, "my goal is to pivot our strategy to focus on a 'status neutral' approach to HIV prevention and care," Daskalakis says. "This approach means that regardless of HIV status, people receive the services that they need to stay healthy and stop HIV. This strategy will help to dismantle stigma and discrimination -- some of the biggest barriers to ending the HIV epidemic." -- T.R., Photo Courtesy CDC

David Johns

Advocate @mrdavidjohns

In 2013, David Johns was appointed the first executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans, an appointment by then-President Obama. It was the culmination of distinguished work on Capitol Hill that included time as a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Fellow as well his former role as a New York City teacher.

"Every Black man in my family has served our country, and this opportunity allowed me to serve in ways that leveraged the best parts of my skills, passion, and experiences," he shares.

Johns left the post at the end of the Obama administration in January 2017. He went through a crisis of confidence. "I wanted to continue to serve my country and my community -- but my confidence in myself was shaken," he says.

But then National Black Justice Coalition CEO Sharon Lettman-Hicks offered Johns the job of executive director of the NBJC, a group that advances the rights of Black LGBTQ+ people. He started in September 2017, confident once more. This year alone, Johns is proud of three initiatives he helmed as NBJC's leader. One is the Lavender Book, an app that helps Black LGBTQ+ people find supportive spaces. Next is the Good Trouble Network, the first formal network of Black LGBTQ+ elected leaders. Third is the launch of the Wisdom Awards and James Baldwin Legacy Awards, which honor elders. "I stand in a long line of racial justice warriors who work to ensure that all Black people can be free." -- D.R., Photo Kea Taylor

Jessamyn Stanley

Yoga instructor, wellness advocate @mynameisjessamyn

Jessamyn Stanley is a leading force in the world of wellness -- and is also someone who's struggled with feeling ostracized from it. But that's at the source of her inspirational power. As a plus-size yoga teacher, author of Every Body Yoga, and podcast host of Dear Jessamyn, she preaches the gospel of self-love and body-positivity, and lays bare the inequities that face marginalized people within this sphere. Markedly, in her new book, Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance, Stanley takes the yoga industry to task for racism and bias through a series of autobiographical essays. Its June release was a pivotal moment for the yogi.

"The release of Yoke: My Yoga of Self-Acceptance made my soul sing," Stanley shares. "It made me proud to see the cover broadcast on the jumbotron outside Good Morning America's NYC studios."

Yoke is also a treatise on the strength of intersectionality, and Stanley embraces her many identities -- among them, queer femme, Black, fat, and a practitioner of the Baha'i faith. But occasionally, she still contends with feelings of self-doubt. In the past year, "the largest obstacle I've faced is believing I'm worthy of my success and power," she says. "Overcoming it is a daily journey, but it has been incredibly empowering to acknowledge the ways in which I undermine my own goals by not believing in myself."

Her future plans include "continuing to evolve my companies and myself in tune with universal grace and divine timing." -- D.R., Photo Bobby Quillard

Sean Snyder and Adrian Stevens

Dancers @seanqsnyder, @ad.matthias

For an LGBTQ+ Native American, powwows can be a confounding place. On one hand, it's a joyous occasion that includes embracing friends and family, celebrating ancestors, dancing, and food. But in many places, outside the country's few Two-Spirit powwows, they are spaces where gender diversity and queerness are invisible. That's why the emergence of Sean Snyder -- a nonbinary Two-Spirit Navajo and Ute dancer -- and his partner of eight years, Adrian Stevens, on the powwow circuit has been so thrilling.

Stevens, who is gay and of Ute, Apache, and Shoshone-Bannock ancestry, says his aunties recognized he was Two-Spirit long before he did. Then he and Snyder met at a powwow in Utah nearly a decade ago, fell in love, and have been dancing and traveling the circuit together ever since. They were featured in the PBS doc, Sweetheart Dancers, and thrill audiences with their moves and matching regalia (a rarity since most couples have opposite-gendered outfits). More and more powwows are making way for couples like Snyder and Stevens.

"Every Native community has a different understanding of what Two-Spirit means to their nation," Snyder says. "We encourage our Native Nations to protect our queer family and encourage them into our powwow circle."

Stevens agrees. "We see that momentum gaining and allies speaking out in support. To be a voice and give our communities recognition is so humbling and powerful." -- D.A.M., Photo Ceylon Grey

Sean Dorsey

Choreographer @seandorseydance

Choreographer, dancer, writer, educator, and activist Sean Dorsey continues to break boundaries in the world of dance. The San Francisco-based artist is considered to be the first out trans modern dance choreographer to rise to national acclaim.

Dorsey has been awarded numerous honors over the years, including the Doris Duke Artist Award, five Isadora Duncan Dance Awards, and the Goldie Award for Performance. He also made history as the first out trans person on the cover of Dance Magazine.

Of his own long-running company, Sean Dorsey Dance, he says, "It's a fusion of full-throttle dance, luscious queer partnering, intimate storytelling, and theater. My work centers trans and queer bodies and experience onstage and off-stage."

Dorsey is also is the founding artistic director for the trans arts nonprofit, Fresh Meat Productions.

"I am incredibly proud to be celebrating the 20th anniversary season of the trans arts nonprofit I founded in 2002," he says. "Twenty years ago, nobody was supporting trans arts or artists -- and I'm proud that Fresh Meat Productions and Sean Dorsey Dance have been central to changing that."

As a "social practice artist," Dorsey says he takes time and care in creating his groundbreaking works. His latest project, The Lost Art of Dreaming, "a new full-evening dance-theater work," is set to premiere in 2022 and will be followed by a national tour. -- Desiree Guerrero, Photo Lydia Daniller

Chris Corsini, a.k.a. MDL CHLD

Artist, astrologer @chriscorsini

Chris Corsini wears many hats. He's an artist, tarot card reader, energy healer, and American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter who fights for the inclusion of deaf, LGBTQ+, and BIPOC folks in the spheres of the arts and astrology. Corsini's regular horoscopes and meditation workshops have garnered thousands of views on Instagram and YouTube, as has his work as an artist.

In addition to ASL interpreting live performances of music stars like Jay-Z, Taylor Swift, Shawn Mendes, and the Jonas Brothers, Corsini has released tracks under his artist name MDL CHLD like "Funk (About You)," which feature queer, deaf, and BIPOC folks from around the world in front of and behind the camera (Corsini is gay but not deaf). He created this extraordinary production in the midst of a global pandemic with the help of green screens, video conferencing, and ASL interpreters in real time. Despite all the hurdles, the former competitive dancer describes this work as "absolutely necessary."

"We strive to normalize accessibility in everything we do by working with deaf community members [specifically from the LGBTQ+/BIPOC communities] to create accessible music, art, and online content; representation is always a priority in our music videos," he says. "The work we do is not only deeply nourishing to the mind, body, and soul, it's also fun, inspiring, and thought-provoking."

Corsini will be bringing this inclusive spirit to his next music video shoot in Lisbon, Portugal, which will interpret the song's lyrics into sign language woven into dance and choreography. This year, he also received the Well+Good Changemakers Award for his contributions to wellness and relaunched his website (inwardboutique.com), which offers access to workshops, classes, and products. -- D.R., Photo Daniella Falsitta

Demi Lovato

Singer, TV host @ddlovato

This year, Demi Lovato finally let the world know the real Demi. While they had been in the spotlight since age 10, it was only this past May, when they came out as nonbinary, that they felt the world really saw them. "I feel so relieved and happy that the world is getting to see my truth," Lovato says, adding that "learning how to tell the world my truth about being nonbinary" was the year's biggest obstacle. They thank their friends, family, and fans for inspiring them to do it. Now, thanks to how they've opened up, others will have an easier time doing the same.

Apart from coming out, Lovato has had one of the busiest years of their career. Not only do they have their own podcast, 4D With Demi Lovato, and a Roku original talk show, The Demi Lovato Show, but the multitalented performer also had a four-part Peacock docuseries exploring UFOs and the possibility of extraterrestrial life called Unidentified With Demi Lovato. Additionally, they're returning to the studio to work on their first new music since coming out as nonbinary and also developing a show for NBC called Hungry, about a group of friends in a food issues support group. This was a great year for Lovato, and next year is sure to be even better. -- M.R., Photo courtesy

MUNA

Band members Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin, and Naomi McPherson @whereismuna

MUNA already has a gay anthem under its belt. In 2017, the electric pop band -- all three members are queer -- released "I Know a Place," a synthy celebration of every LGBTQ+ safe haven from your local gay bar to your childhood bedroom. Its runaway success was surpising to the band. "I still am kind of dumbfounded by the way that that song has been lifted up by other members of our community," frontwoman Katie Gavin says. Alongside Josette Maskin and Naomi McPherson, the group has released two dancey-yet-vulnerable albums that have rocked us with brutal honesty and catchy hooks.

The trio has turned a more playful page with their latest single, "Silk Chiffon," a "sweet love song" for sapphic fans, featuring Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers. Expect new music soon. "There will be other pop bangers," says McPherson. "There will be some classic MUNA dark pop slaps, and then there will be some folkier stuff." At the end of the day, "it's all just sort of us doing what we like to do," which is uplifting the LGBTQ+ community with songs that describe its highest highs and lowest lows. We're all just human after all. -- Taylor Henderson, Photo Frank

Sean Bankhead

Choreographer @itsbankhead

Sean Bankhead is the mastermind behind your favorite performances. The 32-year-old professional dancer has been in the industry for well over a decade, having worked with legends like Britney Spears and Missy Elliot; he was also one of two men who ever performed "Single Ladies" on stage with Beyonce. You certainly know his recent work. The out choreographer's resume includes Normani's "Motivation" and "Wild Side" music videos, Cardi B's "Up," and Lil Nas X's controversial number-one single, "Industry Baby." Bankhead's also responsible for the choreography of Nas's iconic BET Awards performance of "(Montero) Call Me By Your Name" in which Nas, surrounded by his scantily clad dancers swathed in durags, pays homage to Michael Jackson's "Remember the Time" and concludes with an explosive kiss that broke the internet.

"It's been completely liberating to be able to create so many moments over this past year with [artists] who aren't afraid to completely embrace their queerness and fly free," Bankhead says. "Making art should never feel restrictive, yet...queer creators -- who are literally behind most of the moments in pop culture -- still haven't been able to see themselves in the artist they work with. But that time is over."

Bankhead clearly isn't afraid to push the boundaries of dance or pop culture, and his vision feels more important now than ever. "Working with artists like Lil Nas X has opened the door for visibility on such huge stages, and [he] isn't afraid at all to shatter that ceiling, especially as a successful Black and gay rapper. It's been the most fun I've had creating since I started my career when I was 16." -- T.H., Photo Jerritt Clark/Getty Images

Logan Lynn

Musician, multi-hyphenate @loganlynnofficial

Logan Lynn is booked and busy. This past year alone, the musician, filmmaker, producer, and activist helped launch a nonprofit foundation with the Grammy-winning band Portugal. The Man and helped bring the .gay web domain platform to customers all over the world. Lynn was also signed by iconic indie music label Kill Rock Stars and released the singles "Rich and Beautiful" and "Eat&Drink&Smoke&Shop&Fuck"; a full album arrives next year.

"This year we all had the opportunity to give up or move forward, and most of us probably did at least a little of both," he says. "I have been surviving the pandemic through music, fashion, art, rescue doggos, and just showing up for the communities I care about and belong to. I'm grateful to still be here and feel very clear about who and how I am trying to be in this new world."

"Everything I create now is rooted in this unwavering belief that we will all come back together someday, to dance and hug and kiss and fuck and eat at restaurants and go to shows and see our families and shop in stores and travel and get the mail without worrying about dying and just have fun, like we used to," he says. "I just absolutely refuse the darkness now." -- R.E., Photo Kill Rock Stars

Niki DeMar

Singer @niki

Niki DeMar (born Nicola Teresa DeMartino) is probably best known as a bisexual influencer, one half of twin duo Niki and Gabi. But that's not where her focus is any more. Now she's turning her attention to her music, hoping to be seen as more of an artist than an influencer. "I've honestly wanted to release my own music for so long, but I never thought I would come around to actually doing it -- because failure is terrifying," she says. "For the longest time I thought that no one cared about me or what I had to say, unless it was tied to the Niki and Gabi brand or channel, which stunted myself from following my dreams. The fact that I'm now actually doing it actively, releasing singles, my first EP, having live shows, hitting milestones on streams, growing my monthly listeners, and even now being interviewed for this, it's all so surreal."

She had her first live show ever at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City in November, and she wants to book a tour for her debut EP, Nights Alone. She is, of course, always writing new songs. "There are so many layers of me that I never showed to the internet until I began releasing music," she says. "I'm hoping that I'm not blended in with the category of 'YouTubers who are making more music because they can,' because I know that is the farthest from what I'm doing. I'm an independent artist putting in the money and time behind all projects by myself.... The only reason anyone would take this path is for passion, period." -- M.R., Photo Devin Kasparian

Orville Peck

Singer @orvillepeck

Orville Peck is queering up the music world, and for the better. The South African-born country western star known for his dreamy voice -- and the fact that he wears a signature fringe mask in public everywhere he performs -- is one of the genre's still-too-few out gay male artists. And though it has (thankfully) become more and more accepted to be out and proud in the music industry, there's still a lot that needs to be done for equity and representation. Even behind a mask, Peck is proving his visibility matters to listeners the world over. And it's getting him all the praise and attention he deserves.

In the past year alone, Peck has collaborated with gay music icons like Lady Gaga for the 10th anniversary of her Born This Way album as well as Beyonce for the rodeo-themed collection of her athleisure brand Ivy Park. After releasing his debut album Pony in 2019, and the follow-up EP Show Pony in 2020, Peck is ready to continue blessing the world with more new music. -- R.E., Photo Adam Alexander

Nik Dodani

Actor
@nikdodani

It's been a standout year for Nik Dodani. The gay Indian-American actor completed his run as the lovable, foul-mouthed Zahid on Netflix's Atypical, a pioneering show about autism, which ended after four seasons. And he brought his talents to the movie adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen, in which he queered the storyline -- his character, Jared, was gay in the new production -- and provided much-needed comic relief to a film flooded with sadness. It won't be the last musical move for Dodani, who this fall made his Broadway debut as Ogie in Waitress, Sara Bareilles's beloved Broadway musical.

Dodani, who also appeared in Alex Strangelove, Escape Room, and the Murphy Brown revival, is a true multi-hyphenate. "I'm an actor, comedian, writer," he shares. "I mostly make people laugh, but would honestly love the opportunity to make people cry." His comedy is often tied to a cause. He campaigned for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the 2020 presidential campaign and previously worked with MoveOn for a political humor event, Laughter Trumps Hate. At present, he is developing Blue Boy, a feature film he penned based on the novel by Rakesh Satyal.

Beyond the Beltway, Dodani also wants to make Hollywood better. "The biggest obstacle I've faced in the past year has been systemic racism in the industry. I have yet to overcome it, but girl, I'm trying," Dodani says. To this aim, he cofounded the Salon, a nonprofit supporting South Asian artists and executives in the entertainment industry. This year, the group launched a mentorship program for 23 budding writers, directors, actors, producers, and more, who were given guidance by luminaries like Kal Penn, Mindy Kaling, and Hasan Minhaj. -- D.R., Photo Simrah Farrukh

Pride House LA

Content creators Mollee Gray, Jeka Jane, Garrett Clayton, and Kent Boyd
@pridehousela, @molleegray, @jekajane, @garrettclayton1, @kent_boyd

In 2021, content is king, and all-LGBTQ+ social media collective Pride House LA knows exactly the kind of content that resonates with young queer kids. Most popular on TikTok, where they have over 300,000 followers and millions and millions of likes, Pride House LA -- a foursome consisting of members Kent Boyd, Garrett Clayton, Jeka Jane, and Mollee Gray -- helped fellow Out100 honoree JoJo Siwa during her public coming out this year. Considering all of the entertaining videos they produce, it's easy to see why they are so beloved.

"The main mission of Pride House LA is to be the representation we wish we had when we were younger," the group says in a statement to Out.

"I'm most proud of consistently practicing self-love in a space with Mollee, Jeka, and Garrett!" Boyd says. "The synergy we create is pretty awesome. Family vibes all day!"

"I'm proud of the love and opportunity that's come along with Pride House LA," Clayton adds. "I am so proud of all these things and many more that further prove that queer people deserve success and joy in this world."

"I am beyond proud to be in the process of changing my legal name and gender marker," Jane, who is married to his Pride House member Gray, says. "It's a monumental moment that seemed so far away, but is finally happening!"

With the world slowly but surely getting more and more back to normal, Pride House LA hopes to continue spreading positivity to their fans and supporters from all over. And with a successful merch line already under their belt and the release of their self-titled Pride House LA podcast, they're on track to keep doing that.

"Visibility and representation in our community matters. We are proud to be loud and confident with our queerness, in hopes it can help at least one beautiful soul feel confident in being who they are!" -- R.E., Photo Casie Wendel

Leon Wu

Designer
@leoneliaswu

When LGBTQ+ people want to look great and feel comfortable for a special occasion, they turn to Leon Elias Wu. The trans founder and CEO of Sharpe Suiting is famous for his brand's gender-inclusive suits, which employ a trademarked technology, Andropometrics, to create measurements tailored to a client's identity and preferences.

In addition to crafting inclusive clothes, Wu engages in "visual activism," launching the collective SharpeHaus to support women, BIPOC folks, and the LGBTQ+ community. As Wu describes his work, "I'm a gender-expansive activist who uses fashion and entertainment spaces to showcase subversive art or concepts in order to incite positive change and equality."

"I envision a world where people from our community -- [assigned female at birth], lesbian, transgender, nonbinary individuals, and BIPOC people -- will be represented in the zeitgeist or mainstream media with respect, equality, and most importantly, admiration," he adds. In this vein, Wu's proudest accomplishment this past year was creating nearly 150 gender-inclusive choir uniforms for the University of Southern California, two of which were nonbinary options, and seeing those students perform in them.

And there's many awesome things in the pipeline for SharpeHaus. "This spring we will be launching a new athleisure collection," Wu says. "Adding to this our London expansion and some surprise entertainment projects brewing, 2022 is going to be huge." -- D.R., Photo Kim Geranimo

Jeremy Crawford

Game designer
@jeremyecrawford

Dungeons & Dragons may be a classic game with an established fan base, but that doesn't mean new life can't be brought to it. Thanks to creators like Jeremy Crawford, a game architect with Wizards of the Coast (D&D's parent company), it's also becoming more inclusive for queer fans.

"I work on the game's rules and stories," Crawford says. "In that work, I'm constantly listening: heeding D&D's players and discerning ways both to preserve what they love about the game's past and to build D&D's future. I believe that the future requires D&D to become an even bigger tent than it already is -- with room for players from many different walks of life -- while preserving the inspiring aspects of fantasy storytelling that have resonated for decades."

"At the end of 2020, we released a book I led, Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, the game's biggest rules expansion in years," he says. "I moved immediately to exciting new projects, while continuing to help increase LGBTQ+ characters and perspectives in our books."

"When I was a kid playing D&D, it felt too much to dream I'd get to work on this game someday, but even more, I didn't imagine I'd eventually help those books feature queer folks." -- Raffy Ermac, Photo Phillip Lienau

Matthieu Jost

Entrepreneur
@misterbandb

Travel was among the hardest-hit industries during the pandemic lockdowns. And founder and CEO of queer-focused travel company misterb&b, Matthieu Jost, can certainly attest to this.

The French entrepreneur says perseverance and creativity were necessary to survive the unexpected global crisis. "In particular," he explains, "we had to adapt our supply to the new demand and move from 'private rooms only' to a more diverse offering that includes hotels, entire places, or villas that feel safer to a lot of travelers. To make sure these additional listings stayed true to our LGBTQ DNA, we curated them carefully and added connection features allowing the community to connect through our app....We're very happy with the results so far."

Today, Jost is focused on the future and says he expects that travel will make a big comeback in the new year. And for LGBTQ+ travelers looking for friendly accommodations, misterb&b will be an invaluable resource.

"I'm confident 2022 will mark the true rebound of travel. I'll probably be very busy working at expanding our mission of helping the LGBTQ community better connect while traveling, offering new tools to plan and schedule trips and find travel companions to explore the world together." -- Desiree Guerrero, Photo M. Dedonder

Cesar DeLeon Ramirez

Hairstylist
@cesar4styles

Cesar DeLeon Ramirez learned the fundamentals of being a hairstylist while growing up in New York City and "amidst hairspray and rollers" in his family's salon in Puerto Rico. He is now one of the biggest names in his field, with a celebrity clientele list that includes Beyonce, Kehlani, Ariana Grande, Jennifer Lopez, and Demi Lovato.

But for Ramirez, who is also a creative director, the job isn't just about hair. "I've always looked at it as a way of influencing pop culture -- the world sees my creativity when they see their favorite music artists and then they follow the trends," he says. "It is my responsibility to always deliver good work that stands for something and that is fun and sexy."

Despite the pandemic, it's been a busy year for the gay and vegan creative. Ramirez worked as a brand ambassador for Paul Mitchell promoting cruelty-free hairstyling. He's also preparing to launch his own beauty and lifestyle brand next year, Wildform (thewildform.com), and even started his own management company for other artists in the beauty biz.

This success was not always promised. He recounted "only obstacles" in his youth, as he was raised by a single mother who divorced an abusive dad.

Ramirez became an NYC club kid in his early 20s, which was "fun but dangerous," and ultimately, it was a path he left. "I woke up one day and didn't recognize myself," he says. "I knew my life had a purpose -- that was the moment I felt my spirituality and faith.... Balancing life with spiritual practices and self-love truly helps me feel like I can overcome anything." -- Daniel Reynolds, Photo Gerson Lopes

Hedi Slimane

Creative director
artist @hedislimane

Is Hedi Slimane the coolest queer person on the planet? Quite possibly. The 53-year-old has served as creative director for French fashion house Celine since early 2018, pushing the label to reflect his passions of androgyny, thin silhouettes, indie rock music, and California culture. Celebrities known for the laidback chic Slimane epitomizes, like Dakota Johnson and Jamie Lee Curtis, don his designs on red carpets. The artful aesthetic he brought to his past employers, including Yves Saint Laurent and Dior Homme, is translating to success for Celine and parent company LVMH, the latter of which reported a 20 percent bump in sales for the third quarter of 2021.

Aside from fashion, the French-born creative is also an accomplished photographer, chronicling rock stars and the cities he lived in and loved, like Paris, Berlin, London, and Los Angeles. His black-and-white images of fans worshipping at the altar of live musical performances and the musicians who enable those transcendent experiences were shown this year at an exhibition in Shanghai. Slimane also recently co-produced an electronica track, "Up N Down," with upstart singer Izzy Camina, which served as the soundtrack to Cosmic Cruiser, the film promoting Celine's '70s-inspired summer 2022 line. --N.B., Photo Y.R

Lucas Keller

CEO
@lucasjkeller1

Lucas Keller is one of the music industry's most powerful players. With his Los Angeles-based management company Milk & Honey, the gay Wisconsin native represents the writing talent behind megahits for Normani, Justin Bieber, Doja Cat, and Drake, to name a few. Keller's company also represents artists and DJs; his clients have sold over 400 million records worldwide.

This year, Milk & Honey launched a sports division with an initial roster of 15 NFL players. It also opened several satellite offices while Keller was selling over $100 million in publishing assets for his clients -- not that it was easy during a pandemic. "I kept my foot on the gas the past two years and [am] probably overworked but was fortunate we grew."

Keller is working at establishing a more equitable pay structure at the service where 365 million people access music: Spotify. Keller often lobbies for streaming income to go to creators, not just tech companies and executives.

"My job is to protect the creators, and build and preserve value for copyright and art that my clients have created," Keller says. "Having a company that manages songwriters, producers, artists, and athletes -- the gig is the same...creating opportunity, finding the big idea, navigating and instilling faith that I can lead them into battle. I feel a great debt to the American songwriter; it was when I pivoted to representing songwriters that I had a real inflection point and my career changed." -- Neal Broverman, Photo Christine Solomon

Brian Kelly

Entrepreneur
@briankelly

Brian Kelly founded The Points Guy, a blog and website, to help readers "maximize their lives by leveraging loyalty programs," Kelly attests. The advice gears toward accruing airline points from credit cards, which for Kelly is not just a luxury. "The more people travel, the more understanding and less fearful they become of others," he says. "'Otherism' is a plague on our society."

For Kelly, who is gay, the goal is not only the education of consumers. The Points Guy raises funds and awareness for groups like the Rainbow Railroad, which assists LGBTQ+ refugees. This past year, the company also launched a fundraiser for Miles4Migrants, a nonprofit helping Afghan families escape the Taliban.

The pandemic posed unique challenges for The Points Guy and its CEO, Kelly, who was rated by Forbes as a leading travel influencer. "When travel was grounded to a near halt because of the pandemic, one of the biggest obstacles we faced was figuring out how to continue to promote travel," he says. "We began to interview doctors and public health experts and provide up to date information on the industry. We created a 'Country by Country Reopening Guide' that we regularly update. I'm proud that we have become a global resource for quality, up-to-date information on all things travel during a time of misinformation and confusion." -- D.R., Photo Jonno Rattman

Matthew Herman and David Kien

Entrepreneurs
@boy__smells

Matthew Herman and David Kien, both out gay men, cofounded Boy Smells in 2016 to break the gender binary in the candle industry. What began as a "side hustle" -- the pair experimented with matching masculine and feminine notes in their Los Angeles kitchen -- has expanded into an award-winning empire of what they call "genderful" products, ranging from fragrances to underwear.

And of course, there's the candles themselves; creative scents include "Cowboy Kush" and "Les." The pink-labeled products, which colorfully push against "boy" stereotypes, can be found in international retail spaces extending from Bloomingdale's to the Tom of Finland Store.

After some difficult times during the pandemic, Boy Smells continues to expand. It launched its Fantome collection with three new scents and there's new holiday-themed products on the way. "We can't share too much just yet," they say, "but we can say that, as always, they will be focused on radical self-acceptance, fluidity, and iconic genderfulness."

"The success has been awesome -- it shows us that the world is changing," says the pair. "It is an opportunity for us to stand for more than just personal products. We get to amplify values and push the conversation forward, and hopefully inspire people to see identity in a new way." -- D.R., Photo Isabella Behravan

Andre Shakti

Sex worker, educator
@andreshakti

When the pandemic started, sex workers were one of the hardest hit demographics. Strip clubs and in-person events were no longer safe, and the government banned relief funds from going to "businesses of a prurient sexual nature." In the face of this, Andre Shakti hosts and produces a weekly LGBTQ+ virtual strip club called Sanctuary, found at sanctuarytheclub.com, which provides essential income and community to marginalized sex workers impacted by the pandemic.

"We launched right at the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, and during the pre-vaccine quarantine period people were reliably hungry for work, hungry for human connection, and hungry for any distraction from the world at large," she says. When things started changing again, she didn't know how that would affect Sanctuary and was worried it might put the club in danger. Instead, the club continues to flourish. "I feel extraordinarily grateful for our fan base as well as our incredible team of gorgeous, resilient, exceptionally talented dancers," she says.

Shakti has a lot on her plate, but she's undaunted by the work. "I'm an active sex educator, sex worker, and veterinary technician in Baltimore...and I keep myself busy with work, multiple partners, and a large menagerie of both domestic and exotic animals," she says. "It takes a ton of time, labor, and dedication to keep myself afloat, but every single day is different, and I wouldn't have it any other way." -- Mey Rude, Photo Oscar Merrida IV

iRAWniQ

Rapper @irawniq

"Creating hope and change both artistically and socially is the driving force behind my work," iRAWniQ says. "I want people to understand they can unapologetically exist while rewriting the narrative that has been laid before us."

The nonbinary rapper has been releasing music for over a decade, but their work ranges from "acting and composition to activism and writing," all of it "raw, unapologetic, innovative and genuine." Their talents extend to multiple mediums. Earlier this year, iRAWniQ, the parent of a 13-year-old, released a children's book about a genderfluid fifth-grader titled Charlie's Best Work Yet. It sends a "message of love, expression, and fluidity" that "is something very important for children and adults alike," they say. They are currently working on another book "for my fellow top surgery folx."

They're also preparing for a "recurring role on a network show. Music is coming...art...but honestly, I am most excited about growing and flowing, living and loving out loud."

Look out for iRAWniQ's voice acting work in The Crown With a Shadow, a mixed-media short film about a transgender fish that also stars Pee Wee Herman, Tatum O'Neal, and Geri Halliwell. -- T.H., Photo John Allen Phillips