In alphabetical order
This category recognises LGBT+ celebrities who have come out in the face of adversity or who support the LGBT+ community in a positive way.
BEN WHISHAW
This three-time BAFTA nominee is most recently known for his work in the Paddington series, and as the iconic ‘Q’ in the James Bond franchise, a character who was also recently confirmed as being part of the LGBT+ community. Ben has been outspoken about his desire for better representation in Hollywood. Alongside this, Ben has opened up about his own journey to self-acceptance and bi-erasure.
BIMINI BON BOULASH
British drag queen Bimini Bon Boulash first made their name on the second series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, where their eye for unique fashion made them a clear fan favourite. They have since released a book titled Release the Beast: A Drag Queen’s Guide to Life. During their time on the Drag Race UK, Bimini opened up about coming to terms with their gender identity and have since used their platform for advocacy and gender-expansive fashion with a recent feature in Vogue and a London Fashion Week debut in 2021.
BILLY PORTER
From his role as Lola in the famed Broadway show Kinky Boots in 2013, for which he received a Tony Award, to his work on the highly regarded show Pose, Porter has become a household name both in the LGBT+ community and in the wider public eye. His outspokenness about his life as an HIV-positive gay Black man, alongside his iconic tuxedo gown at the Academy Awards (one among many stunning red-carpet moments), transcended boundaries to bring forth intersectional narratives to the main stage.
EMMA CORRIN
Golden Globe-winning and Primetime Emmy Award nominee Emma Corrin sky-rocketed to fame through their portrayal of Diana in series four of The Crown in 2020. Since then, Corrin has come out as queer, and opened up about their gender identity in 2021. Corrin has also received acclaim both for their outspokenness about their LGBT+ identity and for their success as an actor and will soon star alongside Harry Styles in an upcoming 1950s drama about a closeted man, My Policeman.
INDYA MOORE
Actor and model Indya Moore is most known for their work on the Pose, which has been applauded not only for its depiction of the LGBT+ community in New York in the 1980s, but also for its diverse and intersectional casting. Moore has been open about their own experiences of gender identity and transphobia in the fashion industry, which they have been able to personally reflect on through their work on Pose. In 2019, they were named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine.
LADY GAGA
Global superstar recording artist and actress, Lady Gaga has long been an icon to the LBGT+ community, as well as an active supporter of representation and inclusion. As a bisexual woman herself, Gaga has used her platform, such as at New York’s WorldPride celebration, to address bisexual exclusion and the need for the LGBT+ community to unify. Alongside her music career, Gaga is a highly successful actress, most recently starring in House of Gucci alongside Adam Driver.
MICHAELA Jaé Rodriguez
Michaela Jaé Rodriguez is an American actress and singer. They received the Clive Barnes Award for their performance as Angel in a 2011 production of Rent and rose to fame in their lead role on TV series Pose. They became the first transgender actress to appear in a Marvel production in 2016 when they were cast in Luke Cage. Most recently, Rodriguez has appeared in the Jonathan Larsen biopic Tick, Tick… Boom!, which has received numerous award nominations.
OLLY ALEXANDER
Alexander is a singer and actor who received critical acclaim in 2021 when he appeared in the Channel 4 show It’s a Sin, which looked at the Aids crisis in London in the 1980s and 1990s. Alexander has also had a highly successful music career through his current now-solo project Years & Years, where he has also utilised his platform for advocacy, with his speech at the 2019 Glastonbury Festival being praised by both fans and the wider media.
RUSSELL TOVEY
Tovey is an actor, playwright, screenwriter and art lover (his podcast Talk Art is a must-listen) who has appeared in many British TV and film productions such as Doctor Who and Sherlock. He has also appeared on Broadway several times. Tovey has been openly gay since he was 16 and has long been an advocate for more representation of gay characters in media, film and TV.
T’NIA MILLER
Miller is a British actress who has appeared in TV shows such as Doctor Who and Years and Years, and more recently Sex Education and The Haunting of Bly Manor, which have both received enormous acclaim from fans and critics alike. Miller advocates for self-love, speaking frequently about her identity as a Black lesbian and the need for better LGBT+ intersectional representation on screen. She recently contributed to the Younger Me campaign from the LGBT+ youth organisation Just Like Us.
