Tag: Pride50

Morris Singeltary, 42 Spectacular HIV activist, peer educator Singletary brings a message of hope and faith to black men dealing with HIV by reassuring them that there is support for them, both from their own community and, despite what they have been told from the conservative preacher set, from God as well. You have to have a lot of charisma to hold your own onstage with Beyoncé and JAY-Z, and Singletary has plenty to spare. Singletary was among the black...

Poet Jos Charles Jos Charles, 30 Poet, National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize finalist Charles has reworked the structure of language to capture the trans experience, establishing her as one of the most promising poets of her generation. Charles combines a deep understanding of poetic traditions with her own personal experience to create works that address gender and identity issues in a unique and moving way. Her second volume of poetry, feeld, creates a language resembling middle English to...

Hannah Gadsby Australian comedian, actor, and writer Gadsby’s Netflix standup comedy special Nanette became one of the most talked about comedy specials and was met with critical acclaim for its deconstruction of more traditional standup comedy. This shift caused some to question whether to categorize Nanette as standup or not. Gadsby’s brilliantly written special provides completely unique social commentary on LGBTQ  and women’s issues as well as those of other marginalized people with soul-bearing honesty. Female standup comedians are tapping into subject matter...

Jenny Durkan Mayor of Seattle The question is more like: How hasn’t she contributed? Durkan grew up outside of Seattle, the daughter of a Washington state senator and a newspaper editor. She spent her early career teaching English and coaching girls basketball in a Yukon fishing village in rural Alaska before getting her law degree. Her legal career has been defined by her progressive values: fighting for victim plaintiffs, defending journalists called into court by the government, focusing on police reform and...

Jeremy O. Harris Playwright and actor In December 2018, Harris’ play “Slave Play” debuted at the New York Theatre Workshop, where it received rave reviews. The play explores themes of race, sex, and sexuality on a slave plantation in the Antebellum South. Also in 2018, he won the Paula Vogel Playwriting Award, the Rosa Parks Playwriting Award, the Lorraine Hansberry Playwriting Award, and the Lotos Foundation Prize, and he was deemed by Out magazine “the queer black savior the theater world needs.” Then...

Silas Howard with Indya MooreSilas Howard Director : Howard grew up in Vermont before moving to San Francisco, where he began exploring the arts scene, eventually playing guitar for noted queer rock group Tribe 8. It was there he met his frequent collaborator Harry Dodge, and the two opened gallery together. Howard found his calling with his directorial debut By Hook or By Crook, co-written with Dodge. The film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival. By Hook or By Crook would go on to...

Nico Santos, 40 Actor Nico emigrated to Gresham, Oregan, with his family from the Philippines when he was 16. He studied acting at Southern Oregon University, first gaining notice as a stand-up comic, appearing on talk shows like Chelsea Lately. From there, he landed roles on shows like 2 Broke Girls before playing Mateo on the hit comedy Superstore. In 2018, he also garnered notice for his hilariously over-the-top performance in Crazy Rich Asians. Out since the start, he brought his longtime boyfriend...

Vlada Knowlton Filmmaker Ukraine native Vlada Knowlton emigrated to Boston at age 7. As an adult, she  studied at Brown University where she was awarded a Ph.D. in cognitive science. Her studies landed her a job at Microsoft in Seattle, where she met her husband Chadd shortly thereafter. The couple is raising three children. After six years with Microsoft, Knowlton gave up her lucrative gig to study at the Seattle Film Institute. Knowlton chronicled her struggles to balance a career along with...

Kimahli Powell, 43 Fundraiser, activist, lifesaver Raised in Canada by Jamaican-born parents, Kimahli Powell knows how he lives in a forward-thinking country that prioritizes equal rights for all its citizens. Not content to simply enjoy his own good fortune, Powell has spent his career helping others, through his work at the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, Dignitas International, and other non-profits. In 2016, he became Executive Director of Rainbow Railroad, leading efforts to usher LGBTQ people out of dangerous home countries to...

Asia Kate Dillon, 34 Actor, activist Dillon gained attention as a prodigy when they graduated from the Actor’s Workshop of Ithica, an adult training program, at 16. A series of stage and television roles (such as Orange Is the New Black) followed before Dillon landed the part of Taylor Mason on the Showtime series Billions. Taylor marks the first time a major non-binary character has appeared as a series regular. This year, Dillon gets an even bigger stage, starring in John Wick Chapter...

Honey Mahogany, 35 Drag queen, politico, activist Mahogany, aka Alpha Mulugeta, grew up near San Francisco and began performing in drag clubs as a student at the University of Southern California, eventually landing a spot on Season 5 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. She shocked fans of the show by singing her own songs rather than lip syncing. Following her stint on Drag Race, she embarked on a successful recording career, releasing her album Honey Love in 2014. Mahogany’s impressive work doesn’t end when she comes...

 Jared Polis, 44 : Governor of Colorado, former U.S. Representative  Polis became the first openly gay governor ever elected in the nation when he won his race last fall. During his ten years in Congress, he was a leader in the fight, including marriage equality and the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Polis shattered one of the lavender ceilings in politics. He proved that an openly gay man–with a long-term partner and two children–has the ability to win the highest office...

Hurley Haywood, 71 Race car driver Haywood holds legendary status among racing fans, and for good reason: He’s won the 24 Hours of Daytona endurance race a whopping five times–a title which ties him for the most wins in the race ever. Prior to his automotive career, Haywood grew up in the midwest and served a tour in Vietnam in 1970. His blond hair, blue eyes, and model-looks made him a natural sports star, as did his racing abilities. Beginning in the...

Billy Porter Actor, singer, and fashion icon One look at his expansive resume, and one can’t help but wonder: Where haven’t I seen Billy Porter? An award-winning actor, singer, writer, TV personality, and fashion icon, some may recognize him from his impressive stage work in Kinky Boots and Grease! Others may know him as Pray Tell on FX’s Pose, or for his appearance on American Horror Story: Apocalypse. And then there are those who know him from the red carpet. No stranger to...