Pride founder Lady Phyll, the LGBTQ+ community has always been jam-packed with pioneers and those ready to blaze a trail.As they wield their game changing vibe, these are the people who have been vital in creating progress over the last five decades – and beyond – whether it’s through entertainment, words or activism.
And not only have they helped shine a light on LGBTQ+ rights, but through their much-needed visibility, they’ve made others realise they are not alone.
Their courage has also paved the way for the future voices of the community, who continue to work hard to allow others to be seen.Here we meet just four of those rising LGBTQ+ stars, from the world of music, modelling, sports and literature.When I came out, I became a tomboy because that’s what I thought I had to doSlovenian-born pansexual singer-songwriter July Jones, 23, has had a meteoric rise to fame, having written tracks for Zolita, Girli, Nasty Cherry and BTS as well as carving out a space for herself with her razor sharp and unique electro-pop sounds. ‘Growing up in Slovenia was amazing, but the opportunities for doing music were quite limited.
My mum pushed me to try classical music at school, and I was posting my music on YouTube. When I was 14, I got spotted and landed a record deal in Germany, which saw me do lots of song-writing.‘Listening back to those songs now, they’re all so sad and emotional, and I think it’s because I knew I was different.