Tag: Pride 50

Andrew Chael A Harvard astrophysicist who helped capture the first ever image of an actual black hole in space. In April 2019, Chael and a team of over 200 international astronomers and computer scientists working on the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) accomplished a feat once considered impossible: They captured an image of a black hole. It initially seemed impossible because black holes emit no light, a complication made even more puzzling considering the photo’s subject would be millions of light...

Adam Eli, 28 Queer activist, writer Eli co-cofounded the New York-based activist group Voices 4, utilizing social media as a tool to affect change. The group’s mission is simple: “Global LGBTQIA+ liberation.” The group uses Instagram to connect with like-minded folks who want to take an active hand in reshaping the world. It functions as a hub for sharing ideas, planning marches and direct action, and organizing meetings. His own personal Instagram account has an impressive 54.7K followers, and...

John Cameron Mitchell accepts the Queerty Pride50 Catalyst AwardWorld Pride in New York City is still officially a week away, but the rainbow momentum is palpable. Queerty kicked things off on Wednesday with a dazzling evening at Town Stages in SoHo to celebrate this year’s Pride50 honorees and to recognize 50 years of remarkable advancements in LGBTQ culture since Stonewall. The looks were on point, naturally, but the real spirit of the room was focused on 50 trailblazing individuals who actively...

Taylor Mac Performance artist, maximalist chanteuse, oral historian, raconteur Mac’s masterpiece, “The 24-Decade History of Popular Music,” delivered exactly as advertised: 24 hours of performances, 24 o.v.e.r.t.h.e.t.o.p. looks courtesy of costume designer Machine Dazzle, and 246 songs, all performed by Mac. The astounding spectacle wove together queer history through song and spoken word, bringing audiences to fits of laughter and tears — sometimes simultaneously. Mac received a MacArthur genius grant for the work, and the show was a finalist for...

Armistead Maupin, 75 Author, activist Maupin grew up in North Carolina as the son of a powerful lawyer. After serving several tours in the Navy, including a stint in Vietnam, he landed in television journalism, working for future right-wing Senator Jessie Helms. Helms and Maupin would later become arch rivals during the AIDS crisis when Helms opposed HIV research and referred to gay men as “morally sick wretches.” “I’ve changed and he hasn’t,” Maupin deadpanned years later. Maupin came out in 1974. Around the...

Dan Levy, 35 Actor, writer, producer Dan may have a famous father in comedic actor Eugene Levy (for our younger readers, stop what you’re doing and go watch Waiting For Guffman), but he was raised away from the Hollywood spotlight, in Toronto. Still, he’s found his way to stardom with the wild success of his CBC comedy, Schitt’s Creek. He created and stars in the show with his dad. His sister, Sarah, is also in the cast. It’s a real family affair. The show...

 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...

: Ian Alexander, 18 : Actor : Alexander, assigned female at birth, is the biracial son of a white father and a Vietnamese immigrant mother. Raised in the Mormon faith, he often moved around from city to city as a child due to his father’s military job. Regardless of where he lived at the time, however, Alexander always found solace in theatre and chorus. Alexander would perform in his living room, putting on skits and musical acts for friends and family...

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...

Wanuri Kahiu, 38 Filmmaker Kahiu grew up in a conservative household in her native Kenya where she yearned to become a filmmaker who spread radical ideas about equality. An excellent student, she moved to Los Angeles and managed to find her way to UCLA, where she earned a masters degree. She quickly earned notice for her Africa-centric feature films examining the political and social realities of the continent and bringing those issues international attention. Critics cite Kahiu as a quintessential “Afrofuturist” director, a...

Andrew Gurza Queer disability activist A longtime champion of disability rights, Gurza is the creator of #DisabledPeopleAreHot, a viral hashtag that took the Twittersphere by storm beginning in February 2019. In creating the hashtag, Gurza (who is queer and has Cerebral Palsy) said he wanted to give people with disabilities a space to feel sexy, including himself. “I know I am hot AF,” he told Queerty, back when the hashtag was at its most popular. “I want to be...

Name: Chella Man Who is he: Genderqueer, deaf activist, trans model, artist What he’s accomplished: Just 20, Man has already made some huge strides. In 2018, he became the first deaf trans model to sign with acclaimed international model management firm IMG Models. Then in 2019, he was cast as Jericho, who uses sign language to communicate, for the DC Universe digital series Titans. Speaking to Huffington Post in March, Man said, “I rarely saw sign language authentically represented on screen growing up, so this incredible opportunity has made my heart soar.”   View this...