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ALAN CUMMING
Alan Cumming has promoted LGBT rights, MC-ing and attending fundraisers for organisations such as the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), and taking part in an Equality Network video campaign, from New York, promoting the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Scotland. Cumming also supports several AIDS charities, including the American Foundation for AIDS Research (AMFAR) and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. |
Photo Credit : for DNA by Ricardo Muniz
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ANTHONY BOWENS
Professional wrestlers are viewed as actors to many, and as athletes to others. For many children, though, they are seen us as embodiments of superheroes. Anthony entered the wrestling world with the belief that he’d be able to inspire others. Despite looking like a completely confident person both in and out of the ring, Anthony was struggling on the inside with his sexuality. After ten years of struggling, he decided, “Enough is enough.” He came out via Outsports.com and the Huffington Post with an overwhelmingly positive reception, and was inspired to grow his involvement in LGBTI activism by the inundation of messages from the public. Outside of the ring, Anthony has taken part in Kansas City’s annual Aids Walk, spoke at New York’s annual “Broadway Sings for Pride,” and has been featured in Australia’s DNA Magazine. |
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CAITLYN JENNER
By coming out in July 2015 , Jenner became the world’s most famous transgender person. She set a world Twitter record by amassing a million followers in four hours, received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2015 ESPY Awards, and starred in the E! docuseries I Am Cait. Her conservative politics continue to prompt discussion (or rage) among LGBTs. Jenner condemned Trump for issuing an order to reinstate a ban on transgender people from serving in the military. In her tweet, she wrote "What happened to your promise to fight for them?", juxtaposing it with Trump's tweet from June 2016 in which he promised to fight for the LGBT community. |
Photo Credit: Philippe Vogelenzang
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CONCHITA WURST
Conchita Wurst was brought to life in 2011 by Austrian singer and drag artist Tom Neuwirth. As the bearded diva Conchita Wurst, the artist's first TV performance was in 2011 at the casting show “The Big Chance” on Austrian national television. With her song “Rise Like A Phoenix”, Conchita won the 59th Eurovision Song Contest in Copenhagen in 2014. This moment was captured in time as she exclaimed in victory “We are unstoppable!” and became an overnight sensation and global ambassador for the LGBTIQ-Community. Since then, her debut album was released and followed by numerous awards, gigs and TV-shows as well as guest performances at Pride Events in more than 20 countries worldwide. She visited the European Parliament in October 2014 and met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Ban particularly praised her commitment to the fight against intolerance and discrimination and called her performance “an electrifying moment of human rights education.” |
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DANIEL NEWMAN
Daniel Newman is an actor, model and musician who is most commonly known for starring in Homeland, Vampire Diaries, and is currently starring in the Walking Dead. In 2017 Daniel came out publicly as Bisexual. While he was regularly volunteering at youth shelters, a young girl thanked him for being a “straight ally to the LGBTI community." Daniel told her that he's not straight, and she told Daniel how important it would be to the community to have more visibility in the media and have more OUT public LGBTI Leaders in Media. This inspired Daniel to post a video on his Instagram account and on Youtube, sharing his story and pride about being a part of the LGBTI family. Daniel continues to participate in out reach and focuses on LGBTI visibility and equality on camera as well as extensive work behind the camera, campaigning and fighting for representation, equality, and positive images in the media.. |
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HEATHER PEACE
Heather Peace is a prominent supporter of LGBT equality causes. She is a patron of Manchester Pride and has recorded a video for Stonewall's "It Gets Better" campaign. She is involved in a number of related charities, including Diversity Role Model and The Albert Kennedy Trust. In 2010, Peace was cast as Detective Sergeant Sam Murray in the BBC Three TV series Lip Service. Peace argued that being the only openly lesbian cast member influenced the attention she received regarding the show. |
Photo credit: Matt Sayles
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LUCY LAWLESS
Lucy Lawless has a well-known reputation as one of the most successfully fantasy/sci-fi actresses. She has been Xena in Xena: Warrior Princess, Lucretia in Spartacus, and D’Anna in Battlestar Galactica amongst numerous others. A varied catalogue of roles has also seen her in numerous comedic and notable TV series and a variety of films. Her roles have won her legions of fans but particularly a large LGBTI following for the homo-erotic subtext of Xena: Warrior Princess. Lawless is a strong supporter of LGBTI rights, she fiercely opposed California’s Prop 8 in 2008 and even publicly announced that she thought her character Xena was a lesbian. She has also used her star-power in other platforms and currently sits on the board for the Starship Foundation, which is a fundraising body for the Starships Children Hospital in Auckland. |
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MARTINA NAVRATILOVA
She set an all-time record with 59 Grand Slam titles over a career that spanned four decades. Sports Illustrated declared Martina Navratilova as one of the “Top 40 Athletes of All-Time” and Tennis Magazine selected her as the greatest female tennis player for the 1965 – 2005 era. When not playing tennis, Navratilova is involved with various charities that benefit animal rights, underprivileged children, and gay rights. She participated in a lawsuit against Amendment 2, a successful 1992 ballot proposition in Colorado designed to prevent sexual orientation from being a protected class. In 1993, she spoke before the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation. In 2000, she was the recipient of National Equality Award from the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest gay and lesbian activist/lobbying group. |
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RICKY MARTIN
After years of scrutiny about his sexuality, the Latino pop star declared that he is "a fortunate homosexual man." Martin's personal life became a subject of interest due to his large gay following, and he was questioned about his sexual orientation. On March 29, 2010, Martin publicly acknowledged his homosexuality in a post on his official website, stating: "I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am” Martin said that "these years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within, and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn't even know existed. Martin has also expressed support for same-sex marriage in an interview on Larry King Live, and commented on his experience of being closeted and coming out. "Everything about saying that I am gay feels right...", Martin stated, adding "if I'd known how good it was going to feel, I would have done it ten years ago. |
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TEGAN AND SARA
Born in Canada, twin sisters Tegan and Sara have sold more than one million albums, and have received seven Gold certifications, one Double Platinum certification, three Juno Awards, two Polaris Prize nominations, and a Grammy nomination. They have performed on some of the world’s biggest stages, from the 2015 Academy Awards to major festivals such as Coachella, Lollapalooza and Glastonbury. The pair also featured on an episode of The L Word. The Tegan And Sara Foundation supports LGBTI initiatives in a wide range of industries, such as media, education, and mental and sexual health. It is an extension of their work, identity and longstanding commitment to supporting and building progressive social change. |
