As 2022 comes to a close, it's important that we remember that representation and advocacy for queer Latines shouldn't be limited to just Hispanic Heritage Month. We should celebrate these trailblazers all year long!
These are some of the actors, models, singers, drag queens, and celebs who not only make us think, smile, cry, laugh, and grow, but are also proud members of the Latine community. Check out this list to find your favorites and hopefully some new celebs to start stanning.
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The King of Latin Pop was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. After a career as a child star in the boy band Menudo, he went on to have numerous hits including “Vuelve,” “Livin’ la Vida Loca,” and “She Bangs.” He’s sold over 70 million records worldwide, won two Grammys, and was nominated for an Emmy for his performance in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.
Cruz was born in New York to Puerto Rican parents. When he played Rickie Vasquez on My So-Called Life, he was the first openly gay actor to play an openly gay character in a leading role on American TV. Since then, he’s been in dozens of TV shows and movies. Recently, he’s been playing Dr. Hugh Culber, a gay main character in Star Trek: Discovery.
Rodriguez broke ground when she became the first trans woman to earn an Emmy nomination in a major acting category for playing Blanca Evangelista in Pose. She also won a Golden Globe for the role. She’s now one of the hottest actors in all of Hollywood. Her father is Puerto Rican.
Born in Argentina to a Colombian father and Bolivian mother, Beatriz rose to fame starring as the bisexual cop Rosa Diaz in Brooklyn Nine-Nine. More recently she starred as the voice of Mirabel Madrigal in Disney’s Encanto. She’s bisexual.
Born in Mexico, Ramírez is a nonbinary singer and actor who won a Tony Award for playing the Lady of the Lake in the 2005 Broadway musical Spamalot. After that, they starred as the bisexual Dr. Callie Torres in eleven seasons of Grey’s Anatomy. More recently, they played Kat Sandoval in Madam Secretary, and the nonbinary podcaster and comedian Che Díaz in And Just Like That….
Silva, who is gay, was born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. He’s most known for playing the hunky and beloved cop Carlos Reyes on 9-1-1: Lone Star.
Guillén, who is queer, is the son of Mexican immigrants. He’s currently starring as Guillermo, the scene-stealing wannabe-vampire star of What We Do in the Shadows, where he’s garnered critical and fan acclaim. He also voices Nightwing in HBO Max’s Harley Quinn.
Sibilly is of Cuban and Dominican descent, and is known for his great social media presence, as well as his acting in shows like Pose, Hacks, and Queer as Folk.
Born to a Puerto Rican father, DeBose had a successful Broadway career before moving to TV and movies with roles in Schmigadoon!, The Prom, and West Side Story. She won an Oscar for playing Anita in West Side Story, becoming the first openly queer woman of color to receive an acting Oscar.
Lovato’s father was of Nuevomexicano descent, and Lovato started acting when she was just a child. After appearing on Barney and Friends, they became a certified Disney star, starring in movies like Camp Rock and Princess Protection Program, and the show Sonny with a Chance. Soon Lovato broke out of the Disney shadow, becoming a successful musician who has released eight albums, including this year’s Holy Fvck. Lovato is queer and nonbinary, using both she/her and they/them pronouns.
Jauregui was born in Miami, Florida to Cuban parents and is bisexual. She was a member of the successful girl group Fifth Harmony. She’s now a successful solo artist.
Vittar is a Brazilian drag queen and singer. Vittar appeared on TV for the first time in 2014 on a Brazilian talent singing show. A year later, his music videos were becoming successful, and by 2017, Vittar had released his debut studio album Vai Passar Mal. When the song “Sua Cara” by Major Lazer featuring Anitta and Pabllo Vittar was nominated for a Latin Grammy, Vittar became the first drag queen nominated for a Grammy.
Aubrey Plaza has a Puerto Rican father and is bisexual. She became famous starring as April Ludgate on the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation. She’s also starred in the show Legion, as well as the movies Safety Not Guaranteed, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, Happiest Season, and Emily the Criminal. She’s starring in the second season of The White Lotus.
Rodriguez, who is bisexual, was born to Puerto Rican and Dominican parents and is one of the biggest action stars in Hollywood. She won an Independent Spirit Award and Gotham Award for her debut performance as a boxer in Girlfight, and has since starred in the Fast & Furious, Resident Evil, Machete, and Avatar franchises.
Darrow is a queer Cuban-American singer and actress best known for voicing the “big, buff, lesbian icon” Luisa Madrigal in Disney’s animated film Encanto. Her song from the movie “Surface Pressure” peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the RIAA.
Ortiz, who was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is a nonbinary and queer actor who appeared in the show Vida. They are currently starring as the nonbinary pirate Jim in Our Flag Means Death.
Colindrez, who is a queer butch, was born in Mexico with Argentinian and Honduran heritage. She played Joan in Fun Home on Broadway, and then appeared on TV shows like I Love Dick and Vida. She’s currently playing the pitcher Lupe García on A League of Their Own.
Díaz, who was born to Cuban parents, has been acting since the 90’s, and has appeared in shows like ER, Party of Five, and Weeds. He is well known as playing Huck in the show Scandal, and has been in movies like Half Baked, and most recently Bros.
Carrera is a model, actress, and performer of Puerto Rican and Peruvian ancestry who competed on the third season of RuPaul’s Drag Race before she came out as a trans woman. She was known for her signature “nude” style of drag that showed off her body.
Born in California to Mexican parents, James Andrew Leyva is better known as the drag queen Valentina. She competed on the ninth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race and the fourth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. She also starred as Angel in Rent: Live on Fox and had a cameo in In the Heights. She is nonbinary.
Alexis Mateo Pacheco, a.k.a Alexis Mateo, is a Puerto Rican drag queen who competed on season 3 of RuPaul’s Drag Race and seasons one and five of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. Mateo is also the winner of many pageant titles, including All American Goddess 2016, Miss Gay Days 2016, and National Showgirl 2017.
Alyssa Hunter is a Puerto Rican drag queen who competed in the 14th season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. She finished in 13th place.
Vanessa Vanjie Mateo is the stage name of José Cancel, a drag queen of Puerto Rican descent who appeared on the 10th and 11th seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race where she became an instant fan favorite. She’s also appeared in many of the show’s spin-offs. She is Alexis Mateo’s drag daughter.
Mercado is a model, actress, and disability rights advocate who is of Dominican ancestry. She has muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair. She identifies as queer, and is currently starring as Maribel on The L Word: Generation Q.
Torres is a gay Salvadorian comedian, writer, and actor. He wrote on SNL and is the co-creator of Los Espookys with fellow queer Latina Ana Fabrega, and stars in the show as Andrés, the gay son of a wealthy chocolate-making family.
Kehlani is a singer from Oakland California, known for their albums SweetSexySavage, It Was Good Until It Wasn’t, and Blue Water Road. She uses she/they pronouns and is a lesbian.
Born to Mexican parents, Apollo is a popular singer who sings both in English and Spanish. His debut studio album Ivory was released in 2022, and his song “Evergreen” was a Billboard Hot 100 hit.
Ashley is the first transgender man to be a member of the pit crew in RuPaul’s Drag Race. He is an actor, model, activist, and singer of Dominican descent.
Chávez is a Mexican singer, songwriter, and actor. He’s best known for his role as Giovanni Méndez López in the telenovela Rebelde and for singing in its spin-off pop group RBD. His coming out was huge news in Mexico, which has traditionally been conservative on gay issues.
Mandi is a biracial actress who is Chilean and Iranian. She is pansexual, and currently stars as Dani Núñez in The L Word: Generation Q.
