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 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….
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.
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.
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.
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.