ABC, make this happen!
Back in 2021, Ezra Sosa first strutted to the ballroom as a member of the dance troupe on season 30 of Dancing with the Stars. Fast forward to 2024, the Out100 honoree was promoted to a pro and has created some of the memorable modern routines in recent years. He even made history on season 33 as the show's first Latino professional dancer in more than a decade.
Although he's choreographed stunning numbers with his female partners over the years, Sosa wants a male same-sex partner in a future season of Dancing with the Stars.
"I'm working my magic! I definitely want that 100% to happen. That's actually been my dream ever since I joined the show. I've been so passionate about same-sex dancing in general, especially being part of the queer community. I've put in my word to the casting director. We'll see what happens overtime," Sosa tells Out.
Sosa is only the second gay professional dancer in Dancing with the Stars history, following Louis van Amstel as the first. Despite being the minority amongst the pros, the talented dancer heavily taps into queer culture as reference points for his viral routines.
"Every single time I choreograph on the show, I'll always nod to my community or pop culture. Representation truly does matter. When I joined the show, I never thought there would be a space for an openly gay pro to be on Dancing with the Stars. I'm very lucky to be here."
Dancing with the Stars is created for a very mainstream audience, so Sosa is quite literally changing lives by proudly showcasing his queerness on a show that's resonating with countless members of the LGBTQ+ community.
"If you were to tell my 15-year-old self that I would be in this position, he would not believe you. It definitely took so much courage and strength. I commend so many people who are out nowadays. I've had such a great community around me and I know a lot of people don't have that. It's such a strong motivator for me to be me, since a lot of people can't do that."
As Sosa's career continues to expand in the dance world, he encourages any closeted dancers to live boldly and connect with more people who love them for who they are.
"The thing that really breaks my heart is every single time I go on tour, I'll get DM's from closeted kids. They tell me how much it means to see me dance for them on stage. There's a stronger motivator for me. My coming-out journey has ups and downs, but I saw my queerness as my superpower. The more I lean into it, the more people connect with me."
Dancing with the Stars airs weekly on ABC and is streaming on Hulu and Disney+. Follow Ezra Sosa on Instagram here.
