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The Out100 Readers' Choice Finalists Are Here—And It's Time to Vote!
Instagram (@findingxfletcher)/World of Wonder/Twitter (@michaelhenry915)
Out Exclusives

The Out100 Readers' Choice Finalists Are Here—And It's Time to Vote!

Which LGBTQ+ artist, influencer, or activist do you think should make the list?

Out readers poured hundreds of submissions for the annual Out100 Readers' Choice category. And the finalists are in!

Below are the 10 most-nominated LGBTQ+ people — from influencers, to activists, to performers, to artists — who have made a positive impact in 2023. The nominee who receives the most votes will appear in Out's November/December Out100 issue, in which they will receive the Readers' Choice distinction.

The finalists are: Allyson Newman (The L Word: Generation Q composer), Andrew Gurza (advocate for people with disabilities), Celeste Trianon (trans organizer), Daniel J. Downer (The Bros in Convo Initiative executive director), Fletcher (singer), Kyle Thomas (astrologer), Levi Chambers (Rainbow Media Co. founder), Michael Henry (comedian), Nina West (drag performer), and Theo Grimes (artist).

Vote for your choice in the form here. And review the candidates below!

Allyson Newman — Emmy-nominated composer, 'The L Word: Generation Q's "All About Me"

Andrew Gurza — Content creator, advocate for people with disabilities

Celeste Trianon — Organizer of Montreal's Trans March for Liberation

Daniel J. Downer — Executive director of The Bros in Convo Initiative, empowering LGBTQ+ people of color in Florida

Fletcher — Singer of "Girl of My Dreams" and "Undrunk"

Kyle Thomas — Astrologer

Levi Chambers — Queer media mogul, founder of Rainbow Media Co.

Nina West — Drag performer, 'Hairspray' star

Theo Grimes — Artist

Michael Henry — Comedian and content creator

Out.com Editors

See All 2024's Most Impactful and Influential LGBTQ+ People
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What divas can teach the world about LGBTQ+ advocacy
daniel reynolds out magazine divas
What divas can teach the world about LGBTQ+ advocacy

Daniel Reynolds

Daniel Reynolds is the editor-in-chief of Out and an award-winning journalist who focuses on the intersection between entertainment and politics. This Jersey boy has now lived in Los Angeles for more than a decade.

Daniel Reynolds is the editor-in-chief of Out and an award-winning journalist who focuses on the intersection between entertainment and politics. This Jersey boy has now lived in Los Angeles for more than a decade.

Out Exclusives

What divas can teach the world about LGBTQ+ advocacy

Out's Broadway diva cover stars are models in using voices for good, writes editor in chief Daniel Reynolds.

The above video is from the Advocate Channel's Out Now, in which host Stephen Walker reviews the making of Out's May/June issue. Learn more at AdvocateChannel.com.

Death Becomes Her — the Broadway adaptation of the cult 1992 film featuring frenemies Madeline and Helen in their campy quest for eternal youth — begins with a showstopping number, “For the Gaze,” led by Megan Hilty as Madeline. It’s a veritable Pride parade of a song, in which Hilty, accompanied by a chorus of rainbow-clad male dancers, wows the crowd with a series of outfit changes and musical references. These conjure a lineage of divas: Liza Minnelli, Celine Dion, Cher, Lady Gaga, Julie Andrews, and even Judy Garland as Dorothy (and Toto too!). “I’d do anything for / We all know that this whole damn show is for / The gaze!” Hilty belts.

The song, of course, is a double entendre. As a Broadway diva, Madeline longs for the gaze of the limelight. But she also celebrates the “greatest love,” which is between LGBTQ+ people and the strong-willed and -piped women who use their voices for our entertainment and advocacy. In this tradition, Out is overjoyed to celebrate our divas this Pride issue. In addition to the Smash alum Hilty, Idina Menzel, Kristin Chenoweth, Maleah Joi Moon, and Lea Salonga grace our cover to share their love with us during this rainbow (and Broadway) season.

And what a Pride season this is shaping up to be. The LGBTQ+ community — in particular, trans people and kids — are facing unprecedented political attacks, sparking the need for greater visibility from us and our allies. In addition to our gay icons, this issue is filled with activists and entertainers who are doing just that.

In Film, Nyle DiMarco — coming a long way from his Top Model win a decade ago — discusses his new documentary, Deaf President Now!, which tells the unsung story of the Deaf rights movement and its timely parallels to the fight for LGBTQ+ equality. In Books, Queer Eye alum Jonathan Van Ness shares insights from his new YA novel, Let Them Stare, in which a gender-nonconforming youth and a gay ghost discover queer history in their own backyard.

In TV, Benito Skinner shares how his new show, Overcompensating, reflects his journey as a closeted Idaho jock — as well as the vital friendships that form between gay men and straight women. And in Fashion, Unconventional stars Kit Williamson, James Bland, and Willam model swimwear in Joshua Tree while divulging how their show celebrates modern queer love and found family.

This Pride season, get tips for being physically (and mentally) fit from celebrity trainer Shaun T, who also offers insights from his marriage and parenting. In Grooming, treat your nails with a good trim or a fabulous coat of paint. In Last Call, get the lowdown on the new Sniffies app. In a time when many corporations are pulling resources from DEI, learn how to help support your local Pride in Finance. And discover the highlights of WorldPride DC in our Out Traveler section, which also reviews some fantastic cruises.

While we’ve earned the right to have some much-deserved queer joy this Pride, I urge you to not lose sight of what’s at stake. One of our divas, Lea Salonga, who is fighting for the rights of her trans son, Nic, stressed the need to support the most vulnerable. We “should not allow for erasure of any group,” she says. “Because you could be next. And then who’s gonna speak up for you when there’s no one left?”

So this Pride, let’s all take notes from our divas, dear reader. Take the stage, sing out loud — and use our voices for good.

Sincerely,

Daniel Reynolds
Editor in Chief, Out magazine
@dnlreynolds

This article is part of the Out May/June Pride issue, which hits newsstands May 27. Support queer media and subscribe— or download the issue through Apple News, Zinio, Nook, or PressReader starting May 15.

See All 2024's Most Impactful and Influential LGBTQ+ People
Artists
Disruptors
Educators
Groundbreakers
Innovators
Storytellers