The 2025 Out100: Jorge Xolalpa

Jorge Xolalpa’s work as a Mexican American activist, filmmaker, and storyteller centers “bold, emotionally charged narratives that often explore identity, immigration, LGBTQ+ experiences, and resilience,” he says. By platforming underrepresented communities, the creator of the groundbreaking queer Latine series Strangelove aims to “spark conversation and connection” with audiences. Among his proudest achievements in 2025 has been to “speak out for my undocumented and immigrant community” amid new waves of ICE arrests. “I’ve raised awareness, shared resources, and even raised money to feed over 100 families affected by the raids,” he says.

Though Xolalpa, set to direct the upcoming immigration thriller Huehxolotl, is a prolific artist, balancing “creative work with the emotional and time-intensive demands of advocacy” has been challenging. It’s been helpful to keep “reminding myself that both my art and my activism come from the same place: wanting to create change.”

Xolalpa reminds us that “living your truth, whether as an immigrant, LGBTQ+ person, artist, or all of the above, is an act of power.” The fight continues, the show goes on, and Xolalpa’s mission remains the same: “To keep turning barriers into stepping stones.” @officialxolalpa