Although 2018 gave us Kevin Hart's homophobic past, the government's attempted erasure of trans people, and Lindsay Lohan's bizarre Instagram live, a lot of pretty great things happened for the queer community.
From Troye Sivan to Pose to Miss Vanjie, there was a lot to be gay (as in happy and...gay) about. So, let's take a look back at these incredibly gay (as in boys who like boys and girls who like girls) moments of 2018. Or in the name of Lesbian Jesus, #20GAYTEEN.
Adam Rippon and Gus Kenworthy made the Winter Olympics gay again
Winter Olympians, Adam Rippon and Gus Kenworthy were total #friendshipgoals this year. Figure skater, Rippon made waves when he refused to meet Vice President Mike Pence because of his anti-LGBTQ views. And snowboarder, Kenworthy made history when he kissed boyfriend, Matt Wilkas on live TV.
We drew the line at Scarlett Johansson playing a trans man
The ongoing debate about cis actors playing trans characters came to a screeching halt over Scarlett Johansson's casting as trans man, Tex Gill in Rub & Tug. After a flood of backlash from the LGBTQ+ community, the Ghost in the Shell actress withdrew from the role.
RuPaul erased trans queens
Although numerous RuPaul's Drag Race queens have come out as trans after their time on the show, the iconic host caused some major controversy when he compared trans queens to athletes taking performance-enhancing drugs. He ultimately apologized, but it remains to be seen if he'll walk the walk on the show and start casting trans contestants.
Netflix brought back 'Queer Eye,' world rejoiced
This year, Netflix brought back a classic for a new generation. A new Queer Eye and a new Fab Five gave us hours of laughter and tears, and we're on the edges of our seats for another season.
Hollywood drew attention to conversion therapy
As queer representation in Hollywood continues to grow, two films shed light on the realities of conversion therapy. Both Boy Erased and The Miseducation of Cameron Post brought the conversation to an international platform.
'Love, Simon' gave us the gay teen rom-com we needed
Queer kids received the greatest validation of all when Greg Berlanti brought a gay teen love story (without the tragic ending) to a mainstream platform. Love, Simon was the ultimate romantic comedy for LGBTQ+ fans and a game changer for representation on screen.
LGBTQ+ representation in TV reached all-time high
Thanks to shows like the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and Pose, there are more queer characters on TV than ever before, according to GLAAD.
Troye Sivan sang about bottoming on 'Bloom'
Queer music fans had plenty to celebrate this year with Troye Sivan's sophomore album, Bloom. It became even more celebratory when the artist revealed the titular track was about bottoming.
A rainbow wave took over the midterm elections
After a huge push by the left for voter turnout at the midterm elections, we received a taste of victory when more than 100 LGBTQ+ candidates won their races. The rainbow wave also helped flip the House in Democrats' favor.
'Pose' put trans people of color on primetime
With multiple successful series on the air, Ryan Murphy's Pose made history with the largest cast of trans actors on television, including Indya Moore and MJ Rodriguez. Beloved by queer fans and a shoe-in for awards season, Pose follows the ballroom scene of New York during the '80s.
Hayley Kiyoko became Lesbian Jesus, dubbed it #20GAYTEEN
This year, Hayley Kiyoko unveiled her first studio album to her massive queer fanbase's approval. Social media dubbed her "Lesbian Jesus," and she dubbed this year #20GAYTEEN.
Oscar-bait was pretty queer
Some of the biggest films of the year were ripe with queer themes. From Can You Ever Forgive Me? and Green Book to The Favourite and Disobedience, some of the year's most Oscar-worthy titles featured LGBTQ+ characters or were centered on overtly queer themes.
Kenya unbanned 'Rafiki,' it immediately sold out
Although originally banned in its home country of Kenya for "homosexual themes," the country's high court temporarily lifted the ban on Rafiki so it would be eligible for the Academy Awards. In its first day playing at just one theater in Nairobi, the film sold out, forcing the theater to expand to additional screens.
Ezra Miller made the red carpet his runway
Queer actor and musician, Ezra Miller was in the public eye this year, promoting Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald. And Miller came through on the runway, serving iconic lewks inspired by Dementors and Hedwig, the owl.
Bert and Ernie were inspired by a gay couple
After years of serving as childhood icons, the creator of Bert and Ernie from Sesame Street finally revealed that the roommates were inspired by him and his late partner. Although the show initially denied that the characters were gay, they clarified that it still stands for "inclusion and acceptance."
Hannah Gadsby got real with 'Nanette'
Queer comedian, Hannah Gadsby changed stand-up comedy forever with her Netflix special, Nanette. Touching on social anxiety, homophobia, and sexual assault, she contributed to an important conversation in a unique, yet powerful way.
Lena Waithe wore the rainbow
This year's Met Gala red carpet was full of stunning statement looks, as always. But queer actor, writer, and producer, Lena Waithe made one of the most powerful statements, donning a full rainbow flag.
Courtney Act won 'Celebrity Big Brother,' our hearts
RuPaul's Drag Race alum, Courtney Act, went on to more reality show success when she won Celebrity Big Brother. The drag queen used her spot on the show as a platform for LGBTQ+ issues.
Mark Kanemura embodied Pride
The queers came out in full force this Pride Month. But nobody captured the spirit of Pride quite like Mark Kanemura, whose rainbow-wigged dance videos became a viral sensation.
Miss Vanjie… Miss Vanjie… Miss… Vaaaaaaanjie
Although she was sent home on her first episode of RuPaul's Drag Race, Miss Vanjie became one of the most recognizable names in the LGBTQ+ community. Her memorable exit sparked a million memes, making her an instant icon.
