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Ann Thomas
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Out100 Honoree Ann Thomas Is a Star-Maker of Trans & Nonbinary Actors

The founder of Transgender Talent is a major force in Hollywood for trans representation.

In 2015, Ann Thomas founded Transgender Talent -- one of the first management and production companies that cater to transgender and nonbinary actors -- in order to support creatives from a marginalized community and help carve a space for them in culture. The service is a two-way street. When a Hollywood production needs to find a trans actor for a job, or advice on a trans storyline, they consult with Thomas's company, which is also trans-owned and -operated. Behind the scenes, Transgender Talent helps its clients secure an agent and even provides medical advice on issues like hormone therapy.

As the 2021 Out100 honoree describes, "I am the founder of a talent management company that specializes in transgender and/or nonbinary talent, of many kinds. We're transgender-owned and operated. Once we identify and sign clients, we help prepare them to find agents. When we're approached for talent for projects, we help match talent that fits the project properly."

Thomas points to the launch of the company's consulting division as a major point of pride this year. "This gives a focal point to help writers, directors, and producers navigate ... getting transgender performers on screen in a global market," she says. She also sees the company's relative longevity as evidence of its necessity in an industry that is still fumbling to portray authentic trans lives.

"As with any startup, we all face financial challenges, but in the long run, it's simply being there that makes a huge statement," Thomas says. "We've seen several transgender-focused companies come and go over the years. We're still here after six and a half years!"

It's been a banner year for Transgender Talent's actors. They include Zoey Luna, a star of The Craft: Legacy who was also featured in the Dear Evan Hansen film, as well as Good Trouble's Emmett Preciado. And Thomas knows that every meeting can lead to the next big break.

"We have lots of small steps planned - that's what keeps us going over the years. "We're having a steady stream of meetings with folks to get projects launched, for our consulting division. We've got a bunch of music videos to advertise our music division that [is] about to be released. We've got actors landing some pretty cool projects coming up," she says.

A version of this article appeared in Out's 2021 Out100 issue, which is on newsstands November 30. Since this is also Out's 300th issue, we are running a $3 promotion for a one-year subscription. Subscribe now (the promotion ends on December 1). Otherwise, support queer media and subscribe outside of the promotion -- or download yours for Amazon, Kindle, Nook, or Apple News.

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Drag queen Billy L'Amour
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How Drag Queen Billy L’Amour Lives His Life Extra

Read how wig entrepreneur Billy L’Amour uses his drag to live life unapologetically.

To live life extra means being able to overcome fear to do what truly makes us happy. For drag queen and wig entrepreneur Billy L'Amour, living life extra involves expressing himself unapologetically and staying true to his passions in life. And he first fell in love with what eventually would become a huge part of his life while he was a teenager.

Billy recalls that, "I first did drag during my time at an all-male comedy ballet company called Les Ballets Grandiva and we danced classical ballet like Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, but in drag. That experience taught me how to become a performer and how to stand on stage as a fierce queen."

That first experience in drag emboldened something within him and Billy knew he needed to continue performing. He recalls what it was like just starting out in drag, an experience that solidified his passion for the art form.

Billy reminisces, saying that, "coming up in drag, I was a club kid who created his own looks out of nothing. For many of us starting out, we didn't have the designers that queens have now." Billy then jokes that, "when we wanted to create a look, we were told to 'go find some plastic in the street to make a head sculpture,' that's what the early days of drag were like."

Throughout his time performing, Billy crafted his drag persona, Billy L'Amour, after going through the journey of finding pride in his gender identity. Billy uses both he/she pronouns and uses his drag to express the femininity in himself.

He muses, "I created Billy L'Amour who is a singing, dancing, showgirl goddess from the Las Vegas of the 1960s, or from the Folies Bergere in Paris. She is an old-school showgirl. Her inspiration is Rosalind Russell in Auntie Mame whose motto is 'Life is a banquet and most poor bastards are starving to death,' you've got to live, live, live! And that is how I live my life, following my passions and living to the fullest."

Drag queen Billy L'Amour

Although Billy expresses his individual self with his drag, he also lives life fearlessly by becoming an entrepreneur, which hadn't always been the plan.

Billy states that, "besides my drag, I also live life unapologetically with how I've remained true to myself and taking a chance on an unconventional path. I could've been traditional and become a hair stylist, but that wouldn't have rung true for me. I had to follow my passions."

And Billy will continue to be fearless in every aspect of his life, finding meaning in what he does. Thinking of what comes next, Billy has a mission in line with the passions he loves.

"When I look to the future, I see myself continuing to do what I love, and I'm so happy to say that I love what I do. I'd love to bring more visibility to drag and to help inspire people to appreciate drag in all its beauty."

Watch Billy below in the new Lexus RX commercial "Extra".

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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.