Pride 50
Honorees announced daily through June 30, 2023

Letter from the Editor


It's Pride season and this year we're celebrating queer joy and saying gay louder than ever. I'm thrilled to introduce the 2023 Queerty Pride50, honoring 50 incredible LGBTQ+ people who have made an impact and inspired us over the last year. From actors to activists, politicians to drag queens, this year's Pride50 honorees represent a wide range of backgrounds and identities, but they all have one thing in common: not only have they achieved professional breakthroughs, but they make us proud! Over the next 50 days, Queerty will release profiles celebrating these remarkable individuals — head here to see who's next. And Happy Pride!


Graham Gremore Graham Gremore, Editor in Chief, Queerty

The Wild West called and Pedro Almodóvar answered
visionary genius

The Wild West called and Pedro Almodóvar answered

Zooey Zephyr was silenced for speaking out, and became a political star in the process
strong stand

Zooey Zephyr was silenced for speaking out, and became a political star in the process

Designer and drag artist Godoy shines bright by always being 100% himself
true original

Designer and drag artist Godoy shines bright by always being 100% himself

WATCH: All the best bits of the Queerty Pride50 party in New York
pride on

WATCH: All the best bits of the Queerty Pride50 party in New York

Justice Smith never hid his authenticity, and it shines through in all of his roles
acting up

Justice Smith never hid his authenticity, and it shines through in all of his roles

Stylist Michael Fisher is helping make fashion a less intimidating and more empowering space
style guru

Stylist Michael Fisher is helping make fashion a less intimidating and more empowering space

J. Harrison Ghee is snatching Tonys and making nonbinary history
scene stealer

J. Harrison Ghee is snatching Tonys and making nonbinary history

Broadway’s Justin David Sullivan on singing Max Martin hits, fashion inspiration, & living out & proud
rising star

Broadway’s Justin David Sullivan on singing Max Martin hits, fashion inspiration, & living out & proud

Nadine Smith is leading the fight against Ron DeSantis’ anti-LGBTQ+ hate
our warrior

Nadine Smith is leading the fight against Ron DeSantis’ anti-LGBTQ+ hate

We can’t get enough of Drew Tarver, bisexual king and star of ‘The Other Two’
loud and proud

We can’t get enough of Drew Tarver, bisexual king and star of ‘The Other Two’

Alex Mohajer could be the first openly gay Iranian man elected in the world
trailblazer

Alex Mohajer could be the first openly gay Iranian man elected in the world

D.Smith is using her talents to amplify voices that need to be heard
film phenom

D.Smith is using her talents to amplify voices that need to be heard

Alice Oseman is helping author a brighter future for LGBTQ+ youth
voice of a generation

Alice Oseman is helping author a brighter future for LGBTQ+ youth

G-O-D-D-E-S-S: The collected wisdom of mother Sasha Colby
the meet-and-greet

G-O-D-D-E-S-S: The collected wisdom of mother Sasha Colby

Zach Willmore’s journey with HIV inspires us all to live fearlessly
shining bright

Zach Willmore’s journey with HIV inspires us all to live fearlessly

Playwright James Ijames makes Black queer folks feel seen with his artistry
shakespeare 2.0

Playwright James Ijames makes Black queer folks feel seen with his artistry

Author and advocate Raquel Willis is blazing a path for the LGBTQ+ community by telling her story
thought leader

Author and advocate Raquel Willis is blazing a path for the LGBTQ+ community by telling her story

With ‘Holding Moses’, Rivkah Beth Medow is bringing queer and disabled cinema forward
documentary diva

With ‘Holding Moses’, Rivkah Beth Medow is bringing queer and disabled cinema forward

Lee Pace is the Renaissance daddy that we all want & need
pace yourself

Lee Pace is the Renaissance daddy that we all want & need

Jaida Essence Hall is getting the victory lap she deserves
look over here!

Jaida Essence Hall is getting the victory lap she deserves

With ‘The White Lotus,’ Mike White helped turn prestige TV into the ultimate queer destination
the resort king

With ‘The White Lotus,’ Mike White helped turn prestige TV into the ultimate queer destination

Thaddeus Coates is doing it all, in style
renaissance man

Thaddeus Coates is doing it all, in style

Sam Altman is leading us into the future with OpenAI
tech innovator

Sam Altman is leading us into the future with OpenAI

From the wizard to Tony-winning Greek deity, André De Shields has delivered for decades
broadway royalty

From the wizard to Tony-winning Greek deity, André De Shields has delivered for decades

Lindsey Jaymes Spero made headlines with a well-timed shot of testosterone
divinely queer

Lindsey Jaymes Spero made headlines with a well-timed shot of testosterone

Celebrity chef Ronnie Woo shows us self-indulgence and beauty go hand-in-hand
balanced life

Celebrity chef Ronnie Woo shows us self-indulgence and beauty go hand-in-hand

Rep. Robert Garcia is challenging MAGA extremists with intellect, passion and sass
top of the class

Rep. Robert Garcia is challenging MAGA extremists with intellect, passion and sass

Ryan J. Haddad is making theater more gay and disabled, and we love him for it
stage presence

Ryan J. Haddad is making theater more gay and disabled, and we love him for it

A year after bravely sharing his story with the world, Colton Haynes stands prouder than ever
fighting spirit

A year after bravely sharing his story with the world, Colton Haynes stands prouder than ever

Step aside, mother. Claudia Conway proves that sometimes, daughter knows best
wild child

Step aside, mother. Claudia Conway proves that sometimes, daughter knows best

For over 30 years, Gregg Araki’s been making cinema a queerer, sexier place
smells like teen spirit

For over 30 years, Gregg Araki’s been making cinema a queerer, sexier place

At the center of Patric McCoy’s lens are Black gay men and the stories they tell
photography phenom

At the center of Patric McCoy’s lens are Black gay men and the stories they tell

Dr. Carlton Thomas is taking his gay health advocacy to the places it’s most needed
the good doctor

Dr. Carlton Thomas is taking his gay health advocacy to the places it’s most needed

Tuc Watkins is living his best life and wants to inspire others to do the same 
daddy cool

Tuc Watkins is living his best life and wants to inspire others to do the same 

Christian Chávez is going back on tour with RBD, and this time he’s bringing his full self
center stage

Christian Chávez is going back on tour with RBD, and this time he’s bringing his full self

Beyond ‘The Birdcage’: Looking back at Nathan Lane’s greatest, gayest moments
a lane all his own

Beyond ‘The Birdcage’: Looking back at Nathan Lane’s greatest, gayest moments

Brittney & Cherelle Griner are the inspiring team America needs right now
icons

Brittney & Cherelle Griner are the inspiring team America needs right now

Roberta Colindrez is a queer butch Latina in a league of her own
butch realness

Roberta Colindrez is a queer butch Latina in a league of her own

Dickie Hearts is paving the way for a rainbow of Deaf stories
hearts on fire

Dickie Hearts is paving the way for a rainbow of Deaf stories

Jasmin Savoy Brown is the queer scream queen we’ve been waiting for & we can’t get enough
effortlessly cool

Jasmin Savoy Brown is the queer scream queen we’ve been waiting for & we can’t get enough

Rep. Ritchie Torres is taking down George Santos and making integrity a House priority
natural leader

Rep. Ritchie Torres is taking down George Santos and making integrity a House priority

Just like the drink, ‘Drag Race’ alum Rosé’s outlook on drag is equally refreshing
cheers!

Just like the drink, ‘Drag Race’ alum Rosé’s outlook on drag is equally refreshing

‘The Last of Us’ is only the beginning for rising star Bella Ramsey
teen titan

‘The Last of Us’ is only the beginning for rising star Bella Ramsey

Harper Watters slays ballet choreography and serves looks in heels as high as his aspirations
ballet baddie

Harper Watters slays ballet choreography and serves looks in heels as high as his aspirations

Cat Runner reached new heights for trans athletes on HBO series ‘The Climb’
rise up

Cat Runner reached new heights for trans athletes on HBO series ‘The Climb’

Molly Kearney’s 5 best sketches from their first season of ‘Saturday Night Live’
a real character

Molly Kearney’s 5 best sketches from their first season of ‘Saturday Night Live’

Tig Notaro’s unfiltered and straightforward humor is nothing short of queer brilliance
truth teller

Tig Notaro’s unfiltered and straightforward humor is nothing short of queer brilliance

‘Wednesday’ turned Hunter Doohan into everyone’s new crush and a role model for the community
no more hyde-ing

‘Wednesday’ turned Hunter Doohan into everyone’s new crush and a role model for the community

Justice Horn is leading the LGBTQ community with grace, grit & Grindr
relatable hero

Justice Horn is leading the LGBTQ community with grace, grit & Grindr

‘Top Chef’ winner and culinary enthusiast Kristen Kish is going global for queer visibility
seconds, please

‘Top Chef’ winner and culinary enthusiast Kristen Kish is going global for queer visibility



Past Years' Honorees: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018