Pride on Screen: Honoring the LGBTQ+ Artists Who've Redefined Entertainment

June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and the powerful contributions they've made across culture, society, and especially entertainment. At WISE, we uplift the LGBTQ+ artists, creators, and storytellers who have broken barriers and made space for others to shine. From groundbreaking films to history-making awards, their presence has helped shift the culture toward greater acceptance and authenticity.

Trailblazers Who Lit the Path

For decades, queer artists have pushed boundaries and challenged norms—often at great personal risk—to make space for LGBTQ+ stories in music, film, and television. Harvey Milk’s legacy as a public figure opened the door for representation beyond the screen. In the 1970s, disco icons like Sylvester used music to celebrate queer joy. Ellen DeGeneres made headlines—and history—when she came out on national television, forever changing the landscape for LGBTQ+ visibility in media.

Trans icons like Laverne Cox (Orange is the New Black) and Pose’s MJ Rodriguez and Dominique Jackson have reshaped what’s possible for trans women of color in Hollywood. Meanwhile, directors like Gus Van Sant and screenwriters like Dustin Lance Black helped bring queer narratives into the mainstream.

Their courage paved the way for today's stars to live—and perform—openly and proudly.

From Milestones to Mainstream

Today, LGBTQ+ visibility is not just symbolic—it’s reshaping entertainment. Shows like Heartstopper, The Last of Us, and Sex Education showcase multidimensional queer characters. Artists like Lil Nas X, Janelle Monáe, Brandi Carlile, and Troye Sivan have not only embraced their identity but turned it into a strength, earning top honors across the Grammys, MTV Awards, and more.

Behind the scenes, queer creatives like Wanda Sykes, Lena Waithe, and Billy Eichner are writing, producing, and starring in content that centers queer lives with honesty, humor, and heart.

2025: A Landmark Year for LGBTQ+ Talent

This year’s Emmy and Oscar seasons marked major wins for the LGBTQ+ community. All of Us Strangers, directed by Andrew Haigh, earned multiple nominations for its quiet, tender queer love story. Hunter Schafer’s performance in Mother Mary brought new depth to queer representation on the big screen. And The Idol’s queer creative team turned heads with bold, experimental storytelling.

On the music side, Renee Rapp became the first openly queer woman to win Best Pop Vocal Album at the Grammys for Snow Angel, while Omar Apollo’s genre-defying work landed him Artist of the Year.

Uplifting the Next Generation

At WISE, we know that storytelling is a powerful tool for change—and access is everything. We’re committed to empowering the next generation of LGBTQ+ artists through mentorship, funding, and creative collaborations. Whether it’s helping a young queer screenwriter find their voice or supporting trans filmmakers telling their truth, we believe in building an entertainment industry where all identities are not only accepted but celebrated.

Pride Is Power—and It's Just the Beginning

Pride Month isn’t just about celebration—it’s about honoring those who dared to live out loud and investing in the stories still waiting to be told. At WISE, we’re proud to stand with LGBTQ+ talent past, present, and future—and we’re committed to helping them take center stage.

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WISE celebrates Pride Month