QUEER CRUSHES ON THE GRAM
PRIDE month has been so so so so special so far, and we're just trying to keep the rainbow rolling! In the spirit of what this month has shared with us, we wanted to give you a few of our favorite accounts to follow. These people use their power to highlight the beauty of the Queer community, and for that we're so grateful (deeply grateful). Check them out and find your new IG crush!
Ariana DeBose
Instagram: @arianadebose
2,949 Likes, 40 Comments - Ariana DeBose (@arianadebose) on Instagram: "< The 👑 is coming.....> 5 DAYS! Get your tix for @donnasummerbway. #blackgirlmagic #disco..."
Ariana is most known for her fire moves on So You Think You Can Dance, but these days she’s a current Broadway sensation as the lead in Donna Summer. Her dancing is killer and Out Magazine has given her the title of “the queer disco diva of our dreams” as she proudly has it stated in her Insta bio. Seeing short videos of her dancing posted to her Instagram alone make her worth the follow! She also serves us a healthy dose of inspirational quotes. We love a positive account.
Cast of Pose
3,881 Likes, 177 Comments - Pose FX (@poseonfx) on Instagram: "You want to talk about reading? Watch and learn from the best. #PoseFX"
Instagram: @poseonfx, @indyamoore, @mjrodriguez7, @dominiquet.a.r.jackson, @hailiesahar, @angelicaross
First of all… Have you seen Pose? If you have, no explanation necessary on why they ALL deserve that follow. This show is making EVERY headline with the largest transgender cast to ever act together on screen! THAT'S HUGE! Plus, they’re good at getting us out of our seat as they battle and vogue... and also getting us to sit back down as we hold back tears (the writing is phenomenal). We suggest you keep up with the show and hit that follow button, because supporting this show will open the door for others like it AND there's some truly amazing outfits.
Natalie Morales
Instagram: @nataliemoralesloves
1,322 Likes, 17 Comments - Natalie Morales (@nataliemoralesloves) on Instagram: "This could be you but you playin. No SERIOUSLY this could be you. With KITTENS! @bfas_la needs..."
You might recognize her from TV shows like The Middleman or Parks and Recreation. In June of 2017, Natalie revealed herself as queer on Amy Poehler’s “Smart Girls” site. She discussed, in a beautifully written essay, that being famous did not sound like a dream and that she would rather get through life unnoticed. But once again, we come across a star who uses her platform to shine some light on what truly matters and we’re definitely about the “follows” on IG when it comes to powerful women with substance!
Danielle A. Cooper
Instagram: @danielleacooper
1,625 Likes, 76 Comments - Danielle A. Cooper (@danielleacooper) on Instagram: "'Tis the season✨✨✨ #DanielleACooper #ShesAGent Shot by @kevintun"
Suits on suits! We want Danielle's tailors phone number stat because she looks sharp AF. Danielle runs a super swaggy website called She's a Gent that brings fluidity to fashion. We love our feminine Queer fam, but we also love those who bring the masculine flow effortlessly. Danielle does just that. Wins all around!
Kehlani
Instagram: @kehlani
219.3k Likes, 652 Comments - ARTIVIST 333 (@kehlani) on Instagram: "LA PRIDE 2018✨🏳️🌈 hair by @hairbylasnoot 😍"
Pretty sure it’s safe to say most of us already follow Kehlani, but you know, just in case you didn’t know, the talented singer proclaimed her queerness on Twitter 2 months ago and has since then used her platform to be an even more powerful light. And for good measure, we'd like to officially request more music Lani! Thank you!
Amber
Instagram: @amberscloset
15.7k Likes, 105 Comments - AmbersCloset (@amberscloset) on Instagram: "In DC celebrating PRIDE with @MariottIntl ! It was so exciting to be a part of the @CapitalPrideDC..."
Amber is a modern day entrepreneur. She's a Youtuber, Actress, Business Consultant, and Activist... and her page shows she's busy! Amber is an amazing Youtuber who often makes videos with her girlfriend, Ava, either indulging in comedy or discussing topics she encounters in her personal life. We also took a look at “Amber’s Closet” and loved this online shop! She has some super cool shirts, mugs and bags labeled “HUMAN AF” with the rainbow motif, and we need em'!
Janelle Monáe
Instagram: @janellemonae
170.9k Likes, 1,340 Comments - Janelle Monáe (@janellemonae) on Instagram: "Dehydrated . Happy Black Music & Pride month tho . 💜❤️💛💚"
Janelle Monáe is another amazingly talented singer who has used her platform to speak out about being queer and supporting the LGBT+ community. She has often stated, that she wants people to be able to connect through her music in a lot of these ways. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, she referred to herself, being a queer Black woman in America, as a “free-ass motherf*cker”. YAS QUEEN. Reason to follow? We're pretty sure you don't need one.
Carmen Carrera
Instagram: @carmen_carrera
12.6k Likes, 108 Comments - Carmen Carrera (@carmen_carrera) on Instagram: "@papermag @logotv #MadeToModel shoot with @geenarocero and @br0nz3_g0dd3ss #tb #tbt photographer:..."
Carmen Carrera is a beautiful model, proud Latina and transgender activist. One of the reasons we love her is because she discussed on her Instagram, how companies in the fitness world did not want to share her story because she's transgender. Eventually she became the face of an Equinox campaign where she declared that “strength has no gender”, and she’s absolutely right.
Lena Waithe
Instagram: @lenawaithe
79.2k Likes, 984 Comments - Lena Waithe (@lenawaithe) on Instagram: "Prideful."
SO SO MANY reasons to love Lena Waithe. Not only is she super funny and inspirational, but she staaaays on her IG informing us about every topic that concerns us and offering praise to the other icons doing it, too. Plus, did you see that rainbow cape she wore at the Met Gala? No? Well, if you were following her on IG, you would have. You broke the internet with that statement Lena, and we are a zillion percept better for it.
Alexandra Grey
Instagram: @alexandragreyofficial
545 Likes, 9 Comments - Alexandra Grey (@alexandragreyofficial) on Instagram: "Some more pics from last night. Love me some @jacobtobia @shobean @thelinabradford @deborahcox ❤️"
So, much like Pose, (but on a smaller scale that deserves to be much larger), Alexandra Grey is a part of a leading LGBTQ cast on a new web series called Razor Tongue. She has shared on her Instagram how she once worked as a paralegal and studied pre-law, but since then, became a talented musician and actress. She, too, is finding her platform to share that #transisbeautiful and should definitely be watched out for. Thank you for sharing your voice, girl!
Note: You can also read all about Razor Tongue and contribute to the show at www.noweverartists.com/razortongue
Geena Rocero
Instagram: @geenarocero
1,157 Likes, 30 Comments - GeenaRocero (@geenarocero) on Instagram: "@voguemagazine #fashioncentered @gucci @etro #HappyPride 🌈🦄💗💙 📷 @dapingluo"
Geena Rocero is not only a model and producer, but also the founder of genderproud.com. You can find her on TED Talk speaking about her inspirational journey to becoming the woman she always knew she was. You may also even run into her on the subway or on a bus because she blessed us with a #LoveTravels campaign for Marriott which has been posted around major cities. It brings us so much joy to see the LGBTQ community leading big campaigns! If all that isn’t enough, her outfits are INSANELY cute, too. She’s slaying her gram and deserves your follow!
SlayTV
Instagram: @slaytv
33 Likes, 2 Comments - IT'S WHAT YOU LIVE FOR. (@slaytv) on Instagram: "Early Bird Sale Ends 4/20. Link in Bio #slayfest2018"
SlayTV is on the come up, and we're glad we're getting in on it early. It describes itself as "an entire station dedicated to curating and developing original and honest content that you want to see. Web-series, movies, shorts, non-scripted, critical, documentaries, music and reality". SlayTV is here to cater to Black LGBT+ folks and we're excited for what they'll bring.
Daniela Vega
Instagram: @dani.vega.h
13.1k Likes, 181 Comments - Daniela Vega (@dani.vega.h) on Instagram: "Muchas gracias chiquillada por sus saludos y parabienes en mi nuevo año. Último piso de los 20 (y..."
This Chilena's star is rising and the possibilities are endless. Daniela was the lead on A Fantastic Woman, which won Oscar's... yea, that golden guy. She was also named one of the most influential people by Time Magazine this year, so we know the world is watching. We'll looking forward to seeing where this beautiful Trans woman takes us next.
Stephanie Beatriz
Instagram: @iamstephbeatz
46.2k Likes, 285 Comments - Stephanie Beatriz (@iamstephbeatz) on Instagram: "Happy Pride! I'm celebrating the biggest DC pride yet with @karamobrown and @marriottintl we're..."
If you don’t already know Steph from Brooklyn Nine-Nine as Detective Rosa Diaz, well then let us inform you! She hails from Argentina and proclaimed her bisexuality via Twitter in 2016. Yes, she identifies as queer, on AND offscreen. A queer Latina character is a rarity and if her cute selfies aren’t reason enough to follow her on Insta, she’s also very outspoken, not only for the LGBTQ community, but for ending gun violence and for equal women’s rights.
Mickalene Thomas
Instagram: @mickalenethomas
1,707 Likes, 38 Comments - Mickalene Thomas (@mickalenethomas) on Instagram: "My babe talks about our collaboration with @innovativeaesthetics.co.....more to come with this..."
Mickalane is a Brooklyn based artist that reminds of how powerful Black women are in their element. Her parter, Racquel Chevremont, is her muse and she uses her art as a way to explore things like fashion through multi-layered identities. Don't sleep on this talent.
