2024 Recap Interactive: Big Moments, Bigger Impact

For LGBTQ young people representation can make the world of a difference. The Trevor Project’s research found that 89% of LGBTQ young people reported that seeing LGBTQ folks in popular TV, movies, and music made them feel good about being LGBTQ. And it seems that powerful representation of LGBTQ folks and of historically marginalized people in general is becoming more and more commonplace. Actor Harvey Guillén from FX’s “What We Do in the Shadows” is one of those LGBTQ folks making strides for representation. In his role as Guillermo, a vampire’s familiar, Harvey plays a character that is both openly…

Michael & Zak Zakar describe themselves as the Middle Eastern Mary-Kate & Ashley. They aim to represent the underrepresented voices of proud Middle Easterners in the entertainment industry and have published a book, Pray the Gay Away, about their upbringing. Can you talk about the intersection of your queer and Arab American heritage? Michael: It seems like the question to our people is a paradox in itself. Like it’s impossible to be both, have layers. It’s important to recognize that people like us exist in our home country and in the states. If anyone should be leading the revolution on…