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Lazarus Lynch, Manny Jay, Jaida Essence Hall, Ben Platt, Angie “Pumps” Sullivan and Jennifer Welch
Creators Leverage Platforms for Progress
Summer 2024 • Brandon Hooks He/They
Celebrities have long used their platforms to effect change. Whether it is benefiting organizations they have worked with before or speaking on issues near and dear to their hearts, these entertainment figures have the ability to make a difference in communities small and large. The social media landscape we now live in has only made this more possible for those who have found their footing as creators in the digital space. Influencers are building the audiences necessary to make a real difference, and we are seeing that play out in real time when it comes to LGBTQ+ issues.
Queer creators have found a true home across digital mediums. While it is true that social media can still be a toxic — and even dangerous — space for LGBTQ+ creators at times, many have found their niche with attentive audiences that do not just follow for their content but for the issues they speak on. In a time when MAGA bullies are trying to silence prominent LGBTQ+ voices, influencers are fighting back by leveraging the very platforms that helped foster their careers.
HBO’s hit show We’re Here just celebrated its fourth season with a new slate of drag queen hosts. This season struck a somewhat different tone given the recent legislative backlash against the art of drag, with many states attempting to ban the form of expression altogether. As the latest season focused on Tennessee and Oklahoma — two states at the center of the anti-drag bill conversation — the queens knew their responsibility as agents of change was more important than ever.
"Seeing how so many people were afraid to be open, to live honestly and freely [...] It was a very disheartening feeling at times”, shared Jaida Essence Hall, one of the newest hosts of We’re Here, during an Instagram Live with HRC.
Anyone can create change and anyone can change the world. All you have to do is live your life and live authentically.”
We have also seen queer creators center their advocacy work on issues that disproportionately impact LGBTQ+ communities. Lazarus Lynch and Manny Jay, two Los Angeles-based creators whose work spans the food, fashion and social work industries, are keen to make mental health for LGBTQ+ populations a more openly discussed topic.
Lynch, who recently graduated with a degree in social work, spoke with HRC about how important it is to both build community as an advocate while also giving back to yourself.
I don’t think I’d be here without peers and community who have helped me get to where I am today."
Representation matters within the LGBTQ+ community,” said Jay, who launched his own podcast recently inspired by his own desire to bridge communities. "I used to hear all the time, ‘you don’t look like you’re gay,’ but what does that really look like? We have to get involved in our communities to provide visibility for others.”
At a moment in history when we need everyone showing up and speaking out for LGBTQ+ rights, creators who are allies to our community are rising to the occasion and lending their platforms to advocate for queer issues.
Jennifer Welch and Angie “Pumps” Sullivan have skyrocketed in the podcasting space due to their hit show I’ve Had It, a comedy-driven podcast during which they vent about the issues, trends and people they are simply tired of. Throughout the show’s history, they have welcomed many LGBTQ+ guests ranging from comedians to drag artists to fellow creators, sharing the audience they have built with others in an authentic way. They also speak on queer issues regularly, including the myriad of anti-LGBTQ+ actions taken by Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters, who just so happens to be the superintendent of the very state in which they have raised their families.
I would say to people who are marginalized or live in deeply red states, there are pockets of people supporting you across the United States,” said Welch during a Pride conversation with HRC. “Those people [against LGBTQ+ rights] are the problem. You are not the problem. It is wrong to judge someone simply for being who they are.”
Digital creators will continue to play an important role in our quest to achieve equality for all. Whether they belong to the LGBTQ+ community or are active allies, these are the agents of change who can truly make a difference with the platforms they have created. At HRC, we are determined to help these creators by providing the resources, messaging and support necessary to continue being advocates in their own right. We know that when we show up — including in our digital spaces — equality wins.
Follow and join our conversations with queer creators!
