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LGBTQIA+ women, especially transgender and/or women of color, face insurmountable institutional and interpersonal barriers when knocking on Hollywood doors. Behind them is a passionate and resilient community, waiting to cheer them on, watch their stories and follow in their footsteps.
Among the LGBTQIA+ trailblazers we celebrate for Women’s History Month are: Josephine Baker, the first black woman to appear in a major film; Lea DeLaria, the first gay comic to appear on television; and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, the first trans woman to win an Emmy or Golden Globe (she won both). They are exceptional company, with the longest-running LGBTQIA+ characters on television, and groundbreaking performers using their platform to expand visibility and equity.
It’s also important to note that trans men and non-binary people have made — and will continue to make — valuable contributions to entertainment and face associated barriers rooted in patriarchy and gender essentialism. While it would be inappropriate to mislead these individuals by including them on Women’s History Month lists, we recognize that their stories would not exist without people like Sara RamÃrez and groundbreaking figures like Callie Torres .
From TV and film to Broadway and activism, the following trans, lesbian, bisexual and intersex women have played key roles in shaping how stories are told and who gets to hold the microphone. By doing this, they are clearing the way for everyone who comes after them.
(Photo courtesy of Everett Collection)
Josephine Baker is an American-born French actress and vaudevillian. During the Harlem Renaissance, she began performing at age 13 and continued for more than fifty years. In 1927, with her tropical sirenBaker made history by becoming the first black woman to appear in a major film.
In addition to her entertainment career, Baker was a civil rights advocate who enjoyed her relationships with women and men throughout her life.
The freshest look: paris is a woman (1995, as herself)
(Photo courtesy of Everett Collection)
Lorraine Hansberry was an author, activist, playwright, and the first black woman to stage a play on Broadway. raisins in the sun It premiered on Broadway in 1959, when Hansberry was only 29 years old.Two years later, it was adapted into films starring sidney poitier and ruby ​​deeThe story centers on a black family living on Chicago’s South Side — where Hansberry grew up and where her parents became involved in the racial justice movement.
Coming out as a lesbian, Hansberry developed connections with LGBTQ+ activists and continued her civil rights advocacy until her death in 1965.
Most Fresh Movies: raisins in the sun (1961, adapted from Hansberry’s play)
(Photo by Lea DeLaria, 1993, © Comedy Central/Courtesy of Everett Collection)
Leah Delaria is an actor, comedian and jazz musician. In 1993, she performed stand-up comedy on American television, becoming the first gay comedian to appear on American television arsenio hall showshe said: “It’s the 1990s! Queer is hip! I’m Levee.
Much of her work reflects pride in being a lesbian.She is known for playing “Big Boo” orange is the new black and also appear in shameless, vast city, and will and grace.
The freshest look: support girls (2018)
(Photograph by ALL-AMERICAN GIRL, from left: BD Wong, Margaret Cho, 1994-95. ph: Craig T. Mathew / ©Touchstone Television / courtesy Everett Collection)
Margaret Zhao Comedian, actor and activist.She began her comedy career in San Francisco before developing a sitcom in 1994 all american girlbased on her position. all american girl is the first primetime sitcom centered on an East Asian American family.
She guest starred on shows like this hacker and So complicated and in A golden girl spin off also sex in the city. In 2005, she published I choose to stay and fighta collection of essays on racism, misogyny, and homophobia.
Cho is bisexual and has said she is “Being around people of all genders and with a variety of different gender expressions“
The freshest look: fire island (2022)
(Photo by NEVER HAVE I EVER’s Alexandra Billings, “…Opens a Textbook,” (Season 2, Episode 203, airs July 15, 2021). Photo: © Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection)
alexandra billings is a multiracial star on stage and screen.She started her career in the early 2000s with appearances on TV shows Romy and Michelle: In the beginning, yes, and gray anatomy, among other things – she plays a lot of transgender characters in it. In 2018, she starred in Waxy Bush nap And became the first transgender person to play a transgender role on Broadway.
In addition to her career as an entertainer, Billings is an advocate for LGBTQIA+ people and people living with HIV, for which she has been recognized by HRC and GLAAD. In 2017, she and several other trans actors filmed an open letter to hollywoodadvocating for authentic trans stories: “Let us help you tell those stories. Or better yet, help us tell them ourselves, and let us fit in. In everything else. In every way.”
she recently appeared in i never and peripherals.
The freshest look: disclosure (2020)
(Image credit: Priscilla Grant/Everett Collection)
Erin Chaiken is a Jewish-American producer, director and writer. she is co-creator of letter L, which began airing in 2004, was largely inspired by her and other screenwriters’ life experiences. It was the first show to feature lesbian and bisexual characters, and the first to be creatively driven by queer women. its sequel, The L word: Generation Qbegan airing in 2019 and reinforced the original’s goal of telling underrepresented queer stories with additional people of color, as well as trans men, trans women, and non-binary characters, all of which are also reflected in The cast of the show.
Before letter LChaiken is the coordinating producer Fresh Prince of Bel Air and won a Golden Globe for the TV movie she wrote, dirty picturesin 2000. She most recently executive produced The Handmaid’s Tale and empire.
The freshest work: The Handmaid’s Tale Season 1.
(Photo by GREY’S ANATOMY, Jessica Capshaw, Sara Ramirez, “These Weapons of Mine,” (Season 7, Episode 6, aired October 28, 2010), 2005-, Photo: Danny Feld / © ABC / courtesy Everett Collection)
Sarah Ramirez Started out as Callie Torres gray anatomy during the show second seasonAt the suggestion of RamÃrez, Callie discovered her bisexuality through several relationships with different gender roles. 11 seasons later Gray’sCallie is not only the longest-running bisexual character in TV history, but also the longest-running LGBTQ+ character.
carlie paved the way for roles like rosa diaz brooklyn nine nineRamirez paved the way for other queer actors of color Stephanie Beatrice arrive their experiences are reflected in their roles. (RamÃrez is non-binary, queer, and bisexual, and they go on to pioneer queer roles like Che Diaz this sex and the city revival with Kat Sandoval lady secretary.)
Watch Seasons 2-12 of Callie Torres gray anatomy.
Eden Atwood
(Photography: LOVING, Eden Atwood, 1983-95. Photo: Gina Uhlmann / ©Dramatic Creations Inc./courtesy Everett Collection)
Eden Atwood is a jazz musician and actor.She appeared in more than 50 episodes of soap operas Love and appeared in the sitcom Good life and crime drama communist party.
In 2012, Atwood co-founded interface projectwhich highlights the lived experiences of people like her who are naturally intersex.
(Photo by DISCLOSURE, Laverne Cox, 2020. ph: Ava Benjamin Shorr / © Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection)
Laverne Cox Claimed to fame as Sophia Burset orange is the new black 2013, but she started in the entertainment industry more than a decade ago.she appeared in movies like this promising young woman, The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Travel Through Time Againrecent bumpy.
In 2013, her portrayal of Sophia made her the first transgender person to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy in the acting category. Since then, she has used her platform to advocate for the safety and visibility of the transgender community.Cox went on to appear on daytime TV shows, activist events and documentaries such as disclosure Talk about gender equality and elevate the trans experience.
The freshest look: disclosure (2020)
(Photo by POSE, from left: Billy Porter, Mj Rodriguez, “Something Old, Something New,” (Season 3, Episode 306, airing May 30, 2021). Photo: Eric Liebowitz / ©FX / Courtesy Everett Collection)
Best known as Blanca Evangelista posture, Michaela Jay Rodriguez She started her career in theater production in 2011 rent. She has appeared in several TV series, films and theater performances – including Luke Cage, adamand runaway – over the next few years, before being elected Blanca in 2017. postureshe also starred in audrey little shop of horrors.
posture itself made history by casting five transgender actresses in lead roles. The series, which aired for three seasons, reflected New York prom culture in the ’80s and ’90s, centering on queer and trans characters of people of color. As Blanca, the mother of the Evangelista family, Rodriguez showcases transgender joy and queer family building with an impressive vocals.
In 2021, Rodriguez will become the first transgender woman to win an Emmy. The following year, she became the first trans actor to win a Golden Globe.she dedicate her victory To “LGBTQAI, Black, Latino, Asian, and the many beautiful colors of the rainbow all over the damn world.”
The freshest look: posture Season 3
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