Pride and Power: LGBTQ+ Latine Celebs Changing the Face of Hollywood

Graphic design featuring portraits of influential LGBTQ+ Latine celebrities in Hollywood
Luz Media

The push towards equality and visibility for the Latino LGBTQ+ community in the media has been relentless and ongoing. As a result, some progress has been made and Latina LGBTQ+ celebrities are louder than ever. These figures contribute to the community with pride and power by openly speaking about their identities. They also contribute to creating safe spaces within the entertainment industry by engaging in discussions that shatter stereotypes and nurture inclusivity. They’ve walked through doors that didn’t exist before and are leaving them open for the next generation. To celebrate that, we shine a spotlight on 10 LGBTQ+ Latine celebs changing the face of Hollywood:


Tessa Thompson

Portrait of Tessa Thompson

Photo by tessamaethompson on Instagram

Tessa Thompson is an Afro-Panamanian actress who has earned widespread recognition for her performances in films like “Creed” and “Thor: Ragnarok.” Thompson is open about her bisexuality and uses her platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ representation in the entertainment industry. Her role in "Thor: Ragnarok" is considered a landmark because Valkyrie, the character Thompson plays, is one of the first explicitly queer characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

While the explicitness of Valkyrie's bisexuality was contested when the movie was released, Thompson has confirmed and embraced this aspect of the character. Thompson has been a consistent champion of diversity and she has been very open about the kind of projects she wants to work on. In 2018, she told the Press Association, “I want to show up on set and have it look like the world I walk around in every day, which is full of women, and people of color, and folk with disabilities. I want to make content that feels like that both on camera and off it.”

Indya Moore

Portrait of Indya Moore

Photo by indyamoore on Instagram

Indya Moore is an Afro-Taíno, trans, nonbinary actor and model who goes by they/them and she/her pronouns. They’re of Haitian, Puerto Rican, and Dominican descent and rose to popularity due to their role as Angel Evangelista on the FX Series, “Pose.” Moore’s upbringing wasn’t ideal; they had to leave home to escape their parents’ transphobia and enter foster care. They rose to life’s challenges, though, and eventually pursued a career in modeling. Moore worked with brands like Gucci and Dior, but they became disappointed in the industry’s focus on body image.

That’s when they decided to get into acting and their first big project was the indie film “Sunday Church,” which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival 2017. Their talent got attention and, that same year, they were cast in “Pose.” In 2019, they were featured on Time’s 100 Most Influential People. Since then, they have appeared in films like “Escape Room: Tournament of Champions” and “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.” With a desire to “fight for those who cannot fight for themselves,” as reported by L’Officiel in 2021, Moore consistently uses their platform to amplify marginalized voices and bring attention to issues like trans rights and racism.

Aubrey Plaza

Portrait of Aubrey Plaza

Photo by plazadeaubrey on Instagram

Aubrey Plaza, of Puerto Rican and Irish descent, is widely known for her role as April Ludgate on the hit NBC sitcom “Parks and Recreation.” Plaza publicly came out as bisexual in 2016, stating in an interview with The Advocate, “I know I have an androgynous thing going on, and there's something masculine about my energy. Girls are into me -- that's no secret. Hey, I'm into them too. I fall in love with girls and guys. I can't help it.”

Plaza has been an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ+ community ever since. By openly discussing her bisexuality, she has helped increase visibility and eliminate the stigma associated with non-heterosexual orientations. Her portrayal of queer characters, like in the film “Happiest Season,” also provides much-needed representation and adds to the authenticity of LGBTQ+ characters in media. In 2022, she starred in “The White Lotus” and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award. A year later, she was featured on Time’s 100 Most Influential People, and her star continues to rise.

Ariana DeBose

Portrait of Ariana DeBose

Photo by arianadebose on Instagram

Ariana DeBose is a talented actor, singer, and dancer of Puerto Rican descent. She’s celebrated for her versatility and for her advocacy. As an openly lesbian Latina in the industry, she provides much-needed queer Latino representation and her journey is an inspiration to many who dream of making it in Broadway and Hollywood. DeBose’s career started on Broadway, performing in productions like “Hairspray,” “Hamilton,” and more. She had her breakout role in “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical,” which earned her a Tony Award nomination.

Her film career includes roles in "The Prom" and "Schmigadoon!" But it was her role as Anita in the 2021 film adaptation of “West Side Story” that shot her into stardom. Her performance led her to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, making history as the first openly queer Latina to get the honor. As an activist, DeBose launched the Unruly Hearts Initiative with Jo Ellen Pellman. The mission is to connect young people, particularly those in the LGBTQ+ community, with organizations that provide resources for housing insecurity, mental health, mentorship, and education. Currently, she’s part of the International Board of Covenant House as an advocate for homeless youth. “I’ve always felt compelled to help others, working to give back to my community and using my voice for good – for I wouldn’t be here without those who took an interest in me,” she wrote on Glamour.

Sara Ramirez

Portrait of Sara Ramirez

Photo by therealsararamirez on Instagram

Sara Ramirez is a Mexican-American actress, singer, and activist best known for their role as Dr. Callie Torres on "Grey's Anatomy.” Ramirez, who identifies as non-binary and bisexual, has been a tireless advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. Their portrayal of Dr. Torres, one of the longest-running queer characters on television, has significantly influenced the way bisexuality is understood and depicted in popular media. They’re also a Tony Award winner for their performance in the 2005 Broadway musical “Spamalot.”

More recently, they appeared in the “Sex and the City” sequel, “And Just Like That…,” portraying a non-binary, queer character and adding to LGBTQ+ representation in the media. Off-screen, Ramirez is heavily involved in LGBTQ+ advocacy, serving on the board of organizations like True Colors United, which works to combat homelessness among LGBTQ+ youth. They also support organizations like the Bisexual Organizing Project, ACLU, NDLON, The Task Force, and more. They have campaigned extensively for LGBT rights and lend their voice to marginalized communities. In 2023 and 2024, she has also been advocating and protesting for Palestinian liberation.

Stephanie Beatriz

Portrait of Stephanie Beatriz

Photo by stephaniebeatriz on Instagram

Stephanie Beatriz is an openly bisexual actress of Colombian and Bolivian descent. She rose to popularity with her role as the tough yet endearing and relatable Detective Rosa Diaz in the popular comedy TV show “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” which received nominations to the Golden Globes, Emmys, and Critics’ Choice Awards. She’s also known for voicing Mirabel Madrigal in the Disney animated movie “Encanto” and she appeared in the 2021 film adaptation of “In the Heights.” Beatriz has also been a voice actor in animated series like “Bojack Horseman” and “Hazbin Hotel.”

Beatriz publicly came out as bisexual when she retweeted one of Aubrey Plaza’s quotes from The Auction interview, adding “Yup.” Plaza’s quote read “I fall in love with girls and guys, I can’t help it.” She realized she was bisexual at an early age, around 13 years old, but she experienced biphobia from friends and family, so she kept quiet about it for most of her life. Now, she advocates for bisexual visibility and representation, inclusivity, and LGBTQ+ rights. In 2023, Beatriz told People, "Now I have a small platform of visibility because I’m on a fun and (if I do say so myself) damn good television show. I’ve chosen to use that platform to speak openly about my bi-ness, because of other people who may feel invisible and unsure of whether or not to come out as bisexual."

MJ Rodriguez

Portrait of MJ Rodriguez

Photo by mjrodriguez7 on Instagram

MJ Rodriguez, of Afro-Puerto Rican descent, has made history as a trailblazer for transgender people, particularly in the world of television. Rodriguez's groundbreaking role as Blanca Evangelista on "Pose" earned her critical acclaim and marked a significant milestone for trans representation on screen. Her work in “Pose” earned her an Emmy Award nomination and she became the first transgender woman to get that honor. Eventually, she won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a TV Series Drama for her performance in the final season of “Pose.”

Rodriguez is open about her identity as a trans woman, leveraging her platform to call attention to issues affecting the transgender community. Her achievements, both as an actress and activist, inspire transgender and LGBTQ+ individuals around the world, especially Latinos and Afro-Latinos who can see themselves in her. Through her activism and work in the media, she’s one of the Latine figures helping not only change the conversation around LGBTQ+ rights and representation but also shape a more inclusive and accepting industry. In a recent interview with The Advocate, she stated, “If I can be somebody who is a hope to people around the world, especially LGBTQ+ people, then I guess I'm doing my job.”

Vicci Martinez

Portrait of Vicci Martinez performing

Photo by viccimartinez on Instagram

Vicci Martinez is a queer, Mexican American singer, songwriter, and actor. She’s known for the recurrent character, Daddy, in the successful comedy-drama Netflix Series, “Orange Is the New Black.” Currently, she’s voicing the character of Frida Khalo in the adult animated sci-fi sitcom, “Clone High.” She also appeared on “The Voice” as a contestant in 2011, where she impressed the judges during her blind audition with her cover of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep.” Since then, she has released several albums, EPs, and singles, amassing a fanbase in Washington.

Martinez is openly lesbian and she has shared her story of coming out to religious Latino parents at the age of 16, something a lot of queer Latines can relate to. She has expressed her passion for inspiring others to be authentic. In an interview with TV Guide in 2018, she stated, "All I have ever wanted is to connect with people, and through music, I felt that was the fastest way to get to anyone's heart. Now I have a new stage, but my intention is the same: to inspire people to follow their own authentic truth and desires so they can live joyful lives [...].”

The strides made by LGBTQ+ Latine celebrities in the entertainment industry are both inspiring and transformative. These figures stand out because of their talent and the authentic, much-needed representation they provide for LGBTQ+ Latinos across the board. As they continue to break barriers, challenge stereotypes, and open doors for the next generation, they’re a great example of how pride and power can make a difference in the quest for visibility and equality.

hands holding up yellow protest signs that say Hands Off Our Bodies
Photo Credit: Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

Originally published in Common Dreams. Reprinted with permission.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

In November, abortion rights measures will appear on ballots across ten states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New York, where Latinos make up a significant portion of the electorate. For decades, pundits and politicians have recycled long-held misconceptions about Latino voters and abortion access, citing our conservative and religious beliefs.

Anti-abortion extremists have long fueled these misconceptions through misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeting Latino communities with egregious lies and inflammatory rhetoric about abortion. Yet, polling, focus groups, and direct interactions with Latino communities have debunked these outdated tropes.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

For Latinos, the freedom to decide, a pillar of our American democracy, is critical. Meanwhile, Latinos are being hit directly with anti-abortion efforts that take away that freedom such as the six-week abortion ban put into effect by the Florida Supreme Court and the 1864 abortion ban upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, people of color and Latinas have felt the impact of a lack of abortion access, an element of basic healthcare.

A 2023 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families estimated that nearly 6.5 million Latinas, or 42% of all Latinas of reproductive age in the country, live in a state that either had or was likely to ban abortion. Ironically, it will be abortion access and anti-choice efforts to restrict freedom of choice that will mobilize Latino voters this election.

In a poll conducted by three national reproductive justice organizations, 87% of Latinas named abortion and women’s rights as one of their top priorities as they head to the polls. Another battleground poll conducted by Somos PAC and BSP Research found that 61% of Latino registered voters expressed a more positive/favorable view of Kamala Harris after hearing that she will protect abortion rights, versus only 19% of Latinos who said they had a more negative view of Harris after hearing that.

In key states to secure the White House and both chambers, Latinos make up large chunks of the electorate: Arizona (25%), Colorado (15%), Florida (20%), Nevada (20%), and New York (12%). In the face of unprecedented attacks on basic healthcare access and targeted attempts by extremists to mislead and divide our community on this issue, this November Latinos will be key deciders on abortion access across the country.

Mari Urbina, Managing Director of Indivisible, Battleground Arizona Lead and former Harry Reid advisor.

Héctor Sánchez Barba is president and CEO of Mi Familia Vota (MFV).

This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.