GLAAD, the world’s LGBTQ media advocacy organization, looks back at 2016 and the great LGBTQ moments from the entertainment industry.
First, a look at the celebrities who made waves when they came out as LGBTQ over the past year from actors Charlie Carver and Colton Hayes to Film Director Lilly Wachowski. These and many more have influenced the global conversation on LGBTQ acceptance by sharing their stories and elevating the voices of others from their unique and individual platforms.
In January, Charlie Carver, best known for his role as gay werewolf Ethan in MTV’s Teen Wolf, came out as gay himself in a five-part Instagram post.
Actor Colton Haynes came out as gay in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, explaining he was advised to “subdue” his sexuality early on in his career.
In March, Lilly Wachowski, after threats to out her against her will by tabloid reporters, officially released a statement in her hometown LGBTQ media outlet The Windy City Times confirming that she is trans.
GLAAD also takes a look back at the scripted and documentary films from this past year that shined a light on LGBTQ lives through the lens of race, culture, ethnicity, age and disability from Out of Iraq to Xavier.
Xavier (Brazil) is a short piece about a father who notices that his 11 year old son is paying as much attention to slightly older boys as he does to his drum set. The boys and the father share their love of music, trust and family connection.
Out of Iraq chronicles a journey of love, sacrifice and courage. In 2003, in the midst of war, in a country where even being perceived as gay could mean a death sentence, two Iraqi men meet by chance and fall in love. Nayef, a translator for the U.S. military, and Btoo, a soldier in the Iraqi army, face persecution – and possible death – if they stay in their homeland. After obtaining a visa, Nayyef leaves his love behind, and what follows is a tale of love, commitment from afar and the desire to live and love without fear.
Also, GLAAD takes a look at the exciting LGBTQ-inclusive entertainment to look forward to in 2017! Click here for a sampling of LGBTQ-inclusive films, TV series and comic book offerings on the horizon.
