First of all, let’s have a look at the legends with the help of which not only have we been entertained, but even more, the game was changed. These are the icons who not only broke the glass ceilings but also redefined the entertainment business by demanding that TV, film, and comedy be more representative of the world: more vibrant, diverse, and full of voices that matter.
Whether it was through their bold and unrestrained comedy or through their many and prestigious Emmy awards, these Black and LGBTQ+ trailblazers have been determined to make sure that there is a place for them in the entertainment industry, regardless of whether or not it was there previously. They have done so by showing that representation is not just a term; it is the very thing that keeps one alive in the industry. They have allowed spectators to come across characters and stories that are not only engaging and lifelike but also are a mixture of real struggles and real triumphs, and therefore, remind people of the world that they, too, deserve to see themselves in the spotlight.
As a matter of fact, some of them are known for making us laugh until we cry, while others have given us performances that have left a mark on us long after the credits have rolled, and a lot of them still use their influence to fight for their cause way beyond the Hollywood industry. They not only did that, but also together they changed the rules of the game and thus set a phenomenal example for the people who want to follow in their footsteps. 8 is the number of TV, film, and comedy figures whose contributions to these areas have changed the face of entertainment forever. Here is the list of those 8 groundbreaking people.
8. Ali Wong
Ali Wong didn’t only make us laugh, she revolutionized comedy. Her 2016 Netflix special, Baby Cobra, was filmed when she was seven months pregnant, and she was the first comedian to have a special while being so advanced in life. The unapologetic honesty about fertility, pregnancy, and motherhood was so revolutionary that the Smithsonian requested that she donate her stage gown. Wong followed Hard Knock Wife by reiterating that humor and motherhood don’t clash at all. She broke open doors for new voices and new conversations in stand-up.
7. Lena Waithe
Lena Waithe is one of the most vital critics working in Hollywood today. She won an Emmy for Master of None and used her acceptance speech as an opportunity to call out queer Black narratives that just don’t get told. Apart from that, she’s had a writing, producing, and activist career, developing shows such as The Chi and Twenties that mirror the lives of communities too often outside of frame. Waithe is living proof that authenticity and visibility can reinvent the rulebook in Hollywood.
6. Michaela Jaé Rodriguez
As Blanca in Pose, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez is the first trans actor to be nominated for a lead role at the Emmys. It wasn’t until that point that she performed a house mother and nurse did her performance radiating compassion, strength, and honesty enough to put trans women of color at the center of mainstream narrative. Rodriguez’s affirmation wasn’t just an award nomination—it was a pivot that changed what audiences and the industry expect from lead roles.
5. Laverne Cox
Laverne Cox’s performance as Sophia Burset on Orange is the New Black continues to be the benchmark for TV. She was the first openly trans acting star to receive a Primetime Emmy nomination, and her character was the first to create a sensation as one of the most prominent and enduring LGBTQ+ characters in television history. Behind the screen, Cox has employed her fame to promote trans visibility and rights and is therefore an icon and an activist.
4. Indya Moore
Indya Moore acted out Angel on Pose, but boldly also led an activist life. Haitian, Puerto Rican, and Dominican by heritage, Moore employs their platform to shed light on the lives of Black and brown queer and trans people. They are not afraid to point out to audiences that representation is not just in the roles on TV, but in the lives the roles represent. Moore’s intersection of art and activism is one to be reckoned with.
3. Tessa Thompson
Cool, magnetic, and unapologetic in all her glory, Tessa Thompson has made a career of breaking molds. She’s done it in Creed, Men in Black: International, and countless other films, but as Valkyrie in the Thor franchise, she solidified her status as Marvel’s first openly LGBTQ superhero. Afro Latina Thompson, who identifies as queer herself, has given voice to marginalized communities and empowered fans who see themselves reflected in her work on and off the screen.
2. Robin Tyler
Well before representation was ever discussed in mainstream culture, Robin Tyler was breaking ground. She produced the first openly feminist comedy album in the ’70s with Pat Harrison and the first openly lesbian comedy album. She was the first to perform openly gay material on national television. Tyler not only brought laughter, but she also opened up space for women and queer comedians to use humor as a way to challenge oppression.
1. Keiynan Lonsdale
Keiynan Lonsdale is rewriting the rom-com hero. Through his cameo in Love, Simon and The Flash and lead role in My Fake Boyfriend, Lonsdale has become a voice for young LGBTQ+ fans who want to be seen on screen in romance stories. Out as his gender and identity, he’s taking it upon himself to mainstream diverse representation in spaces previously ruled by stereotypes. His presence is forcing Hollywood to move in an effort to catch up.
These signs did more than tear down barriers; they swept them away, opening doors to more vibrant, honest stories. They have opened up entertainment, making it more representative and far more impactful.