Among the celebrities that we see on TV and in the media, Who Are The Real Gay Role Models? We look at celebrities like Amandla Stenberg, Elliot Page, Tina Fey, Dr. McDreamy, and more. Who are these men and women doing in our community? How do we see them in our own lives? How do they inspire us to take the next step?
Amandla Stenberg
Amandla Stenberg, a multihyphenate, has emerged as one of the new generation of LGBTQ role models. She’s a multihyphenate and major role model, who just turned 33. Her most significant role to date is the lead in George Tillman Jr.’s The Hate U Give, where she plays the role of a young girl who witnesses the murder of her best friend by the police. She also faces the pressure to keep quiet about the death, and gang retribution.
The actress first came out as bisexual two years ago and later confirmed that she’s now lesbian. Since then, she has embraced her new identity, coming out as gay. Stenberg has also identified as bisexual, pansexual, and non-binary. Her recent public coming out has made her a role model for those seeking to come out and explore their sexuality. However, there are many obstacles and misunderstandings associated with this issue.
Elliot Page
In his new book, Elliot Page, The Real Gay, role model, he reflects on his life as a trans man and his experiences as a gay man. He feels profound sadness whenever he hears news stories about transgender people, but says he’s grateful for health care and an open mind. Page credits trans women of color, such as Marsha P. Johnson, who was involved in the Stonewall Uprising, and Miss Major Griffin-Grace, who runs House of GG, a safe haven and educational center for trans women of color. Page says that his own transition has sparked a “massive creative explosion” in his life.
In addition to being a real gay role model, Elliot Page came out in 2014 and was the first transgender person to win an Oscar. As a queer man, Page has opened up to Porter magazine about his life as a gay actor. In the first decade of his career, Page says, he was pressured by Hollywood executives to hide his sexuality and dress in a certain way. Page was closed-minded during the early years of his career, and he explains how his decision to come out was one that changed his life.
Dr. McDreamy
TV shows like Grey’s Anatomy have consistently featured LGBTQ characters and the show has managed to seamlessly incorporate them into the plotline. Interestingly enough, many of these characters were played by men and women of different sexual orientations and the writers of this show have made sure to give them multidimensional characters. One example is Dr. Callie Torres, played by Sara Ramirez. Her character was written to be a multidimensional character and even had a gay friend named Dr. McDreamy as a co-writer.
Although the show has a recurring role for women, male characters like Dr. McDreamy have also been portrayed in a variety of television series. In the most recent episode of Grey’s Anatomy, played by Patrick Dempsey, McDreamy and Derek Shepherd had sex with their superiors. It’s clear that the two male characters on the show have a lot of sway over their female subordinates.
Tina Fey
The comic’s first big break came as a featured player in the Chicago-based improv group, The Second City. Fey soon made her way to Saturday Night Live, where she soon became the head writer and a regular performer. She created a character for a Weekend Update segment that satirized Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin. Later, she wrote and co-starred in the romantic comedy Mean Girls. Fey has continued to work in the entertainment industry, most notably in the comedy series 30 Rock. This series is loosely based on Fey’s experiences at SNL.
While many of her past projects have not portrayed LGBT issues as a part of their stories, Fey has always kept her target audience in mind. For instance, her new Netflix streaming series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt will return in the spring. She’ll also reteam with Amy Poehler in Sisters, which opens December 18. As an LGBT advocate, Fey’s work has long kept an eye toward an audience that identifies with LGBT issues.