While the pandemic continued to take center stage throughout 2021, the world of pop culture wasn’t going to let it steal all the headlines. LGBTQ representation was seen in film and television, it was heard in the music industry, it was cheered on in the world of sports and we read it in our novels and our comic books. We also saw it represented in LEGOs.
As we record our last chapter in the book of 2021, we have gathered a few highlights from the LGBTQ pop culture world — 26 to be exact. Welcome to your 2021 pop ABCs.
Archuleta, David
“American Idol” season 7 runner up, David Archuleta takes to Instagram to publicly come out during Pride Month. The devout Mormon said in a post to his 400,000+ fans that while he came out to family as gay in 2014, he feels he may be on the bisexual spectrum.
Bloom, Leyna
27-year-old Leyna Bloom becomes the first trans woman of color on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit issue when she is featured in the publication’s August edition.
Cassandra Peterson
Cassandra Peterson — best known by fans as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark — reveals in her 2021 memoir “Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark” that she has been in a romantic relationship with a woman for the last 19 years. “For the first time in my life,” Peterson wrote, “I’m with someone who makes me feel safe, blessed, and truly loved.”
DC Comics
DC Comics announced three LGBTQ heroes in the pages of its comics during 2021. In August it is revealed that Batman sidekick Robin (the Tim Drake version) is bisexual and two months later, it was announced that Superman Jon Kent, son of the classic Superman Clark Kent and Lois Lane, is also bi. DC’s LGBTQ world expanded again when Bia, a Black trans Amazonian, was introduced in the first issue of “Nubia & The Amazons.”
Eternals
Not to be outdone, DC rival Marvel introduces its first openly gay superhero in its cinematic universe with the release of “Eternals.” During the film, it is revealed that Phastos (played by Brian Tyree Henry) is in a loving marriage with a man and that they have a child together. The couple also share a passionate kiss.
Flee
The Danish film “Flee,” an animated documentary about a gay Afghan refugee fleeing his home country, receives critical acclaim during its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival sparking Oscar buzz in both the Animated Feature and International Feature Film categories.
Goodbye
After 18 years and more than 1,800 shows, Ellen DeGeneres says she is done with her daytime talk show after its upcoming 19th season.
Hubbard, Laurel
New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard competes during the Tokyo Olympics, making her the first openly trans woman to compete in the Olympic Games.
Instagram pronouns
Instagram becomes a more inclusive social media app as in launches a new feature that allows users to choose their pronouns as a part of their public profile.
Javicia Leslie
After Ruby Rose stepped away from the series “Batwoman,” Javicia Leslie premieres as the new titular hero in the show’s second season wowing fans and critics. Leslie returned for the show’s third season in October.
Kristen Stewart
Kristen Stewart and screenwriter Dylan Meyer announce they are engaged to be married in November, adding to an already tremendous year for Stewart who has been the front runner to win the Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Princess Diana in the film “Spencer.” If she wins, she will become the first openly LGBTQ person ever to win an Oscar in one of the acting categories.
Lovato, Demi
Demi Lovato takes to Twitter in May and, in a series of tweets, comes out as nonbinary and says they use they/them pronouns. Lovato’s announcement also came with the first episode of their podcast called “4D With Demi Lovato.”
Maddow, Rachel
MSNBC’s most popular primetime anchor, Rachel Maddow negotiates a new multi-year contractual deal to remain with the cable news network through the 2024 elections, nabbing $30 million per year.
Nassib, Carl
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib became the first active NFL player to come out as gay when he took to Instagram during Pride Month. Nassib, who enters his sixth NFL season and second with the Raiders, says he wasn’t doing it for the attention but because he felt representation and visibility were important.
Olympia Dukakis
We love you more than our luggage. Legendary actress Olympia Dukakis dies at the age of 89. Dukakis was an icon who appeared in more than a hundred films and TV shows including playing Mary Anne’s landlady in “Tales of the City,” Cher’s mother in “Moonstruck” and Clairee in “Steel Magnolias.”
Pose
The groundbreaking FX series “Pose” concludes with its third season. The show ends on a high note earning five Emmy nominations, including Outstanding Lead Actor and Actress in a Drama Series for its stars Billy Porter and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez.
Queer Eye LEGO
The Fab 5 are immortalized in LEGO form as the hit Netflix series “Queer Eye” partners with the iconic toy brand to release the Queer Eye Fab 5 Loft LEGO set just in time for LGBTQ History Month.
Robert Jones, Jr.
Author Robert Jones, Jr. releases his debut novel “The Prophets” in January and it becomes an instant New York Times best seller.
Siwa, Jojo
Social media influencer Jojo Siwa reveals that she is a member of the LGBTQ community on social media in January but says she doesn’t put a label on it. Later she says that she identifies as pansexual but also uses gay and queer to describe herself.
TJ Osborne
TJ Osborne, one half of the country music duo Brothers Osborne, comes out as gay in February making him the only openly gay country artist on a major label.
Urie, Michael
Michael Urie stars in “Single All The Way,” Netflix’s first holiday romantic comedy centered on the relationship of gay men. The film also stars Philemon Chambers, Luke Macfarlane, Kathy Najimy, Barry Bostwick and Jennifer Coolidge.
Versace, Krystal
Drag queen Krystal Versace wins the third series of “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK” and becomes the youngest “Drag Race” winner ever at only 19 years old at the time of her crowning.
Wachowski, Lana
Nearly 20 years after the original “Matrix” trilogy, director Lana Wachowski (minus sister Lilly) returns with Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss for the fourth installment of the science fiction series, “The Matrix Resurrections.”
X, Lil Nas
Lil Nas X secured his position as one of the most talked about performers in 2021 with the release of his first studio album “Montero.” The album spawned two No. 1 singles: “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” and “Industry Baby.”
You Can’t Be Serious
Kal Penn, former White House staffer during the Obama Administration and one half of the film duo “Harold & Kumar,” comes out as gay in his memoir “You Can’t Be Serious.”
Zendaya
In an interview with openly gay “Euphoria” co-star Colman Domingo for Interview magazine, Zendaya opened up about wanting to direct. The Emmy-winning actor admits in the interview that she doesn’t “necessarily have a plan,” but that directing “a simple love story about two Black girls” is something that “excites” her.
