GAY TIMES Magazine

1 March 2019

As LGBT History Month comes to a close and we’ve all reflected on the incredible achievements of queer pioneers past, for this issue of Gay Times we’ve refocussed our perspective to the generation of LGBTQ people and allies making history in their own way today. They are using their platform and privilege in pop culture to shift long-held perceptions that, quite frankly, have no place in modern society. Following her recent impassioned speech against the Trump administration’s anti-LGBTQ stance, Canadian actress Ellen Page has become one of the most outspoken members of our community. Here she delves into why it’s vital she speaks out against hate and use her platform to benefit others, as well as discussing her new Netflix series The Umbrella Academy. Mj Rodriguez truly came into her own in Ryan Murphy’s groundbreaking FX series Pose. Her turn as Blanca Evangelista made us fall in love with the ballroom scene queen, as her character – along with a whole cast of trans talent – portrayed authentic perceptions of trans women of colour for a mainstream audience. With a second season on the horizon, Mj speaks on the impact of the show for a whole new generation. Monet X Change made history earlier this month when she became the first All Stars queen of colour to be inducted into the Drag Race Hall of Fame. The NYC star speaks about her surprise joint win with Trinity The Tuck, why it was time for a queen of colour to win the competition, and how she plans to use her success to become one of the biggest mother-tucking stars out there. Strictly Come Dancing’s golden boy AJ Pritchard made television history last year when he was the focus of the BBC One show’s first ever same-sex routine. The 24-year-old speaks on the public reaction to moment, how he plans to incorporate more same-sex pairings in his own headline tour, and why he prefers not to label himself when it comes to his identity.