We at the Lion’s Crest firmly believe that everyone deserves the right to choose who they want to be and who they want to love if they feel the need to make that choice. But there is a lot of uncertainty regarding the myriad spectrum of gender and sexuality, and in our fast-paced world, there is constant bombardment of news to be scrolled through endlessly, and it is very easy to be overwhelmed by an overload of information. Our list of the top 5 LGBTQ+ activists and icons to follow on social media will help keep you informed and your feeds filled with only the smartest, most informed and opinionated people in the game. These are people who will push your boundaries, make you feel safe, and share insight on how to truly be yourself - prepare to hit the follow button.
1. Vivek Shraya, @vivekshraya
Canadian Artist, Visual Artist and Musician
She is a transgender woman of color who also identifies as bisexual and often incorporates her identity into her work. She wrote the bestselling book, I’m Afraid of Men, about her experiences with transphobia and misogyny, and it is now considered a blueprint for how one cherishes all that makes us different.
2. Indya Moore, @indyamoore
American Actor and Model
They identify as transgender and non-binary. They left their parents’ home at fourteen and dropped out of school due to transphobia, and began modeling at fifteen before being cast in television series Pose in 2017. In 2018, they came out as polyamorous, and in 2019 they became the first transgender person to be featured on the cover of Elle US. They have attended rallies defending trans rights and raised over $20,000 in coronavirus relief funds for Black trans and queer individuals (who are some of the hardest hit populations amid the pandemic).
3. Abby Stein, @abbychavastein
American Author, Blogger, Model, Speaker and Rabbi
She is the first openly transgender woman to be raised in a Hasidic Jewish community. She founded the first support group for transgender people of Orthodox Jewish background in 2015, and became the first woman to have been ordained (as she had not come out before receiving her rabbinical degree). In 2018, she co-founded Sacred Space, a multi-faith project that celebrates women and non-binary people of all faith traditions.
4. Chella Man, @chellaman
American Actor, Model, Artist and Youtuber
He is known for sharing his experiences as a transgender, deaf, genderqueer and Jewish person of color. Open about his Chinese descent, he has discussed not fitting into Eurocentric ideals of beauty, as well as the gender dysphoria he experienced throughout childhood. He paints, designs tattoos and has created a jewelry collection, The Beauty of Being Deaf, which transforms hearing aids into beautiful pieces of art.
5. Adam Eli, @adameli
American Writer and Activist
He is known for founding Voices4, a nonviolent direct-action activist group committed to advancing global queer liberation. He published his first book, The New Queer Conscience in 2020, which has been released as part of the Pocket Change Collection Series by Penguin House, featuring books on teen and young adult issues.
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