GLOW - OUR PRIDE ICONS

June is recognised and celebrated as Pride Month, a month dedicated to celebrating LGBTQ+ communities all around the world. The GLOW LGBT+ youth group, were asked to share their favourite queer icons or allies. This could be someone they know personally, a fictional character, public figure; anyone who they look up to. Pride is all about being proud of who you are no matter who you love.

Tao Xu is an ally who dates Elle, a transgirl in Heartstopper. He identifies as straight which is very important to me.

Robin from Stranger Things is an icon! She’s autistic coded and a lesbian!

I like Yungblud as he not only stands up for LGBTQ+ rights but is also one of the only artists who stands up for mental health in teenagers.

She was the one who originally told me what LGBTQ was. She is a queer activist that recently wrote and published a book with Comics Youth. Her and her girlfriend were big inspirations to me when coming out and figuring out my identity. She taught me about queer safe spaces. Rosa is an activist for mental health, ED recovery, trans issues, Autism, etc...She gave me the confidence to fight for my issues and strive for the acceptance of my identity.

They were a huge part of my self-acceptance. She taught me about reclaiming negative experiences and turning them into something you can use. They taught me about the struggles of being a feminine presenting queer person. Tasha made me accept myself in a way I hadn’t previously as a person who struggles with that overlap. She taught me about the joys of being a queer person and inspired me as a feminist to view my body in a positive light, not to be used by others. She inspired me to love myself in a way I had never seen before.

They are two lesbians that taught me it is completely okay to be 100% myself, despite my struggles. They are the biggest queer icons in my life and I appreciate their guidance and support more than anything.

-Bea

Kaoru is pretending to be straight to cope with the crippling loss of his family. He likes men but is desperate for a woman in his life to replace his mother.

I love Ezra Furman because she creates amazing music. It’s not often that folk, punk and alternative music is created by a transwoman. We need more people like her. Also she’s gorgeous, like properly.

Max Balegde is a gay man who makes Tiktok videos. He inspired me to come out two years ago because he showed that being gay is ok and normal. Their coming out story is really inspiring. He was at the Ariana Grande concert in which the bombing took place and realised he could have died that day with no one knowing who he truely was. After that event he decided to come out as gay. He is very funny and makes good/ relatable Tik Toks.