Summer is here, queers! How’d everyone enjoy pride month? Luckily for you, we’re here year-round to bring you queer content, this time around it’s queer icons you’ve (probably, possibly, maybe) not heard of! Impress your friends with cool gay trivia on lesser-known queer icons. If you love dropping “actually, they’re gay” and “my favourite queer artist is [insert underground, not-well-known artist]”, this is for you. Keep reading to discover some of our favourite lesser-known queer icons and, by the way, we wanna know if you knew any of these before us. Let us know who in the comments, and why you didn’t tell us earlier!! (We’re joking, we love you guys) Have fun!
1. Beth McCarthy
Beth McCarthy is one artist helping to represent not only the inability to talk to girls (it’s a struggle), but also bisexuality and the struggles that come with the ‘pick a side’ attitudes. She recently finished the IDK How To Talk To Girls tour across Europe, and their most recent release, ‘Good Bi’, has been streamed 851,533 times on Spotify. Some of her most streamed songs on Spotify include ‘Omg Did She Call Him Baby?’ and ‘She Gets the Flowers’. If this sounds like it might be up your street, give them a listening to!
2. Julia Lester
Julia Lester made sapphic history for the ‘High School Musical’ franchise, when herself and her co-star, Saylor Curda, shared the first sapphic kiss for the franchise on ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series’. She’s recently starred in ‘Prom Dates’ with Antonia Gentry.
3. Melina KB
Melina KB is an up-and-coming artist (her music can be found on Spotify), writing iconic love songs for everyone to rage to. Her Instagram post from 3rd June 2024 (@melina.kb) details her bisexual coming out story at the age of 14. Her music can be perceived as theatre-inspired – with dramatic story, bridges and a theatrical vibe, this is one for the theatre kids and showtune lovers who want a bit more pop in their listening histories!
4. Julie and Camilla Lorentzen
Julie and Camilla Lorentzen are two social media wives taking over the internet. These two document their daily lives, their recent house renovation, their IVF journey and more across social media platforms, showing us what it is to be two badass women living in Norway, raising a kid and girlbossing! Find their couples content on YouTube and on their individual Instagram accounts!
5. Caitlin and Leah
While we’re talking about girlbosses… Caitlin and Leah are also two wives on social media showing us what it is to be badass women! They’ve previously documented their pregnancy journeys with IVF, as well as making general content, queer and beyond into the general trends of socials. We love to see our girlies thrive!
6. Breanne Williamson
@breannewilliamson IT’S HAPPENING!!! This lesbian and bisexual romcom is abailable to watch NOW (aka the perfect queer date night or hang out) ?❤️ #wlwcouple #lesbianfilm #lesbianfilms #bisexualpride? ♬ original sound – Breanne Williamson
Breanne is a content creator we’ve actually reviewed before! (see here for a link). She produces queer film, social media content and is generally very honest, entertaining and fun. Whether you’re looking for longer or shorter content, she has it. Her content is primarily sapphic, so a good one for the queer girlies. Search her name on social media platforms to find her!
7. Jake Shane
Jake Shane is another content creator, creating content across social media. His podcast, ‘Therapuss’, involves interviewing celebs on YouTube, in which him and the celebrity who is with him that week ‘prescribe’ solutions to fan issues. He’s a hoot. He’s also known for his comic social media content. To find him on insta – @passthatpuss. Search his name on YouTube to find other content too!
8. Towa Bird
@towabird the guitar solo that i added in ‘Ew’ for my live show
♬ original sound – Towa Bird
Towa Bird is a pretty sick musician, often seen with Renee Rapp online. Her music is quite alternative (and really cool!), she’s one to give a listen to. You can find her on TikTok @towabird and music platforms to find out more and listen to her music!
9. Avery Jae Clementine
@ajclementine you’d think me saying i’m ?️⚧️ would make them ghost, but it’s when i say i don’t do hu culture that makes them run lol ?
♬ original sound – helin
A proud trans woman, AJ Clementine, or Avery Jae Clementine, is doing it all. Modelling, content creating, perpetuating the elegant, coquette aesthetic on social media, she really sets the bar when it comes to cute content. Her stories are always fun and she’s easy to adore. If you like pretty, sophisticated and that classic coquette vibe, her content is for you. Find her content on TikTok @ajclementine.
10. Jessica Madsen
Rising to fame through the popular show ‘Bridgerton’, Jessica Madsen is a queer woman who realised the role of ‘Cressida Cowper’. Though Cressida is cold and somewhat cruel on the show, Madsen appears to be nothing but fun on her socials (nothing like her bitchy character in Bridgerton. Madsen posted on Instagram…
We love seeing the queer representation in our favourite regency show!
Sports Stars
We’ve not forgotten about our sporty readers! Are you watching the Olympics this year? There’s a record number of LGBTQIA+ athletes competing. We have included some of those taking part this year below.
11. Chelsea Gray
Chelsea Gray is joining the USA women’s national basketball team this year for the Paris Olympics. Gray currently plays point guard for the Las Vegas Aces in WNBA. Gray is a three-time WNBA champion and was named the 2022 WNBA finals MVP and is currently married to Tipesa Gray.
12. Jill Scott
Known for her epic time in the Euros and in the ‘I’m a Celeb’ jungle, Jill Scott is first up on our list! She’s such a delight to watch on every talk show and, though you might have heard of her before, did you know she was a queer icon?
13. Beth Mead
Having won the Golden Boot at the Euros, Beth Mead is another successful, openly gay football star! We love to see the Euros packed with so much queer power, just showing once again how talented the community is!
14. Tierna Davidson
Over in the US, we see Tierna Davidson, a professional soccer player, who has been openly gay since 2019. Playing for both the Chicago Red Stars and the US Women’s team, she will also be competing in the Olympics this year as a defender for the US women’s national football team. She proposed to her now fiance in 2023.
15 & 16. Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris
Once-couple Ali Krieger and Ashlyn Harris have both been defenders for professional American soccer teams. They were once married in 2019, but are now divorced. However, they’re still both successful queer women in their fields!
17. Nikki Hiltz
Nikki Hiltz is an American middle distance runner who identifies as non-binary transgender. They currently hold the American record for the mile. They are dating Emma Gee who is the first out LGBTQ+ athlete at BYU. Power couple.
18. Sha’Carri Richardson
Sha’Carri Richardson will be competing in Athletics/Track and field for Team USA. She likes to make an impact both with her amazing athletic abilities and her style on track, you may recognise her from her long decorated nails. You also may recognise this viral clip of Sha’Carri being an absolute legend after winning in 100m heats in the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023.
Richardson came out in 2021 as bisexual and revealed her relationship with her girlfriend.
We hope that opened your eyes at least a little to some new queer icons to fall in love with! Let us know some others in the comments below, and if you found any of our lesser-known queer icons before we did! We love to hear from you guys, so keep the love coming, hit us with those suggestions and we will see you lovely readers for our next article!
Love Team Nonchalant
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