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List of LGBTQ people from New York City

New York City has been described as the gay capital of the world and the central node of the LGBTQ sociopolitical ecosystem. It is home to one of the world's largest and most prominent LGBTQ populations. LGBTQ Americans in New York City constitute the largest self-identifying lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities by a significant margin in the United States. Greenwich Village in Lower Manhattan was the site of the 1969 Stonewall uprising, and then spawned several foundational organizations in the emerging gay liberation movement. These events are widely considered to be crucial to the founding of the modern gay rights movement in the United States, as well as having worldwide impact. As of 2005, New York City was home to an estimated 272,493 self-identifying gay and bisexual individuals. The New York metropolitan area had an estimated 568,903 self-identifying LGBTQ residents. New York City is also home to the largest transgender population in the United States, estimated at 50,000 in 2018, concentrated in Manhattan and Queens.

Brian Silverman, the author of Frommer's New York City from $90 a Day, writes that the city has "one of the world's largest, loudest, and most powerful LGBTQ communities", and "Gay and lesbian culture is as much a part of New York's basic identity as yellow cabs, high-rises, and Broadway theatre". LGBTQ travel guide Queer in the World states, "The fabulosity of Gay New York is unrivaled on Earth, and queer culture seeps into every corner of its five boroughs". In 2022, LGBTQ advocate and entertainer Madonna stated metaphorically, "Anyways, not only is New York City the best place in the world because of the queer people here. Let me tell you something, if you can make it here, then you must be queer". Comedian Jerrod Carmichael joked, "That's actually why I live here... if you say you're gay in New York, you can ride the bus for free and they just give you free pizza; if you say you're gay in New York, you get to host Saturday Night Live. This is the gayest thing you can possibly do. We're basically in an Andy Warhol fever dream right now." In 2022, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced a billboard campaign to woo Floridians to a significantly more supportive environment for LGBTQ residents in New York.

The following represents a partial list of notable LGBTQ New Yorkers.

List of LGBTQ New Yorkers

Academia and research

Architecture

Aviation and military

  • Robina Asti – late Navy pilot who ran reconnaissance missions out of Midway Island in World War II; born in Queens and longtime Manhattan resident; transitioned post-war, and remained a pilot her whole life; Guinness world record holder for oldest active flight instructor in 2020, when she was 99

Dance

  • Bill T. Jones – dancer and choreographer
  • Shen Wei – choreographer, artist, and director

Entrepreneurship and technology

Fashion

Design

Modeling

Film and television

Law

Literature

Media

Music

Nightlife

Ballroom

Drag

  • Acid Betty – drag queen (contestant on the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars
  • Aja – drag queen (contestant on the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, the third Season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars and the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars) and rapper
  • Alexis Michelle – singer and drag queen (contestant on the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars)
  • Amanda Tori Meating – drag performer, and actor (contestant on the sixteenth of RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Aquaria – drag queen and performance artist (winner of the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Joey Arias – drag queen and performance artist
  • Blair St. Clair – drag queen and singer (contestant on the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars)
  • Bob the Drag Queen – drag queen; performance artist (winner of the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race; host of We're Here and contestant on the third season of The Traitors; author
  • Lee Brewster – late drag queen, homophile, transvestite activist, founder of Queens Liberation Front
  • Brita Filter – drag queen (contestant on the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race), actor, and star of '
  • Dallas DuBois – former drag queen
  • Dawn – drag performer (contestant on the sixteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Dusty Ray Bottoms – drag performer (contestant on the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Hedda Lettuce – drag queen and singer
  • Honey Davenport – activist, singer, and drag queen (contestant on the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Ivy Winters – drag performer, sing, and actor (contestant and Miss Congeniality of the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Jackie Cox – drag queen (contestant on the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Jan Sport – drag queen (contestant on the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars)
  • Jasmine Kennedie – drag queen (contestant on the fourteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Jax – drag queen and dancer (contestant on the fifteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Jiggly Caliente – late transgender singer, actress, activist, and drag queen (contestant on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and the sixth season RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars and judge of Drag Race Philippines)
  • Kandy Muse – drag queen, contestant on the thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars
  • Lady Bunny – drag queen and founder Wigstock event
  • Lagoona Bloo – drag queen and singer
  • Lana Ja'Rae – drag performer (contestant on the seventeenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Lemon – drag queen (contestant on the first season of Canada's Drag Race the of ' and winner of of ')
  • Lypsinka – drag queen, writer, musician, and performance artist
  • Manila Luzon – drag queen (contestant on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race the first season, the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Starsand the host and judge of Drag Den)
  • Marcia Marcia Marcia – drag performer (contestant on the fifteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Megami – drag queen and cosplayer (contestant on the sixteenth season RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Milan – drag queen (contestant on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Milk – drag performer (contestant on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars) and fashion model
  • Mimi Imfurst – drag performer (contestant on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race and first season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars)
  • Miss Fame – drag queen (contestant on the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Miz Cracker – drag queen (contestant on the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars)
  • Monét X Change – drag queen (contestant and Miss Congenialty of the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and winner of the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars and the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars)
  • Murray Hill – drag king and performance artist
  • Nicky Doll – drag queen (contestant on the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and host of Drag Race France)
  • Nymphia Wind – drag queen (winner of the sixteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Olivia Lux – drag performer (contestant on the thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars)
  • Paige Turner – drag performer and star of Shade: Queens of NYC
  • Pearl – drag queen (contestant on the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Peppermint – drag queen (contestant on the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race) star of Head Over Heels judge of Call Me Mother and contestant on the second season of The Traitors (American TV series)
  • Phi Phi O'Hara – former drag queen (contestant on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars)
  • Plasma – drag performer (contestant on the sixteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Rosé – drag queen, contestant on the thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race
  • RuPaul – drag queen and star of the RuPaul's Drag Race series
  • Sahara Davenport – late singer and drag queen (contestant on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Sasha Velour – drag performer (winner of the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and host of We're Here)
  • Scarlet Envy – drag queen (contestant on the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars and the of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World)
  • Shequida – drag artist, writer, and opera singer
  • Sherry Pie – drag performer (contestant on the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Sherry Vine – drag queen and musician
  • Shuga Cain – drag queen (contestant on the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Suzie Toot – drag performer (contestant on the seventeenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Thorgy Thor – drag queen (contestant on the eight season of RuPaul's Drag Race and the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars)
  • Tina Burner – drag queen (contestant on the thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, and the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars and star of Shade: Queens of NYC)
  • Vivacious – drag queen (contestant on the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Vivienne Pinay – drag performer (contestant on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Xunami Muse – drag performer (contestant and Miss Congeniality on the sixteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race)
  • Yuhua Hamasaki – drag queen (contestant on the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, and on ')

Other

Politics

  • Erik Bottcher – member of the New York City Council (2022–present)
  • Tiffany Caban – elected to the New York City Council representing western Queens (2022–present)
  • David Carr – first openly gay Republican member of the New York City Council (2021-present) and Council Minority Leader (2026-present)
  • Daniel Dromm – member of the New York City Council (2010–2022)
  • Thomas Duane – first openly gay member of the New York State Senate, 1999–2012; former New York City Council member (1991–1999)
  • Sarah Kate Ellis – CEO, GLAAD
  • Deborah J. Glick – member of the New York State Assembly, the 66th Assembly District in Manhattan (1991–present)
  • Brad Hoylman-Sigal – current Manhattan borough president and former Democratic senator for the New York State Senate from Manhattan's 27th district
  • Crystal Hudson – elected to the New York City Council, representing Brooklyn (2022–present)
  • Corey Johnson – speaker of the New York City Council (2018–2022) and member of the NYC Council (2014–2022)
  • Kristin Richardson Jordan – elected to the New York City Council, representing northern Manhattan (2022–present)
  • Ed Koch – late mayor of New York City, 1978–1989
  • Margarita López – first openly lesbian and female Puerto Rican elected to the New York City Council, 1998–2006
  • Carlos Menchaca – member of the New York City Council (2014–2022); first Mexican-American elected to a statewide New York political office
  • Rosie Méndez – member of the New York City Council (January 2006– January 2018)
  • Daniel J. O'Donnell – first openly gay man elected as a member of the New York State Assembly (2002–present), the 69th district in Manhattan
  • Chi Ossé – youngest ever member of the New York City Council to be elected, in 2021, at age 23
  • Antonio Pagán – first openly gay male and Puerto Rican elected to the New York City Council, 1994–1998; former New York City commissioner of Small Businesses (1998–2002)
  • Christine Quinn – first female and first openly lesbian or gay speaker of the New York City Council (2006–2014) and member of NYC Council (1999–2014)
  • Phil Reed – first openly gay male and African-American elected to the New York City Council (1998–2006)
  • George Santos – U.S. congressman from New York's 3rd district (2023–2023)
  • Tony Simone – member of the New York State Assembly, the 75th Assembly District in Manhattan (2023–present)
  • Matthew Titone – elected Richmond County Surrogate Court judge of Staten Island in 2018 and member of the New York State Assembly (2006–2018) from the 61st District, on Staten Island
  • Ritchie Torres – U.S. congressman from New York's 15th district (2019–present); city councilor (2014–2019)
  • James Vacca – former member of the New York City Council
  • Jimmy Van Bramer – majority leader of the New York City Council
  • Randi Weingarten – president, American Federation of Teachers

Social activism

Sports

Theatre

Visual arts

See also

References

Further reading