GLAAD’s Fourth Annual 20 Under 20

GLAAD’s 20 Under 20 list honors young LGBTQ people, ages 20 and under, who are accelerating acceptance of LGBTQ people while shaping the future of media and activism.

Announced in September 2023, the fourth annual 20 Under 20 list features a diverse collection of young changemakers, including actors Noah Schnapp, and Luke Islam, Trans Youth Prom organizers Daniel Trujillo, Hobbes Chukumba, Libby Gonzales, Grayson McFerrin, and trans activist Rebekah Bruesehoff among others.

GLAAD’s 20 Under 20 list launched in Teen Vogue, featuring individual portraits of each honoree by NYC-based illustrator, animator, and director Blackpower Barbie. See the full list here.

Meet the 2023 20 Under 20 List Honorees

Brooklynne (she/her) is a queer content creator and singer with over 10 million TikTok followers, her videos center on body positivity and being yourself unapologetically.

CJ (he/him) is a model and “Junk Kouture” designer who was banned from competition in Abu Dhabi due to anti-LGBTQ laws.

Dylan (he/him) is a trans rights activist who testified on trial against Arkansas’s ban on gender-affirming care.

Evann (they/them) is a pop singer/songwriter behind projects like “Character Development” and “Mojo”.

Harleigh (she/her) is a trans rights activist who testified in support of gender-affirming care in front of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.

Isaac (he/him) is a singer/songwriter nominated for Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist at the 34th annual GLAAD Media Awards for his EP “Banish the Banshee”.

Isabella (she/her) is a queer Iranian and Latina activist, student, abolitionist and community organizer. Has worked with March For Our Lives, Women’s March of Indiana, Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky, and Zero Hour. Founder of anti-pollution coalition, Polluters Out.

Jaiden (he/him) is a disabled LGBTQ student of color advocating for human rights and equality for all through social media.

Jameson Lee (he/they) is a drag performer and public speaker who appeared on Discovery+’s reality series Generation Drag.

Lauren (she/her) is the best women’s foil fencer at the college level in the United States.

Lee (she/they) is an LGBTQ racial justice grassroots organizer, Behavioral Scientist, and Abolitionist serving as the Head of Racial Justice at Queer Youth Assemble.

Lucía (they/she/he) is a race and diversity reporter at The Daily Californian.

Luke (he/they) is a singer and actor who has appeared in Theater Camp, 13, America’s Got Talent, and The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers.

Noah (he/him) is an openly gay actor best known for his role as Will in Netflix’s Stranger Things.

Rebekah (she/her) is a trans rights activist, author, and athlete who has spoken out in front of politicians and policymakers since she was 10-years-old.

Reuben (he/him) is a makeup artist and beauty influencer who starred in the CW’s docuseries about his life Being Rueben.

Rosie (she/her) is a queer activist and political organizer. Co-founder and Executive Director of Generation Ratify; the young people’s movement to finalize the Equal Rights Amendment and advance gender justice in the United States.

Daniel Trujillo
16, he/him
Hobbes Chukumba
16, he/him
Libby Gonzales
13, she/her
Grayson McFerrin-Hogan
12, they/them

Xavier (he/they) is the first-ever student to choreograph hip hop on the Juilliard mainstage.

Zachary (he/him) is a Tik Tok creator with almost 2 million followers living openly with HIV and advocating for HIV awareness.

20 Under 20 Honors

20 Under 20 honors are eligible to LGBTQ young people between the ages of 13 and 20 years old who are working to accelerate acceptance for LGBTQ people and have been featured in broad regional or national media. The 20 Under 20 list celebrates the next generation of LGBTQ leaders in media advocacy, including journalists, actors, musicians, students, activists, and other young change agents.

2022’s list featured actors Elva Guerra, and Milly Shapiro, Gen Z for Change Executive Director Aidan Kohn-Murphy, activists Jack Petocz and Olivia Julianna, among others. Check out last year’s list here.

In June 2020, GLAAD announced its inaugural class of 20 Under 20 Honorees, including: Aaron Philip, Alex Escaja, X González, Ezra Greyson Wheeler, Ian Alexander, Jamie Margolin, Jazz Jennings, Joshua Rush, Josie Totah, Kidd Kenn, Lachlan Watson, Leo Rocha, Logan Rozos, Map Pesqueira, Ose Arheghan, Sage Dolan-Sandrino, Sameer Jha, Sarah Rose Huckman, Shannon Li, and Zoey Luna. Check out profiles of the inaugural 20 Under 20 list here.

GLAAD’s 20 Under 20 honorees gain access to a network of resources made available by the largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization in the world. 20 Under 20 honorees will receive the opportunity to participate in an exclusive live-stream media training hosted by the GLAAD Media Institute. Throughout the year, GLAAD will also help give greater visibility to the 20 Under 20 honorees in the media, including opportunities such as helping to secure media placements, elevating projects on social media, and connecting honorees with unique industry resources for achieving their future goals.

For more information about the 20 Under 20 program, visit www.glaad.org/20under20.