Over two months ago, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) went on strike after failed negotiations on a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). According to the WGA, the dispute between the nearly 12,000 union screenwriters and over 350 television and film production companies is motivated by negligible and decreasing residual payments since the rise of streamers, as well as concerns over AI replacing actual writers to create scripts and/or fill rooms. The size of writers’ rooms and overall job security for writers is also of concern.
Now, the tension in Hollywood is rising as the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has also declared a strike as of July 14. The pressure is on as yet another powerhouse union, with over 100,000 members, is calling on the AMPTP to better serve its constituents. SAG-AFTRA has also cited concerns over AI, and better residual payments as motivating factors for the strike.
As the dual strike unfolds – the first time both unions have struck simultaneously since 1960 – several LGBTQ actors and screenwriters have taken to social media and beyond to voice their support for the unions. Here’s a roundup of queer celebs on why they are striking:
Actress Jasmin Savoy-Brown of Yellowjackets and Scream has given her Instagram a makeover, having removed all posts on her feed not related to the strike. Now, her profile features only 4 images with the text “SAG AFTRA STRONG,” and her bio reads: “I am a member for @sagaftra on strike for fair wages, and my right to my own image.”
The actress has shared multiple stories in support of the strike, including a screenshot of a payment she received from SAG-AFTRA for a mere $4.40, and a personal testimony of how low residual payments has affected her income.
GLAAD Media Award Honoree Wilson Cruz of Star Trek and My So-Called Life shared the same image as Savoy-Brown on his profile, with multiple fist emojis as the caption in solidarity. He also shared the image on his Twitter.
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Before the strike was official, Abbi Jacobson, writer and star of the GLAAD Media Award winning series Abbi Jacobson shared a 4-image carousel of what to know surrounding the SAG-AFTRA vote calling for her followers to vote YES!
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“We need a contract that will increase contributions to our benefit plans and protect members from shrinking income and reduced residuals. Less than 15% of our members qualify for health insurance – and the threshold is $26,000 per year. We also need protections against the unregulated use of our visual and audio likenesses in AI, and expectation of exhaustive self-taped auditions,” writes Jacobson.
Niecy Nash Betts, who stars in GLAAD Media Award winning series The Rookie: Feds – and also hosted the 32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards – shared multiple posts in support of the strike. When the strike was announced, she reposted an image from trade publication The Wrap with the headline “Actors Guild to Join Writers for Hollywood’s First Double Strike in More Than 60 Years.” Later, she shared a more personal, nostalgic post of an early black-and-white headshot. “I’ve been a proud SAG member since 1995. I love my job. Hoping for a FAIR meeting of the minds. I stand with our @sagaftra union and @writersguildwest it’s up‼️#OnStrike”
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Other LGBTQ performers who have pledged their support include Keke Palmer, Wanda Sykes, and Bowen Yang.
“Praying that this is resolved swiftly and we all come out feeling empowered!” writes Palmer, and “Solidarity #SAGAFTRAstrong #wgastrong” writes Sykes.
Sending love to all my fellow actors and writers. Praying that this is resolved swiftly and we all come out feeling empowered! Families have to be fed but people have to and deserved be respected for their work as well. 💪🏾
— Keke Palmer (@KekePalmer) July 13, 2023
Solidarity #SAGAFTRAstrong #wgastrong pic.twitter.com/3Q9ZX0Vd2k
— Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) July 13, 2023