In 2020, GLAAD launched its first annual 20 Under 20 list in collaboration with Teen Vogue. Since then, the campaign has put the spotlight on a new batch of 20 young LGBTQ change makers, ages 20 and under, every year. Those who are honored come from a diverse array of backgrounds, identities, and areas of expertise. They are pioneers and activists in a variety of fields from the arts, to politics, academia, and everything in between.
The third annual list featured exciting names like model Alex Consani, actors Elva Guerra, Gabriella Pizzolo, and Milly Shapiro, musicians Jade LeMac and Nico Craig, and activists Olivia Julianna, Jack Petocz, Aidan Kohn-Murphy, Zander Moricz, Will Larkins and Giiwedin, just to name a few.
In the 2 years since the 3rd list was published, members of the class of 2022 have gone on to do incredible things with the platforms they’ve created. Hear first-hand some of the exciting projects GLAAD’s 20 Under 20 class of 2022 are working on!
Cameron Samuels
Activist and organizer Cameron Samuels was honored in 2022 for their work in the fight against Book Bans and censorship in their home state of Texas.
Samuels shares that their nonprofit SEAT (Students Engaged in Advancing Texas), which they co-founded and now serve as Executive Director, has continued to grow and take on new challenges as they arise in Texas. Samuels shares that their TXLege Changemaker Bootcamp is training 50+ students with 10 hours of action-based learning before placing them into Spring internships in lawmaker offices.
Samuels, along with SEAT is currently suing Texas against LGBTQ+ social media censorship. Read about the case in Samuel’s own words here.
Samuels tells GLAAD, “We recently received the Champions Award from the Transgender Foundation of America for our trans justice work in Texas school districts.”
Earlier this year, Samuels gave the keynote speech at the American School Counselor Association, watch it here!
On top of all this, Samuels also produced a short documentary on the dangers and realities of anti-trans school policies in the United States. Watch it here:
What’s next for Samuels? They are currently applying to grad school for social policy and looking forward to Teen Vogue’s 2024 Summit!
Keep up with Cameron @cameronjsamuels!
Gabriella Pizzolo
Fans first got to know Gabriella Pizzolo on Netflix’s Stranger Things. The pansexual actor and writer has since played the role of Angela in Pretty Little Liars: Original Sins on HBO Max and kicked off their career as an activist.
Pizzolo recently began working in advocacy for ERA coalition’s Woman Corp. and a voting rights campaign called Voting Suits You.
Pizzolo has also gotten involved in providing educational opportunities for underrepresented groups through an organization called Rise for the World. The organization supports promising young people and provides them with opportunities that allow them to work together to serve others over their lifetimes.
Activism and giving back to the community is at the core of everything Pizzolo does. They shared that they continue to speak up on topics that they are passionate about such as LGBTQ rights, gender/trans identity destigmatization, animal rights with Rappaport to the Rescue, donating to civilians in oversea conflict, and fighting for performer/entertainment workplace equality.
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Pizzolo shares with GLAAD, “I will be completing my undergraduate education this coming spring, and I’ve had new opportunities to write, direct, design, develop and participate in new artistic works. Most of all, I’ve been excited to see all of the incredible new members of 20 Under 20 each year!”
Keep up with Gabriella @gabriellapizzolo and @gabriella.pizzolo_!
Zuriel Hooks
Zuriel Hooks is a Black trans activist, youth ambassador, and The Knights and Orchids Society PREP navigator.
Since being honored in 2022, Hooks shares that she had the opportunity to work on docuseries called The Changemakers on Paramount+ . The series premiered on January 1st, 2024, and explores several topical issues including mental health, LGBTQ+ and transgender rights in the USA, the UK’s cost of living crisis, the link between systemic racism and maternal mortality, immigration and the environment – particularly access to clean water and overfishing.
As explained by Hooks, “Each episode sees a ‘Changemaker’ partner with a community figure for two weeks to inspire, expand, and understand their situation. The Changemakers’ visit culminates in a public campaign to galvanize supporters and paint a lasting legacy for those fighting for positive change.”
Hooks tells GLAAD, “I was truly honored to be apart of something so amazing, and also grateful to get to meet such amazing people, who are still doing the necessary ground work as we speak. I have truly grown from this experience, and took what I learned and invested the knowledge and growth into the work that I’m currently doing with The Knights and Orchids Society.”
Hooks also was a part of another documentary along with colleagues from the TKO Society called Devoted to The Dream by Tourmaline. The film centers stories of queer people and queer joy and “the Abundance that tends to be untold.” Hooks shares, “They made sure they highlighted all of our stories. During this process I’ve met such amazing, and talented people, and definitely left with a fresh and positive perspective on a lot of things.”
@theoriginalqueen 🥹🌟🌟 Poem time : Let me know what you think , and if you try it share your poem with me , in the comments, Till next time love bugs #foryou #poem #lgbtqia #foryoupage ♬ Storytelling – Adriel
Hooks is also a talented content creator and poet!
Keep up with Zuriel @thee_original_queen_zh and @theoriginalqueen!
Roswell Grey
Roswell Grey was first recognized as a Beloved Arise Youth Ambassador and member of the Hope Squad, a youth suicide prevention organization.
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2 years later, Grey is on their third year of college, working towards a career in Museum and Library Studies with a focus on promoting literacy among young people and advocating for access to banned books and media.
Grey shares that they have worked on several projects all over the globe since the article first came out. They helped build classrooms for a special needs school in Ecuador, travelled to Romania to support the Roma community with learning life skills and breaking harmful cycles, worked to support the neurodiverse and special needs populations, and to taught English and job skills to Ukrainian refugees.
Additionally, Grey shares, “In light of ongoing challenges related to recent changes in LDS Church policies concerning trans individuals, I am launching an Instagram account dedicated to creating a supportive space for those who feel marginalized by these policies.”
“Looking ahead,” Grey says, “I plan to continue my studies with the ultimate goal of fostering inclusive spaces that encourage open access to diverse information while fighting against censorship. Additionally, I hope to expand my advocacy efforts, both online and in my professional career, to create more inclusive environments for marginalized communities.”
Javier Gomez
Activist, writer, and designer Javier Gomez won a Webby Award for Best Social Movement of the Year for his work organizing against Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill and introduced President Biden at a White House Pride event, where Biden signed his historic pro-LGBTQ executive order, all before turning 19 years old.
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Since February, Gomez has served as the Field Director for the Gabby Salinas for Tennessee House campaign. During his time in this position, he oversaw all of the voter outreach efforts in Tennessee’s District 96. Over the span of 3 and a ½ months, they made over 12,700 phone calls, knocked on 7,500+ doors, and sent nearly 20,000 text messages!
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Gomez tells GLAAD, “I made it my mission to not just focus on underrepresented communities but make a lasting relationship with them in and out of the polls. In the grueling summer months, we reached the hearts of voters in District 96, and Gabby won her primary on August 1st! Gabby Salinas will be the first openly LGBTQ+ Latina to be elected into the Tennessee House of Representatives.”
On top of this, Gomez is currently attending Emerson College in Boston as a journalism major! He works as a writer/editor for Emerson’s INDEX Magazine, a culture and fashion magazine. In the course of the next year, he plans to launch HOUSE Magazine, Gomez’s own dual publication that will uplift queer voices both in and out of politics and fashion!
Keep up with Javier @javieregomezpetit!
Read the full profiles here.
Learn more about the program here and read the 2024 list here!