In 2020, GLAAD launched the first annual 20 Under 20 list in collaboration with Teen Vogue. Since the lists first unveiling, the campaign continues to shine a light on a new batch of 20 young LGBTQ change makers each year – pioneers and activists across entertainment, politics, academia, and more.
The 4th annual list featured groundbreaking changemakers like musicians Evann McIntosh and Isaac Dunbar, content creators Zachary Willmore, Reuben De Maid, and Brooklynne Webb, actors Noah Schnapp and Luke Islam, and the organizers of the Trans Youth Prom, just to name a few.
In the year since the 4th list was published, members of the class of 2023 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 2023 are working on!
Lucía Umeki-Martínez
Lucía Umeki-Martínez got their start advocating for and repping the LGBTQ community as a journalist. They served as the race and diversity beat reporter at The Daily Californian, where they continue to bring reliable stories from diverse perspectives to Berkeley’s paper of record.
Umeki-Martínez is in their third year at UC Berkeley studying Sociology and Chicano Studies while also serving as a senior staff writer at The Daily Californian and a staff writer for The Weekender, the Daily Cal’s culture magazine.
On top of all this hard work, they are also a staff writer for Berkeley B-Side, their school’s premier music magazine! They share that, “I’m just working and going to school! I’m doing my best to take care of my mental health and prioritize my happiness and school.”
CJ King
Designer and model CJ King rose to fame when he and his classmate Jazzlynn Vargas traveled to Abu Dhabi to participate as finalists at the Junk Kouture World Final, the world’s largest sustainable fashion competition for youth. Unfortunately, despite being assured King would be safe to attend the competition in the notoriously anti-LGBTQ country, government officials arrived and demanded that CJ be barred from the competition as UAE law prohibits men from wearing “women’s clothing.”
Despite this setback, this didn’t stop King from living his truth. From there, King went on to appear on Good Morning America, where he was given the opportunity to show off the look he was denied the opportunity to in Dubai. The look was called “Nightingale,” and was made entirely of donated medical waste products and discarded pool insulation and was made in honor of the healthcare workers who risked their lives during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since then, King has been making major moves in the fashion world. He had the opportunity to work with the MarcoMarco team at their Dreamland X Marco Marco 20th year anniversary at New York Fashion Week earlier this year.
King also got to work with LA based designer Marco Morante first hand, on multiple garments, where he was taught different sewing techniques by Morante and NYC designer Domino Couture. He also got to go through the incredible Todd Oldham‘s archival, with him by his side. He also got to model some of his most iconic looks.
With all of this going on, King shared that he’s “in the figuring things out stage” of life right now, but his dream is to go to FIT!
Libby Gonzales and Grayson McFerrin-Hogan
Libby Gonzales and Grayson McFerrin-Hogan are half of the Trans Youth Prom dream team. The four teens joined forces in 2023 to host the most inclusive prom ever at the nation’s capitol. Queer and trans teens and allies from all over the country came together for this celebration of love and acceptance during a year which has seen more anti-LGBTQ legislation introduced than ever before. The night was described as a “celebratory manifestation of trans people’s beautiful, expansive communities, and their right to thrive.”
Since then, the students are back to school, where they continue to make change.
McFerrin-Hogan shared that they recently joined a youth gun advocacy organization and are hoping to attend a performing arts high school next year! They also recently were cast in a production of Little Shop of Horrors in Dallas!
Gonzales also co-chaired the youth steering committee for the second annual Rainbow Homecoming in Dallas, and has been interning at a t-shirt shop where she designed her first shirt! The shirt sales served as a fundraiser for the Black Trans Advocacy Coalition.
Libby recently appeared in a Vice documentary, telling the stories of trans youth fighting for their right to live in Texas. Watch the full documentary below:
Xavier Logan
Dancer, choreographer, model, and student Xavier Logan made history in 2023 as the first-ever student to bring hip hop to Juilliard’s main-stage.
Now in his final school year at Juliard, Logan has already accomplished so much. They have joined the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre second company (Ailey II) and were invited to be apart of the White House Rising Leaders Summit.
On top of this, they are set to release a short film called B.B.G. following the lives of 5 black queer male Juilliard dancers.
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Logan also hosts an upcoming podcast called Pushing The Envelope, which highlights the next generation of groundbreaking artists and activists. The goal of the podcast is “Pushing you out of your boundaries and into your purpose one conversation at a time.”
Keep up with Xavier @iamxavierlogan and on YouTube!
Rebekah Bruesehoff
Rebekah Bruesehoff was first recognized for her work as an activist for the transgender community. She caught the media’s attention when she was only 10 years old when a photo of her holding a sign reading “I’m the scary transgender person the media warned you about,” widely circulated the web in 2017. From there, her work as an activist was only just beginning. From appearing on Good Morning America to co-writing a book called A Kids Book about Being Inclusive, the teen is only just getting started.
Bruesehoff shared that she is applying to colleges and plans to study Public Policy to continue her advocacy work.
This past summer Bruesehoff attended the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Youth Gathering as an emcee for 16,500 high school youth. “At 11 years old, I spoke at this event in 2018 sharing my story as transgender young person. It was amazing to return and be able to be this kind of representation for Lutheran teenagers from all over the country reminding them that God doesn’t make mistakes and that transgender and Christian aren’t mutually exclusive identities,” she shared.
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During Pride Month, Rebekah appeared on The View!
With support of The GenderCool Project, Rebekah did a reverse mentorship with F5, a global tech company, working with executives across departments to create a more inclusive workspace that’s ready for the next generation workforce.
She was also featured in USA Today’s special pride edition. “I’m continuing to advocate for diverse books including testifying for NJ’s Freedom to Read Act which has passed in the Assembly and is making its way through the Senate. Along with this, I’m continuing my LGBTQ+ inclusive book drive donating books to schools, libraries, and community organizations all over the country,” she told GLAAD
Anyone interested can donate at www.rebekahbruesehoff.com/bookdrive.
Keep up with Rebekah @therealrebekah!
Jaiden Blancaflor
Jaiden Blancaflor has long been committed to intersectional advocacy. As a student and activist, Blancaflor is committed to giving back to his community.
This past summer, Blancaflor worked as the Summer Outreach Research Assistant for GLSEN’s National Student Climate Survey. “This was a valuable experience as this survey is crucial research for how we can work to better the experiences of LGBTQ+ students,” he shared with GLAAD.
He now works at a drop-in resource center for unhoused youth and young adults. “I am able to directly support these young people access necessary resources such as food, healthcare, bus passes, etc. Many of our youth are LGBTQ+, disabled, and people and color,” he added.
“However, I am mostly focused on finishing up my Bachelors of Arts degree in Women’s Gender Sexuality Studies and Speech Hearing Sciences at the Ohio State University. I am also applying for graduate schools in order to earn a Doctorate of Audiology in hopes to work with Disabled, BIPOC, and other marginalized populations.”
Jaiden also recently adopted a dog!
Keep up with Jaiden @ft.x.jaii!
Ophelia Peaches / Jameson Johnson
Dragutante co-founder and Generation Drag star Ophelia Peaches is the future of drag!
Ophelia aka Jameson Johnson is a Queer Media Literacy major who is “working with my university to create more understanding and awareness for queer identities in pop culture and outside of it!”
As they continue to seek an internship and gain experience in queer media, Johnson shared that they are “grateful to have the opportunities I have in this country also to create art that aligns my identity!”
Johnson is currently working on a media campaign where he discusses the need for queer representation and the safety concerns surrounding out of context queer representation and how to create ethical gauges for those that provides it. “There is an urgent necessity for representation but it precludes the misuse and abuse of queer identities in film and print media and the dangers that could arise for the featured talent.”
Last Pride, Ophelia Peaches got to emcee at Denver PrideFest!
Johnson also recently got involved in sports for the first time! “I have been playing rugby and my team is incredibly supportive of my identity! Finding out that there is a whole network of queer people in rugby like IGR was really affirming. Gilbert Rugby Canada even reached out to me after a post I made about rugby to do a partnership. Im excited to keep competing and to see queer people in so many diverse spaces,” he told GLAAD.
Keep up with Ophelia @opheliapeaches!
Dylan Brandt
Dylan Brandt first entered the spotlight in 2021 when Arkansas’ so-called “SAFE Act” became the law of the land. The bill bans life-saving healthcare for transgender people under the age of 18, despite the wishes of parents and families, and recommendations from their trusted health providers. Brandt found himself with no other option but to challenge the discriminatory law in lawsuit against the state of Arkansas.
While the law has since been blocked, Brandt’s fight continues. The case remains open as Brandt and his mother alongside three other Arkansas families defend their right to gender affirming care. Dr. Michelle Hutchison and Dr. Kathryn Stambough are also challenging the law as “it would prevent them from treating their patients with medically necessary care or even referring them to other providers for treatment.” Read more about the case here.
Read the article with full profiles here and learn more about GLAAD’s 20 Under 20 program at glaad.org/20-under-20!