9 LGBTQ creators discuss not backing down from Pride

„Happy Pride!“ Recently, that simple message was „de rigueur“ for large corporations — including tech companies — to extol on their merchandise, press releases, and social media feeds. Much has changed with the second presidential election of Donald Trump, who made banishing DEI one of his signature endeavors. Even before his reelection, tech giants like Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, and X’s Elon Musk sidled up to the politician and warmed to his positions (including less regulation on their businesses). One result of these new bedfellows appears to be a growing disinterest from Big Tech in celebrating their LGBTQ employees, creators, and consumers.

The slackening of support from these companies coincides with the Trump administration’s attacks on the LGBTQ community, which include banishing trans people from the military, terminating a national LGBTQ suicide hotline, and ending critical HIV research. In short, joy is a tough sell for Pride revelers in 2025.

Still, like other marginalized groups, the LGBTQ community is resilient and has long faced down intolerant CEOs and politicians. Mashable caught up with a group of queer creators rolling with the changes of the 2020s and who continue to innovate and spread messages of hope and inclusivity. From drag legend Kim Chi to history-maker Tona Brown, these individuals are not letting billionaires get them down.

Cyrus Veyssi

The internet’s self-proclaimed „bougie gay uncle,“ Cyrus Veyssi is not like every other beauty and lifestyle influencer online. As a non-binary creator, Veyssi is intentionally fluid with their content, committed to showing off all sides of their life, from the glam-filled to the humorous. They face hate comments head on, with empathy rooted in the acceptance and participation of his Iranian family. Veyssi’s viral videos featuring their father, lovingly known as Baba to both Veyssi and his adopted internet children, emulate what unconditional love and support for queer youth can produce: A creative, glowing future of self-acceptance. 

Mashable: How have you typically recognized Pride online? What has it looked like this year, online or off?

I’m honestly most excited to get back to the core of what Pride signifies — our community sticking up for and advocating for each other. Corporate Pride has always been a mechanism to produce and benefit off of the backs of the Black and Brown trans/queer folks who started the gay liberation movement, and as amazing as it is to get the opportunity to partner with amazing brands every year, it’s clear that there’s a divisive shift away from sponsorships. 

Has the current political and business climates impacted how you post online or your relationship to social media? How has it shifted?

It’s definitely impacted the way brands align with longterm partners, but I’ll never let it dissuade me from sticking up for our communities when we need it. Obviously, there’s a balance between my branded and organic content that I think has created a space for my business to grow, as well as my community to flourish, so the focus for me is to continue to post authentically while also making space for meaningful partnerships, instead of do-and-go ads that aren’t fruitful or beneficial to me in any way. 

You are much more capable and powerful than you give yourself credit for.

How has your content typically been received by your followers, or anyone else who interacts with your pages?

Fairly positive for the most part, I’m very lucky! I think because I approach everything through the lens of humor, and know how to take a joke myself, there really isn’t anything negative that someone’s said that I haven’t already heard or can’t manipulate into something funny for everyone to enjoy. Comedy can disarm anyone, and extend a hand to those who may not ever consider following me to becoming a fan. 

Do you feel the reception or amplification of such content has changed on platforms — like Instagram, TikTok, X — since their owners aligned themselves with anti-DEI, anti-LGBTQ policies?

I think I simply receive more inundated hate coming from certain sectors of the internet whenever ANY of my content goes viral — it’s not necessarily the platform but often what the algorithm is choosing to amplify that week. So if trans folks are going viral for something silly that bigots have chosen to amplify, my content will definitely funnel into their feed and stir the pot a bit. 

What message do you want to send out, as we honor another global Pride month?

You are much more capable and powerful than you give yourself credit for. It’d be a shame for you to waste time thinking to yourself about all the nasty things people say, when the world around you is full of people ready to embrace you! 

Jere Chang

Jere Chang (AKA Ms. Chang Gifted) has been teaching in classrooms across the Atlanta area for more than 20 years, but her lessons aren’t just in front of a blackboard. Speaking in front of millions of social media followers, Chang is a motivational speaker to the masses. Through colorful, honest storytelling about her life as a teacher, wife, and parent, she imparts real-world lessons from her colorful world, centering joy, inclusion, and authenticity.

How do you typically recognize Pride on your social media channels?

I recognize Pride on my social media by living out loud and being unapologetically myself. That means posting content with my wife and our kids, sharing everyday moments that celebrate who we are as a family. Whether we’re attending a Pride event together or just dancing in the kitchen, I want people to see that queer joy exists in the ordinary and the extraordinary. 

For me, Pride isn’t limited to a month, it’s a year-round celebration of authenticity. That decision is intentional. I didn’t grow up seeing many families that looked like mine, so I share our story openly in hopes that someone out there, maybe a young queer kid or a teacher in a small town, feels seen, affirmed, and reminded that they’re not alone.

How have these posts been typically received by your followers?

The response has been overwhelmingly positive. I’ve had parents, teachers, and even teenagers slide into my DMs just to say, „Thank you for being visible,“ or „I’ve never seen a family like yours on my feed before, and now I want to see more!“ Of course, every now and then someone brings hate and tries to drown out our gay happiness, but honestly, that just reminds me why visibility matters. 

For me, love always outweighs the noise. People are craving realness, and when they see a queer family just doing life like packing school lunches, going to Pride, or traveling with kids, they feel connected. I think it reminds folks that Pride isn’t just a parade, it’s a presence. The more we show up, the more space we make for others to do the same.

Is the current government climate making you rethink how you honor Pride month?

The current government hasn’t impacted how I share my life online. I’ve always believed in showing up authentically, and that hasn’t changed. That said, I have noticed a declining shift in LGBTQ+ visibility and acceptance from many government agencies and major corporations. From inclusive campaigns to public affirmations of Pride, that kind of representation matters, and it motivates me to keep sharing.

As my platform has grown, I’ve definitely become more mindful about what I share especially when it comes to my kids. I’m incredibly proud of them, but I’m also protective. I don’t want to use my kids to make a point or push a message. Their stories are theirs, and it’s important to me that they have the freedom to decide how and when they show up online.

Algorithms can shift, policies can change, and sometimes it feels like queer voices are walking a tighter rope, but for now, I still feel like there’s room for me, and others, to show up authentically.

What I share is rooted in authenticity and love. When I post my family online, it’s because it feels right and not performative. I want people to see that queer families exist, thrive, and love deeply, but at the same time I want to recognize that my kids didn’t sign up to be activists. That’s my lane, not theirs. I’ll always share our love, our joy, and our goofy moments, but when it comes to the fight for visibility and inclusion, that burden isn’t theirs to carry.

Do you feel supported for your LGBTQ-related content from platforms — such Instagram, TikTok, or X — since their owners took a more conservative turn?

Despite the shifts in leadership and tone on some platforms, I’ve been fortunate that my LGBTQ+ related content continues to reach and resonate with my audience. I think part of that is because I lead with joy, honesty, and real-life moments. 

That said, I’m always aware of the broader climate. I know algorithms can shift, policies can change, and sometimes it feels like queer voices are walking a tighter rope, but for now, I still feel like there’s room for me, and others, to show up authentically. As long as that space exists, I’ll keep using it to highlight the beauty, humor, and everyday magic of queer life.

Any message for Pride you’d like to send out to the world? 

To every young LGBTQ+ person out there: I want you to know that I believe in you, I see you, and I have so much hope because of you. As an older lesbian, I’ve lived through moments when it felt like the world wasn’t ready for us. I remember when coming out meant risking everything, when our love had to be hidden, and when even the smallest acts of visibility were met with silence or hate, but I’ve also lived long enough to see that change can happen. I’ve seen hatred turn into understanding, and I’ve seen people who once stood on the sidelines become allies. I’ve seen doors open that were once nailed shut.

That said, there’s still so much work to do. In many ways, it feels like we’re in a moment of pushback, where progress is being questioned, and where some are trying to dim the light we’ve worked so hard to shine. It’s easy to feel discouraged. It’s easy to feel like we’re slipping backwards, but here’s what I know for sure: We are not going back and we are not done.

In fact, that darkness only ignites me more. It makes me want to speak louder, show up more visibly, and post more intentionally for myself, my family, and for the kids who need to know that queer love is beautiful, that queer joy is real, and that their story deserves to be seen and celebrated.

When I look at the younger generation, I feel nothing but awe. You are stepping into your truth with a confidence that inspires me daily. You’re refusing to settle for tolerance when what we deserve is celebration. You’re pushing boundaries and designing your journey. 

Keep being exactly who you are, even when it’s hard, because every time you speak up, show up, or simply exist unapologetically, you make space for someone else to do the same. I’ll be right there with you, cheering you on, fighting beside you, and reminding you that this world is better with you in it exactly as you are.

Kim Chi

Multi-hyphenate drag queen Kim Chi is a lot of things to a lot of fans: Their favorite reality TV star, the founder of their go-to pastel-hued makeup brand, and the author and creator behind their most bookmarked tasty food content. But — when not acting as ambassador and former competitor for RuPaul’s Drag Race, or promoting the latest drop of her „pigmented and proud“ makeup line on TikTok — Kim Chi is an outspoken, unabashed champion for the queer AAPI community, playing offense on her social media channels and donning her Pride regalia to march defiantly and openly in the face of widespread attacks. 

How do you typically recognize Pride on your social media channels? Is there anything that informs how, when, or what you post? 

Pride is now more important than ever. We’ve gotta show up and show out every chance we get and online is the best way to do so. I don’t like to let the social media algorithm control my life so I’ll post whenever and wherever. I do like to read the room and maybe I’ll hold off on posting things that are overly joyous when something tragic or sad happens that day. It feels like a lot of companies are staying away from addressing Pride altogether. I even shot a Pride campaign with a brand that was indefinitely shelved without an explanation. I have so much more appreciation for companies that don’t treat Pride like another thing to make them money, but do it because they genuinely believe in it! You know who you are!

We need to be a shelter and a solace for those seeking asylum from terrible news.

Has the current political climate impacted how you post online or your relationship to social media, especially since you’ve started reaching wider audiences?

Right now is a dire and sensitive time for the LGBTQIA+ community, especially trans folks. I personally focus on constantly raising awareness to what is happening but also not overwhelm my feed with too much bad news, which can also affect mental health. It is more crucial than ever to constantly remind folks they are not alone, and they are loved. We need to be a shelter and a solace for those seeking asylum from terrible news. My feed used to be sharing slices and glimpses of my life that make me happy and a lot of irreverent content but nowadays, the general tone is more somber, serious but also hopeful.

How has your content (and art) typically been received by your followers or others ?

I actually try not to read the comments because there are so many trolls and bots that would send me spiraling if I read every one of them and let it affect me. I put out what I want to say and I move on with my life. 

Do you feel supported for your LGBTQ-related content from Instagram or X since their owners took a more conservative turn? 

I’ve left most of the platforms and use others minimally despite being known as the social media queen back in the day. TikTok has been good to us personally and the community there is still fun and vibrant — easy to scroll past content I don’t want to be a part of.

What message do you carry for those in community with you?

We are all we have. Let’s continue to love one another, be a shoulder for those that need it and keep fighting for a better future. At the very minimum, just your existence alone is a protest in itself.

View this post on Instagram

Lauren Chan

Model, entrepreneur, and activist Lauren Chan was the first out lesbian to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Edition. Chan also founded and led Henning, a fashion line that caters to women size 12 and up. The label sold to Universal Standard in 2023, with Chan brought on at the time to head brand partnerships. 

How do you typically recognize Pride on your social media channels? 

New York City’s hottest club is Pride on social — it has everything: Philanthropic initiatives, party snaps full of queer joy, and genuine connection among community. I love the vulnerability and celebration that takes over my feed for all of June — and I hope I contribute to it! This year, I’m sharing panels I’m a part of (like Welcome to Chinatown’s panel called „A Radical Act of Belonging“), friends‘ wins (like trans designer Willie Norris designing the Gotham FC Pride merch), and my relationship (we’re newly engaged!). 

How have your Pride posts been typically received by your followers (or anyone else who interacts with your channels)? 

One thing I’ve noticed since becoming the first lesbian with her own cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue is that the queer faction of my followers in increasing — which means Pride is being super well-received. Some hilarious, brilliant lesbians have been sliding into my DMS and I also get many tender messages from folks whose stories are similar to mine.

I love the vulnerability and celebration that takes over my feed for all of June—and I hope I contribute to it!

Do you feel supported for your LGBTQ-related content from Instagram or X since their owners took a more conservative turn? 

I think it’s extremely important that we are all curating our online environments in order to feel safe and represented — it’s part of mental health! We spend so much time on our feeds that we cannot leave our experiences up to the algorithm. If you don’t currently feel seen and celebrated by what you see online, I encourage you to make a concerted effort to block negative accounts, unfollow brands that share harmful rhetoric, and on the flip side, follow users that make you feel your best.

Any message for Pride you’d like to send out to the world? 

Pride is a celebration and a resistance! I hope that we’re all able to use social media to ensure both of those aspects are heard. 

View this post on Instagram

Mal Glowenke

Mal Glowenke, a self-described „lesbian podcaster,“ is host of the Made It Out podcast. The weekly show delves into sexuality, culture, religion, politics, and more. Glowenke’s candor and humor, paired with high-profile guests like comedians Margaret Cho and Robby Hoffman, make the podcast a must-listen. Glowenke is expanding her brand with the launch of Made It Out Media, a new digital media company focused on telling queer women’s stories.

How do you typically recognize Pride on your social media?

I feel like my content is inherently Pride content all year long, so nothing changes very much! With Made It Out Media we really try to spread queer joy, and share our thoughts on the queer experience as much as we can. I don’t think June should be the only time we are putting a spotlight on our community.

Is the current government and business climate making you rethink how you honor Pride month?

The current government/climate does not make me shy away from posting or sharing any message that I feel is important to fighting for our community. If anything it makes me want to fight harder and louder.

I don’t think June should be the only time we are putting a spotlight on our community.

How have your Pride posts been typically received by your followers (or anyone else who interacts with your channels)?

I’ve built my platform being completely transparent with who I am, therefore I feel like I’ve attracted people who are like-minded and also want to celebrate differences and diversity.

Occasionally my videos reach the wrong side of the algorithm and then you see an uptick in hateful comments, but who knows, maybe that means I’m reaching people whose minds need to be opened and expanded.

Any message for Pride you’d like to send out to the world?

There’s a freedom in queerness that threatens people who feel trapped. I try to harness empathy for them, because how sad is it that they don’t get to live this beautiful, bold life that we do.

View this post on Instagram

Paul and Matthew Castle

Matthew and Paul Castle are an inter-abled couple who document their lives as artists and LGBTQ advocates to a massive online following. Paul is a painter, illustrator, and children’s book author living with Retinitis Pigmentosa, an untreatable eye disease that has led to the loss of 90 percent of his vision. Matthew is a classical violinist, as well as the inspirational half to Paul’s anthropomorphic penguin characters in Pringle and Finn, otherwise known as The Pengrooms — an LGBTQ-positive children’s book that champions diverse family units. But the real star of the show? Paul’s guide dog, Mr. Maple, whose side job includes joining in on Matthew’s harmless couple pranks and Paul’s lighthearted daily vlogs. 

In the past, how have you typically recognize Pride on your social media channels?

Paul Castle: Pride has always been personal for me. I don’t just post a rainbow and call it a day — I share real pieces of my life with my husband, Matthew, and our journey as an inter-abled, same-sex couple navigating love, loss, and joy. I try to highlight not just the celebration, but the humanity. This year, Pride looks a little different. It’s been a time of deep reflection and change in my personal life, but I still feel a responsibility to show up. Online, I’m sharing stories behind my books — especially The Pengrooms, which celebrates queer family — and offline, I’m working with museums and bookstores to amplify LGBTQ+ representation in children’s literature.

Has the current climate impacted how you post online or your relationship to social media?

When platforms or companies publicly align themselves with anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, it sends a message — not just politically, but personally. I’ve grown more intentional about what I post and where I post it. In the early days, I shared more freely, like it was just me and a few kind strangers. Now, with millions of followers, every post feels a little heavier. There’s always a tension between authenticity and safety, but I try to stay grounded in purpose: Using storytelling to make people feel seen.

Sometimes Pride is a quiet act of resilience — a gentle refusal to shrink.

How has your content (and art) typically been received by your followers, or anyone else who interacts with your pages?

The response has been overwhelmingly warm, especially when people see themselves or their families reflected in my work. My books often feature same-sex couples or disabled characters — not to make a statement, but because that’s my life. And for many readers, especially parents and kids who’ve never seen families like theirs in picture books, it means everything. That said, when something goes viral, it sometimes reaches people outside my usual circle — and not everyone is kind. But I’ve learned that pushback only reinforces how necessary this work really is.

Do you feel the reception or amplification of your content has changed on platforms since their owners aligned themselves with anti-DEI, anti-LGBTQ policies?

Yes, and it’s subtle — but undeniable. Some posts that used to gain traction now seem to disappear into the void. Visibility feels more precarious than it used to. It’s frustrating when content rooted in love and representation is deprioritized by algorithms, while harmful narratives gain ground. But I’ve also seen people rally — sharing, commenting, and supporting each other in ways that feel grassroots and defiant. It’s clear we can’t rely on platforms alone. The community has become the amplifier.

Any message for Pride you’d like to send out to the world?

You don’t need to be loud to be proud. Sometimes Pride is a quiet act of resilience — a gentle refusal to shrink. Whether you’re marching in the street, reading to your child, or just surviving in a world that wasn’t built for you, you’re doing enough. And if you’re like me — navigating change, heartbreak, or healing — remember this: Your story still matters. You are still part of this community, still worthy of celebration, and still building something beautiful with every breath.

Sasha Allen

Many may know Sasha Allen from his viral performance on NBC’s The Voice, which saw him and his father Jim deliver some of the most emotional and crowd-pleasing performances of the season as members of Ariana Grande’s team. But to millions of online followers, and fans who had followed the artist alongside their national TV debut, Allen is first and foremost a fierce advocate for acceptance as the first openly transgender contestant to compete on the reality competition show. Now three years on, Allen is still championing radical change in the face of discrimination, while tackling viral misconceptions and overt hate through his popular TikTok account and his debut children’s book, The House That Feels Like Me, and highly anticipated EP, Jawbreaker.

In the past, how have you recognized Pride online?

How I’ve recognized Pride online and in real life has changed so much throughout my life, just as I have through my transition, and it’s meant different things to me over the years. In previous years, when I first started transitioning, the concept of Pride was something that made me feel supported and seen and validated. It gave me something to participate in that helped me to grow my own sense of self-acceptance and identity. Over time, however, that’s changed.

I now view Pride and my visibility during this time as an opportunity to let others know that they have a place here. I know there are so many trans kids out there, especially now, who feel exactly like I did when I was a teenager. They’re scared and apprehensive, still struggling to find their place in a world that doesn’t truly see them. Knowing that those kids are out there, watching me and even looking up to me, motivates much of what I post, during Pride month and all other times of year. I needed to see others being visible like that when I was a kid, so now that I feel comfortable in my identity as a trans person, I feel as though it’s my duty to share my own pride surrounding that. This year, Pride for me is about joy, and showing others that they can find that too. 

Being proud of my identity as a trans man informs everything that I create.

Has the current climate made you rethink how you post online or your relationship to social media?

The current political climate has definitely impacted my relationship with social media, and has for a long time. When I first started posting on TikTok years ago, the majority of what I posted was political content. It’s since transitioned into various LGBTQ+ content, but that in itself will always be political as well. I think, if anything, our current political climate has inspired me to be more vocal about my life experiences as a trans person, even ones that I may feel vulnerable talking about, like topics surrounding sex or medical care. I’ve come to find that those less talked about topics are actually the most important and impactful on my viewers, who are mostly younger LGBTQ+ people. 

How has your content (and art) typically been received by your followers, and others who interact with your pages?

I’m very lucky to say that my content and art have been so wholeheartedly embraced by my viewers, and nothing compares to knowing that there are people truly connecting to the things I create. After years of being a content creator, I’ve recently transitioned into releasing music as well, and put out my first EP in April. I wasn’t exactly sure how this would go, but I found there to be so much overlap in the videos I make and the music I write. Being proud of my identity as a trans man informs everything that I create, and because of this, I found that people who connect with my content have also connected with my art and music.

Do you feel the reception or amplification of your content has changed?

I’ve definitely noticed changes, specifically in my own videos being taken down or flagged, which I’ve been experiencing now more than ever. Like I said, my content is inherently political since it surrounds LGBTQ+ topics, and I’ve found that the more political I get, the more likely it is my video gets banned. I’ve made videos responding to conservatives/transphobes that are then taken down for „hate speech“ and „slurs.“ Ironically, those videos I’m responding to are actually the ones containing hate speech, not mine. I’ve definitely noticed favoritism towards conservatives in the TikTok algorithm lately, especially when it comes to penalizing creators. 

What message do you carry for those in community with you?

Never stop being joyful, and never stop being you. Queer people have always existed, and we will continue to exist and thrive. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, and your existence is an act of resistance. 

Tona Brown

Violinist and mezzo-soprano Tona Brown has been inspiring people for nearly a decade. After co-starring in the memorable “Tranny Road Show” in 2006, Brown would go on to perform at Carnegie Hall in 2014 — the same year she would sing the National Anthem for then-President Barack Obama at the LGBTQ Leadership Gala Dinner in New York City. Brown, the first Black trans woman to perform for a president, would later land roles in operas like As One and Suor Angelica, and author the memoir, Tonacity.

When not booking public speaking jobs or hosting masterclasses on music-making, Brown is active on social media and YouTube, where she hosts “Conversations with Tona Brown.” On the show, Brown confers with politicians, business moguls, relationship experts, and fellow musicians on how to pursue your dreams when much of the world is against you. Brown’s unsinkable optimism shone through in her responses about navigating social media in this day and age.

How do you typically recognize Pride on your social media channels?

I typically recognize Pride on my Facebook the most! I love speaking to my Facebook friends and followers and I usually change my big picture on Facebook to a Pride image or design. During Pride Month, I try to highlight LGBTQ historical figures and share content from my podcast, „Conversations with Tona Brown,“ discussing important issues to the LGBTQ community.

Is the current government and business climate making you rethink your Pride-related strategy or messaging?

The current administration’s policies and cruelty have made me post even more than I normally would during Pride Month. I feel this is the best time to post and educate others during these challenging times with our government. I partnered with Uptime, a London-based app, so that I could ensure that my message reached an international following. The app automatically translates each episode into a six-minute hack in 26 languages! 

I know that as a Black trans woman, I have to pave my own way.

How have your Pride posts been typically received by your followers (or anyone else who interacts with your channels)?

My Pride posts have been very successful! Rarely would I ever get anything negative said about Pride month on my pages because of the type of audience I have. My audience is extremely diverse and very pro-LGBTQIA. 

Do you feel supported for your LGBTQ-related content from Instagram or X since their owners took a more conservative turn?

I do not feel supported by Instagram or X, but I never looked for their approval for anything. I know that as a Black trans woman, I have to pave my own way. I would have never gotten to be the first transgender woman of color to sing for a sitting president, Barack Obama, or headline at Carnegie Hall if I were waiting on anyone else’s approval for my talent and desire to achieve the American dream.  

Any message for Pride you’d like to send out to the world?

My message for Pride is to live your absolute best life ever! Show the world who you are because others are not living or being authentic; however, WE ARE! Stop hiding who you are inside! Love who you are, and never allow anyone or anything to keep you from being your authentic self.

View this post on Instagram