This was the year of the lesbian renaissance, being “demure” and Chappell Roan
BY YASMIN VINCE, IMAGE BY NBC
What a year it has been! We’ve seen a series of firsts, from Eurovision crowning their first non-binary winner to Karla Sofía Gascón becoming the first trans woman to be nominated for a Golden Globe. It was also the year of the lesbian pop renaissance and the gayest Olympics yet! We even dubbed it the Year Of The Lez in our Dec/Jan print issue.
Join us as we recap the top 10 queer moments of 2024!
Everyone holding space for the lyrics of Defying Gravity
This was a recent one but it was still powerful enough to make our top 10! As a stage show, Wicked always spoke to queer audiences and the film was no different. As we all prepared to fly down to our nearest cinema, the film’s stars, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, headed on a tearful press tour that the whole world couldn’t get enough of.
One particular interview with Out went viral, where Cynthia and Ariana got quite emotional as they were told that people were “taking the lyrics of Defying Gravity and really holding space with that”. Soon we were all sharing how we were “holding space” for the lyrics and film. It was a moment sparked by queer power that everyone was able to take part in and enjoy.
Bridgerton hints at a sapphic storyline
Not everyone loved this change, but we thought it was incredible and much needed. Back in June, when the second part of Bridgerton season three came out, it ended with a massive hint as to how Francesca’s story will unfold.
Those who’ve read her book will know that the sixth Bridgerton sibling has a second chance at love with someone called Michael Stirling. But, the hit Netflix show decided to introduce us to Michaela, played by Masali Baduza, instead! So if the story continues as the books did, we’ll soon be seeing a regency sapphic romance on our screens.
Nava Mau and Laverne Cox connect at the Emmys
The Emmys was an emotional awards show for many, not least for trans actresses Nava Mau and Laverne Cox. Hosting for E!, Laverne met Nava on the red carpet and the two shared a hug before she told the Baby Reindeer star that she was proud of her.
Nava was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series, the first trans woman to be nominated in that category. “10 years ago, I became the first openly transgender person being nominated for an acting Emmy,” said Laverne. “10 years later, I’m not the last.”
We’re not crying, you are!
Alex Consani is the first trans woman to win Model Of The Year
The model, famed for her ice blonde looks, wrapped up her incredible successful 2024 by winning Model Of The Year at the British Fashion Council Awards. She is the first trans woman to do so and dedicated the win to “the Black Trans women who really fought for the space I’m in today”. It was such a special win and we’re sure 2025 will be even better for Alex.
Jodie Foster kisses her wife after winning her first Emmy
We swooned at this one. When Jodie Foster won Best Actress in a Limited Series, she was only the second out lesbian to do so (the first being Sarah Paulson). As she walked up to the stage, she kissed her wife Alexandra Hedison and thanked the “love of her life” in her acceptance speech.
Her win was for True Detective: Night Country, for which Jodie has also been nominated for a Golden Globe. We’re hoping that at the next awards we get some more beautiful moments between the actor and her wife.
Eurovision crowns its first non-binary winner
Eurovision, often called the gay Olympics, is almost always brilliant for LGBTQIA representation so it’s hardly surprising that this year featured several queer artists, including the UK’s Olly Alexander.
While Olly and the UK performed pretty badly, Team LGBTQIA had a great year as Nemo, Switzerland’s entry, went on to win, becoming the first openly non-binary winner to do so! Following the win, Nemo called on the Swiss government to legally recognise a third gender.
We all got very demure, very mindful
Were you demure or brat this summer? Being “very demure, very mindful” blew up this year after TikTok creator Jools Lebron posted a video where she used those very words to describe her make-up. She quickly became a trans icon.
According to Jools herself, the trend changed her life. In another video she posted, she told the world that the money the trend has raised was enough to fund the rest of her transition. It was beautiful to see, and is continuing as “demure” was named Dictionary.com’s word of the year!
Karla Sofía Gascón makes history not once, but three times
Trans movie musical Emilia Pérez came out in November but it started making waves back in May. All four lead actresses won a combined Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival. As Karla Sofía Gascón was one of these women, she became the first out trans woman to win the award.
This already made the star a contender for an Oscar, but then she won both a European Film Award and was nominated for a Golden Globe, both in the category of Best Actress. For both she made history – she was the first trans woman to win Best Actress at the EFAs and the first trans woman to be nominated at all for a Golden Globe.
Cindy Ngamba wins the first ever medal for the Refugee Olympic Team
This was a fantastic moment for both queer history and world history at the Olympics. Cindy Ngamba (whose middle name just so happens to be Winner) is a Cameroonian boxer who competed for the Refugee Olympic Team (ROT). The team has taken part in the sporting event since 2016 but it wasn’t until Cindy won a bronze in Paris that they medalled in any sport.
As she is a lesbian, Cindy can never go to Cameroon, where it is still a criminal offence. As such, when she qualified for the Olympics, it was with the ROT. With all the hatred spewed at refugees in recent years, it was a joy to watch the team and Cindy succeed.
Chappell Roan tells the world exactly who she is: “Your favourite artist’s favourite artist”
If there’s one lesbian who has made 2024 her year, it’s Chappell Roan. We’ve had a lesbian pop renaissance this year but it may not have happened without the roaring success that was Chappell. From the way she set boundaries with fans to her stratospheric rise to fame, she is the star of the year, not just for the queer community. We’ll also give a shout out to her ultra-sapphic SNL performance of The Giver because that was in another level of lesbian glory.
One moment that stands out in Chappell’s amazing year is her performance at Coachella. She drew massive crowds and proceeded to echo the words of a drag icon Sasha Colby by telling the audience that she is their “favourite artist’s favourite artist”. It quickly became a massive phenomenon among her fans, with Google even asking users if that’s what they meant when they searched her name. Talk about iconic!
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