It’s never a bad idea to diversify your Instagram feed, especially if you feel it needs some sprucing up. It’s easy to stay comfortable with the people you have chosen to follow, but finding new people to follow is exciting! Especially when they offer something unique to your feed. These eight queer influencers are influential in their own ways. Therefore Consider following them to gain new insight into the queer community.
Meet the Queer Influencers:
1. Amber Whittington
Amber Whittington is a powerful force and queer influencer, not only on Instagram with her 380k, but on YouTube as well where she has 600k subscribers. She uses comedy to relate to her audience and provides fashion and style tips as well. Her goal is to break down stereotypes and open doors for queer people. Letting other queer people see themselves in her and be open about who they are in turn is something Whittington cultivates on her social media.
2. Calle y Poché
Calle y Poché is a bisexual couple from Columbia who are also very popular influencers. Their 5.2 million followers on Instagram love them for their fashion, DIY, makeup, and dance style YouTube videos. These girls are all about getting LGBTQ+ voices into the mainstream and fighting back against censorship. This duo is incredibly influential and offers no shortage of gorgeous and fun content on Instagram.
3. The Zakar Twins
The Zakar Twins, Michael and Zak, are originally from Detroit and were born to Iraqi immigrants. With each post they make, they are fighting against homophobia and stereotypes about the LGBTQ+ community in Arab culture. Also, they are unapologetically themselves and are proud of who they’ve become since coming out. In fact, their coming-out novel, Pray The Gay Away, was adapted into a stage play that ran before COVID-19 hit. The story is about their experience coming out to an extremely homophobic, Catholic mother and the pain they suffered because of that. These boys are doing amazing things for visibility within the queer Arab community and looking amazing while doing it.
4. Jari Jones
Jari Jones is the first Black trans woman to produce a film that was nominated at the Cannes Festival. The film, called Port Authority, focuses and highlights New York City’s ballroom and drag scene. Beyond that incredible achievement, she is also a model, an actress, and an activist who uses her platform on Instagram to spread awareness and knowledge about current social and political issues. Following Jones will bring blessings to your feed and keep you updated and accountable in this tough political climate we are living in.
5. Shay Neary
Shay Neary, or watchshayslay, made history as the first plus-size transgender model to be featured in a major fashion campaign for the brand Coverstory. By the nature of her identity, her presence in the fashion industry is revolutionary. She is doing amazing things for women and for trans visibility as a queer influencer. Neary is all about the empowerment of women and trans women and uses her platform to spread positivity surrounding that sentiment.
6. Julio Salgado
Here is Julio Salgado, a gay, Mexican-born man who grew up being undocumented in California. Ultimately, he is very vocal about his experiences and creates art to empower and allow queer and undocumented people to feel seen and heard. For instance, because of his own experiences, he is passionate about bringing the topic of undocumented queerness to the forefront and being the face of the matter. Also, he is a well-known activist and a co-creator of The Disruptors, which is a fellowship for new queer, disabled, and undocumented POC individuals looking to write for television. Without a doubt, Salgado’s art and the messages of empowerment he shares on his Instagram will add incredible value to your feed.
7. Vice Ganda
Vice Ganda seems to do it all: he is a comedian, talk show host, television presenter, actor, and singer. And, not to mention, is absolutely stunning. This queer influencer is a Filipino icon that brings so much conversation and awareness to the queer Filipino community. Following Ganda will give you gorgeous style and makeup inspiration and a good laugh, as this comedian knows how to crack a joke.
8. Kenny Ethan Jones
Kenny Ethan Jones is a transgender model, activist, and the first trans man to be the face of a period campaign. He has long been a queer influencer and vocal about changing the conversation around menstruation and making it more inclusive. For example, Jones is strong on the sentiment that not all people who menstruate are women, and not all women menstruate. Overall, his account aims to end the stigma and dysphoria that trans individuals experience regarding the period. Following Jones is a great way to become more educated on subjects that affect trans individuals daily. Not only is he is doing incredible things for the community, but he is also very stylish.
Love your New Feed!
There’s nothing better than sprucing up your feed by following new people, and these influential queer individuals are perfect for doing just that. By following them, you will learn about different cultures in the queer community, keep up on political and social issues, and find comfort in the activists attempting to normalize different bodies.
Feature image credit: Unsplash
