Sydney Engelhart
Groundbreakers
Zaya Wade
Meet one of the artists, disruptors, educators, groundbreakers, innovators, and storytellers who all helped make the world a better place for LGBTQ+ people.
Having NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade and legendary movie star Gabrielle Union as your parents must be a lot to deal with. But for Zaya Wade, that was just the beginning of the story.
In 2020, when Zaya was 12 years old, she came out as trans. Her father told Ellen DeGeneres about how he and Union were supporting their child’s transition unconditionally. Since then, the family has been a shining example of how love and support can change a trans youth’s life.
Now, as she’s preparing for college, Wade has launched Translatable, an online safe space for LGBTQ+ youth and their support systems. She says it’s her proudest accomplishment this year, and arguably in her life. “Being able to do something I love with my dad makes it even more impactful for me, and I hope for all trans families,” she says.
“Honestly, my biggest joy and biggest obstacle is being trans in front of the whole world,” she adds. “...It has challenged me every single day, and given me the opportunity to grow beyond heights I never thought I could reach.” @zayawade
Mey Rude
Mey Rude is a journalist and cultural critic who has been covering queer news for a decade. The transgender, Latina lesbian lives in Los Angeles with her fiancée.
Mey Rude is a journalist and cultural critic who has been covering queer news for a decade. The transgender, Latina lesbian lives in Los Angeles with her fiancée.
Kristoffer Reynolds
Bernardo SimBernardo Sim is the deputy editor of Out. He’s also a staff contributor to The Advocate, PRIDE, and other equalpride publications. Born and raised in Brazil, he’s lived in the U.S. for over 15 years and speaks four languages.
You can follow Bernardo Sim on Instagram. You can also find him on Bluesky, Threads, X/Twitter, and TikTok.
Bernardo Sim is the deputy editor of Out. He’s also a staff contributor to The Advocate, PRIDE, and other equalpride publications. Born and raised in Brazil, he’s lived in the U.S. for over 15 years and speaks four languages.
You can follow Bernardo Sim on Instagram. You can also find him on Bluesky, Threads, X/Twitter, and TikTok.
Bernardo Sim is the deputy editor of Out. He’s also a staff contributor to The Advocate, PRIDE, and other equalpride publications. Born and raised in Brazil, he’s lived in the U.S. for over 15 years and speaks four languages.
You can follow Bernardo Sim on Instagram. You can also find him on Bluesky, Threads, X/Twitter, and TikTok.
Varla Jean Merman
Meet some of the artists, disruptors, educators, groundbreakers, innovators, and storytellers who all helped make the world a better place for LGBTQ+ people.
Kristoffer Reynolds
Varla Jean Merman has been in the business of drag for 30 years, doing her best to “make people laugh, scream, gasp, and sometimes groan…all in a dress completely stretched beyond recognition.”
This drag icon’s 2024 proudest achievement was putting together a Taylor Swift-inspired show called Varla Jean: The Errors Tour. “I explore all the horrible errors I have made in my career, like not telling the director of one of my All My Children episodes that snot flew out of my nose before they aired it,” she says, “and discover that the only real mistake in life is the one you don’t learn from.”
Merman adds, “Living in Florida, I had to not only deal with the government trying to ban my job, but also deal with people in our community, all over our country, wanting to boycott my state. Our country is one body. If your hand hurts, do you cut it off? No. You show it more love and more support until it is well. Florida is filled with amazing LGBTQ+ people who are not responsible for the hideous policies that have occurred.” @varlajeanmerman