10 LGBTQIA+ Activists You Should Follow on Instagram

PRIDE is typically celebrated in June for the majority of the country but we choose to celebrate and honor our LGBTQIA+ community each and every month.

Below are 10 activists that are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community who influence, inspire, and educate by sharing their own experiences and empowering their followers.

Notice someone missing? Please drop us a note.

10 Activists You Should Follow On Instagram

1. Alok, @alokvmenon

Alok is a gender-fluid writer, performer, speaker, and fashionista. Alok recently wrote, “Beyond the Binary” which discusses how to counter anti-trans discrimination and seeing a world beyond women and man binaries. In 2019, Alok was acclaimed as one of NBC’s Pride 50 and Out Magazine's OUT 100. Alok continues to share their knowledge with the world around them and has shared their work in more than 40 countries.

2. Eli Erlick, @elierlick

Eli Erlick is a queer trans woman activist, scholar, and public speaker. Eli was able to overcome violence and isolation when she came out as queer and trans at eight. At 16 years old, she co-founded Trans Student Educational Resources (TSER). TSER is “dedicated to transforming the educational environment for trans students through collective action.” They do this through advocacy, empowerment, and by teaching the public and trans people on how to be impactful organizers. TSER is the only national organization run by and for trans youth.

3. Joshua Allen, @joshuaobawole

Joshua is a queer/trans artist, writer, speaker, and model. Joshua has given keynotes on LGBTQIA+ activism and has given TEDx talks. In addition to all this, Joshua has traveled the nation coordinating and helping with workshops for students. Joshua’s hope is “one where we can all be empowered to be our true selves.” Through his Instagram and website, you will be able to learn more about the LGBTQIA+ community. For instance, on Joshua’s blog, there is a blog post featuring “The Library: The Parade Is Not the Only Pride Event You Need to Know About.”

4. Jonathan Van Ness, @jvn

You may recognize Jonathan from Queer Eye, a show in which the “Fab Five” help change people’s lives for the better. Since becoming famous, Jonathan has used his fame and platform to promote change. He has two published books called “Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Low” and “Peanut Goes For The Gold.” In his book called “Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Low,” Jonathan spoke about very important topics such as being diagnosed with HIV. Jonathan uses his personal story to create conversations and awareness for HIV positive people. In fact, very recently Jonathan spoke with Elton John about HIV/AIDS advocacy.

5. Pattie Gonia, @pattiegonia

Pattie Gonia is a hiking drag queen and an environmental supporter and explains through her channel that mother nature is worth caring for. Pattie discusses how allyship is a verb and involves ongoing action for the LGBTQIA+ community and mother nature. Pattie helps to coordinate back-packing trips, hikes, and trash cleanups at beaches and trails, making nature a welcoming place for everyone.

6. LaSaia Wade, @lasaia_wade

LaSaia Wade is a trans woman, founder of TNTJ Tennessee Journey Project, and member of Chicago Trans Gender-Nonconforming Collective and the Trans Liberation Collective, and Director of Brave Space Alliance. LaSaia is the first trans woman in the history of Illinois to be esteemed in Women’s History month for the work she’s doing not restricted to community organizing.

7. Emi Salida, @embly99

Emi Salida is a 20-year-old vlogger and asexual activist. Through her YouTube channel, Emi drives awareness and shares personal stories as an asexual to her followers. Emi shares in a video titled “Things You Didn’t Know About Asexuality” things you should be informed about when discussing asexuality. Emi does not want anyone to feel alone in their journeys and creates an honest and safe space with her followers. Emi continues to be a voice for the asexual community and has worked with several media outlets like Cosmopolitan and HuffPost to promote conversations about asexuality.

8. Bethany C. Myers, @bethanycmeyers

Bethany C. Meyers is a queer-poly-married-non-binary and founder and CEO of the be.come project, which is a body neutral fitness class experience. They offer 25-minute workouts that anyone can do with Meyers themselves. Bethany has been open about their sexuality through their social media and in interviews. Bethany shares stories such as “LGBTQ 4 kids” to teach children about the LGBTQIA+ community.

9. Vqueerem Aditya Sahai, @vqueer

Vikramaditya Sahai is a queer activist, writer, and professor at Ambedkar University, Delhi. Vikramaditya uses writing to speak on gender, such as “When Sexuality Becomes Sex.” @vqueer also speaks upon gender inequality, LGBTQIA+ cruelty, and other opinions Vikramaditya has, such as his Instagram stories about intersectionality.

10. Chella Man, @chellaman

Chella Man is a deaf genderqueer artist. He gave a TEDx Talk on “Becoming Him” in which Chella speaks on his journey to finding pronouns that fit him, finding out what genderqueer is as well as how he identifies with this term and showing gender transition through testosterone supplementation. Chella Man has continues to speak on his journey through his Instagram. He recently modeled and was a part of a campaign for Calvin Klein and spoke on how his body is his now as well his journey on being deaf. “I’ve gotten to this point where I view my queerness, my disability as this beautiful filter...”