In an industry that hasn’t always seen them, these AAPI LGBTQ+ stars are claiming their space by proving that pride, like identity, comes in infinite shades and stories. Their work is more than just entertainment, it’s visibility and healing. Whether they’re on or off the screen, they’re challenging stereotypes and embracing intersectionality. As we honor Pride Month, these stars remind us that being who you are is not just enough, it’s everything.
Jaylee Hamidi
From child actor to their most recent project, Jaylee Hamidi has strived to be the representation on the screen that they found scarce while growing up. They first gained recognition for their roles in Supernatural, Supergirl, and Yellowjackets before starring alongside Natasha Rothwell in Hulu comedy series How To Die Alone. Hamidi portrays Allie, a recent divorcee exploring her pansexual identity. The Chinese Kurdish Iranian actor noted that the role initially piqued their interest because of the Allie’s realness and similarities to themselves. Apart from acting, they also paint and write poetry. Most recently, Hamidi’s work has been featured in the May 2025 edition of Ricepaper Magazine.
- Allie Salvucci
Hayley Kiyoko
Hayley Kiyoko has been in the public eye as an actress, musician, author and continues to expand her artistry with her directing debut of feature film Girls Like Girls. Kiyoko is known for her roles in Disney Channel Original Movie Lemonade Mouth, Jem and the Holograms, and Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins. In 2015, she released her breakout single “Girls Like Girls” and has since adapted the inspiration into a coming-of-age romance novel of the same name which topped the New York Times Best Seller List. Kiyoko continues to advocate for queer stories with her upcoming novel Where There’s Room For Us, which is currently available for pre-order.
- A.S.
Rex Lee
From starting out as a casting assistant to being a series regular on Freeform’s Young & Hungry, Rex Lee has always been authentic to himself. Lee came out as gay when he was 22 years old and has portrayed an arsenal of openly gay characters in television and film. He is most known for his role as Lloyd in Entourage, to which he won Best Supporting Television Actor at the Asian Excellence Awards in back-to-back years–2007 and 2008. Lee’s most recent project was starring in Larry In the Sky With Diamonds, an indie pilot about a gay man who reconnects with his uncle who died of AIDS decades prior.
- A.S.
Kristen Kish
Chef and TV personality Kristen Kish is a household name in the culinary circle. She first stepped into the limelight of reality television when she competed on Season 10 of Bravo’s Top Chef. After winning her season, Kish broadened her career by hosting various cooking competitions including 36 Hours, Fast Foodies, and Iron Chef: Quest For an Iron Legend. Following Padma Lakshmi’s departure from the franchise, Kish has been the host of Top Chef since 2023.
In an interview with The Cut, Kish said, “My job went from working in restaurants to being on Top Chef because my boss at the time was like, ‘We need more women on television. Go represent. I know you can do this.’ I rely heavily on my wife and my inner circle to help me navigate what I should be pushing for.” Kish touches more on her personal life and identity discovery in her memoir Accidentally On Purpose.
- A.S.
Karan Soni
From Marvel’s wisecracking cabbie Dopinder in the Deadpool films to the multiverse Spider Man India from the Spider-Verse franchise, Karan Soni has become one of Hollywood’s most versatile stars. The actor also co-wrote with his husband, director Roshan Sethi and starred in the film 7 Days (2021), proving that he’s just as good at building stories as he is at stealing scenes. His latest role in A Nice Indian Boy (2025) is a culture clashing romantic comedy that explores themes of culture, love, and identity. Starring opposite Jonathan Groff, Soni demonstrates his range with perfectly timed comedic acting as an Indian American man who introduces his white fiance to his traditional family.
- Heather Ngo
Havana Rose Liu
Actress Havana Rose Liu is a part of a new wave of talent redefining Hollywood as she centers on authenticity. She is best known for her breakout role in the queer cult romantic comedy film Bottoms (2024), where she played Isabel, a cheerleader navigating her sexuality. Liu has spoken candidly about how the role reflected her own evolving sense of self and journey with pansexuality at the time. Whether she’s playing a teen in chaos or a character in emotional limbo, Liu approaches each role with a deep awareness of identity shaped by her mixed race heritage and commitment to staying true to herself both on and off screen. The actress will be starring in upcoming comedy series Hal & Harper (2025) opposite Mark Ruffalo and Lili Reinhart and upcoming musical comedy Power Ballad (2025) starring Paul Rudd and Nick Jonas.
- H.N.
Devery Jacobs
Born and raised in the Kahnawà Mohawk Territory, Devery Jacobs grew up Native and queer and felt like she didn’t see herself or anyone like her reflected in the movies she was watching. She first gained attention in Rhymes for Young Ghouls (2013) by the late Indigenous director Jeff Barnaby. Jacobs broke out with her role in Reservation Dogs (2021-2023) by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi. In her latest film, Backspot, she plays a queer cheerleader on an all-star squad.
- Carissa Alfiora
Rohan Kanawade
With an interior design background, Rohan Kanawade began switching career paths by directing short films. His debut feature, Sabar Bonda (Cactus Pears) is a semi-autobiographical story that explores queerness within rural India’s social structures. The film premiered at Sundance, which earned acclaim for its heartfelt storytelling and won the World Cinema Dramatic Grand Jury Prize. Sabar Bonda is currently screening at the 35th Annual Toronto 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival.
- C. A.
Jess X. Snow
Jess X. Snow is a filmmaker, poet, and muralist whose works span various mediums, with a recurring theme of envisioning better futures. They are developing their debut feature, When the River Split Open, about a non-binary Chinese American reconnecting with their estranged father in rural China, intertwined with the extinction of the Yangtze River dolphin. Their latest short, Roots That Reach Toward the Sky, won the Sundance Short Film Jury Award in Nonfiction and is making its Canadian premiere at the Inside Out Film Festival.
- C. A.
Poppy Liu
Queer Chinese American actor and activist Poppy Liu uses their platform to share their distinctive life experience and amplify the voice of the blatantly overlooked. In their recent advocacy work, Liu has spoken out firmly on topics of abortion funding and the active genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.
Liu is most known for their role in the NBC sitcom Sunnyside, where they played the role of Mei Lin, a wealthy immigrant hoping to gain citizenship along with her brother. Other projects featuring Liu include iCarly (2021), Hacks, American Born Chinese, and No Good Deed. Liu has been cast in Boots Riley’s (Sorry to Bother You) upcoming adventure sci-fi film I Love Boosters, alongside stars like Keke Palmer, Demi Moore, Lakeith Stanfield, and Will Poulter. The film follows a group of shoplifters who target a cutthroat fashion maven. Additional plot details have not been released at this time.
- Ebonie Mustipher
Nik Dodani
Following the release of his first short film Blue Boy in 2024, Nik Dodani added writer and producer to his already broad list of career accomplishments. Based on Rakesh Satyal’s 2009 novel of the same name, the coming-of-age story follows a young Indian American boy who believes himself to be the reincarnation of the Hindu deity Krishna — but in reality he’s just gay.
Working on the opposite side of the camera, Dodani has appeared in films and television series like Atypical, Murphy Brown, Dear Evan Hansen (2021), Twisters (2024), and most recently The Parenting. Off-screen, Dodani also holds both voice acting and theater credits.
- E.M
Nico Santos
Filipino American actor and comedian Nico Santos’ career journey is perhaps, just a little crazy. Starting with luxury retail then open mic nights and a dedicated pursuit of stand-up comedy, he now shines on Hollywood’s biggest screens — signature humor still intact.
His first breakout role was in the sitcom Superstore (2015), where he played Mateo Liwanag — the gay Filipino sales associate and unfortunately, resident asshole. He’s generally unlikeable with many, many flaws but a vital character to the show nonetheless. From then, Santos’ career soared, featuring in major blockbuster films like Crazy Rich Asians (2018) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3 (2023). With voice acting roles to boot, Santos has solidified himself as one of Hollywood’s most prominent queer Asian actors.
- Karen Yi
Stephanie Hsu
Arguably best known for her role as Evelyn’s lesbian daughter, Joy Wang, in Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), Stephanie Hsu has made waves for queer Asian representation in Hollywood. Nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the 2023 Academy Awards, Hsu’s performance was significant to the film but also to the queer and Asian American communities Joy represented. As part of both communities herself, Hsu felt Everything Everywhere All at Once to be a familiar story that resonated with her own: “When I read the script, a queer love story felt so obvious, an Asian family is so obvious, because that’s also my life.”
Beyond her role as Joy, Hsu has continued to capture the much-needed stories of Asian female identity in the 2023 film Joy Ride. With other voice features in popular animated series, like Blue Eye Samurai (2023) and Kite Man: Hell Yeah! (2024), you can find her in a variety of content, from family-friendly to rated R.
- K.Y.
Want to learn about more rising stars? Check out our interview with actress Naomi Okada here!
