Top LGBTQ Entertainment Moments of 2016

Top LGBTQ Entertainment Moments of 2016

Au revoir, 2016! From the the drawn out presidential election to the long list of celebrity deaths, we're ready to bid this year farewell. But before we do, here's a look at some of our favorite LGBTQ entertainment moments of the year.

Laverne Cox Nabs Major Broadcast Role

Same-Sex Relationship Blossoms on "Supergirl"

Earlier this year, The CW's Andrew Kreisberg said a character on one of the network's four superhero drams would be coming out of the closet. During the fall season of "Supergirl," viewers discovered that character was Chyler Leigh's Alex Danvers. What followed was a beautiful, complex and ultimately positive portrayal of coming out. Fans even saw the beginning of her relationship with Maggie Sawyer (Floriana Lima) before the show went on hiatus for the holidays.

Ricky Martin Gets Engagement

 

On November 16, Ricky Martin announced his engagement to Jwan Yosef on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show." The singer and his artist fiancé met after Martin expressed interested in one of Yosef's art pieces. The two have been dating since January 2016.

LGBTQ Olympians Shine in Rio

The 2016 Rio Olympics saw the largest number of openly LGBTQ Olympic athletes ever. More than 50 LGBTQ competitors from around the globe went to Rio to compete in events ranging from judo to javelin. In the end, 25 out Olympians medaled at the Games.

John Cho's Sulu Comes Out

Earlier this year it was announced that John Cho's "Star Trek" character Sulu would be revealed to be gay in the latest installment "Star Trek Beyond." While Geroge Takei, who originally played the character, was not happy about the choice, it was a positive portrayal of an LGBTQ person of color in a Hollywood studio blockbuster. Moreover, the upcoming CBS All Access series "Star Trek Discovery" has cast Anthony Rapp in the role of a new gay character.

Frank Ocean Releases "Blonde"

Samira Wiley's Career Takes Off

Fans of "Orange is the New Black" were dismayed earlier this year when Samira Wiley's character exited in a tragic manner. The exit garnered a lot of attention, including interviews with Wiley and analysis of where the series will go from here. Fortunately for Wiley, her career has flourished since. Recently, she recurred on comedy "You're The Worst," and she is set to star opposite Elizabeth Moss in upcoming Hulu series "The Handmaid's Tale."

Kate McKinnon Slays on "SNL"

While the presidential election was turbulent, one consistent source of humor was out actress Kate McKinnon on "Saturday Night Live." Through her portrayal of political figures, including Kellyanne Conway and Hillary Clinton, McKinnon was front and center for the show's most talked about sketches.

RuPaul Wins an Emmy

For years RuPaul has been entertaining the masses with reality television's "RuPaul's Drag Race." The show has cultivated a massive following and has consistently sparked conversations on social media. Finally this year, seven years after its 20009 debut, RuPaul has received well-deserved recognition by winning an Emmy Award for Best Reality Host.