Peppermint
Known also as Miss Peppermint, this actress, singer, and TV personality got her start on the stage as a New York drag performer. Remember her from the ninth season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race?” It didn’t take too long before Peppermint moved on to star as Pythio in the musical “Head Over Heels.”
This role has made Peppermint a real history-maker. She became the first transgender woman to star in a Broadway role. Peppermint was already performing as a young child in the Opera Delaware Children’s Theatre and the Brandywine Community Theatre. She then naturally pursued a degree and studied musical theatre.
Buck Angel
Introducing Buck Angel, a true trailblazer and a name that resonates across the globe. As the visionary founder of the renowned Buck Angel company, renowned for its groundbreaking adult films and merchandise, he stands as an iconic figure in the transgender community. Widely regarded as one of the most prominent transgender men in the world, Angel has dedicated himself to championing LGBTQ+ rights.
He became an influential advocate for the community. His journey is nothing short of extraordinary, as he stands among the pioneers of transitioning through hormone therapy. Undertaking his transition at the age of 28, during a time when research in this field was scarce, Angel embarked on a profound and intricate path of self-discovery.
Angel Qinan
Known for work on shows such as "Starlet Diner," "Act Like a Woman," and "Strut," Angel Qinan has been a prominent star in the trans and LGBTQ world over the last few years. In fact, Quinan's sister is also trans! And they have leveraged the fact they're siblings, having famously teamed up on projects together.
According to Qinan's autobiography, she claims to be the first trans model to have walked on the Sacramento Fashion week runway. Since then, she has appeared on countless fashion runways, including New York Fashion Week, Cabin by Stevie Boi, 3D Designs by Alexis Walsh, and Game Over by Nga Wun Mok Oxford Fashion Studio.
Calpernia Addams
Calpernia Addams is one of the loudest voices out there for transgender rights and issues. But would you believe that before that, she served with the Navy and US Marine Corps? She actually came out in her last year of service.
You may recognize the name Calpernia from Shakespeare’s "Julius Caesar." Clearly, Addams has a penchant for the theater because her own play was shortlisted for the Feminist Fest Award and several more.
Harmony Santana
Harmony Santana's breakthrough came with her remarkable role in the 2011 film "Gun Hill Road," propelling her into the limelight. Her exceptional performance garnered a lot of critical acclaim and earned her a prestigious Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, a groundbreaking achievement as the first trans-woman to receive such recognition.
What adds depth to Santana's journey is the fact that she resided in Green Chimneys, a group home for LGBTQ youth in Manhattan, during the film's production. This experience fueled her passion to become an advocate for homeless youth and a staunch opponent of bullying. And she's just getting started.