QUEER GUIDE TO

C’mon 20benty, let’s get sickening! We concocted our very own queer guide for the year, featuring the most promising queer artists, movies and television shows.

There’s little doubt that queer visibility increased exponentially during the 2010s. Whether it was the cultural phenomenon that is RuPaul’s Drag Race, Academy Awardwinning films like Moonlight, Call Me By Your Name, and Carol, or groundbreaking television series like Pose, we finished the decade with our stories being heard and in some cases, vitally being told by those with the lived experience to give it authenticity. As we head into 2020, that legacy continues. Many of the cultural informers that have led the way over the past decade are heading into the year stronger and more beloved than ever. It’s why for our Queer Guide to 2020, we have a whole section dedicated to Drag Race. Its power is undeniable, giving visibility to LGBTQ experiences and issues scarcely featured in mainstream television before it.

As for television and movies, we have a slate of returning favourites to look forward who are joined by exciting new shows and narratives. Lena Waithe’s Twenties and Russell T Davies’ Boys are just two shows primed to entertain and educate in equal measure. The return of Netflix’s Sex Education kicks it all off this month, and you can find out more about what we can expect with our cover feature with Ncuti Gatwa (Eric Effiong) elsewhere in this issue. As for Hollywood, it feels like it’s finally starting to listen to and respect LGBTQ representation. From the first openly gay superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe in this year’s sci-fi blockbuster The Eternals, to a big-screen adaptation of West End musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, queer visibility is firmly on the agenda.

Then we have the increasing emergence of fresh queer talent in music. We could only squeeze eight new names to keep an eye on this year, but trust us when we say that music by LGBTQ voices has never felt so vibrant, diverse and culturally enriching. Elsewhere in this issue, we have the incredible Girl In Red speaking about her ascension in the industry as a young queer female, with a refreshing outlook that demonstrates that there’s a generation coming through who value authenticity above all else.

But we will be starting off our Queer Guide to 2020 with the important stuff.

The 2010s saw the LGBTQ community makes big gains, with many Global North countries legalising same-sex marriage, the decriminalisation of homosexuality in places like India, Mozambique and Botswana, and a greater understanding and responsibility of ensuring equal rights for LGBTQ people all over the world. However, there is much much more to be done. There are new wins on the horizon, and if all goes well 2020 will welcome new rights for queer people in countries where it is intensely challenging to live openly.

Here, over ten pages, we present to you your Queer Guide to 2020. This is just a peek at what’s in store, but we think you’ll agree that 2020 is going to be pretty damn queer - and that’s just the way we like it.