Out Magazine Unveils 2025 Out100 List Honoring LGBTQ+ Changemakers and Icons

Out Magazine has announced its 2025 Out100 list, marking another year of recognition for the LGBTQ+ community's most influential voices and changemakers. The prestigious annual compilation, which has been documenting impactful LGBTQ+ personalities since 1994, continues its tradition of highlighting individuals who are advancing visibility and culture across multiple fields .

Leading this year's honorees is Emmy-winning actress, producer, and advocate Niecy Nash-Betts, who has been named the Out100 Icon of the Year. Nash-Betts, known for her acclaimed roles in"Dahmer -- Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" and"Reno 911!", expressed profound gratitude for the recognition, stating that being honored means"an awful lot" to her .

"It feels amazing, I'm basically the queer of the year," Nash-Betts told Out Magazine."It means an awful lot for me to be a role model for the LGBTQ+ community" . The actress emphasized the significance of her multifaceted identity, adding,"I love being Black. I love being a woman. And now I'm a Black queer woman in a relationship with another Black queer woman, and it matters" .

Nash-Betts recently celebrated five years of marriage with her partner, singer Jessica Betts. The couple first connected on social media in 2015 and reunited in 2018 when Betts worked with Nash-Betts on an episode of"Claws" . Their relationship has become an inspiration for many in the LGBTQ+ community, particularly for Black queer women seeking representation in mainstream media.

The Icon of the Year will receive her award at the Out100 celebration taking place on November 21, 2025, in Los Angeles .

The 2025 Out100 list features a diverse array of LGBTQ+ individuals making significant contributions across various fields. Among the honorees is Doechii, the rising rapper whose bold artistry and unapologetic queerness have made her a standout voice in contemporary music .

Legendary costume designer Bob Mackie, whose decades-long career has defined glamour in entertainment and who has been a long-time ally and contributor to LGBTQ+ visibility in fashion, also appears on this year's list . His inclusion recognizes not only his artistic contributions but his enduring support for the LGBTQ+ community throughout his career.

Comedian and television personality Rosie O'Donnell, a longtime LGBTQ+ advocate and openly gay public figure, has been recognized for her continued impact on entertainment and activism . O'Donnell has been a prominent voice for LGBTQ+ rights for decades, using her platform to advance equality and visibility.

Actor Tramell Tillman, who has gained recognition for his work in critically acclaimed television, joins the list as an openly LGBTQ+ performer bringing authenticity to his craft . His inclusion reflects the growing visibility of LGBTQ+ actors in mainstream entertainment.

Drag performer and comedian Murray Hill, known for pioneering work in drag king performance and LGBTQ+ comedy, has been honored for contributions to queer culture and entertainment . Hill's decades-long career has helped expand understanding of gender performance and queer artistry.

Reality television star Parvati Shallow, known for her appearances on"Survivor," rounds out the announced honorees, representing LGBTQ+ visibility in mainstream competitive entertainment .

Additionally, ABC News correspondent James Longman has been featured on this year's list, bringing LGBTQ+ representation to international journalism and news broadcasting .

The Out100 has established itself as Out Magazine's "greatest and most well-known tradition" since its inception in 1994 . The annual list documents one hundred"influential, inspirational" LGBTQ+ personalities and celebrities, founded to"celebrate and honor some of the most influential LGBTQIA figures" .

In conjunction with the main list, Out Magazine presents annual Out100 Awards honoring select celebrities with distinctions including Ingenue of the Year, Reader's Choice, Artist of the Year, and Entertainer of the Year . Former editor Phillip Picardi described the Out100 in 2019 as the magazine's"greatest and most well-known tradition" .

The Out100 selection process incorporates community input through a Reader's Choice Award, which was introduced in 2013 alongside the editorially curated list of the top 100 honorees . For the 2025 list, Out Magazine collected reader nominations and editors narrowed submissions to finalists for voting .

The magazine invited readers to nominate"artists, disruptors, educators, groundbreakers, innovators, and storytellers who all helped make the world a better place for LGBTQ+ people" . Nominations were accepted across categories including music, drag, film, television, theater, sports, politics, business, and fashion .

As Nash-Betts receives this recognition, she is preparing for her next major project: the upcoming Ryan Murphy-directed Hulu series "All's Fair" . The show centers on a team of female divorce attorneys who leave a male-dominated firm to open their own practice .

The series features an ensemble cast including Sarah Paulson, Glenn Close, Teyana Taylor, Naomi Watts, and Kim Kardashian . Nash-Betts spoke warmly about the collaborative environment on set, noting that the cast members"genuinely like each other and are genuinely supportive of each other" .

Regarding her co-star Kardashian, Nash-Betts expressed admiration for her work ethic, stating, "She is the definition of multitasking," while juggling business responsibilities, parenting, and law studies alongside acting . Nash-Betts added,"I feel I could take a page out of her book when it comes to that" .