What's One Piece of Queer Pop Culture That Inspires You? MoPOP Staff Reacts as Pride Month Begins

Each year, the Museum of Pop Culture takes advantage of the fact that the Pride parade ends at our doorstep to join in the celebration and highlight the creators and creations of LGBTQ+ musicians, filmmakers, writers, animators, and game designers. Typically, we bring out amazing artifacts from our collection, like a pair of shoes that Elton John performed in or performance posters from queer Riot Grrrl bands. But this year we’re taking a different approach since we’re all still in some version of shelter-in-place, and to kick off our month of POP+ Pride virtual programs, supported by First Tech, we wanted to share some of the queer pop culture that has inspired our MoPOP staff.

Lisa McKay, HR Business Partner

I am so inspired by Daniel Levy, co-creater and actor in Schitt's Creek. His passion for bringing a world without homophobia to the screen is inspiring.

Robert Rutherford, Manager of Public Engagement

I am inspired by Vince Clarke and Andy Bell of Erasure, who have soundtracked stories of self-discovery and love for generations.

Amalia Kozloff, Curator

The one piece of queer pop culture that most inspires me right now is the amazing team at Salty World, who amplify all voices and give a platform for queer, non-binary, trans, and others to represent themselves in all their beauty and diversity.

Michael Cole-Schwartz, Senior Communications Manager

A piece of queer pop culture that inspires me is RuPaul’s Drag Race because if you told a young, closeted me that a drag reality show would be phenomenally popular mainstream television, I would have laughed in your face. Above, check out a favorite moment from All Stars, season 4.

Rachel Ivanoff, Marketing Graphic Designer

There are tons of indie comics that I love to scoop up from queer creators at pop ups, comic anthologies, anything that comes out of Beyond Press, and even more “mainstream” comics, my personal favorite being ODY-C. But what really changed my life was when I picked up Fire Logic by Laurie J. Marks. I bought the book on a whim while browsing the Fantasy section of a used bookstore in 2009. Reading it as a young teen, Fire Logic was the first book I had encountered where two women protagonists fall in love with each other as a part of their journey. I grew up in a fairly conservative area, and the Elemental Logic Series really opened my eyes to loving romantic relationships not being bound to pre-determined gender roles.

Kasi Gaarenstroom, Production Associate

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is such an important TV show to me and is truly inspiring. The queer representation of Captain Holt, and his loving relationship is something I'd never really seen on TV. Same goes for how Rosa's bisexuality is handled, particularly with her family's hardship accepting her (brought me to tears!!). They're so apologetically themselves, which I think is so inspiring. Every time Captain Holt and his husband say "I love you" or when Rosa opens up about dating a woman, I find myself thinking Hot damn, I wish I had this when I was growing up. That kind of just, truly realistic and holistic representation of queerness just doesn't come along that often, especially with POC characters. At the end of Rosa's coming out episode, Captain Holt goes "Every time someone steps up and says who they are, the world becomes a better, more interesting place." And if that's not inspiring, I don't know what is!

Jane MacDonald, Volunteer Engagement Program Coordinator

I'm inspired by Tove Jansson, the creator of Moominvalley. She's a role model in every way! From standing up to Nazis to running away with her girlfriend to a cozy island, I aspire to her in every way.

Gracian Grabowski, Creative Studio

The queer pop culture creator that inspires me is Janet Mock because when there was no seat at the table for black trans women in the entertainment industry, she didn't just bring a folding chair, she built a whole new table!

Chris Hill, Email Marketing Manager

I'm inspired by Grace Jones. Her distinct artistry and visual identity has remained a revered influence over the years, especially within the black queer community. She lives a lifestyle that helped redefine labels, gender norms, and the contemporary queer art scene from the 1980s to the present. "If you do not want to limit yourself, then be prepared to change your mind—often." That's an excerpt from her book, I'll Never Write My Memoirs (edited). The video above features her in one of my favorite scenes as a James Bond character, as May Day in A View to a Kill. 

Chris Moore, Exhibits Production Assistant

Divine, the legendary drag performer, really inspires me. She, as a performer, was wild and raunchy, but in his everyday life, he was quiet and considerate. He always wanted to be a movie star, but he couldn't imagine a way that he could do so. She was a radical gender punk that hung out with some of the biggest names at the time, but also put a lot of energy into rebuilding a relationship with his parents. He ended up having a "have your cake and eat it, too" kind of radical queer life that inspires me.

Parks Barnard, Interactive Technology Associate

I really like Mike Hadreas.  His ability to embody the feminine is truly inspiring, especially coming from someone who had such a deep and powerful first record.  Check out Perfume Genius if you have not.

Brian Capozzoli, Volunteer Engagement Manager

I am inspired by Laura Jane Grace for being an out and proud transgender woman, making great punk music, and being an all around badass. 

Jason Porter, Director of Education+Programs

I am inspired by Tim Gunn from Project Runway (and now Making the Cut) because he is a fashion guru, a wise and talented teacher, and a supportive mentor to young, queer artists. When I think about my own work with people, especially young people, I try to channel Tim Gunn’s compassion and style as a mentor.

Check out our POP+ Pride website for all of our Pride events in June. We have drag shows, two book clubs, a watchalong, and much, much more planned! From all of us at MoPOP, we invite you to take time this month of LGBTQ+ Pride to acknowledge and honor the struggle, be kind to yourself and to those who need your kindness, and of course, to live out loud. Happy Pride!

Thanks to our sponsor First Tech, a proud supporter of our POP+ Pride programming.

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