Emerson Pieper, staff writer

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is a U.S. nonprofit organization focused on accurate and equitable representation of LGBTQ+ people in the media. For decades, it has worked behind the scenes and in the spotlight: pushing Hollywood, newsrooms, streaming platforms and social feeds toward stories that feel realistic and encouraging.

The GLAAD “20 under 20” list is one of its spotlight projects. Each year, GLAAD recognizes 20 LGBTQ+ people under the age of 20 who are making meaningful changes in media, advocacy, education or their communities. They feature many types of people, including those who are reshaping short-form storytelling, student organizers building safer school spaces, digital creators or activists speaking out for the community.

This project works to tell the stories of LGBTQ+ members and help to make them feel seen and heard. With the goal of garnering support for the community, GLAAD wants to create a connection and keep history known. 20 under 20 collaborated with Teen Vogue to put together this project and helped with sponsoring 20 individuals for the 2025 honorees.

Honorees are selected because their work has moved culture forward in tangible ways, whether that means starting a nonprofit, leading a campaign, writing, performing, coding, organizing, or creating spaces where others feel seen. GLAAD highlights these young leaders’ voices and signals that cultural change is not just a future project, but is happening at this moment by people still in high school and college.

In the 2025 sixth annual list, one of the GLAAD’s 20 under 20 honorees comes from Augsburg University’s own community. Dante Austin, who was spotlighted for his writing and acting career, reflected on what the honor means both personally and for other LGBTQ+ students around the world. “The 20 Under 20 list is filled with so many names of inspiring young people, and it’s incredible to me that I’m one of them. To be featured on the same level as so many people who I’ve grown up admiring, is something I will never forget. I hope I can inspire someone as much as they have inspired me. I’m very grateful for this opportunity,” stated Austin.

This project tells young LGBTQ+ people, especially those still figuring out who they are, that their identities are not something that they have to hide. When young people see themselves in national conversation, it chips away at shame. Seeing someone in your generation being celebrated for who they are can help ease the anxiety that comes with being LGBTQ+, but the impact does not stop at youth. For older LGBTQ+ generations, especially those who grew up in eras of open hostility, 20 under 20 is a step toward a more accepting world. Watching young people thrive openly can show that what they have done for themselves and their community was not for nothing. GLAAD helping to create an encouraging and supportive environment by boosting queer voices is a uniquely powerful statement for the queer community.