10 Filipino American LGBTQ+ changemakers you might not know about

CONTRIBUTED

NEW YORK — Every June, this column celebrates Pride Month by spotlighting Filipino American LGBTQ+ individuals whose stories deserve greater recognition. 

This year’s list features 10 under-the-radar trailblazers who are quietly, yet powerfully, reshaping their fields and communities.

Previously featured Filipino LGBTQ+ figures are not included in this edition, allowing us to highlight new voices and emerging leaders making a difference today. 

This list skips the usual suspects and instead shines a light on those who may not have made headlines but are making history in their own right. From activism to the arts, these are the names you need to know.

1. The first Filipino American to serve in the California State Senate and the first openly LGBTQ+ senator elected north of San Francisco and Stockton, Christopher Cabaldon previously served as mayor of West Sacramento for more than two decades. He has championed education, climate action and LGBTQ+ rights, and was the inaugural chair of the national LGBTQ Mayors Alliance.

Sen. Christopher Cabaldon / CONTRIBUTED

2. Born in Connecticut and based in NYC, Zaldy Goco is a Filipino American fashion designer known for his Emmy-winning work on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and for designing for global stars such as Lady Gaga and Michael Jackson.

Zaldy Goco / CONTRIBUTED

3. A queer Filipino American writer and sociologist, Anthony Christian Ocampo is a professor at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona and an acclaimed author whose work centers on race, immigration and LGBTQ+ identity in the Filipino American community.

Anthony Christian Ocampo / CONTRIBUTED

4. Raised in the US after his family immigrated from the Philippines, Kalaya’an Mendoza is the US field director for Amnesty International and a prominent activist for social justice and LGBTQ+ rights.

Kalaya’an Mendoza / CONTRIBUTED

5. Rev. Jeanelle Ablola is the lead pastor at Pine United Methodist Church in San Francisco and a queer, trans, non-binary Filipino American leader. They advance LGBTQ+ inclusion in faith spaces and social justice, co-chairing the CA-NV Philippine Solidarity Task Force and bridging activism, healing and faith-rooted organizing.

Rev. Jeanelle Ablola/CONTRIBUTED

6. Christine “Cici” Ambrosio is a longtime advocate for women and LGBTQ+ inclusion at UC Berkeley, serving as a pillar in the Pilipino and queer communities in California.

Christine “Cici” Ambrosio / CONTRIBUTED

7. Founder of SoCal Filipinos, Jason Lustina has built one of the largest Filipino American communities in Southern California, using his platform to uplift LGBTQ+ voices and foster cultural pride.

Jason Lustina / CONTRIBUTED

8. A Filipino American LGBTQ+ lawyer, Connie Montoya brings both legal expertise and lived experience to her advocacy, expanding opportunities for marginalized communities in the US.

Connie Montoya/CONTRIBUTED

9. The trans son of Broadway legend Lea Salonga, Nic Chien is carving his own path in the arts. At 18, he is already making waves on stage and in the community, offering inspiration for young Filipinos navigating the intersections of culture, family and gender identity.

Nic Chien/CONTRIBUTED

10. Omen Ortiz is a Filipino American entrepreneur and cultural leader, born and raised in the Philippines before immigrating to the US. As chairman and co-founder of the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF), he promotes Filipino cinema and heritage from Los Angeles, bridging cultures through the arts.

Omen Ortiz/CONTRIBUTED

These 10 trailblazers prove that Filipino American LGBTQ+ excellence is everywhere — from the halls of government to the runway, from faith communities to grassroots organizing. Their stories remind us that pride isn’t just about being seen; it’s about making a difference, one bold move at a time.