The ballroom of Dancing With The Stars has gradually become a stage for queer visibility. Over more than three decades, a growing roster of LGBTQ personalities has stepped onto the floor, turning personal stories into public milestones. From early breakthroughs to the latest same-sex pairings, the show reflects a broader cultural shift toward inclusion.
Early breakthroughs and first historic pairings
The first openly transgender man to appear on a major network competition was Chaz Bono who joined season 13 in 2011 with professional partner Lacey Schwimmer. Though they bowed out in week six, Bono’s presence marked a landmark moment for transgender representation on primetime television.
Season 30, aired in 2021, introduced the inaugural same-sex pairing when teen star JoJo Siwa teamed with professional dancer Jenna Johnson. Their partnership was celebrated as the first female-female collaboration in the series, establishing a precedent that the show would build upon in subsequent years.
The following season witnessed a male-male partnership as Shangela the drag-queen known from RuPaul’s Drag Race, danced alongside Ukrainian-born pro Gleb Savchenko. Their routine, described by both artists as a celebration of art and love advanced the narrative that the gender of the partners mattered less than the chemistry they created.
The expanding roster of queer participants
Beyond the headline-making duos, a diverse list of LGBTQ contestants has enriched the competition. Olympic figure-skater Amber Glenn who identifies as pansexual and bisexual, showcased her athleticism alongside a professional partner. In 2016, Nyle DiMarco a sexually fluid model, won his season and performed the series’ first same-sex routine, blending technical skill with personal authenticity.
Other notable names include:
- Adam Rippon the first openly gay man to claim the Mirrorball Trophy in 2018.
- Lauren Jauregui and Scott Hoying bisexual/queer and openly gay respectively, who competed in season 34.
- Ariana Madix and Jason Mraz both publicly bisexual, who graced season 33.
- Wayne Brady who came out as pansexual during his season-31 run, and Cody Rigsby the gay Peloton instructor featured in season 30.
- Earlier alumni such as Karamo BrownJohnny WeirMargaret ChoCarson Kressley and Lance Bass also contributed queer presence to the franchise.
These participants have helped normalize queer identities within a mainstream, family-friendly format.
Current season’s spotlight and public response
The 36th season debuted with a third historic same-sex pair: bisexual reality-star Sarah Jane Nader and professional dancer Hailey Bills. Their jive to Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi” earned a modest 14 out of 30, resulting in an early exit on the premiere night. Fans expressed disappointment, arguing that the duo’s similar body types made it harder to differentiate the professional’s lead, a criticism echoing earlier discussions about choreography in same-sex pairings.
Despite the early departure, the episode attracted 6.7 million viewers, the highest premiere rating in six years, indicating growing audience interest in the show’s evolving inclusivity. Nader, who previously came out as bisexual on the documentary series “Love Thy Nader,” highlighted the personal significance of representing queer women on a platform she felt lacked such visibility during her upbringing.
Social media reactions ranged from frustration over the quick elimination to praise for the visibility that the pairing provides to young LGBTQ viewers. The conversation underscores how representation on reality competition shows can both reflect and shape cultural attitudes toward queer identities.
