Leo season is in full swing — so if you’ve been feeling yourself extra hard and your selfie game has been on point, now you know why. Leo lionesses are notorious for being really incredible at self love, they shine in the limelight, and are driven by their desire to be loved and admired. So it’s no surprise that many of our queer and lesbian celebrities are Leo babes. I personally love me some Leo energy, and while I’m no full blown lioness, my rising, Venus, and Mars are all in Leo! If you non-Leo babes are looking for a little inspiration to get through this next month, go to these leading ladies below. They will guide you with their prowess, optimism, and slayage.
Lauren Morelli — July 22
I was lucky enough to witness Lauren Morelli fierce lioness energy in this pink power suit at this years’ GLAAD Awards. She was there with her wife Samari Wiley who was being recognized for her groundbreaking role in “The Handmaid’s Tale” and the way she spoke about Morelli gave everyone in the room tears. Morelli is a lead writer on “OITNB” and can regularly be found advocating on behalf of women and lesbians with her work.
In a moving essay for Mic, Morelli told her story of how she came to realize she’s a lesbian during the shooting of Season 1 of “OITNB.” “The thing is, even when you find yourself in a minority, there’s always a majority. If I was really gay, I would have known when I was younger. There was a prescribed narrative, and everything about my own story challenged the accepted one,” Morelli wrote. In true Leo form, she fearlessly speaks her truth.
Anna Paquin — July 24
It makes perfect sense that this sultry New Zealand-Canadian actress is a Leo. She has played fierce roles such as waitress Sookie Stackhouse in “True Blood” and unabashedly identifies as bisexual. “My sexuality is not made up, for a bisexual, it’s not about gender. That’s not the deciding factor to who they’re attracted to,” Paquin told Zooey Magazine.
Taylor Schilling — July 27
This “OITNB” star shines brighter than the sun with her lioness energy. “I’ve had very serious relationships with lots of people, and I’m a very expansive human. There’s no part of me that can be put under a label. I really don’t fit into a box — that’s too reductive,” she told Evening Standard Magazine of her sexuality. She admittedly loves playing an unlikeable character such as Piper Chapman — she recognized her flaws and plays into them with her acting. Only a true Leo could lean into a role like that.
Dayna Troisi — August 5
How could we not include our very own badass Managing Editor Dayna Troisi? She is not only an incredible writer, but she’s an advocate for disabled lesbians embracing their sexuality. Troisi uses her incredibly strong Leo energy to empower other women to be exactly who they are without any shame or guilt about it. She inspires us all to lean a little bit more into our natural magic.
“Not only do I accept it, I f*cking own it. Whatever you may feel self-conscious about, just own it,” Troisi wrote.
Whitney Mixter — August 8
“The Real L Word” babe Whitney Mixter makes lesbians every swoon and drop their panties within seconds. Blame it on her Leo confidence and swag. Mixter has gone on to continue to be a role model for lesbians everywhere — with her hosting of inclusive spaces, advocating for animal rights, and creating a space in pop culture for young women to feel seen.
Gillian Anderson — August 9
I could talk about my love for Gillian Anderson for days and days. She is such a babe, but, like, totally effortlessly. While she’s only had public relationships with men, she stated that she’s been in queer relationships in the past to Out Magazine. “To me a relationship is about loving another human being; their gender is irrelevant,” Anderson said. She actively support The Trevor Project and lives with her 3 children in the UK.
As a feminist, Anderson is constantly uplifting and empowering young women to chase their dreams. “Just remember, you can do anything you set your mind to, but it takes action, perseverance, and facing your fears,” Anderson has said.
Whitney Houston — August 9
Whitney Houston was a women who was born to shine — her Leo energy exuded from the stage whenever she went out to belt out her world-famous voice. It’s heartbreaking that Houston didn’t have a chance to be out as a queer, bisexual woman while she was alive because of the homophobia she faced. While her songs will live on forever, we wish this Leo queen was still with us today.
A Whitney quote to live by? “I decided long ago never to walk in anyone’s shadow; if I fail, or if I succeed at least I did as I believe.” And she surely did live in her own limelight, outside of anyone else’s shadow.
Rose Garcia — August 10
As one of the founding stars on “The Real L Word,” Garcia is known for her lioness energy. In true Leo nature — she found her own ways to shine bright on a show filled with lesbian diva’s. She has continued to be a big name played in lesbian nightlife nation-wide and can be found hosting parties for queer women everywhere.
“When I was 19 I confided in my best friend. She told me she always knew. I wanted to tell my mother but feared my Puerto Rican Catholic family would disown me. My friend called my mother to ‘out’ me,” Garcia has said about her coming out. “To my surprise my mother said she had a feeling (that I was a lesbian). She said I had her full support and that if anyone in the family didn’t, it was their loss.”
Alyson Stoner — August 11
Alyson Stoner recently came out in a beautifully scripted essay for Teen Vogue. “I, Alyson, am attracted to men, women, and people who identify in other ways. I can love people of every gender identity and expression. It is the soul that captivates me. It is the love we can build and the goodness we can contribute to the world by supporting each other’s best journeys,” she wrote.
Stoner wrote about her love affair with a woman and how she struggled with her Christian faith in the process. She was raw and honest and real — in true Leo style. Stone has been a part of Hollywood since the age of 6 and was told that coming out would ruin her career, but she brazenly stepped in a limelight that could potentially take her down. That is real lioness bravery. For that, we honor her.
Cara Delevingne — August 12
Cara Delevingne is one of our favorite badass celesbians — and it makes total sense that she’s a Leo. She is not one to shy away from center stage, from acting to modeling and owning her sexuality, Delevingne screams Leo energy. She talks publicly about identifying as bisexual and genderfluid, as well as shining a light on being a celebrity with mental illness.
The most Leo thing she’s ever said? This quote: “I treat the camera like a person—I gaze into it. Photos are a flat thing, and you need to put life into them.”
Rhea Butcher — August 12
Famous queer comedian Rhea Butcher has won over our hearts since they first came onto the scene. They’re best known for their standup sets focused on their vegetarianism, feminism, love of baseball, and experiences as a butch lesbian (while they now identify as genderqueer). As a Midwesterner, Butcher provides a much needed space for rural queer people who’s experiences with navigating the world as LGBTQ are vastly different than us city folk.
Andrea Gibson — August 13
If you haven’t read Andrea Gibson‘s poetry yet — stop everything you’re doing and dive in right now. Their raw and vulnerable words are sure to move even the most straight, cis dude-bro you’ve ever met. Gibson focuses on writing about queer love, homophobia, gender, and heartbreak. Ahh, heartbreak. Gibson’s words on lost love will move anyone to tears within seconds. This Leo babe is no stranger to the limelight — becoming one of the first ever poets to fill entire auditoriums for their performances.
Their most Leo quote? This one below, which reflects their undying loyalty.
“Before I die, I want to be somebody’s favorite hiding place, the place they can put everything they know they need to survive, every secret, every solitude, every nervous prayer, and be absolutely certain I will keep it safe. I will keep it safe.”
Elliot Sailors — August 14
Elliot Sailors made a huge splash in the news when she ended her relationship with then husband, Adam Santos-Coy and came out as bisexual. The model is not only known for her androgynous beauty, but her fierce activism. Sailors has spoken publicly within the #MeToo movement about the abuse models face, she discusses mental illness, and is proudly out. A true role model for young queer people.
Demi Lovato — August 20
Demi Lovato has always been a star — literally, she started her career as a celebrity in “Barney” at 6-years-old. Lovato has spoken very publicly about her struggles with eating disorders, drug abuse, and mental illness. It’s clear that being in the limelight takes a toll on her but she continues to persevere and we love her for her raw honestly and all that she gives the world.
In true Leo nature, she embraces not only her talents but her flaws. That’s what makes her so real, even with all the celebrity she has. “I think scars are like battle wounds — beautiful, in a way. They show what you’ve been through and how strong you are for coming out of it,” Lovato told Glamour.
Rachel Paulson — August 20
This lioness babe has starred in her very own lesbian web-series, right here on GO Magazine, called “Dating Zoe.” Paulson is vulnerably hilarious in her acting skills and has always been loud and proud about her lesbian identity. She is forging her own path to stardom and it’s clear that she’s one of the most promising up-and-coming lesbian actresses to watch out for.