As politicians around the world continue to pursue anti-LGBTQ+ agendas, Cynthia Erivo has a simple message for queer people in 2025: Don’t let them win.
In her new Billboard cover story published Monday (June 2), Erivo opens up about her thoughts on the Trump administration’s continued attacks on LGBTQ+ rights. When asked by Billboard Pride editor Stephen Daw how she’s coping with the political chaos, the singer-actress shared that she’s focusing on trying to combat the vitriol with peace and calm.
“I’m trying to be a person you can get positive things from, because that is the only way you can balance this stuff,” she says. “Fear-mongering is very powerful, and the only thing that you can do in order to offset that is to feed it with light and positivity.”
For her queer and trans fans, Erivo highlights the importance of staying true to yourself, even amid a scary political landscape. “I want to encourage people to not decide to just tuck away and start hiding and not being themselves anymore, because that is exactly what they want,” she says. “The more yourself you are, the more you are in front of people who don’t necessarily understand, the better understanding starts to happen.”
All-star songwriter Justin Tranter agrees, saying that Erivo herself has become a powerful symbol for the LGBTQ+ community since her public coming out in 2022. “Cynthia being Black and queer, and being one of the most famous people alive in this moment while our community is dealing with what we are dealing with, is no mistake,” they tell Billboard. “For someone as talented as her to be a beacon for young Black queer people all over the world … is no accident.”
Over the last few years, Erivo made a name for herself as one of the premiere performers at The Kennedy Center, where she’s performed her own solo concerts while also honoring legends such as Dionne Warwick, Dame Julie Andrews and Earth, Wind & Fire. But earlier in 2025, President Trump announced that he was naming himself as the chairman of the prestigious arts organization, replacing existing board members with his own allies and ceasing any and all drag performances hosted by the Center.
“I don’t know who gains what from that. I hope that it comes back,” Erivo says of Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center. “It’s really sad to have to watch this happen to it. The Kennedy Center is supposed to be a space of creativity and art and music for everyone.”
See Erivo on the cover of Billboard and check out photos from her cover shoot below:
