Corey Fogelmanis Is Having a Queer Moment—And We’re All Here For It

If you’ve spent any time on queer Twitter, TikTok, or Instagram lately, you’ve probably noticed a familiar face lighting up your feed: Corey Fogelmanis, the actor whose journey from Disney Channel wunderkind to breakout indie star is stirring up a new wave of LGBTQ+ enthusiasm. But behind the trending thirst memes and fan cams, Fogelmanis’s story is about more than just good looks—he’s become a symbol of queer possibility, vulnerability, and representation at a time when Hollywood desperately needs it.

Born in Thousand Oaks, California, Corey’s early life was a whirlwind of stage lights and school plays. By age six, he was already making his mark in the local theater scene, and by his teens, he’d landed the role of Farkle Minkus on the Emmy-nominated Disney series"Girl Meets World," a part that made him an instant favorite among Gen Z viewers who were hungry for smart, quirky, and emotionally complex characters . Off-screen, Fogelmanis’s creative energy spilled into photography, dancing, and gymnastics, with frequent glimpses of his personal life—including beloved pet dogs Thunder and Sunshine—peppering his social media .

What makes Fogelmanis’s latest chapter so electrifying for LGBTQ+ audiences isn’t just his trajectory—it’s the radical honesty of his roles. In Tommy Dorfman’s directorial debut"I Wish You All The Best," which premiered at this year’s SXSW Film Festival, Corey plays Ben, a non-binary teenager navigating the pain and resilience of coming out to ultra-religious parents. The character is thrown out of their home, forced to find acceptance and family anew with their estranged sister Hannah (played by Alexandra Daddario) and a circle of equally eccentric chosen family .

The role is a seismic shift from Fogelmanis’s earlier work, not just in its emotional complexity but in its unapologetic queerness. Ben’s story isn’t sanitized for mainstream comfort; it’s messy, raw, and heartbreakingly real. And, as Fogelmanis said in a recent interview, “It’s scary to be a queer or trans person in the US” . This kind of candor is exactly what queer audiences are craving—and why social media is thirstily, joyfully rallying behind him.

Representation isn’t just a buzzword—it’s survival. At a time when anti-trans rhetoric and legislation are on the rise, Fogelmanis’s performance in"I Wish You All The Best" resonates with trans and non-binary viewers who rarely see themselves reflected in nuanced, empathetic ways on screen. Dorfman’s film, adapted from Mason Deaver’s bestselling novel, is a love letter to queer youth, but it’s also a challenge to Hollywood: cast queer actors in queer roles, and let them tell their stories with the authenticity audiences deserve .

Fogelmanis’s willingness to inhabit roles that explore gender identity and queer belonging is noteworthy. His portrayal of Ben is unafraid to sit in discomfort, joy, and the in-between, offering viewers a rare glimpse of trans adolescence that is neither tragic nor tokenized. The buzz around his performance isn’t just about thirst—it’s about the hope that Hollywood is finally catching up to the lived realities of LGBTQ+ youth.

Let’s be honest: the internet’s thirst for Corey Fogelmanis is real, and it’s spectacular. Scroll through TikTok and you’ll find edits celebrating his soft smile, candid interviews, and the gentle way he interacts with fans. But unlike the fleeting crushes of yesteryear, Fogelmanis’s appeal is deeply entwined with queer fandom’s desire for stars who ‘get it’—who aren’t afraid to challenge norms, speak out, and show up for the community in meaningful ways.

His Instagram is a testament to this openness, featuring behind-the-scenes glimpses, snaps with friends (including fellow queer creatives), and playful nods to his favorite musicians (he’s a noted fan of Sigrid) . Fans see in Fogelmanis not just a celebrity, but a real person—a reminder that queer joy, thirst, and community are intertwined threads of resistance and celebration.

Fogelmanis’s star is only rising. With Netflix’s"My Life With the Walter Boys" swiftly picked up for a second season, and upcoming roles in Hulu’s slasher"Carved" and the indie drama"One Stupid Thing," he’s proving that a queer actor can be versatile, bankable, and creatively fearless . But perhaps most importantly, Corey is part of a vanguard of young performers—alongside talents like Tommy Dorfman, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, and Alexandra Daddario—who are redefining what it means to be visible, out, and proud in the entertainment industry.

As fandom thirsts and the industry shifts, Corey Fogelmanis stands as a beacon for LGBTQ+ audiences: proof that authenticity is magnetic, and that the stories we tell matter. Whether he’s gracing the big screen, trending on TikTok, or sharing dog pics on Instagram, Fogelmanis is here—and queer Hollywood is so much better for it.