GLAAD responds to Dancing with the Stars’ historic same-sex pairing featuring JoJo Siwa

ABC’s Dancing with the Stars announced that season 30 of the series will feature global superstar JoJo Siwa, who will be paired with a female professional partner. This marks the first same-sex pairing in the history of the U.S. series. 

GLAAD responded to the news with a statement from Anthony Allen Ramos, GLAAD’s Head of Talent:

“At 18, JoJo Siwa is once again using her platform to inspire and uplift the LGBTQ community. As one of today’s most watched and celebrated programs on television, Dancing with the Stars and Tyra Banks are making the right decision to feature JoJo Siwa competing alongside a female professional dancer. The show has such a wide, far-reaching audience and there is a real opportunity here for people to celebrate the same-sex pairing and root for JoJo and all LGBTQ young people.”

“I am so excited to be a part of ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ Season 30, and to be dancing with a girl,” Siwa, 18, said in the promo clip. “I think it’s so cool.”

Jojo’s partner will be announced during the show’s season premiere.

Earlier this year, JoJo Siwa was named to GLAAD’s second annual 20 Under 20 List, a collection of twenty young LGBTQ people who are accelerating acceptance of LGBTQ people while shaping the future of media and activism. This year’s list also featured social media influencer Ve’ondre Mitchell, artist and singer-songwriter mxmtoon, actress Yasmin Finney, professional streamer Ewok, activists Stella Keating, Gia Parr, Trevor Wilkinson, Andrea Alejandra Gonzales, Ashton Mota, among others.