Embracing Queerness and Experiencing WorldPride with Emma Horn

Can you believe WorldPride is over already?!

If you’re like me and felt absolutely jelly about living so far away from the event – we’ve got some sweet insight into just how amazing it was by chatting to the lovely Emma Horn.

Emma (she/they) is a Aussie queer creator, actor and comedian who shares a mix of hilarious, real, raw, and relatable content about herself, her queer journey, and life in general!

From telling us about her coming-out story, to reminiscing about her time on the Meta float at Mardi Gras, we can’t help but feel inspired after chatting with Emma to be truly, unapologetically ourselves.

The streets of Sydney have been packed with celebrations, colour and a whole lot of sparkle since WorldPride began, so the idea of being on a float sounds like an incredible experience from a different perspective. Emma describes being part of the Meta float with Insta’s Rainbow Reels squad as an ‘absolute gay dream’.

“The Meta float itself was so much fun but getting to share it with other LGBTQIA+ icons from Australia but also across the globe really made the experience so special," she said.

"I also didn't think I would’ve been able to keep such a high energy throughout the entire march (it's a long street!) but it was impossible not to with that crowd, they were really giving magic queer energy.”

This isn’t Emma’s first Pride rodeo though.

Her first Pride event was the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 2018, which was not only the year after the monumental ‘Yes’ vote – it was the year after Emma came out.

“I didn’t truly know I was queer until I was 21, I was a late bloomer in a lot of ways and it took me a long time to feel comfortable with expressing my sexuality," she said.

"So, when I told my friends & called my family to tell them, they were really supportive and some already knew - I was still incredibly nervous to tell them though.”

Coming out is a very lonely and scary time for many people, and Emma was no stranger to these feelings. She recalls when she met a woman on a set she was working on, which she couldn’t spill the beans on too much because she doesn’t know she was Emma’s coming out!

“After meeting her I knew I was bi (at the time that’s what label I used) and I have a vivid memory of just crying on my bed scared of what my life was about to be. I guess it was the unknown and feeling different to my friends - I didn’t have many queer female friends at that time.”

Emma has come a long way, now proudly shouting her queerness from the rooftops across her social media platforms. With over 38K followers on Insta, so many people are getting to connect and relate to her variety of content showcasing her life with all the highs and lows.

“I just love connecting with and hearing from LGBTQIA+ people from all around the world. I get a lot of messages from people sharing their stories with me too and I’m just so grateful anybody has found a safe space within my Instagram platform - that’s really all I could hope for!”

Right now, Emma’s getting excited for the premiere of a new Amazon Original series she's in called Class of ’07 - featuring an all-female cast and creative team. But what goals and dreams is she working towards right now?

“Honest answer?... Working with Lily Tomlin – one of my favourite actors and lesbian icon, ugh! Manifesting it now."

Emma explains, "my main goal is to continue being that queer representation on our screens whether that be as an actor or an influencer because from experience, I know the more queer characters we see & the more LGBTQIA+ actors who are succeeding, the more young people feel empowered to be utilise their own voices.”

With WorldPride in full-force, Emma encourages young people to have fun and savour every moment during this celebration. She says to listen to your queer friends, and friends in the community with different experiences than you – it’s a great way to learn and connect.

“There are so many LGBTQIA+ people around the world that are not able to celebrate alongside of us or even allowed to be who they are, so I think it's important we honour them by showering each other in queer joy not only during WorldPride but every day!”

And to young people who aren’t ready to come out yet or can’t, Emma emphasises that you are just as loved and valid in the LGBTQIA+ community as anyone who have been out for years.

“Your safety comes first, 100%. Please only come out if you feel safe enough to especially if you’re still living at home," she said.

"I think it’s so important to have support through this time so reaching out to close friends, family or even a helpline can be really comforting.”

She states that she’s received a lot of messages from young queer people who feel invalid in the community by not having come out, or not having queer experiences.

“Just remember that experience does not equal identity. You are exactly who you say you are, and there is absolutely no timeline or step-by-step manual for being LGBTQIA+," said Emma.

"We come in all different ages, shapes, colours & sizes, baby!”

Header Image: Avril Tait. Philipp Glanz.