15 major LGBTQIA+ moments in pop culture in 2018

LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 23: Singer Ada Vox arrives at ABC’s “American Idol” show on April 23, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)

Drag queen Ada Vox competes on American Idol

To be completely honest, most people weren’t that excited about the American Idol reboot on ABC. The show ended for a reason and people didn’t even have a chance to breathe before it was booted back up with judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan. But there was one performer that really drew people in for a completely different reason, Miss Ada Vox.

Ada Vox walked into her audition in a short, sparkly gold dress, flowing back hair, and a face beat for the gods. Sounds like any girl trying to impress the judges, right? Well, actually, Ada Vox’s real name is Adam Sanders, a waiter from San Antonio, Texas, and a drag queen. After multiple attempts at auditioning out of drag (12 times, to be exact), he finally decided to perform as Ada for his audition, and the rest is history.

Adam clarified that he identifies as male and he doesn’t live as a woman, but he performs as a woman as an alter ego, and it worked. Ada Vox got through to Hollywood, but it seemed like Americans weren’t quite ready for all that glamour. She didn’t get enough votes from the public to secure a spot in the Top 10, but the judges used their powers to save her and give her a chance to perform one more time.

Unfortunately, after America voted again, she was sent home, and this time it was final. Even though she didn’t make it all the way, just her making it that far was a giant step for queer visibility, especially on a show like American Idol.