On January 12th, 1987, actor Naya Marie Rivera was born in Valencia, California. A child star, Rivera was best known for her role on the television show Glee where she played reformed mean girl Santana Lopez – one half of a same-gender-loving couple on the show. The character was an important media representation for queer, bisexual, and lesbian women. Outside of work. Rivera was known for her advocacy on behalf of women’s rights, LGBT rights, and immigrant rights. While Rivera once said in an interview that she “might be bisexual,” her real-life sexuality was never disclosed. Tragically, Rivera died while swimming with her son on July 8th, 2020 in Lake Piru, near Santa Clarita, California.

Millions of us watched Santana realize she was in love with Brittany on Glee. While the show is gone with too many of its young actors, we will remember that they told the stories of LGBTQIA+ people in a way that had never been done before. Below is one more look at Rivera as Santana, singing her love.