Omar Sharif Jr.

Omar Sharif Jr. is an Egyptian‑Canadian actor, model, and activist who is openly gay and internationally recognized for being the first major public figure from the Arab world to come out. The grandson of legendary actor Omar Sharif and actress Faten Hamama, he came out in a 2012 Advocate essay during the Arab Spring, discussing both his sexuality and his Jewish heritage — a bold move that led to global praise as well as intense backlash. Sharif Jr. has since become a prominent LGBTQ+ rights advocate, serving as a spokesperson for GLAAD, speaking at the United Nations, and writing extensively about queer Arab identity, diaspora, and safety. His acting work includes The Secret Scripture, The Baker and the Beauty, and multiple international projects, but his cultural impact is rooted in his activism: he remains one of the most influential queer voices from the MENA region, using his platform to champion visibility, asylum rights, and global LGBTQ+ equality.