Zeke Smith

Zeke Smith is a transgender activist and writer who became the first openly transgender man to compete on the reality competition series Survivor, appearing on Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X (2016) before being involuntarily outed by a fellow contestant during a later season, an incident that sparked wide conversation about the ethics of outing and consent. He has since become an outspoken advocate for transgender rights and visibility, including through his writing and public speaking. Smith proposed to actor Nico Santos on stage at the 2022 GLAAD Media Awards, immediately after the two delivered speeches about LGBTQ+ representation in media; they married in November 2023 in Palm Springs after nearly six years together.