The DEI department may have shut down, but these 40 Hollywood heavyweights are still pushing for change

Times of discover News: THR's Forces for Change Power List features Eva Longoria, RuPaul, Quinta Brunson, Lily Gladstone, Ramy Youssef and others talking about growing inclusion in the industry despite economic and social challenges.

What a difference four years make. Until 2020, companies were strongly communicating their commitment to DEI with promises of millions of dollars, special namings and black squares on Instagram. These measures have now been reversed — to put it mildly.

That's why the work of those included in THR's Forces for Change is even more important. The annual list features industry leaders who have actively used their influence and platforms to create opportunities in business for historically excluded people — even and especially when doing so isn't in their job description.

The latter criterion becomes increasingly important as companies fire DEI-designated employees en masse. “The most powerful DEI agents don’t have that title,” says Lionsgate’s Kamala Avila-Salmon, who knows what she’s talking about (the head of inclusive content has signed first-look deals with studios to spearhead production changes).

But this list shows that the goal of making Hollywood more equitable and inclusive can be achieved by people across all industries, not just particular departments. While the economic and political adversities facing inequality this year serve to reinforce the status quo, the 2024 list — vetted through multiple conversations with advocates in the works — opens the door to emphasizing success stories, even if it’s no longer fashionable to do so.

The good news is that this is no exhaustive count: We’ve heard plenty of testimonials from creators and executives across the industry that, as they say, ring true. Perhaps this list will inspire even more people to join them.