Drew Venegas Brings Queer Visibility To New Boy Band Santos Bravos
Pop music has a new all-Latin quintet, and they’re already making history. Santos Bravos launched in October 2025 with something previous boy bands lacked: an openly gay member from day one. Drew Venegas, a 25-year-old Mexican-American performer, is showing the world what authentic representation looks like.
The boy band era gets a refresh.
HYBE, the Korean entertainment company behind BTS and KATSEYE, formed Santos Bravos through an 11-week reality competition. Seventeen contestants competed on YouTube for spots in the group. The final five were revealed on 21 October at Mexico City’s Auditorio Nacional: Drew Venegas from the United States, Alejandro Aramburú from Peru, Kenneth Lavíll from Mexico, Gabi Bermúdez from Puerto Rico, and Kauê Penna from Brazil. Over 10,000 fans attended the debut performance. Another 70,000 watched online.
And the gay one is… Drew Venegas:
Why does Drew’s presence matter so much?
Think about past boy band icons. Ricky Martin waited years after Menudo to come out. Lance Bass didn’t share his truth until after NSYNC’s peak. Jonathan Knight from New Kids on the Block followed a similar path. The pattern was clear: stay closeted, appeal to female fans, wait until it’s safe. Drew is changing that script entirely.
Before Santos Bravos, he danced backup for Karol G and performed with Simon Fuller’s The Future X, a TikTok-based collective. During his time with The Future X, he spoke openly about his identity. In a 2022 interview with Attitude, Drew explained his approach: “I think for me, being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, it’s definitely important for me to be able to showcase my masculine side and my feminine side, showcasing that it’s ok to have both, because for me, that’s what makes me, me, it’s what makes me happy.”
The path to self-acceptance wasn’t always smooth.
Drew reflected on his struggles in that same interview. “I’m gay. For me, it’s been a struggle, not a struggle, but I come from a background where I was athletic and played sports my whole life, so being in that scene and then switching up to this, which at this stage is a lot different to old friends, has I guess stopped me from being myself at some points, only because I didn’t want people to look at me in a different light,” he shared.
Many can relate to that tension between authenticity and acceptance. “But joining this group has really changed that whole perspective for me and allowed me to be true to myself.”
What’s next for the group?
Santos Bravos released their debut single 0%, blending K-pop energy with Latin rhythms. HYBE hasn’t announced tour dates or an album yet, but anticipation is building. The group’s social media presence continues to grow.
For now, fans can stream 0% and watch their debut performance online. Drew’s visibility in Santos Bravos represents progress. Latin music has often struggled with machismo culture. Having an openly gay member in a major boy band sends a powerful message to young fans who need to see themselves reflected in pop culture.
