Over the past couple of years “Dancing with the Stars” fans have seen a lot of changes from a new host to new professional dancers.

When season 30 premieres later this month, fans will see a major change when they meet the couples.  Entertainer Jojo Siwa will become the first American DWTS contestant to dance with a same sex partner.

This is not the first time that a DWTS franchise has had a same sex couple.  A few years ago, Israel featured a same sex couple in the competition.

Siwa is an 18 year old who identifies herself as gay and queer.  She notes that allowing her to dance with a same sex partner lets other know that it is all right for people to be themselves.  “I think it breaks a wall that’s never been broken down before.  It’s normal for a girl to dance with a guy, and I think that’s really cool, but it’s really special that now not only do I get to share with the world that you get to love who you love, but also you get to dance with who you want to dance with,” she said.

Noting that among the decisions that she and her partner will have to work out are who leads and costumes; Siwa said, “it’s going to give so much to people out there, people of the LGBTQ community, everyone, people who feel just a little different.  I want to make it OK for the people who come after me.”

Show host Tyra Banks spoke on the decision saying, “I think it’s going to save lives.  I think it’s going to change lives, and it’s going to make a lot of noise, and the noise that needs to be made.”

While the cast will not be revealed until next week, Olympic gold medal gymnast Suni Lee will also be competing on the show.  Lee brought home a full set of medals – a gold, a silver, and a bronze – for her gymnastics at the Tokyo Olympics.  Lee spoke on her opportunity to be a part of the show saying, “I can express myself, which I’m excited for, because in gymnastics you can’t really do that, especially when you’re training for so much and it’s just a very intense kind of environment. I’m excited to kind of let loose and just have fun.”

With Covid restrictions and lock downs in place last season, head judge Len Goodman could not be a part of the show, but he returns this season to his spot at the table along with regulars Carrie Ann Inaba and Bruno Tonioli; along with a fourth judge – Derek Hough.