List of African-American LGBT people
This is a list of Black/African Americans who are also members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or intersex communities.
Historical figures
Name | Lifetime[1] | Nationality | Notable as | Communities[2] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alain LeRoy Locke | 1885–1954 | American | Philosopher, writer, educator, art patron | Queer, Gay [3] |
Barbara Jordan | 1936–1996 | American | Lawyer, educator, politician, first African-American woman elected to the United States House of Representatives | LGBTQ+[4] |
Government and politics
Entertainment and media
Name | Occupation |
---|---|
McKinley Belcher III[16][17] | Actor |
Kemah Bob[18] | Comedian and drag king |
Lee Daniels[19] | Film and television producer |
Little Richard[20] | Singer |
Don Lemon[21] | CNN News anchor and journalist |
Bessie Smith[22] | Singer |
Raven-Symoné[23] | Actress and singer |
Patrick Ian Polk[24] | Film director, producer, singer, and actor |
Frank Ocean[25] | Singer, songwriter, and rapper |
Wanda Sykes[26] | Actress and comedian |
Kevin Abstract[27] | Singer, songwriter, director and rapper |
Daryl Stephens[28] | Actor |
Angel Haze[29] | Rapper |
LZ Granderson[30] | Journalist and commentator CNN and ESPN |
Charles M. Blow[31] | Columnist for The New York Times |
Paris Barclay[32] | Director, producer, and writer |
Andre Leon Talley[33] | Journalist and editor |
Terrance Dean[34] | Writer and author |
Audre Lorde[35] | Author and feminist |
Alice Walker[36] | Author and poet |
Tracy Chapman[37] | Singer |
RuPaul[38] | Actor, drag queen, and television personality |
Tarell Alvin McCraney[39] | Playwright and actor |
James Baldwin[40] | Author |
Janet Mock[41] | Writer, TV host, and transgender rights activist |
Isis King[42] | Model and designer |
Alvin Ailey[43] | Choreographer and activist |
Azealia Banks[44] | Rapper |
Nell Carter[45] | Actress and singer |
Billy Porter | Actor, singer, fashion icon[46] |
Laverne Cox[47] | Actress and LGBTQ advocate |
Janelle Monáe[48] | Singer-songwriter, actress, model, and record producer |
Mo'Nique[49] | Comedian and actress |
Sir Lady Java[50] | Drag queen, actress, and transgender rights activist |
Amandla Stenberg[51] | Actress and singer |
Tessa Thompson[52] | Actress |
Mel Tomlinson[53] | Ballet dancer and choreographer |
Karamo Brown[54] | Television personality and activist |
François Clemmons[55] | Actor and singer |
Lil Nas X[56][57] | Rapper, singer, and songwriter |
Harrison David Rivers[58] | Playwright |
Luther Vandross[59] | Singer, songwriter, record producer. |
Todrick Hall[60] | Singer, songwriter, dancer, producer, director, choreographer |
Le1f[61] | Rapper and producer |
Colman Domingo[62] | Actor, playwright, director, producer, professor. |
Angie Stardust[63] | Singer, actress, drag artist |
Queen Latifah | Rapper and Actress |
Amythyst Kiah | Singer, songwriter, musician |
Marlon Riggs | filmmaker |
LeRoy Whitfield[64] | Journalist |
Terry Blade[65] | Singer, songwriter, lyricist |
Emira D'Spain[66] | Model, social media influencer, magazine director |
Ma Rainey | Singer |
Niecy Nash[67] | Actress and comedian |
Tyler, the Creator[68] | Rapper |
Frank Ocean[69] | Singer, songwriter, musician |
Steve Lacy[70] | Singer, musician |
Khalid[71] | Singer, songwriter |
Jason Collins[72] | Basketball player |
Name | Known For |
---|---|
Shea Couleé[73] | American drag queen, musician, actor |
Dorian Corey[74] | American drag performer and fashion designer |
Honey Davenport[75] | American drag performer, singer, songwriter, actor and activist |
David Hampton[76] | Con artist |
Angela Davis[77] | Political activist, academic |
CeCe McDonald[78] | LGBTQ advocate |
DeRay Mckesson[79][80] | Activist and educator |
Marsha P. Johnson[81] | Gay liberation activist and Stonewall Riot veteran |
Bayard Rustin[82] | Political and Black rights activist |
Flawless Shade | Drag queen and make-up artist |
Kornbread Jeté | Drag queen |
Mary Anne Adams[83][84] | Activist for Black community/Black, elderly lesbians, academic, founder of NAMI NOBLA |
References
- ^ All entries contain a reliably sourced reference. Entries may also contain a letter indicating Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual.
- ^ Jeffrey C. Stewart (2017). The New Negro: The Life of Alain Locke. Oxford University Press. p. 877. ISBN 978-0-199-72331-7. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
- ^ Kratz, Jessie (2021-06-10). "LGBTQ+ History Month: Barbara Jordan". Pieces of History. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
- ^ Pérez-Peña, Richard (2015-03-03). "Gordon Fox Pleads Guilty in Rhode Island Corruption Case". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "State Rep. Rashad Taylor comes out as gay". Project Q. May 27, 2011. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ Osberg, Molly (November 8, 2017). "The Tragic Story of Althea Garrison, the First Trans Person to Hold State Office in America". Splinter. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "Nevada senator comes out as gay marriage resolution advances". USA Today. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ Lopez, Robert. "Former Rep. Marcus Brandon: Allow gay leaders in Boy Scouts". Greensboro News and Record. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "Ron Oden (1950- ) • BlackPast". BlackPast. 2008-01-29. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ Avery, Dan (2012-01-05). "Black, Gay And Republican? Chatham Mayor Bruce Harris Is A Friggin' Unicorn!". queerty.com. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "Great Expectations, Unexpected Impact - Keith St. John '81 Becomes the Country's First Openly Gay Black Elected Official". Vassar College. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "Miami's Gayles confirmed as first openly gay black male judge on federal bench". Miami Herald. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "Kelvin Atkinson, Nevada Lawmaker, Comes Out In Gay Marriage Debate". HuffPost. Retrieved 2013-04-23.
- ^ "Ritchie Torres becomes first gay Afro Latino elected to Congress". NBC News. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
- ^ "DEATH OF a SALESMAN's McKinley Belcher III to Marry Boyfriend Blake Fox; Andre de Shields Will Officiate".
- ^ "Andre de Shields on Instagram: "Congratulates McKinley Belcher III and Blake Fox. What a joy to officiate your nuptials. Photo by @liachangphotography"".
- ^ Crosara, Nic (21 July 2022). ""It's an unapologetic celebration of comedians of colour": DIVA meets Kemah Bob". Diva. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
- ^ Jones, Ellen E. (2017-10-07). "Empire's Lee Daniels: 'I always see myself as one step away from a flop'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ Malone, Chris (October 9, 2017). "A Brief History of Little Richard Grappling With His Sexuality & Religion". Billboard.
- ^ "CNN's Don Lemon On Being Black And Gay In The World Today". IN Magazine. 2019-02-19. Archived from the original on 2019-09-08. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ McGasko, Joe. "The Mother and The Empress: Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith". Biography. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ Breeanna Hare. "Raven-Symone: I'm not gay, and I'm not African-American". CNN. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ Anderson, Tre'vell. "Our Diverse 100: Meet Patrik-Ian Polk, the man bringing black gay stories to screens large and small". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ Lamphier, Jason (2016-08-23). "How Frank Ocean's 'Blonde' Redefines Pop Queerness". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "Wanda Sykes on coming out: 'I kind of shocked myself'". CNN. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ Blake, Jimmy (2018-08-31). "The rapper taking on hip hop's 'homophobic space'". Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "Black and gay in LA: Noah's Arc star Darryl Stephens on diversity". NITV. March 2016. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "26 Celebrities Who Identify as Bisexual, Pansexual, or Totally Label-Free". Allure. Condé Nast. June 13, 2017. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "LZ Granderson: Living as a straight man felt like 'drowning'". ABC News. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "Charles Blow: "Up From Pain," Sex Abuse, and Bisexuality". Psychology Today. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "Love Stories Paris Barclay and Christopher Mason". advocate.com. 2008-10-08. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "André Leon Talley on His Fashion Career, His Weight Struggle, and His Sexual Pastg". The Hive blog on Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ Romero, Frances (2008-05-15). "Guess Who's Gay in Hip-Hop". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "Audre Lorde on Being a Black Lesbian Feminist". english.illinois.edu. Archived from the original on 2017-08-02. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "Women's History Month Heroes: Alice Walker". GLSEN. March 9, 2011. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
- ^ Wajid, Sara (December 14, 2006). "No Retreat". The Guardian. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
- ^ Okura, Lynn (2013-11-12). "RuPaul's Partner Of 19 Years Is A Rancher From Wyoming (VIDEO)". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ Lee, Benjamin (2016-10-21). "Moonlight's Tarell Alvin McCraney: 'I never had a coming out moment'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "James Baldwin's sexuality: Complex and influential". NBC News. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ Hattenstone, Simon (2018-04-15). "Janet Mock: 'I'd never seen a young trans woman who was thriving in the world – I was looking for that'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ Qween, Hey (2017-06-20). "Model Isis King Talks Her Transition, Homelessness and 'Top Model'". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "Alvin Ailey Gay African American Dance Pioneer". Lavender Magazine. 2007-12-21. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ Ciara Appelbaum. "36 celebrities you never knew are bisexual". Business Insider. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "Nell Hardy Carter (1948-2003) • BlackPast". BlackPast. 2015-03-06. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ Benjamin, Jessica (2021-02-02). "Billy Porter on London Pride and being a fashion icon". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ "Laverne Cox". Biography. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "Pansexual is not the same as bisexual. Janelle Monáe is bringing visibility to us all". USA Today. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ Duncan, Charlie (2023-04-07). "Mo'Nique comes out in Netflix special and slams religion for 'ripping apart motherf**king families'". PinkNews. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ Zonkel, Phillip (2018-02-15). "Black History Month: Sir Lady Java was a transgender trailblazer who challenged police harassment". Q Voice News. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "'Hunger Games' star Amandla Stenberg: 'Yep, I'm gay, not bi or pan'". USA Today. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ Gonzales, Erica (2018-06-29). "Tessa Thompson Comes Out as Bisexual and Says She and Janelle Monáe "Love Each Other Deeply"". Harper's Bazaar. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ Jenny Drabble (8 February 2019). "Pioneering ballet star with Winston-Salem, UNCSA ties, dies at age 65". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ Pardee, Lauren (2018-02-23). "'Queer Eye' Star Karamo Brown Opens Up About Discovering He Had a 10-Year-Old Son". Parents. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ Azzopardi, Chris (June 27, 2018). "Mister Rogers's Gay, Black Friend François Clemmons Wears Tiaras Now". HWD. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ Jacobs, Julia (July 2019). "Lil Nas X Comes Out on Last Day of Pride Month". The New York Times. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
- ^ "Rapper Lil Nas X Seemingly Comes Out as Gay". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
- ^ "This playwright may be the busiest Minnesotan in show business". Minneapolis Star Tribune. 2018-02-08. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
- ^ "Patti LaBelle Says Luther Vandross Didn't Want To 'Upset' His Mother, Fans By Coming Out As Gay". Essence Magazine. 2017-12-07. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
- ^ Rule, Doug (15 July 2016). "Todrick Hall on Straight Outta Oz, living openly, and being a role model on YouTube". Retrieved 24 March 2024.
- ^ "Le1f, Gay Rapper, Blasts Macklemore For 'Same Love' Success". Essence Magazine. 2017-12-07. Retrieved 2017-12-06.
- ^ "Colman Domingo Explains How He Met His Husband On Craigslist". February 23, 2021. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
- ^ Guilbert, Georges-Claude (2018-05-30). Gay Icons: The (Mostly) Female Entertainers Gay Men Love. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-7433-9.
- ^ Stone, Martha E. (Jan 1, 2006). "The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide - Passages 2005". The Free Library.
- ^ Treacy, Christopher (2023-01-05). "Q&A With Terry Blade • Country Queer". Country Queer. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
- ^ "Meet Emira D'spain, The First Black Transgender Model To Work With Victoria's Secret". Nylon. March 7, 2022.
- ^ "Niecy Nash makes wife Jessica Betts' prom 'dreams come true': See the photos". ABC News. Retrieved 2024-06-26.
- ^ "Tyler The Creator Is The Latest Male Celebrity To Reveal He's Bisexual". ELLE. 2017-08-17. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
- ^ Ramirez, Erika (2012-07-04). "Frank Ocean Opens Up About Sexuality". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
- ^ Shanfeld, Ethan (2023-08-08). "'I Feel Free': Steve Lacy Confronts 'Bad Habit' Fame, Not Apologizing for That Camera Smash and Why Coming Out Is 'Silly'". Variety. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
- ^ Mier, Tomás (2024-11-23). "Khalid Comes Out as Gay After Being Outed: 'I Am Not Ashamed'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2024-11-23.
- ^ "Jason Collins becomes the first openly gay NBA player". BBC News. 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2024-11-30.
- ^ "Drag Race star Shea Couleé on why we should all be uplifting trans women of colour for Pride". GAY TIMES. 2019-06-05. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
- ^ "The True Story Of The Drag Performer With A Mummy In Her Closet Portrayed On 'Pose'". Investigation Discovery. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
- ^ Cooridinator, DNA Online (2019-10-24). "Honey Davenport In Australia To Raise Awareness Of Queer People Of Colour". DNA. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
- ^ Goudsouzian, Aram (2004). Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor, Icon. Univ of North Carolina Press. p. 365. ISBN 9780807828434.
- ^ "Award Stripped From Lesbian Civil Rights Icon Angela Davis". The Advocate. 2019-01-09. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ Erdely, Sabrina Rubin (2014-07-30). "The Transgender Crucible". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "#BlackLivesMatter Protester Deray McKesson to Teach at Yale". Mediaite.com. 2015-09-11. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
- ^ "DeRay Mckesson Wants You to Come Out of the Quiet". The Advocate. 2015-12-24. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
- ^ "Marsha P. Johnson, a Transgender Pioneer and Activist". The New York Times. 2018-03-08. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
- ^ "Bayard Rustin: the gay black pacifist at the heart of the March on Washington". The Guardian. 2013-08-23. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
- ^ African Americans doing feminism : putting theory into everyday practice. Aaronette M. White. Albany: State University of New York (SUNY) Press. 2010. ISBN 978-1-4384-3143-7. OCLC 794698965.
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: CS1 maint: others (link) - ^ Johnson, E. Patrick (2018). Black. Queer. Southern. Women : an oral history. Chapel Hill. ISBN 978-1-4696-4111-9. OCLC 1057725887.
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