List of African-American LGBTQ people

Last updated

This is a list of Black/African Americans who are also members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and/or intersex communities.

Contents

Historical figures

NameLifetime [1] NationalityNotable asCommunities [2]
Alain LeRoy Locke 1885–1954AmericanPhilosopher, writer, educator, art patronQueer, Gay [3]
Barbara Jordan 1936–1996AmericanLawyer, educator, politician, first African-American woman elected to the United States House of RepresentativesLGBTQ+ [4]

Government and politics

Name Political Party StateOccupation
Andrew Gillum Democrat Florida Mayor of Tallahassee
Lori Lightfoot Democrat Illinois Mayor of Chicago
Vernetta Alston Democrat North Carolina North Carolina State Representative
Stormie Forte Democrat North Carolina Raleigh City Councilwoman
Gordon Fox [5] Democrat Rhode Island State Legislature
Rashad Taylor [6] Democrat Georgia State Legislature
Althea Garrison [7] Republican Massachusetts Judge and US Representative
Pat Spearman [8] Democrat Nevada Nevada State Senator
Marcus Brandon [9] Democrat North Carolina North Carolina State Representative
Ron Oden [10] Democrat California Mayor
Bruce Harris [11] Republican New Jersey Mayor
Keith St. John [12] Democrat New York City Councilman
Darrin P. Gayles [13] Democrat Florida United States Federal Judge
Kelvin Atkinson [14] Democrat Nevada Former Nevada Senate Majority Leader
Ritchie Torres [15] Democrat New York US Representative
Erick Russell Democrat Connecticut Connecticut State Treasurer
Laphonza Butler Democrat California US Senator

Entertainment and media

NameOccupation
McKinley Belcher III [16] [17] Actor
Kemah Bob [18] Comedian and drag king
Sherman Hemsley [19] Actor
Lee Daniels [20] Film and television producer
Little Richard [21] Singer
Don Lemon [22] CNN News anchor and journalist
Bessie Smith [23] Singer
Raven-Symoné [24] Actress and singer
Patrick Ian Polk [25] Film director, producer, singer, and actor
Frank Ocean [26] Singer, songwriter, and rapper
Wanda Sykes [27] Actress and comedian
Kevin Abstract [28] Singer, songwriter, director and rapper
Daryl Stephens [29] Actor
Angel Haze [30] Rapper
LZ Granderson [31] Journalist and commentator  CNN and ESPN
Charles M. Blow [32] Columnist for The New York Times
Paris Barclay [33] Director, producer, and writer
Andre Leon Talley [34] Journalist and editor
Terrance Dean [35] Writer and author
Audre Lorde [36] Author and feminist
Alice Walker [37] Author and poet
Tracy Chapman [38] Singer
RuPaul [39] Actor, drag queen, and television personality
Tarell Alvin McCraney [40] Playwright and actor
James Baldwin [41] Author
Janet Mock [42] Writer, TV host, and  transgender  rights activist
Isis King [43] Model and designer
Alvin Ailey [44] Choreographer and activist
Azealia Banks [45] Rapper
Nell Carter [46] Actress and singer
Billy Porter Actor, singer, fashion icon [47]
Laverne Cox [48] Actress and LGBTQ advocate
Janelle Monáe [49] Singer-songwriter, actress, model, and record producer
Mo'Nique [50] Comedian and actress
Sir Lady Java [51] Drag queen, actress, and transgender rights activist
Amandla Stenberg [52] Actress and singer
Tessa Thompson [53] Actress
Mel Tomlinson [54] Ballet dancer and choreographer
Karamo Brown [55] Television personality and activist
François Clemmons [56] Actor and singer
Lil Nas X [57] [58] Rapper, singer, and songwriter
Harrison David Rivers [59] Playwright
Luther Vandross [60] Singer, songwriter, record producer.
Todrick Hall [61] Singer, songwriter, dancer, producer, director, choreographer
Le1f [62] Rapper and producer
Colman Domingo [63] Actor, playwright, director, producer, professor.
Angie Stardust [64] Singer, actress, drag artist
Queen Latifah Rapper and Actress
Amythyst Kiah Singer, songwriter, musician
Marlon Riggs filmmaker
LeRoy Whitfield [65] Journalist
Terry Blade [66] Singer, songwriter, lyricist
Emira D'Spain [67] Model, social media influencer, magazine director
Ma Rainey [68] Singer
Niecy Nash [69] Actress and comedian
Tyler, the Creator [70] Rapper
Frank Ocean [71] Singer, songwriter, musician
Justin Simien Filmmaker
Steve Lacy [72] Singer, musician
Khalid [73] Singer, songwriter
Jason Collins [74] Basketball player
Kehlani [75] Singer, musician
Honey Dijon DJ, producer
Joy Oladokun Singer-songwriter
Rivers Solomon [76] Author
Akwaeke Emezi [77] Author, Musician
Steven Thrasher Journalist, academic
Lee Rodriguez Actor
Victoria Monét Singer-songwriter
Shamir Singer
Ice Spice Rapper
Doechii Singer, rapper
Yves Tumor Singer
Alex Newell Actor, singer
Kacen Callender [78] Author
Jordan E. Cooper [79] Actor, Writer
Michaela Jaé Rodriguez [80] Actress, Musician
TS Madison [81] Media personality
Cardi B [82] Musician
Phillip B. Williams [83] Author
Danez Smith [84] Author
KB Brookins [85] Author
Kiana Ledé [86] Singer
Shea Couleé [87] American drag queen, musician, actor
Dorian Corey [88] American drag performer and fashion designer
Honey Davenport [89] American drag performer, singer, songwriter, actor and activist
David Hampton [90] Con artist
Angela Davis [91] Political activist, academic
CeCe McDonald [92] LGBTQ advocate
DeRay Mckesson [93] [94] Activist and educator
Marsha P. Johnson [95] Gay liberation activist and Stonewall Riot veteran
Bayard Rustin [96] Political and Black rights activist
Flawless Shade Drag queen and make-up artist
Kornbread Jeté Drag queen
Mary Anne Adams [97] [98] Activist for Black community/Black, elderly lesbians, academic, founder of NAMI NOBLA
Miss Major Griffin-Gracy [99] Community organizer for trans rights
Imani Barbarin [100] Disability rights activist, writer, public speaker

Sports

NameSport
Brittney Griner [101] Basketball
Candace Parker [102] Basketball
Laurie Hernandez [103] Gymnastics
Ryan Russell [104] Football
Jason Collins [105] Basketball
Fallon Fox [106] Mixed Martial Arts
Layshia Clarendon [107] Basketball

References

  1. ↑ Entries with no sourced year of birth available are marked with a "?".
  2. ↑ All entries contain a reliably sourced reference. Entries may also contain a letter indicating Lesbian, Gay, or Bisexual.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ Kratz, Jessie (June 10, 2021). "LGBTQ+ History Month: Barbara Jordan". Pieces of History. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  5. ↑ Pérez-Peña, Richard (March 3, 2015). "Gordon Fox Pleads Guilty in Rhode Island Corruption Case". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  6. ↑ "State Rep. Rashad Taylor comes out as gay". Project Q. May 27, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  7. ↑ Osberg, Molly (November 8, 2017). "The Tragic Story of Althea Garrison, the First Trans Person to Hold State Office in America". Splinter. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Nevada senator comes out as gay marriage resolution advances". USA Today. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  9. ↑ Lopez, Robert. "Former Rep. Marcus Brandon: Allow gay leaders in Boy Scouts". Greensboro News and Record. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Ron Oden (1950- ) • BlackPast". BlackPast. January 29, 2008. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  11. ↑ Avery, Dan (January 5, 2012). "Black, Gay And Republican? Chatham Mayor Bruce Harris Is A Friggin' Unicorn!". queerty.com. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Great Expectations, Unexpected Impact - Keith St. John '81 Becomes the Country's First Openly Gay Black Elected Official". Vassar College. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Miami's Gayles confirmed as first openly gay black male judge on federal bench". Miami Herald. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  14. ↑ "Kelvin Atkinson, Nevada Lawmaker, Comes Out In Gay Marriage Debate". HuffPost. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Ritchie Torres becomes first gay Afro Latino elected to Congress". NBC News. November 4, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  16. ↑ "DEATH OF a SALESMAN's McKinley Belcher III to Marry Boyfriend Blake Fox; Andre de Shields Will Officiate".
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  18. ↑ Crosara, Nic (July 21, 2022). ""It's an unapologetic celebration of comedians of colour": DIVA meets Kemah Bob". Diva . Retrieved April 16, 2023.
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  24. ↑ Breeanna Hare. "Raven-Symone: I'm not gay, and I'm not African-American". CNN. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  25. ↑ 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 February 20, 2019.
  26. ↑ Lamphier, Jason (August 23, 2016). "How Frank Ocean's 'Blonde' Redefines Pop Queerness". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
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  28. ↑ Blake, Jimmy (August 31, 2018). "The rapper taking on hip hop's 'homophobic space'" . Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  29. ↑ "Black and gay in LA: Noah's Arc star Darryl Stephens on diversity". NITV. March 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  30. ↑ "26 Celebrities Who Identify as Bisexual, Pansexual, or Totally Label-Free". Allure. Condé Nast. June 13, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
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  32. ↑ "Charles Blow: "Up From Pain," Sex Abuse, and Bisexuality". Psychology Today. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  33. ↑ "Love Stories Paris Barclay and Christopher Mason". advocate.com. October 8, 2008. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  34. ↑ "André Leon Talley on His Fashion Career, His Weight Struggle, and His Sexual Pastg". The Hive blog on Vanity Fair. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  35. ↑ Romero, Frances (May 15, 2008). "Guess Who's Gay in Hip-Hop". Time. ISSN   0040-781X . Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  36. ↑ "Audre Lorde on Being a Black Lesbian Feminist". english.illinois.edu. Archived from the original on August 2, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  37. ↑ "Women's History Month Heroes: Alice Walker". GLSEN. March 9, 2011. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  38. ↑ Wajid, Sara (December 14, 2006). "No Retreat". The Guardian. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  39. ↑ Okura, Lynn (November 12, 2013). "RuPaul's Partner Of 19 Years Is A Rancher From Wyoming (VIDEO)". Huffington Post. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
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  44. ↑ "Alvin Ailey Gay African American Dance Pioneer". Lavender Magazine. December 21, 2007. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
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  46. ↑ "Nell Hardy Carter (1948-2003) • BlackPast". BlackPast. March 6, 2015. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
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  48. ↑ "Laverne Cox". Biography. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
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  52. ↑ "'Hunger Games' star Amandla Stenberg: 'Yep, I'm gay, not bi or pan'". USA Today. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
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  54. ↑ Jenny Drabble (February 8, 2019). "Pioneering ballet star with Winston-Salem, UNCSA ties, dies at age 65". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
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