List of African-American LGBT people

Singer, Actress, Producer

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

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (November 2023)

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## Historical figures

[edit]

Name  | Lifetime[1] | Nationality  | Notable as  | Communities[2]

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Alain LeRoy Locke | b. 1885 | American  | Philosopher, writer, educator, art patron  | Queer, Gay [3]
Barbara Jordan | b. 1936  | American  | Lawyer, educator, politician, first African-American woman elected to the United States House of Representatives  | LGBTQ+[4]

## Government and politics

[edit]

Name  | Political Party | State  | Occupation

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|
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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

[edit]

Name  | Occupation

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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
Name  | Known For

|

Shea Couleé[71] | American drag queen, musician, actor
Dorian Corey[72] | American drag performer and fashion designer
Honey Davenport[73] | American drag performer, singer, songwriter, actor and activist
David Hampton[74] | Con artist
Angela Davis[75] | Political activist, academic
CeCe McDonald[76] | LGBTQ advocate
DeRay Mckesson[77][78] | Activist and educator
Marsha P. Johnson[79] | Gay liberation activist and Stonewall Riot veteran
Bayard Rustin[80] | Political and Black rights activist
Flawless Shade | Drag queen and make-up artist
Kornbread Jeté | Drag queen
Mary Anne Adams[81][82] | Activist for Black community/Black, elderly lesbians, academic, founder of NAMI NOBLA

## References

[edit]

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 (2021-06-10). "LGBTQ+ History Month: Barbara Jordan". Pieces of History. Retrieved 2024-06-02.
5. ^ 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.
6. ^ "State Rep. Rashad Taylor comes out as gay". Project Q. May 27, 2011. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
7. ^ 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.
8. ^ "Nevada senator comes out as gay marriage resolution advances". USA Today. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
9. ^ Lopez, Robert. "Former Rep. Marcus Brandon: Allow gay leaders in Boy Scouts". Greensboro News and Record. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
10. ^ "Ron Oden (1950- ) • BlackPast". BlackPast. 2008-01-29. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
11. ^ Avery, Dan (2012-01-05). "Black, Gay And Republican? Chatham Mayor Bruce Harris Is A Friggin' Unicorn!". queerty.com. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
12. ^ "Great Expectations, Unexpected Impact - Keith St. John '81 Becomes the Country's First Openly Gay Black Elected Official". Vassar College. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
13. ^ "Miami's Gayles confirmed as first openly gay black male judge on federal bench". Miami Herald. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
14. ^ "Kelvin Atkinson, Nevada Lawmaker, Comes Out In Gay Marriage Debate". HuffPost. Retrieved 2013-04-23.
15. ^ "Ritchie Torres becomes first gay Afro Latino elected to Congress". NBC News. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 2022-09-10.
16. ^ "DEATH OF a SALESMAN's McKinley Belcher III to Marry Boyfriend Blake Fox; Andre de Shields Will Officiate".
17. ^ "Andre de Shields on Instagram: "Congratulates McKinley Belcher III and Blake Fox. What a joy to officiate your nuptials. Photo by @liachangphotography"".
18. ^ Crosara, Nic (21 July 2022). ""It's an unapologetic celebration of comedians of colour": DIVA meets Kemah Bob". Diva. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
19. ^ 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.
20. ^ Malone, Chris (October 9, 2017). "A Brief History of Little Richard Grappling With His Sexuality & Religion". Billboard.
21. ^ "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.
22. ^ McGasko, Joe. "The Mother and The Empress: Ma Rainey and Bessie Smith". Biography. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
23. ^ Breeanna Hare. "Raven-Symone: I'm not gay, and I'm not African-American". CNN. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
24. ^ 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.
25. ^ Lamphier, Jason (2016-08-23). "How Frank Ocean's 'Blonde' Redefines Pop Queerness". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
26. ^ "Wanda Sykes on coming out: 'I kind of shocked myself'". CNN. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
27. ^ Blake, Jimmy (2018-08-31). "The rapper taking on hip hop's 'homophobic space'". Retrieved 2019-02-20.
28. ^ "Black and gay in LA: Noah's Arc star Darryl Stephens on diversity". NITV. March 2016. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
29. ^ "26 Celebrities Who Identify as Bisexual, Pansexual, or Totally Label-Free". Allure. Condé Nast. June 13, 2017. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
30. ^ "LZ Granderson: Living as a straight man felt like 'drowning'". ABC News. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
31. ^ "Charles Blow: "Up From Pain," Sex Abuse, and Bisexuality". Psychology Today. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
32. ^ "Love Stories Paris Barclay and Christopher Mason". advocate.com. 2008-10-08. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
33. ^ "André Leon Talley on His Fashion Career, His Weight Struggle, and His Sexual Pastg". The Hive blog on Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
34. ^ Romero, Frances (2008-05-15). "Guess Who's Gay in Hip-Hop". Time. ISSN 0040-781X. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
35. ^ "Audre Lorde on Being a Black Lesbian Feminist". english.illinois.edu. Archived from the original on 2017-08-02. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
36. ^ "Women's History Month Heroes: Alice Walker". GLSEN. March 9, 2011. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
37. ^ Wajid, Sara (December 14, 2006). "No Retreat". The Guardian. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
38. ^ Okura, Lynn (2013-11-12). "RuPaul's Partner Of 19 Years Is A Rancher From Wyoming (VIDEO)". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
39. ^ 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.
40. ^ "James Baldwin's sexuality: Complex and influential". NBC News. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
41. ^ 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.
42. ^ Qween, Hey (2017-06-20). "Model Isis King Talks Her Transition, Homelessness and 'Top Model'". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
43. ^ "Alvin Ailey Gay African American Dance Pioneer". Lavender Magazine. 2007-12-21. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
44. ^ Ciara Appelbaum. "36 celebrities you never knew are bisexual". Business Insider. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
45. ^ "Nell Hardy Carter (1948-2003) • BlackPast". BlackPast. 2015-03-06. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
46. ^ Benjamin, Jessica (2021-02-02). "Billy Porter on London Pride and being a fashion icon". Evening Standard. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
47. ^ "Laverne Cox". Biography. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
48. ^ "Pansexual is not the same as bisexual. Janelle Monáe is bringing visibility to us all". USA Today. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
49. ^ 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.
50. ^ 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.
51. ^ "'Hunger Games' star Amandla Stenberg: 'Yep, I'm gay, not bi or pan'". USA Today. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
52. ^ 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.
53. ^ Jenny Drabble (8 February 2019). "Pioneering ballet star with Winston-Salem, UNCSA ties, dies at age 65". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
54. ^ 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.
55. ^ Azzopardi, Chris (June 27, 2018). "Mister Rogers's Gay, Black Friend François Clemmons Wears Tiaras Now". HWD. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
56. ^ Jacobs, Julia (July 2019). "Lil Nas X Comes Out on Last Day of Pride Month". The New York Times. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
57. ^ "Rapper Lil Nas X Seemingly Comes Out as Gay". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-07-01.
58. ^ "This playwright may be the busiest Minnesotan in show business". Minneapolis Star Tribune. 2018-02-08. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
59. ^ "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.
60. ^ Rule, Doug (15 July 2016). "Todrick Hall on Straight Outta Oz, living openly, and being a role model on YouTube". Retrieved 24 March 2024.
61. ^ "Le1f, Gay Rapper, Blasts Macklemore For 'Same Love' Success". Essence Magazine. 2017-12-07. Retrieved 2017-12-06.
62. ^ "Colman Domingo Explains How He Met His Husband On Craigslist". February 23, 2021. Retrieved 2021-02-23.
63. ^ Guilbert, Georges-Claude (2018-05-30). Gay Icons: The (Mostly) Female Entertainers Gay Men Love. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-7433-9.
64. ^ Stone, Martha E. (Jan 1, 2006). "The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide - Passages 2005". The Free Library.
65. ^ Treacy, Christopher (2023-01-05). "Q&A With Terry Blade • Country Queer". Country Queer. Retrieved 2023-01-20.
66. ^ "Meet Emira D'spain, The First Black Transgender Model To Work With Victoria's Secret". Nylon. March 7, 2022.
67. ^ News, A. B. C. "Niecy Nash makes wife Jessica Betts' prom 'dreams come true': See the photos". ABC News. Retrieved 2024-06-26. `{{cite web}}`: `|last=` has generic name (help)
68. ^ "Tyler The Creator Is The Latest Male Celebrity To Reveal He's Bisexual". ELLE. 2017-08-17. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
69. ^ Ramirez, Erika (2012-07-04). "Frank Ocean Opens Up About Sexuality". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-10-15.
70. ^ 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.
71. ^ "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.
72. ^ "The True Story Of The Drag Performer With A Mummy In Her Closet Portrayed On 'Pose'". Investigation Discovery. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
73. ^ Cooridinator, DNA Online (2019-10-24). "Honey Davenport In Australia To Raise Awareness Of Queer People Of Colour". DNA. Retrieved 2022-09-20.
74. ^ Goudsouzian, Aram (2004). Sidney Poitier: Man, Actor, Icon. Univ of North Carolina Press. p. 365. ISBN 9780807828434.
75. ^ "Award Stripped From Lesbian Civil Rights Icon Angela Davis". The Advocate. 2019-01-09. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
76. ^ Erdely, Sabrina Rubin (2014-07-30). "The Transgender Crucible". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
77. ^ "#BlackLivesMatter Protester Deray McKesson to Teach at Yale". Mediaite.com. 2015-09-11. Retrieved 2016-02-07.
78. ^ "DeRay Mckesson Wants You to Come Out of the Quiet". The Advocate. 2015-12-24. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
79. ^ "Marsha P. Johnson, a Transgender Pioneer and Activist". The New York Times. 2018-03-08. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
80. ^ "Bayard Rustin: the gay black pacifist at the heart of the March on Washington". The Guardian. 2013-08-23. Retrieved 2019-12-27.
81. ^ 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.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: others (link)
82. ^ Johnson, E. Patrick (2018). Black. Queer. Southern. Women : an oral history. Chapel Hill. ISBN 978-1-4696-4111-9. OCLC 1057725887.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

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