9 Contemporary Black Women LGBT Trailblazers

by Brittany Dawson
A recent report conducted by the Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law revealed approximately 1 million African Americans identity as LGBT. On Monday October 6th, the Supreme Court’s decision to deny reviewing same-sex marriage cases resulted in the freedom to marry in an additional 5 states: Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Utah, Indiana, and Virginia, a striking testament oton our nation’s progress towards creating safe spaces for LGBTQ persons.
Now, Black LGBTQ leaders, scholars, activists, and artists create arenas—whether through writing or music—to glow, speak, and be recognized, utilizing unique voices and experiences to galvanize our generation into action, inclusion, and understanding. These Black LGBTQ trailblazers are no longer relegated to the sidelines, instead, they’ve paved a way for our future.
Milan Alexander

Youth Organizer Milan Alexander is a founding member of BreakOUT!, a New Orleans based organization anchored on ending police brutality and criminalization of LGBTQ persons. BreakOUT! builds resistance through youth organization and leadership programs.
Tona Brown
Laverne Cox
Staceyann Chin
Jamaican-born poet, performance artist, advocate, and overall wunderkind Staceyann Chin translates her lived experiences so effortlessly, painting intimate portraits covering motherhood to coming out while pregnant. Chin’s recent work The Other Side of Paradise: A Memoir chronicles race, sexuality, and abandonment in ruthless, brilliantly polished prose.
Candace Hardnett

Savannah, Georgia native Candace Hardnett founded LGBTQ friendly Agape Empowerment Ministry with hopes of diversifying places of worship. Joined by her partner Erika Majors, Agape Empowerment Ministry is a safe space for LGBTQ people to practice faith without persecution.
Nia King

Mia Mckenzie

Photo Credit: Mia Mckenzie
Black queer feminist Mia McKenzie amplifies queer voices of color on her blog Black Girl Dangerous, dismantling the imperialist white supremacist capitalist patriarchy in essays, critiques, and opinionated musings. McKenzie speaks at college campuses nationwide, toting multiple awards and recognitions under her belt: The Summer We Got Free, McKenzie’s first novel, won the 2013 Lambda Literary Award for debut fiction.
Janet Mock

Photo Credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com
Out filmmaker Dee Rees is best known for directing and writing Pariah (2011), a short film influenced by her own coming-out-story. Pariah follows 17 year old Aike’s path of acceptance, love, and courageousness in an intricate framework of narratives. Rees’ captivating narrative style elucidates Black queer experiences in a public sphere.
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