Black LGBTQ+ History Month
During Black History Month and all throughout the year, we are reminded of the words of one of our namesakes, writer and poet Audre Lorde:
“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”
The LGBTQ+ rights movement would not exist without the commitments and sacrifices of Black activists. Despite systemic barriers to success, Black LGBTQ+ artists, changemakers, and thinkers have consistently led the unrelenting fight to break down barriers in all systems that deliberately deny low-income, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ communities from accessing necessary and affirming services to survive and thrive.
Black LGBTQ+ folks have created their own spaces to amplify their communities’ stories and to tell their own. From the ballroom scene to the Harlem Renaissance, Black queer and trans expression has built the foundation of countless artistic and social movements that continue on today.
Throughout the generations, Black LGBTQ+ trailblazers have actively refused to assimilate in a society centered around white cis-hetero norms. By caring for themselves and for their communities, and by addressing the overlapping systems of violence that make our communities unable to access care and resources, they’ve built the blueprint for our continued fight for collective liberation and a more equitable, more affirming future.
In honor of Black History Month, we’re shining a light on Black LGTBQ+ advocates, pioneers, and community leaders — past and present — who have been instrumental in the journey toward queer and trans liberation. Keep an eye on our Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram accounts for a new profile each day.
Join us in celebrating Black History Month!
