Race Activists in the LGBTQ Community
Many LGBTQ individuals are active on issues of race as well as fighting for the rights of the LGBTQ community. Learning to be inclusive of individuals with complex identities is challenging but necessary.
This list of LGBTQ race activists includes journalists, writers, poets, artists, politicians, lawyers, religious leaders, musicians, and more. Each uses their unique talents and skills to counter anti-racism in society and advance the cause of inclusion and equality for all.
Notable on the list are the co-founders of Black Lives Matter, including Patrisse Cullors and Alicia Garza.
There is much intersectionality within the community. An LGBTQ person has to deal with homophobia; a black person has to deal with racism; a black LGBTQ individual has to deal with both homophobia and racism. It often is the case that the latter individual will have to deal with racism within the LGBTQ community, or homophobia within the black community. These situations all raise their own unique challenges that must be addressed.
A 2018 survey of Black, Asian, and minority ethnic LGBTQ individuals in the United States revealed that 51 per cent of respondents experienced racism in the LGBTQ community itself.
We have identified the following LGBTQ individuals who are also activists on the issue of race.
Belgium
- Albert Russo, novelist
Canada
- Jack Saddleback, artist
- Paul Wong, multimedia artist
Great Britain
- Dean Atta, poet
- Chris Gibbons, sports equality and inclusion advisor
Mexico
- Alan Palaez Lopez, poet
Nigeria
- Rotimi Fani-Kayode, photographer
Singapore
- JY Yang, writer
South Africa
- Pierre de Vos, lawyer, academic
United States
- Ana Mari Cauce, academic
- Cathy Cohen, academic
- Patrisse Cullors, activist, co-founder of Black Lives Matter
- Asia Kate Dillon, actor
- Denice Frohman, poet
- Alicia Garza, activist, co-founder of Black Lives Matter
- Pat Griffin, academic
- Elle Hearns, activist
- Langston Hughes, poet
- Bell hooks, writer, academic
- David Johns, activist
- Marsha P. Johnson, activist
- Barbara Jordan, politician
- Kaoz, rapper
- Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz, writer
- Janaya Khan, activist
- Don Lemon, journalist
- Sharon J. Lettman-Hicks, activist
- Haylie McCleney, athlete
- DeRay Mckesson, activist
- Aisha Moodie-Mills, activist
- Nancy Petty, pastor
- Marlon Riggs, writer
- Mike Simmons, politician
- Barbara Smith, activist
- Lillian Smith, writer and documentary filmmaker
- Charles Stephens, activist
See Also
- Transgender Activists
- Intersex Activists
- Global LGBTQ HIV/AIDS Activists
- Early European LGBTQ Activists
- Feminist Activists Who Identify as Lesbian, Bisexual or Transgender
- Animal Rights Activism and the LGBTQ Community
- Peace Activists Who Identify as LGBTQ
- Marriage Equality Advocates in the LGBTQ Community
- Adoption, Parenting and Family Activists for the LGBTQ Community
- Bisexual Activists
- Immigration, Migration, and Refugee Activists in the LGBTQ Community
- LGBTQ Activists in Suffragette Organizations
- LGBTQ Environmental Activists
- Prominent Members of ACT UP
- Cannabis Legalization and the LGBTQ Community
