Beginning a century ago, Black LGBTQ entertainers & writers expressed their identities freely. We have them to thank for much of our present society.

The legacy of Black gay hip-hop artists subverts old notions of hip-hop as much as affirms what hip-hop is: an outlet for disenfranchised Black youth to express our realities through art.

Mike Bloomberg’s racist and anti-LGBTQ policies as New York’s mayor disqualify him as a Democratic contender.

Tré Melvin seems to be working into the next generation of quality Black art and entertainment.

In addition to sharing different Black LGBTQ people each day in February, BET will also feature cast members of ‘Pose’ in a docuseries and honor Jaboukie Young-White.

Remember this Black History Month that being Black and LGBTQ is still groundbreaking in several places – even in our nation’s Capitol.

Gov. Gavin Newsom of California pardoned Rustin, who was arrested in 1953 for having sex with men.

To kick off Black History Month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that he will rename a state park in honor of the activist and icon.

She was famous for her bawdy performances and a chorus line of eight effeminate male dancers.

The “bizarre and eccentric vagabond poet” was open about his sexuality, and then married a woman.

Harlem Renaissance dancer, domestic worker, archivist, philanthropist, early lesbian activist; in her lifetime, Mabel Hampton was many, many things.

“I’m not a drag queen. I’m Sylvester.”

Octavia Butler wasn’t just a giant in science fiction literature, she was also a black lesbian who overcame multiple obstacles to become a bestselling author.

“I’m nothing special, I’m just one of the girls.”

She sold more than 2 million records in the first ten months after she was signed by Columbia Records and performed on Broadway – and then the Great Depression hit.

Ruth Ellis was an out lesbian activist and a living, breathing reservoir of African-American LGBTQ history.

Richard Barthé was one of America’s best sculptors – and he didn’t shy away from his sexuality.

When the local newspaper outed her as trans, it brought an abrupt end to her political career.

The school closed after several groups threatened to protest and administrators worried things could get ugly.

“I was caught between these two worlds where the whites hated me, and the blacks disparaged me.”