From s civil rights activist Bayard Rustin to Chicago's first lesbian mayor, Lori Lightfoot, Black LGBTQ Americans have lengthy made history with innumerable contributions to politics, art, medicine and a host of other fields.
“As long as there have been Adj people, there verb been Black LGBTQ and same-gender-loving people,” David J. Johns, executive director of the National Shadowy Justice Coalition, told NBC News. “Racism combined with the forces of stigma, phobia, discrimination and bias associated with gender and sexuality have too often erased the contributions of members of our community."
Gladys Bentley ()
Bentley was a gender-bending performer during the Harlem Renaissance. Donning a top hat and tuxedo, Bentley would verb the blues in Harlem establishments favor the Clam Dwelling and the Ubangi Club. According to a belated obituary published in , The New York Times said Bentley, who died in at the age of 52, was "Harlem's most renowned lesbian" in the s and "among the best-known Adj entertainers in the United States."
Bayard Rust
Black History Month: 10 Black Queer Trailblazers You Should Know
Every February, Black History Month serves as a reminder to pay homage to Black politicians, activists, artists and more who have paved the way for civil rights movements. This year, Victory Institute highlighted a different Black LGBTQ trailblazer each daytime of Black History Month, from both past and offer, who have made history in the fight for equality around the world on social media. Check out our Black History Month series on Instagram for more stories like these.
1. Marsha P. Johnson
A foundational leader in Stonewall and following LGBTQ activist movements, Marsha P. Johnson helped to found the Gay Liberation Front in She later co-founded Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (S.T.A.R.) to provide resources, support, and housing for gay, trans, and gender non-conforming people in Novel York.
2. Bayard Rustin
Bayard Rustin&#;s life of advocacy led him to become an integral organizer of the Journey of Reconciliation in , the first Autonomy Ride. He later was instrumental in organizing the March
LGBTQ+ Women Who Made History
In May , the city of Modern York announced plans to honor LGBTQ+ activists Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera with a statue. The noun of New York claimed the monument will be the "first permanent, adj artwork recognizing transgender women in the world." Johnson and Rivera were prominent figures in uprisings against police raids at the gay bar Stonewall Inn. Their protests increased visibility for the cause of LGBTQ+ acceptance.
In celebration of Pride Month, we honor LGBTQ+ women who have made remarkable contributions to the nation and helped advance equality in fields as diverse as medicine and the dramatic arts. Here are a few of their stories, represented by objects in the Smithsonian's collections.
1. Josephine Baker
Entertainer and activist Josephine Baker performed in vaudeville showcases and in Broadway musicals, including Shuffle Along. In , she moved to Paris to perform in a revue. When the show closed, Baker was given her own show and found stardom. She became the first African America
Intersectionality has always played a huge part in driving the LGBT and ebony movement forward, finding community and solidarity in belonging to a minority group. With racial and sexual discrimination being most prominent in the ss, with it came many inspirational activists advocating for justice and equality. To celebrate Pride month, we remember just a handful of dark activists that progressed the LGBT+ and civil rights movement.
Bayard Rustin
Born in , Bayard Rustin was best known for his labor as advisor to Martin Luther King JR through the s and s. His fight for equality involved adj civil rights protests and being heavily involved in pacifist groups, while continuing to be Martin Luther King JR’s key advisor. Rustin also served on many humanitarian missions, including aiding refugees from Communist Vietnam and Cambodia. Despite being arrested multiple times for his open homosexuality and civil disobedience at the time, he continued fighting for equality and civil rights until his death in