As Black History Month comes to an end, we wanted to spotlight a few Black LGBTQ+ individuals who paved the way:
Miss Major Griffin-Gracy (1940-present) is commonly referred to as “Miss Major” or “Mama,” she is a living veteran of the 1969 Stonewall Rebellion. She is a trans activist and community leader who advocates on behalf of incarcerated individuals as well as organizing grassroots movements for folks living with HIV. She currently runs House of GG, which produces media to spotlight stories from black trans folks.
Willi Ninja (1961-2006) was a self-taught dancer known as the “Grandfather of Vogue” whose sharp movements and androgynous fashion style helped bring voguing into the mainstream, especially after his role in the 1990 documentary "Paris Is Burning." He caught the attention of many famous fashion houses, including Chanel, and helped revolutionize the contemporary dance landscape. He passed away in 2006 from AIDS complications.
Phill Wilson (1956-present) is a notable African-American HIV/AIDS activist. He founded the Black AIDS Institute in 1999 following the death of his partner from an HIV-related illness as well as his own HIV diagnosis. He was appointed to Obama’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS in 2010 and also advocated to the CDC to provide more funding to provide the Black community with HIV/AIDs resources. His work led to the creation of the “Let’s Stop HIV Together” campaign promoting HIV prevention, testing, and treatment.
Bayard Rustin (1912-1987), renowned for his role as a key advisor to Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., was a prominent advocate for both LGBTQ rights and civil rights. He organized the 1963 March on Washington. He was also posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013. Rustin was also a leading advocate for nonviolent resistance and a gay rights activist during the 1980s.
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