Black LGBTQ people have been among the most influential in the entertainment industry but don’t always get the credit for it. Sexually fluid Little Richard was one of the inventors of rock and roll, but he was overshadowed by white artists such as Elvis Presley and Mick Jagger, who both copied Little Richard’s style. Josephine Baker (who was openly bisexual) was the first Black woman to star in a major motion picture (the 1927 silent film “Siren of the Tropics”), paving the way for other Black female movie stars who became much more famous decades later, such as Cicely Tyson, Halle Berry, and Viola Davis. Ellis Haizlip, creator/host of the NET/PBS series “Soul!,” was a gay man and the first person to have a national variety TV show in the United States featuring Black Power activism and Black-oriented entertainment on a regular basis. Here’s a look at some of the busiest Black openly LGTBQ celebrities who are working in the entertainment industry and are, in their own ways, influencing current and future generations.
Karamo Brown
Brown has a packed schedule as a co-host of Netflix’s Emmy-winning makeover reality series “Queer Eye” and as the host of the nationally syndicated talk show “Karamo.” As of this writing, he is the only openly gay Black man hosting a national daytime TV talk show in the United States. Brown first rose to TV fame in 2004 as a cast member of MTV’s “The Real World: Philadelphia,” where he was the first openly gay Black man cast in a national reality show.
RuPaul Charles
No one has done more to bring drag entertainment to the mainstream than this drag queen icon. Emmy-winning host/executive producer Charles (who is also known by his one-word stage name RuPaul) is the co-owner of the franchise that started with the drag queen talent competition series “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” which airs on MTV. This groundbreaking show has spawned spinoffs, convention events, tours, and several drag queen stars in a franchise that is as influential as it is unstoppable. He’s also been a singer and actor. Charles has voice roles in the 2023 animated films “Trolls Band Together” (from DreamWorks Animation) and “Hitpig” (from Aniventure).
Kiersey Clemons
She’s not a household name, but Clemons (who identifies as a lesbian) has carved out a busy career as an actress with supporting roles in high-profile projects. In 2023, her current and upcoming movies and TV shows include Warner Bros. Pictures’ superhero flick “The Flash,” Vertical’s comedy film “Susie Searches,” Prime Video’s limited horror dramedy series “Swarm,” Prime Video’s comedy film “Somebody I Used to Know,” and Freeform’s animated series “Praise Petey.” She also has a starring role in the independent dramatic film “The Young Wife,” which had its world premiere at the 2023 SXSW Film & TV Festival and is seeking distribution.
Laverne Cox
Cox’s career has been defined by breaking barriers. As the host of E!’s “If We’re Being Honest With Laverne Cox,” she’s the first transgender woman to host a national primetime TV talk show in the United States. She’s also an E! correspondent and a co-star of Freevee’s “Clean Slate” comedy series. In 2015, Cox became the first transgender woman to win an executive producer Daytime Emmy Award (for Outstanding Special Class Special), as the executive producer of the 2014 MTV documentary film “Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word.” For her role as Sophia Burset in Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black,” she became the first transgender person to receive a Primetime Emmy nomination in an acting category. Cox was nominated for a Primetime Emmy four times (beginning in 2017) for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series.
Lee Daniels
The co-creator of Fox’s “Empire” drama TV series (which lifted Taraji P. Henson’s career to new heights) has been keeping very busy in 2023 with comedy TV series, as an executive producer of ABC’s “The Wonder Years” and BET+’s “The Ms. Pat Show.” For his breakthrough 2009 movie, “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire,” Daniels became the first openly gay Black man to be Oscar-nominated for Best Director and one of the first Black producers to be Oscar-nominated for Best Picture. (Black producer Broderick Johnson of 2009’s “The Blind Side” was also nominated for Best Picture at the same time.) Daniels’ next project as a film director is Netflix’s horror flick “The Deliverance,” starring Andra Day, Glenn Close, Mo’Nique, Rob Morgan, Caleb McLaughlin, Aunjanue Ellis, and Omar Epps.
Doja Cat
In 2023, the Grammy-winning pop star (who identifies as queer or sexually fluid) is set to release her fourth album (title to be announced) on Kemosabe/RCA Records. She’s also headlining her first arena tour. It’s the first major tour for Doja Cat (whose real name is Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini) since 2019. Doja Cat’s hits include 2020’s “Say So,” “Kiss Me More” featuring SZA, and “Streets.”
Colman Domingo
In 2023, Domingo can claim to be the busiest openly gay Afro-Latino actor working on Hollywood projects. His movies this year include Netflix’s biopic drama “Rustin” (he has the starring role as civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, who was a gay man); Warner Bros. Pictures’ musical “The Color Purple” musical (he has the supporting role of Mister); and Focus Features’ “Drive-Away Dolls,” a road-trip comedy. He also has voice roles in Paramount Pictures’ “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” and Universal Pictures’ “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken.” In addition, Domingo (who won a Primetime Emmy in 2022, for guest starring in the HBO drama series “Euphoria”) is a co-producer of the Tony-nominated musical “Fat Ham,” which closes this year on Broadway. Domingo also wrapped up filming the final season of AMC’s zombie series “Fear the Walking Dead,” which was on the air from 2015 to 2023.
Aunjanue Ellis
She’s been a working actress for years, but Ellis’ biggest breakout role so far has been her Oscar-nominated performance as Oracene Price (the mother of Venus Williams and Serena Williams) in Warner Bros. Pictures’ 2021 drama “King Richard.” Ellis, who went public with her bisexuality in 2022, has multiple projects releasing in 2023. They include Warner Bros. Pictures’ “The Color Purple” musical (she has the role of Mama); Netflix’s “The Deliverance” horror movie; and FX’s limited series “Justified: City Primeval.”
Cynthia Erivo
Known as one of the most versatile talents in showbiz, Erivo has won many of the industry’s highest accolades, including a Grammy Award, a Tony Award, and a Daytime Emmy Award—all for the Broadway musical revival of “The Color Purple.” In 2022, she publicly declared that she identifies as queer. Erivo has a supporting role in the 2023 Netflix dramatic film “Luther: The Fallen Sun,” starring Idris Elba. Although she won’t be reprising her Tony-winning role as Celie for Warner Bros. Pictures’ “The Color Purple” movie musical, Erivo is set for a starring role as the Wicked Witch of the West in Universal Pictures’ adaptation of the stage musical “Wicked,” which is being released in two parts in 2024 and 2025. Erivo was a co-producer of the Tony-nominated “Fat Ham.”
Halsey
Identifying as biracial (her mother is white; her father is Black) and bisexual, singer/actress Halsey took some time off from her career after the 2021 birth of her daughter, Ender Ridley Aydin. Halsey (whose real name is Ashley Nicolette Frangipane) is having a very busy year in 2023, including a contentious split from Capitol Records and signing with Columbia Records. Her current and upcoming projects include her still-untitled fifth album, as well as acting roles in the independent drama film “Americana” and A24’s horror film “MaXXXine,” a sequel to 2022’s “X” slasher flick.
Lil Nas X
He’s been famous since 2019, when his rap/country hit “Old Town Road” (featuring Billy Ray Cyrus) became a massive hit that led to numerous awards, including Grammys. At the peak of the success of “Old Town Road,” Lil Nas X (whose given name is Montero Lamar Hill) came out as gay. His first album, “Montero,” was released by Columbia Records in 2021. Lil Nas X has spent most of 2022 ad 2023 on tour. His second album (title to be announced) is due out in 2023.
Janelle Monáe
This multitalented nonbinary entertainer (whose pronouns are they/them and she/her) has taken the acting world by storm with standout performances in 20th Century Fox’s historical drama “Hidden Figures” and Netflix’s 2022 comedy mystery “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.” In 2023, Monáe (who identifies as pansexual and who was mentored by Prince) is focusing on music, with an extensive tour for “The Age of Pleasure” album.
Niecy Nash-Betts
People who want to see her on TV have no shortage of options. As the headliner of the ABC drama series “The Rookie: The Feds,” Nash-Betts is one of the few Black women who is a star and an executive producer of a primetime TV series on a U.S. broadcast TV network. She’s also part of the cast of three recent Netflix’s series with new episodes in 2023: the comedy/drama “Never Have I Ever,” which ended its run this year); the animated comedy “Agent Elvis”; and the animated comedy “Human Resources.” In 2023, she’s also been on the awards circuit as a contender for her supporting role in Netflix’s limited drama series “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.” Nash has been open about being sexually fluid, including having two divorces from men and her current marriage to musician Jessica Betts.
Billy Porter
Billy Porter has become synonymous with fabulous fashion and his Emmy-winning role as drag ballroom emcee Pray Tell in FX’s 2018-2021 series “Pose,” which made him the first openly gay man to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actor in Drama Series. Porter (a Tony-winning star of “Kinky Boots”) can be seen in multiple movies releasing in 2023, include the Paramount Pictures comedy “80 for Brady,” the Magnolia Pictures documentary “Little Richard: I Am Everything,” and the independent drama “Our Son,” in which Porter stars with Luke Evans as a divorcing couple in a child-custody battle. And this year, he achieved a celebrity milestone by having his wax figure added to the collection at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in New York City.
Queen Latifah
She has gone from being one of the first Grammy-winning female stars of hip-hop to having a versatile career in movies and television. As the headliner of the CBS drama series “The Equalizer,” Queen Latifah (whose real name is Dana Owens) is one of the few Black women who is a star and an executive producer of a primetime TV series on a U.S. broadcast TV network. She officially came out as a lesbian during her Lifetime Achievement Award acceptance speech at the 2021 BET Awards. Among her numerous accolades is a Primetime Emmy Award for producing the HBO biopic “Bessie,” in which she starred as queer blues singer Bessie Smith. Queen Latifah is also a popular choice to host award shows. Her many hosting gigs include emceeing the 2023 NAACP Image Awards.
Justice Smith
This rising actor, who identifies as queer, had his breakout role as a star of the 2019 action film “Pokémon Detective Pikachu.” Smith can be seen in a slew of high-profile movies current and upcoming projects releasing in 2023, including Paramount Pictures’ fantasy adventure “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” A24/Apple TV+’s dramatic thriller “Sharper,” and A24’s horror flick “I Saw the TV Glow.”
Amandla Stenberg
After starring in critically acclaimed films such as 20th Century Fox’s 2018 drama “The Hate U Give” and A24’s 2022 horror film “Bodies Bodies Bodies,” this openly queer actress is immersing herself in sci-fi/fantasy entertainment in 2023. She has supporting roles in animated films such as Columbia Pictures’ “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” (and its 2024 sequel, “Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse”) and Laika’s “Wildwood.” Her most high-profile role so far is as a headliner of Disney+’s “The Acolyte,” a “Star Wars” spinoff series due out in 2024.
Wanda Sykes
The comedian/actress, who identifies as a lesbian, knows how to juggle multiple projects at the same time. Netflix is giving her a lot of work, including being a star/executive producer of the sitcom “The Upshaws,” her 2023 stand-up special “Wanda Sykes: I’m an Entertainer,” and the comedy film “Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie.” Sykes also has supporting roles in Hulu’s “The History of the World: Part II” and Max’s “The Other Two,” which are both comedy series. And she’s a trailblazer for being the first openly LGBTQ person to host a late-night talk show series on a U.S. broadcast TV network. Fox’s “The Wanda Sykes Show” was on the air for one season, from 2009 to 2010.
Tessa Thompson
Her varied movie career has included co-starring in blockbuster hits (including 2017’s “Thor: Ragnarok,” 2022’s “Thor: Love and Thunder,” and the first three “Creed” movies), as well as critically acclaimed dramas, such as Netflix’s “Passing” (released in 2021) and “The Listener,” which is seeking distribution. Next up for Thompson is Filmnation’s “The Invite,” a comedy whose release date is to be announced. She’s also a brand ambassador for Armani Beauty.
Lena Waithe
This former co-star/screenwriter of Netflix’s “Master of None” has been on a hot streak, ever since 2017, when she became the first Black woman to win a Primetime Emmy Award for screenwriting for a comedy series. Waithe, who identifies as a lesbian, has become a prolific producer and screenwriter while still maintaining an occasional acting career, including a cameo in the 2023 remake of the comedy film “House Party.” As a producer, Waithe’s 2023 movies include the Focus Features drama “A Thousand and One,” the Disney+ drama “Chang Can Dunk,” the HBO documentary “Being Mary Tyler Moore,” and the Magnolia Pictures documentary “Kokomo City.”
