By: Eshe Ukweli
While Black History Month might have come to a close yesterday, at GLAAD we understand that the contributions of the Black LGBTQ+ community deserve to be celebrated year round. Everyday Black LGBTQ+ folks are showcasing their talents, breaking down barriers, and redefining what joy and liberation look like. Crafting new pathways to success and showing younger generations that both their Blackness and queerness are worthy of space, Black LGBQT+ folks are showing the world whats possible when we are all given room to live in the fullness of our identities and the power of our athenticity. Today we celebrate and highlight the accomplishments of Black LGBTQ+ folks in the media and across the industry year round.
Michaela Jaé ‘MJ’ Rodriguez makes history becoming the first ever trans woman to win a Golden Globe. For her role as Blanca Evangelista on Pose the actress won Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series –Drama category
Nominated amongst Caitriona Balfe (Belfast), Cate Blanchett (Nightmare Alley), Kirsten Dunst (The Power of the Dog) and Ruth Negga (Passing) in the 2022 SAG awards, Ariana DeBose takes the win for outstanding performance by a female actor in a supporting role as Anita in West Side Story
With a following of 5.0 million, famous 17 year old Tiktoker Veondre Mitchell takes home the 2021 LGBTQ Influencer of The Year award for Lifestyle Influencers.
From hit reality makeover show Queer Eye, Karamo Brown was nonminated for 2021 Emmy in Outstanding Host For A Reality or Competition Program
Famous transgender tv personality and media mogul, TS Madison makes reality show history as the first Black trans woman to star in and executively produce her own reality series, The Ts Madison Experience on WEtv
With his hit youtube series The Terrell show, featuring guests like Grammy award winning singers Ledisi and Tamela Mann, Youtube star and influencer Terrell Grice was nominated for the 2022 NAACP image award for Outstanding Social Media Personality.
Breaking barries and creating representation, TV actress and world renowned model Leyna Bloom makes history as the first ever transgender cover star of Sports Illustrated in 2021.
With a captivating performance alongside rapper Jack Harlow, fan favorite pop artist Lil Nas X takes home the win for Video of The Year at the 2021 MTV VMAs.
Rap artist Saucy Santana breaks barries for Black gay rappers with his interview for Forbes magazine.