NEON, an ongoing digital content series that aims to increase the visibility of Black LGBTQ people, has released the final installment in its Black History legacy series, which looks at the impact that filmmaker, educator, and LGBTQ rights activist Marlon Riggs has had on Academy-Award nominated director, writer, and producer Lee Daniels.
Check out the photo and video below:
Marlon Riggs was an American filmmaker, educator, and LGBTQ rights activist. Riggs is best known for producing work that highlighted controversial issues facing the African American community, particularly portrayals of Black masculinity. Riggs produced, wrote, and directed many well-known and critically acclaimed documentary films, including Ethnic Notions, Tongues Untied, Color Adjustment, and Black is… Black Ain’t. Throughout his career, Riggs used his films to start new conversations about Black identity and open the door for deeper dialogue about the intersection between race and sexuality in America.
Lee Daniels is an Academy-Award nominated director, writer and producer. Daniels’ work is trademarked by authenticity and candor, providing audiences with a unique and refreshing experience and character insight with each of his projects. Shadowboxer marked Daniels’ directorial debut. Daniels’ production company, Lee Daniels Entertainment, made its feature film debut with Monster’s Ball, making Daniels the sole African-American producer of an Oscar-winning and Oscar-nominated film. Daniels also produced The Woodsman which was nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards. Daniels is widely known for his Academy Award winning film Precious, based on the novel Push by Sapphire. Daniels was the first African American to be nominated for a Director’s Guild of America Award for “Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film” on behalf of Precious. In 2013, he released the critically acclaimed box office smash Lee Daniels’ The Butler.
Daniels’ most recent work includes the hit series Empire for Fox, for which he wrote and directed the pilot and continues serves as a producer on the series. In 2015, Daniels went on to sign an overall development deal with Fox Television, where he continues to create develop, write, direct and supervise new projects under Lee Daniels Entertainment. In 2018, Daniels re-upped his overall deal with Fox Television. In addition to his successful film career, Daniels is also an advocate and philanthropist. Daniels sits on numerous boards including Ghetto Film School, a non-profit which helps to educate, develop, and celebrate the next generation of great American storytellers. Daniels is also a longtime LGBTQ activist, as well as a strong supporter of many charitable organizations.
Lee Daniels also shared the NEON post on his Instagram:
Throughout the month of February, NEON’s Black History legacy series showcased current LGBTQ leaders from multiple disciplines as they pay homage to groundbreaking figures of the past. Check out the previously released Black History legacy series installments below:
Roya Marsha honoring Audre Lorde:
Twiggy Pucci Garçon honoring Willi Ninja:
Guy Anthony honoring Billy Strayhorn:
Torrian L. Baskerville honoring Bayard Rustin:
Jari Jones honoring Marsha P. Johnson:
Danielle Cooper honoring Stormé DeLarverie:
Anthony Wayne honoring Sylvester:
NEON leverages the power of storytelling and GLAAD’s platform to create multi-dimensional, accurate portraits of the Black LGBTQ experience. For more information about NEON, including members of the team and upcoming content, click here.