Honoring Queer Black Icons
Hidden figures in queer Black history
Here at Stonewall, we recognize that the struggles for racial justice and LGBTQ+ liberation are inextricably connected. As queer and trans people, much of the success of our movement is owed to Black game-changers who paved the way for progress for our people. In honor of Black History Month, we’ve been highlighting some of the lesser-known figures in queer Black history. These bold individuals lead with bravery and authenticity - despite the inherent risk at the time - and moved the needle on justice and liberation for our community. These icons left lasting legacies, and built a better world for future generations. They should all be household names. Read on to learn some of the hidden history of our ongoing battle for full, lived equality.
Frances Thompson - Trans Rights Pioneer
Believed to be the first transgender woman to testify before the United States Congress, Frances Thompson was born into slavery in 1840. Living as a free woman by the age of 26, Thompson was an advocate for bodily autonomy, an anti-rape activist, and she played a pivotal role in getting the US government to enact legislation protecting the civil rights of newly emancipated Black people.
Thompson's bold legacy lives on today as we continue fighting for self-determination, dignity, and justice for queer and trans people. Her story serves as a reminder that queer and trans people have always been here, and we always will be. Always.
Pauli Murray - Queer Feminist Trailblazer
One of the most pivotal - yet often forgotten - figures of the Civil Rights Movement, Pauli Murray was a Black, queer, feminist lawyer who dedicated a lifetime to challenging preconceived notions of race, gender, sexuality, and religion. Murray pioneered many of the non-violent protest tactics of the Jim Crow era, and authored legal arguments that played a pivotal role in outlawing systemic racism and sexism.
Many of Murray's contributions to the Civil Rights Movement were erased from the broader narrative as same-gender relationships and gender nonconformity disrupted the respectability expectations of the era. Many historians believe that if the language existed at the time, Murray may have identified as a trans man.
Later in life, Murray became an Episcopal priest, and was eventually canonized as a saint - a queer saint!
Norris B. Herndon - Funder for Equal Rights
After the death of his father in 1927, Norris B. Herndon assumed the role of president of Atlanta Life Insurance, turning the company into one of the most successful Black-owned business in the US. Using his wealth and influence to support the Civil Rights Movement, Herndon was a critical funder of racial justice efforts, and regularly gave generously to support MLK, Jr., HBCUs, the NAACP, and more. He even allowed key Civil Rights activists to use his offices for training purposes.
While he never publicly identified as gay or bi, many in his inner circle were aware of his relationships with men throughout his life.
Herndon's legacy serves as a reminder of the important role that Black queer individuals have played in shaping American history.
Ma Rainey - Bisexual Blues Legend
Ma Rainey, also known as the "Mother of the Blues," was a pioneering blues singer and one of the first openly bisexual performers in the early 20th century. Her music often expressed themes of sexual freedom and gender identity that challenged prevailing attitudes of her time.
Rainey's songs such as "Prove It on Me Blues" and "Sissy Blues" were widely considered to be bold and unapologetic expressions of her bisexuality, and her performances often featured drag queens and other gender-nonconforming artists.
Rainey's visibility and outspokenness about her sexuality, at a time when queerness was widely stigmatized, helped pave the way for later LGBTQ+ performers and activists. Today, she is celebrated as an icon of queer representation in music history.
Marlon Riggs - Queer Revolutionary Storyteller
Marlon Riggs was a pioneering filmmaker and activist whose work focused on issues of race, sexuality, and identity, seeking to challenge and subvert stereotypes of LGBTQ and Black people.
In the early 1990s, Riggs' films, including "Tongues Untied" and "Color Adjustment," explored the experiences of Black gay men and the intersectionality of race and sexuality. His work helped to broaden mainstream awareness of LGBTQ+ and Black lives, and was highly influential in advancing Black and queer representation in media. Riggs also worked with organizations like the National LGBTQ Task Force and ACT UP to fight for the rights of LGBTQ+ people and folks living with HIV/AIDS.
Riggs' legacy continues to inspire and inform our ongoing struggles for LGBTQ+ liberation and racial justice.
Stormé DeLarverie - Rebellious Butch Drag King
Credited by many with kicking off the Stonewall Rebellion in 1969, Stormé DeLarverie was a butch lesbian drag artist known for having zero tolerance for discrimination. A talented jazz singer, DeLarverie began performing in New Orleans at 15 years old before touring around Europe and eventually making her home in New York City. Soon after arriving in NYC, Stormé landed the role of master of ceremonies for the Jewel Box Revue – a groundbreaking, racially integrated variety show featuring dozens of drag artists.
Dubbing herself the "guardian of the lesbians of the village," DeLarverie regularly patrolled the streets of NYC's Greenwich Village (well into her 80s!), ensuring that her queer and trans neighbors were kept safe from violence.
Octavia St. Laurent
Octavia St. Laurent was a force to be reckoned with in NYC's vogue ballroom community in the 1980s and 90s, leaving a lasting impact on our community. Featured prominently in the 1990 documentary "Paris Is Burning," Octavia was a talented singer, model, performer, and actress. As a legend in the ballroom scene, which continues to serve as a haven for queer and trans people of color in NYC, Octavia used her platform – especially later in her life - to advocate for trans and gender nonconforming people, and counseled her peers about substance use, sex work, and HIV/AIDS.
Throughout her life, the way she described her gender identity – or lack thereof – shifted many times. She once famously remarked, “This is me, you understand? No, I am not a woman. No, I am not a man. I am Octavia.”