6 February 2026
During Black History Month in February, honor the contributions of African American LGBTQ people. And don’t limit this to February: honor African American LGBTQ people all year round!
There are so many people who have had a profound impact on the LGBTQ community, from the Harlem Renaissance in the 1930s and 40s to today. Consider including in worship or study poets like Audre Lorde and Essex Hemphill, the political writings of Bayard Rustin, or the many wonderful contemporary resources from our friends at Many Voices: A Black Church Movement for Gay & Transgender Justice.
To learn more about Black LGBTQ religious history, check out some of the many oral histories posted by the LGBTQ Religious Archives Network: Candy Holmes, Pamela Lightsey, Renee McCoy, Louis Mitchell, and Jonathon Thunderwood. They join a number of other oral histories with African American religious leaders on the site.
With polls showing that, for many years now, people of color are more likely to identify as LGBTQ than white people (see this one from Gallup for more info), it is important that we challenge the stereotypes about queer people and share the realities of our diverse and vibrant communities!
