Recognizing Black Queer Icons In Media and Television

I. Niecy Nash-Betts: A Contemporary Queer Icon

​Niecy Nash-Betts has cemented her status as a queer icon through her profound visibility as a Black queer woman and her inspiring openness about her journey of self-discovery and love. Her impact transcends her celebrated acting career, becoming a powerful symbol of authentic, later-in-life queer love, especially within the Black community.

​Coming Into Herself, Not Coming Out

​In 2020, Niecy Nash surprised fans by announcing her marriage to singer-songwriter Jessica Betts. This revelation was significant because Nash-Betts had previously only been in relationships with men. However, she framed this evolution not as a traditional "coming out," but as "going into herself"—a profound declaration that her attraction was to Jessica's soul, irrespective of gender. This message resonates deeply, offering a nuanced perspective on sexuality that prioritizes self-love and happiness over rigid labels.

​Visibility and Advocacy for Black Queer Love

​Niecy Nash-Betts and her wife have embraced their role as representatives for the Black queer community. Their union, which she calls "Black-on-Black love in the queer community," is recognized as being on a "very short list" of public examples, making their visibility exceptionally powerful.

• ​Setting "Herstory": In 2022, the couple made history as the first same-sex couple to cover Essence magazine, a major cultural milestone that brought Black queer love into the mainstream media spotlight.

• ​Encouraging Authenticity: She actively encourages others to live in their truth, stating, "Every single person who comes out of the closet, who comes out of hiding, it helps shift society towards more acceptance and love."

• ​Fighting for Equality: Nash-Betts is a staunch advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, explicitly stating she would be on the front lines to fight for marriage equality, condemning any attempt to infringe upon a person's ability to love who they choose.

Her journey showcases that love and identity can be an evolution, challenging heteronormative assumptions and inspiring countless individuals who may be discovering their own truth at any stage of life.

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II. Billy Porter: A Trailblazing Queer Icon

​Billy Porter has cemented his status as a powerful Queer Icon through his extraordinary talent, groundbreaking career achievements, and unwavering commitment to activism and authentic self-expression. He is a multi-hyphenate artist—an acclaimed actor, singer, and performer—whose visibility as an openly gay Black man has helped reshape the landscape of mainstream media and culture.

​Redefining Representation and Achievement

​Porter's career includes significant milestones that have broken barriers for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly for queer Black men.

• ​Emmy-Winning Role in Pose: His transformative portrayal of Pray Tell, the resident emcee and father figure in the hit TV series Pose, earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2019. This made him the first openly gay Black man to be nominated for and win in any lead acting category at the Primetime Emmys. The show itself was groundbreaking for centering the lives of queer people of color during the 1980s ballroom culture and AIDS pandemic.

• ​Broadway Success: Porter's star turn as the drag queen Lola in the Broadway musical Kinky Boots won him the 2013 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical, a role he credits with helping him confront toxic masculinity and embrace his feminine side.

​Fashion as Activism

​Beyond his artistic roles, Porter utilizes his public platform—most notably the red carpet—as a form of activism. He consciously uses fashion to challenge rigid gender norms and promote a more fluid understanding of gender expression.

• ​His highly publicized, often sensational, ensembles—such as the tuxedo gown he wore to the 2019 Oscars—are intentional acts of political art designed to spark conversations about the idea that "clothes do not have a gender."

• ​He has articulated his view that his visibility and style is a "cultural moment" with the potential to transform and change the conversation around gender and self-expression.

​Lifelong Activism and Advocacy

​Porter's influence extends far beyond entertainment and fashion. He has used his success to advocate for numerous social causes, embodying the spirit of a true icon.

• ​His activism, which started in his late teens with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, includes voicing support for the Black Lives Matter movement, HIV/AIDS awareness, and the LGBTQ+ community.

• ​He has received the GLAAD Vito Russo award and the Elizabeth Taylor Commitment to End AIDS award for his significant efforts in promoting equality and awareness.

• ​Porter openly discusses the homophobia he faced early in his music career, highlighting the systemic challenges and demonstrating his perseverance in living as his "full self," turning his queerness from a perceived liability into his superpower.

​Porter's legacy is one of fierce talent and a defiant passion for visibility, inspiring queer youth of color and challenging audiences to rethink traditional notions of identity and gender.  

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III. Dominique Jackson: The Fierce Legacy of a Queer Icon

​Dominique Jackson, the electrifying force behind Elektra Abundance Evangelista Wintour in FX’s groundbreaking series Pose, is more than just an actress—she is a true queer icon whose journey embodies resilience, glamour, and relentless advocacy.

​From Ballroom Legend to Hollywood Star

​Jackson's iconic status is deeply rooted in her real-life history within the New York City ballroom scene. Before her television breakthrough, she was a celebrated "Icon" in ball culture, which became a foundational experience for survival, community, and empowerment after she fled discrimination in her native Trinidad and Tobago. This personal history made her portrayal of the ambitious, yet complex, house mother Elektra on Pose deeply authentic and powerful, cementing her place as a visible Black trans woman on a global stage.

​Unwavering Activism and Visibility

​Her impact extends far beyond the screen. Jackson leverages her platform to be a fierce advocate for transgender rights and social change. She is recognized for:

• ​Elevating Trans Stories: Her celebrated role in Pose and appearances in documentaries like Visible: The LGBTQ Caribbean Diaspora have powerfully brought the experiences of Black trans women of color—and the history of ballroom—into the mainstream.

• ​Community Work: Jackson actively serves as an ambassador and leader for organizations like the Hetrick-Martin Institute and Garden State Equality, focusing on providing support and mentorship to queer and trans youth.

• ​Sharing Her Truth: In her memoir, The Transsexual from Tobago, she candidly shares her struggles with homelessness, discrimination, and mental health, making her personal story a beacon of hope and strength for others navigating similar challenges.

​Dominique Jackson’s determination to be seen, heard, and celebrated—in a world often hostile to Black trans women—is the essence of her iconic status. She is a testament to the power of self-love, and a shining symbol of hope for the next generation of the queer community.

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IV. Lena Waithe: A Trailblazing Queer Icon in Media

​Lena Waithe stands as a powerful queer icon, whose work as an actress, producer, and screenwriter has significantly advanced LGBTQ+ representation in media. As an openly Black queer woman, her presence and creative output challenge traditional norms and provide vital visibility for marginalized identities.

​Breaking Barriers

• ​Emmy Award History: Waithe became the first African-American woman to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in 2017 for the Master of None episode "Thanksgiving," a story loosely based on her personal experience of coming out as a lesbian. During her acceptance speech, she sent a special message to her LGBTQIA family, stating: "The things that make us different—those are our superpowers."

• ​Visibility on Covers: She was featured on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine, becoming the first Black queer woman to do so since November 2003, showcasing a masculine-presenting Black woman on a major mainstream publication.

​Championing Diverse Narratives

​Waithe consistently uses her platform to champion stories that reflect the complexity of the Black and queer experience:

• ​Creator of Influential Series: She is the creator of the drama series The Chi and the comedy series Twenties. The latter features the first Black butch lead protagonist on television, contributing groundbreaking representation.

• ​Inclusivity Advocacy: Waithe frequently advocates for unity within the LGBTQ+ community, specifically naming the need to embrace the intersex, asexual, and non-binary communities. She has stated, "I don't want to separate myself from my trans family, my nonbinary, bisexual [family]," emphasizing the importance of the term "queer" as a unifying umbrella.

• ​Supporting Queer and PoC Creators: Through her work and production company, she actively aims to support projects that provide marginalized storytellers, including QTIPOC (Queer, Trans, and Intersex People of Color) artists, with access to the industry.

​Her career is a testament to the power of authentic storytelling, making her an undeniable trailblazer and a cherished queer icon.