Black History Month: Honoring Black LGBTQ+ Leaders Who Changed History

Black History Month is a time to honor the leaders, visionaries, and change-makers who shaped our nation. It is also an opportunity to tell the full story — including the Black LGBTQ+ individuals whose courage, creativity, and resilience expanded civil rights, human dignity, and freedom for all.

For too long, many of these leaders were marginalized or erased because of who they loved or how they identified. Today, we honor them openly, because Black history is LGBTQ+ history, and visibility matters.

Bayard Rustin: The Architect Behind the Movement

Bayard Rustin was one of the most influential — and least acknowledged — leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. A brilliant strategist and advocate of nonviolent resistance, Rustin was the chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his historic “I Have a Dream” speech.

Rustin was also a gay Black man, and his sexuality was often used to sideline him, even as his leadership was indispensable. Despite this, he remained committed to justice, human rights, and equality across race, class, and identity.

Rustin’s legacy reminds us that progress is often built by those willing to lead from the shadows — and that justice must be inclusive to be lasting.

 Audre Lorde: Giving Language to Identity and Healing

Lorde was a Black lesbian poet, writer, and activist whose work gave voice to experiences many were afraid to name. She wrote unapologetically about racism, sexism, homophobia, illness, motherhood, and survival, insisting that silence was not an option.

Her famous assertion — “There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle” — continues to guide movements today. Lorde believed that embracing our differences was essential to collective liberation, and that healing and resistance were deeply connected.

Her words remain a source of strength for Black, LGBTQ+, feminist, and recovery communities alike.

Marsha P. Johnson: Radical Love in Action

Marsha P. Johnson was a Black transgender woman, activist, and trailblazer in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. She was a central figure in the Stonewall Uprising of 1969, a turning point that ignited the modern LGBTQ+ liberation movement.

Marsha co-founded STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries), an organization that provided housing and support to unhoused transgender and queer youth — long before such services were widely recognized as necessary.

Her life embodied radical compassion. She fought not only for visibility, but for survival, dignity, and community care — values that continue to inspire advocacy and recovery work today.

James Baldwin: Telling the Truth America Avoided

James Baldwin was a gay Black author and essayist whose writing forced America to confront uncomfortable truths about race, sexuality, faith, and power. Through novels like Giovanni’s Room and essays such as The Fire Next Time, Baldwin exposed the emotional and moral costs of hatred and exclusion.

Baldwin wrote with fierce honesty and deep empathy, challenging readers to examine not only society, but themselves. His work remains profoundly relevant in conversations about identity, justice, and belonging.

His legacy reminds us that storytelling is a form of resistance — and that truth, though difficult, is transformative.

Stormé DeLarverie: Standing Up When It Counted

DeLarverie was a Black lesbian activist and performer, widely credited with playing a key role in sparking the Stonewall resistance. Known for her courage and refusal to be silenced, she later became a fierce protector of LGBTQ+ community members in New York City.

Often described as the “guardian of lesbians,” Stormé embodied everyday activism — showing up, speaking out, and defending others long after the spotlight faded.

Her life is a testament to the power of standing your ground, even when the odds are against you.

Why This History Matters Today

Honoring Black LGBTQ+ leaders is not just about the past — it’s about the present and future. Their lives reflect the importance of inclusion, chosen family, resilience, and dignity, especially for those navigating recovery, healing, and systemic barriers.

When we tell these stories, we affirm that:

• Black LGBTQ+ lives matter

• Representation saves lives

• Liberation is collective

This Black History Month, we celebrate these leaders — and we honor the Black LGBTQ+ individuals living, loving, and leading today.

At Just Living Recovery, we believe everyone deserves a safe, affirming place to heal and thrive. This month — and every month — we stand for inclusion, compassion, and community.