This year marks the 50th annual celebration of Pride Month, and while there is much to celebrate, there is still a lot of important work to be done. This year serves as a perfect time to reflect on the origins of this historic month, and pay homage to those who fought for the rights today. In light of continued instances of racial injustice, it’s important to acknowledge that without the work of key Black activists, the LGBTQ+ community would not be where it is today. This month, we shine a light on Black activists who fought for the rights of the LGBTQ+ community.

James Baldwin

The American novelist is one of the most prominent literary figures of the 20th century, known for exploring the intricacies and intersection of race, sexual identity, and class in Western society.

Miss Major

A longtime community leader for transgender rights, particularly for women of color, she was the Executive Director for the Transgender Variant Intersex Justice Project, which assists transgender individuals in the prison system.

Audre Lorde

A self-described “black, lesbian, feminist, mother, poet, warrior” has been a longtime champion of intersectionality. With her work Zami: A New Spelling of my Name, she explored her identity with a large audience.

Marlon Riggs

A filmmaker and gay rights activist, his work presented authentic representations of race and sexuality in America.

Angela Davis

A historic political activist, educator, and author, she continues to advocate for gender equity, prison reform, and racial justice.

Alice Walker

Best known for her work The Color Purple, which earned her a Pulitzer Prize, the author gave birth to the ‘womanist’ term that includes advocacy for women of color in the feminist movement.

Anita Cornwell

The author and journalist wrote the first collection of essays by an African-American lesbian, Black Lesbian in White America.

Gloria Jean Watkins

Also known by her pen name Bell Hooks, she has published countless notable books and articles addressing race, class, gender, and sexuality through an informal writing style that made her work inclusive and accessible to everyone while challenging the education system.

Marsha P. Johnson

One of the most influential leaders in the gay rights movement, she was one of the leading figures in the Stonewall Riots, and a founding member of the Street Tranvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) organization.

Gladys Bentley

A prominent performer during the Harlem Renaissance, the androgynous performer was one of the most famous Black entertainers of the 20th century.

Roxane Gay

A professor and social commentator known for her collection of essays Bad Feminist, she currently serves as a contributing writer to The New York Times.