For Black women, representation is crucial. It’s important they see themselves in media, art and within the queer community. While it’s a brave and radical act to be openly gay, there are many queer Black women who choose to be authentically themselves despite it all.
Here are 8 Black lesbian celebrities who stand in their queer identity loud and proud. Their resilience is proof that being yourself is always the better choice.
Wanda Sykes
Comedian and actress Wanda Sykes married her wife, Alex Sykes, in 2008. She publicly came out as a lesbian in 2008 during a rally for same-sex marriage in Las Vegas, revealing her sexuality after the passage of California’s Proposition 8. In an interview with “The New York Times,” Sykes shared that her coming out was partly due to her desire to speak out against the discrimination surrounding LGBTQ+ rights and same-sex marriage. She now shares twins with her partner.
Raven Symoné
“That’s So Raven” actress Raven Symoné came out in 2013 on Twitter. In response to rumors about her sexuality, she wrote: “I’m Raven-Symoné, and I’m proud to be me and a lesbian!” She went on to discuss her sexuality more openly in interviews, sharing that she had been open about her identity in her personal life, but chose to make it public when she felt the time was right. Symoné is now married to Miranda Maday, whom she cohosts a weekly podcast with.
Kehlani
While R&B songstress Kehlani first came out as bisexual in 2017, she later clarified in 2018 that she identified as lesbian. She’s been vocal about her journey with sexual identity, explaining that her bisexuality didn’t feel true to who she was. Kehlani has since infused her gay identity into her music, being candid about the importance of self-discovery. Kehlani has had several public relationships with men, women, and non-binary people, sharing a daughter with her ex-partner, Javie Young-White.
Cynthia Erivo
“Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo, an award-winning actress and singer, has spoken openly about her sexuality. Currently in a partnership with comedian Lena Waithe, Erivo has been candid in interviews and social media about her identity as a queer woman. She has shared that her sexual orientation is a part of who she is, though she prefers not to put labels on her sexuality unless necessary.
Amandla Stenberg
Actress Amandla Stenberg came out as queer in 2016. In an interview with “Teen Vogue,” the “Hunger Games” star shared that they had been exploring their sexual identity from a young age and felt a strong connection to the LGBTQ+ community. Stenberg later identified as non-binary, using they/them pronouns. Stenberg has been romantically linked to singer King Princess, though they’ve managed to keep their relationship relatively private.
Robin Roberts
Journalist and “Good Morning America” anchor Robin Roberts came out publicly in 2013 on Facebook. In the post, she acknowledged her long-time partner, Amber Laign, who she had been in a relationship with since the early 2000s. Roberts had previously hinted at her sexuality but chose to make it public after recovering from a life-threatening illness and realizing the significance of living authentically. In 2023, Roberts and Laign announced their engagement.
Syd
Syd, the lead singer of The Internet, came out as a lesbian in 2016. She never strays from using female pronouns in her love songs, sharing in an interview with “Noisey” that she felt it was important to be honest about who she is, both for herself and for her fans. She also shared that she had always been open about her gay identity, even before she had spoken about it publicly.
Janelle Monáe
R&B innovator Janelle Monáe came out as pansexual in 2018 during an interview with “Rolling Stone,” finding herself in many rumored relationships with fellow women. In fact, she was rumored to be in a relationship with actress Tessa Thompson, though neither has publicly confirmed the relationship. Monáe also identified as non-binary, being an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, fluid sexuality and gender expression.