Leilah Babirye Biography Born in Kampala, Uganda, in 1985, Babirye studied Fine Art, Sculpture and Art History at Makerere University from 2007 to 2011. She became involved in Uganda's LGBTQ+ community and fled Uganda in 2015 after being publicly outed in a local newspaper. She was granted asylum in the United States in 2018 and is now based in Brooklyn. Babirye works primarily with wood, ceramics, metal, rubber, paint, and discarded materials. Her sculptures draw on African mask traditions and Buganda clan traditions to imagine queer communities and histories. Her use of discarded materials also connects to derogatory language used against LGBTQ+ people in Uganda, including a Luganda term associated with sugarcane husks. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Whitney Museum of American Art, Public Art Fund, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and the 2024 Venice Biennale. BQW Impact Babirye's work places queer Ugandan experiences and cultural histories within contemporary art. Her sculptures draw on Buganda clan traditions and transform discarded materials into figures representing queer identity, community, dignity, and belonging. Her practice also connects personal experience with broader LGBTQ+ and human-rights concerns. By creating imagined queer clans and lineages, Babirye reimagines cultural connections while challenging the exclusion and stigma experienced by LGBTQ+ people in Uganda. Notable Works Nansamba II from the Kuchu Ngabi (2021) Glazed ceramic sculpture incorporating bicycle tire inner tubes and found objects as part of Babirye's Kuchu clan series. Nagirinya from the Kuchu Ngo (2021) Ceramic portrait sculpture incorporating waste rubber tubing and other materials to address the experience of LGBTQ+ people in Uganda. Kuchu Ndagamuntu (2021) Acrylic paintings on paper that imagine queer Ugandan identities through portrait-like figures inspired by identity cards and ancestral Buganda clans. Agali Awamu (2022) Monumental wood sculptures incorporating metal, bicycle parts, and found and altered objects that Babirye describes as beacons of freedom welcoming an international LGBTQ+ community. Learn More Public Art Fund Institutional biography and information about Babirye's public-art commissions and exhibitions. Stephen Friedman Gallery Gallery biography and documentation of Babirye's sculptures, exhibitions, and artistic practice. Socrates Sculpture Park Artist profile documenting Babirye's practice, Tuli Mukwano , and professional Instagram account. Leilah Babirye on Instagram Babirye's professional Instagram account, identified by Socrates Sculpture Park and other art-world sources. Previous Next

Crystal Cheatham Biography Crystal Cheatham grew up in Cochranville, Pennsylvania, in a Seventh-day Adventist environment and developed an early connection to music and church life. She later became a singer-songwriter and creative writer, graduating from Andrews University in 2009 with an English degree before earning an MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University Los Angeles. Her experience of coming out as a lesbian within a conservative religious environment became an important influence on her subsequent work. Beginning in the early 2010s, Cheatham combined writing with LGBTQ+ activism, working with organizations including Soulforce and The Attic Youth Center. She developed the IDentity Kit Project, which provided educational resources addressing gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, and spirituality in religious environments. She also served as an editor on On The Couch With Dr. Angello: A Guide to Raising and Supporting Transgender Youth , published in 2013. Cheatham expanded this work through Our Bible App, which officially launched in 2016 as a digital resource and community platform for people seeking alternatives to exclusionary Christian media. She later hosted Lord Have Mercy and co-edited The Deconstructionists Playbook and Queer Hands of God . She was included in ESSENCE's 2018 Woke 100 and the 2021 GMA Inspiration List. Her current professional record includes serving as Director of Communications at The Festival Center, while Our Bible identifies her as Founder and CEO. BQW Impact Cheatham's work is significant to Black queer communities because she has addressed the intersection of Black identity, lesbian identity, and Christian faith through advocacy and community infrastructure. She has publicly described herself as Black and lesbian and connected those identities directly to her motivation for creating resources that reflected people whose experiences were often absent from traditional Christian media. Through the IDentity Kit, Our Bible App, and her publishing work, Cheatham has created resources and platforms centered on LGBTQ+ experiences within progressive faith communities. Her documented activism with organizations including Soulforce, the Human Rights Campaign, and Equality Pennsylvania further connects her work to LGBTQ+ inclusion, religious liberty, and efforts to create more affirming religious spaces. Notable Works The IDentity Kit: For Queer Christian Youth (2012) A resource addressing gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, and spirituality for LGBTQ+ young people. On The Couch With Dr. Angello: A Guide to Raising and Supporting Transgender Youth (2013) A guide by Dr. Michele Angello addressing support for transgender youth, with Cheatham credited as editor. Best Piece of Me (2014) An album documenting Cheatham's work as a singer-songwriter and an earlier stage of her creative career. Our Bible App (2016) A digital faith and community platform founded by Cheatham to provide affirming biblical, devotional, media, and community resources for people marginalized within traditional Christian spaces. The Deconstructionists Playbook (2021) An anthology co-edited by Cheatham and Theresa Ta that brings together devotional writing exploring faith deconstruction, reconstruction, social justice, and liberation. Queer Hands of God (2021) An anthology co-edited by Cheatham and Adam Evers featuring stories from LGBTQ+ people about faith, community, care, and belonging. Learn More Crystal Cheatham Cheatham's official biography provides an overview of her activism, entrepreneurship, writing, podcasting, and major projects. Our Bible App The official site provides information about the platform Cheatham founded and its approach to progressive Christian community and resources. The Festival Center The organization's staff profile documents Cheatham's professional role and provides additional biographical context. Philadelphia Inquirer The profile provides background on Cheatham's upbringing, Philadelphia work, coming-out experience, and development of Our Bible App. Previous Next

Amaarae Biography Amaarae is a Ghanaian-American singer, songwriter, producer, and creative director whose genre-defying music has helped reshape the global sound of contemporary African pop. Raised between Ghana and the United States, she developed a distinctive style that blends Afropop, alternative R&B, hip-hop, dancehall, and electronic music. Her ethereal vocals, experimental production, and fashion-forward visual identity have established her as one of the most innovative artists of her generation. Following early independent releases, Amaarae gained international recognition with her debut studio album, The Angel You Don't Know (2020), which featured the breakout hit "SAD GIRLZ LUV MONEY." Following its remix featuring Kali Uchis, the song made Amaarae the first Ghanaian solo artist to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Her second studio album, Fountain Baby (2023), received widespread critical acclaim for its boundary-pushing production and celebration of African creativity. Beyond music, Amaarae has become an influential voice for artistic freedom, gender expression, and LGBTQ+ visibility. Openly identifying as queer, she has challenged expectations surrounding identity and creativity within African popular culture while inspiring a new generation of artists to embrace individuality and self-expression. BQW Impact Amaarae has expanded the global reach of African popular music while creating greater visibility for queer artists within the industry. Through her innovative sound, distinctive visual style, and unapologetic authenticity, she has challenged conventional ideas about gender, sexuality, and artistic expression. Her work continues to influence emerging musicians and demonstrates how Black queer artists can shape global culture without compromising their identities. Notable Works Passionfruit Summers (2017) EP that established Amaarae as an emerging voice in alternative African music. The Angel You Don't Know (2020) Debut studio album that introduced Amaarae's genre-blending sound to an international audience. SAD GIRLZ LUV MONEY (2020) International hit that became Amaarae's first Billboard Hot 100-charting single following its remix with Kali Uchis. Fountain Baby (2023) Critically acclaimed album celebrated for its innovative production and global influence on contemporary Afropop. roses are red, tears are blue (2024) EP expanding the sonic world of Fountain Baby while further showcasing Amaarae's experimental approach to pop and R&B. Learn More Official Website Explore Amaarae's official website featuring music, tour dates, merchandise, and news. Music Browse Amaarae's albums, EPs, singles, and latest releases. Spotify – Amaarae Listen to Amaarae's complete discography, featured releases, and latest music. Pitchfork – Amaarae Explore reviews, interviews, and critical coverage of Amaarae's music and artistic evolution. Instagram (@amaarae) Follow Amaarae's official Instagram for updates on music, fashion, performances, and creative projects. Previous Next

Dionne Brand Biography Born in Guayaguayare, Trinidad, Dionne Brand moved to Canada at seventeen and established a major literary career in Toronto. She studied English and Philosophy at the University of Toronto and later earned a master's degree in Philosophy of Education from the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Her early work developed alongside Black community organizing, anti-racist activism, and engagement with Black women's writing and political movements in Canada. Brand established herself as a major poet through collections including No Language Is Neutral , Land to Light On , thirsty , Inventory , and Ossuaries . She has also written acclaimed fiction and nonfiction, including In Another Place, Not Here , At the Full and Change of the Moon , What We All Long For , A Map to the Door of No Return , and The Blue Clerk . Her writing examines displacement, Black identity, gender, sexuality, memory, nation, and the lasting effects of colonialism. Her creative practice extends into documentary filmmaking, editing, criticism, and education. Brand has created documentary work for the National Film Board of Canada and has held academic and editorial positions, including University Professor Emerita at the University of Guelph. She served as Toronto's Poet Laureate from 2009 to 2012 and was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2017. Her later work, including Nomenclature: New and Collected Poems and Salvage: Readings from the Wreck , continues her exploration of language, history, literature, colonialism, race, and Black consciousness. BQW Impact Dionne Brand is a foundational Black lesbian literary voice whose work has shaped contemporary conversations about Black womanhood, queer identity, diaspora, migration, race, gender, and belonging. Her writing has placed Black women's experiences and intellectual perspectives at the center of Canadian, Caribbean, and diasporic literary conversations. Her career is particularly significant to the BQW archive because she has connected literary expression with Black feminist thought, queer experience, political consciousness, and diasporic memory across poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and film. Her body of work provides an important record of Black queer women's contributions to literature, cultural criticism, education, and public life. Notable Works Land to Light On (1997) Award-winning collection exploring migration, displacement, race, identity, and belonging. At the Full and Change of the Moon (1999) Expansive Caribbean novel tracing generations, slavery, migration, family, and historical memory. A Map to the Door of No Return (2001) Influential meditation on African diaspora, geography, memory, history, and the search for belonging. Ossuaries (2010) Novel-length poem exploring political history, displacement, memory, and the lives of people shaped by violence and migration. Salvage: Readings from the Wreck (2024) Literary and autobiographical work examining colonial literature, empire, race, reading, and Black consciousness. Learn More Penguin Random House Canada Author biography and bibliography covering her poetry, fiction, nonfiction, awards, and publishing history. Canadian Poetry Online University of Toronto literary resource containing biography, publications, criticism, and additional materials. Poetry Foundation Literary resource covering her poetry, career, documentary work, and recognition. Governor General of Canada Official Canadian record documenting her appointment to the Order of Canada and her contributions to literature. Library and Archives Canada Archival resource documenting her literary career, filmmaking, activism, awards, and professional history. Previous Next

adrienne maree brown Biography adrienne maree brown is an American writer, facilitator, movement strategist, podcaster, and multidisciplinary artist whose work explores how individual, relational, and collective practices can contribute to social transformation. Her writing spans fiction, nonfiction, poetry, spells, and tarot, while her broader practice includes music, podcasting, somatics, and doula work. Her work is informed by more than two decades of social and environmental justice facilitation, Black liberation organizing, visionary fiction, and transformative justice. Brown is the author and editor of influential works including Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds , Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good , We Will Not Cancel Us , Holding Change , Fables and Spells , Loving Corrections , and the Grievers speculative fiction trilogy. Across these works, she examines emergence, pleasure, accountability, healing, relationships, imagination, and collective liberation. In 2017, brown founded the Emergent Strategy Ideation Institute (ESII), a collective exploring how to build more generative relationships with change. She currently serves as ESII's writer-in-residence. Brown also has an extensive audio and performance practice. She co-hosts How to Survive the End of the World with Autumn Brown and has been involved with Octavia's Parables and the Emergent Strategy Podcast . Her creative work also includes songwriting, singing, ritual performance, and tarot. After living in New York, Oakland, and Detroit, brown settled in Durham, North Carolina. Detroit remains an important part of her personal, organizing, and creative history. BQW Impact adrienne maree brown has profoundly influenced Black queer feminist thought by integrating transformative justice, healing, and speculative imagination into contemporary movement building. Her writing has provided organizers, educators, artists, and community leaders with practical frameworks for sustainable activism rooted in care, interdependence, and joy. Through books, podcasts, facilitation, and public engagement, she has helped redefine how communities approach liberation, accountability, and collective transformation. Notable Works Maroons: Rebels, Communities, and Slave Resistance (2015) Explores histories of Black resistance and their relevance to contemporary organizing and liberation movements. Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds (2017) Introduces a framework for adaptive organizing inspired by nature, complexity, and social movements. Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good (2019) Examines pleasure, healing, and desire as essential components of liberation and social justice. We Will Not Cancel Us (2020) Reflects on accountability, cancel culture, and transformative justice within movement spaces. Holding Change: The Way of Emergent Strategy Facilitation and Mediation (2021) Practical guide to facilitation, conflict transformation, and collaborative leadership. Learn More Official Website Explore adrienne maree brown's official website featuring books, essays, podcasts, events, newsletters, and current projects. AK Press Author Page Browse brown's published books, author biography, and related resources from one of her primary publishers. Wikipedia adrienne maree brown Read an overview of her life, publications, activism, awards, and career. Emergent Strategy Ideation Institute Learn about the organization advancing the principles and practices of emergent strategy through education and community collaboration. Instagram (@adriennemaree) Follow adrienne maree brown's official Instagram for writing, movement work, speaking engagements, and community updates. Previous Next

Sonya Renee Taylor Biography Sonya Renee Taylor is an American poet, author, activist, educator, and performance artist whose work explores the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, body image, disability justice, and collective liberation. Raised in Richmond, Virginia, and later based in Oakland, California, she has become one of the leading voices in the contemporary body liberation movement through her writing, public scholarship, and community organizing. Her work encourages individuals and institutions alike to challenge systems of oppression while embracing radical self-love as a foundation for social transformation. Taylor is the founder of The Body Is Not an Apology, an international movement and nonprofit organization dedicated to radical self-love and body liberation. Through workshops, educational resources, and global community engagement, the organization promotes a vision of liberation that addresses racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia, transphobia, fatphobia, and other intersecting forms of oppression. She is the author of the bestselling nonfiction book The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love , which has become a foundational text within body liberation and social justice movements. Her other published works include The Book of Radical Answers: Real Questions from Real People Answered by Sonya Renee Taylor , Your Body Is Not an Apology Workbook , and the poetry collection A Little Truth on Your Shirt . As an openly queer writer and activist, Taylor continues to inspire audiences worldwide through books, performances, lectures, and advocacy that center healing, accountability, and collective liberation. BQW Impact Sonya Renee Taylor has transformed conversations about body image by framing body liberation as an issue of racial, gender, disability, economic, and queer justice rather than individual self-esteem. Her work has helped redefine how educators, activists, healthcare professionals, and community leaders approach healing, equity, and belonging. As an openly queer Black woman, Taylor has created spaces where marginalized communities can examine the connections between personal healing and systemic change. Through literature, education, and activism, she has helped build an international movement that continues to influence conversations about justice, dignity, and collective care. Notable Works The Body Is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love (2018) Influential bestselling book introducing Taylor's philosophy of radical self-love and body liberation as pathways toward collective justice. Your Body Is Not an Apology Workbook (2021) Practical companion to The Body Is Not an Apology, offering reflective exercises that help readers apply the principles of radical self-love in everyday life. The Book of Radical Answers: Real Questions from Real People Answered by Sonya Renee Taylor (2023) Collection of essays and reflections addressing questions about justice, healing, identity, relationships, and social transformation. A Little Truth on Your Shirt Poetry exploring identity, love, resilience, justice, and the complexities of living authentically in an unequal world. The Body Is Not an Apology International nonprofit organization promoting radical self-love, body liberation, and intersectional justice through education, advocacy, and community engagement. Learn More Official Website Explore Sonya Renee Taylor's official website featuring her books, speaking engagements, educational resources, and current projects. The Body Is Not an Apology Learn about the global organization founded by Taylor and its work advancing radical self-love and body liberation. Wikipedia Read an overview of her life, publications, activism, and contributions to body liberation and social justice. Instagram Follow Sonya Renee Taylor for updates on writing, advocacy, public events, and community initiatives. Previous Next

Mia McKenzie Biography Mia McKenzie is an American writer and activist who was born and raised in Philadelphia and was based in the Bay Area during the period when she created and developed Black Girl Dangerous. She studied writing at the University of Pittsburgh and has received the Astraea Foundation Writers Fund Award and the Leeway Foundation Transformation Award. Her debut novel, The Summer We Got Free , won the 2013 Lambda Literary Award for Debut Fiction. In 2012, McKenzie created Black Girl Dangerous, an online blog and forum for creative and political expression that amplified the voices of queer and trans writers of color. The project grew into a widely read media platform and later developed into Black Girl Dangerous Media, an independent media and education project centered on queer Black women and girls. McKenzie's writing has appeared in publications including The Kenyon Review , McSweeney's Quarterly Concern , and make/shift . Her later books include the essay collection Black Girl Dangerous on Race, Queerness, Class and Gender and the novels Skye Falling and These Heathens . Skye Falling won the 2022 Lambda Literary Award. Published in 2025, These Heathens is set in 1960 Georgia and follows a seventeen-year-old girl who travels to Atlanta seeking an abortion, encountering questions of autonomy, community, race, and queer life during the Civil Rights Movement. BQW Impact McKenzie has contributed to Black queer literary and media culture by creating spaces where queer Black women, girls, and other QTBIPOC writers could publish their experiences and perspectives. Through Black Girl Dangerous, she helped build a platform for writing about race, gender, sexuality, class, and social justice from intersectional perspectives. Her fiction and essays extend that work into literature, centering Black and queer characters and exploring autonomy, community, family, desire, and belonging. Her work connects literary storytelling with community-building and political analysis, contributing to the visibility and documentation of Black queer histories and contemporary experiences. Notable Works The Summer We Got Free (2012) Debut novel exploring Black womanhood, family, sexuality, trauma, and liberation; it won the 2013 Lambda Literary Award for Debut Fiction. Black Girl Dangerous (2012) Online blog and media platform created by McKenzie that amplified the voices of queer and trans writers of color. Black Girl Dangerous on Race, Queerness, Class and Gender (2014) Collection examining race, queerness, class, gender, and intersecting systems of oppression. The Solidarity Struggle (2016) Collection edited by McKenzie examining how people of color navigate solidarity, difference, and collective struggle in movements for freedom. Skye Falling (2021) Novel exploring family, responsibility, love, race, queerness, and community; it won the 2022 Lambda Literary Award. These Heathens (2025) Historical novel set in 1960 Georgia, following a seventeen-year-old girl who travels to Atlanta seeking an abortion while encountering questions of autonomy, community, race, and queer life during the Civil Rights Movement. Learn More Mia McKenzie's Official Website Creator-maintained biography, bibliography, and information about McKenzie's writing and current work. Black Girl Dangerous Project history documenting McKenzie's creation of Black Girl Dangerous and its development as a platform for queer and trans writers of color. Penn State African American Studies: Black Girl Dangerous Institutional profile documenting McKenzie's Philadelphia background, writing studies at the University of Pittsburgh, queer Black feminist identity, and creation of Black Girl Dangerous. Instagram: @miamckenzie00 McKenzie's Instagram account. Previous Next

Samira Wiley Biography Wiley graduated from The Juilliard School and began her professional acting career in theater before gaining wider recognition as Poussey Washington on Orange Is the New Black . She later played Moira Strand in The Handmaid's Tale , earning the 2018 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. Her screen work includes Detroit , Nerve , Social Animals , Breaking News in Yuba County , and Love, Death & Robots . Her theater credits include Daphne's Dive , Antigone in Ferguson , and Blues for an Alabama Sky at London's National Theatre. She also served as a co-producer of the Broadway production of Thoughts of a Colored Man . Wiley received the GLAAD Vito Russo Award in 2018 for her contribution to LGBTQ+ visibility and advocacy. In 2026, she starred as Claire in the Broadway revival of Proof . She also stars in the upcoming Sky action-adventure series Atomic . BQW Impact Wiley has contributed to the visibility of Black LGBTQ+ women in mainstream entertainment through her work as an openly LGBTQ+ actress and through prominent queer characters in television. Her performances as Poussey Washington in Orange Is the New Black and Moira Strand in The Handmaid's Tale placed LGBTQ+ women within widely viewed television narratives. Her public advocacy has also addressed LGBTQ+ visibility, acceptance, and the experiences of people of color. GLAAD honored her with the Vito Russo Award in 2018, recognizing her contribution to LGBTQ+ visibility and advocacy. Notable Works Orange Is the New Black (2013 - 2016) Wiley played Poussey Washington, a Black lesbian inmate whose story became one of the series' prominent LGBTQ+ narratives. The Handmaid's Tale (2017 - 2025) Wiley plays Moira Strand, a queer woman resisting the authoritarian society depicted in the series. The role earned her the 2018 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. Daphne's Dive (2016) Wiley starred in Lynn Nottage's play at Signature Theatre in New York. Thoughts of a Colored Man (2021) Wiley served as a co-producer of Keenan Scott II's Broadway play exploring the lives and experiences of Black men. Blues for an Alabama Sky (2022) Wiley played Angel Allen in Pearl Cleage's play at London's National Theatre. Proof (2026) Wiley starred as Claire in the Broadway revival of David Auburn's Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Learn More Hulu Press Official professional biography covering Wiley's television, film, theater, and producing credits. Television Academy Emmy biography and awards record, including Wiley's 2018 win for The Handmaid's Tale . GLAAD Official announcement of Wiley's 2018 Vito Russo Award and documentation of her LGBTQ+ visibility and advocacy. National Theatre Official production record for Blues for an Alabama Sky , documenting Wiley's role as Angel Allen in the 2022 London production. Previous Next

Linda Villarosa Biography Villarosa is a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine , where she covers race, inequality, health, and medicine. She previously edited the health pages of The New York Times and served twice as executive editor of Essence . She is a professor and journalist in residence at CUNY’s Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and teaches journalism, medicine, and Black Studies at The City College of New York. Her reporting has addressed health disparities, HIV/AIDS, environmental justice, and the effects of racism on Black communities. Her 2017 New York Times Magazine article, “America’s Hidden HIV Epidemic,” won an NLGJA Excellence in Journalism Award. Her 2018 cover story, “Why America’s Black Mothers and Babies Are in a Life-or-Death Crisis,” was a finalist for a National Magazine Award. She also contributed an essay on medical myths to The 1619 Project in 2019, later included in the 2021 book. Villarosa published her first novel, Passing for Black , in 2008. She also edited Body & Soul: The Black Women’s Guide to Physical Health and Emotional Well-Being . Her 2022 book, Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation , examined the relationship between racism, health, and the U.S. health-care system and was a finalist for the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction. BQW Impact Villarosa’s significance to BQW lies in the intersection of Black lesbian visibility, journalism, and public-interest storytelling. Her decades-long career has created space for Black experiences and LGBTQ+ issues within major American media institutions. NLGJA inducted her into its LGBTQ+ Journalists Hall of Fame in 2020, recognizing her contributions to journalism and her work covering Black women’s stories and HIV across the United States. Her reporting has connected individual health experiences to broader systems of racism and inequality. Through journalism, books, and teaching, Villarosa has contributed to public understanding of racial health disparities while bringing Black and LGBTQ+ perspectives into mainstream media and journalism education. Notable Works Body & Soul: The Black Women’s Guide to Physical Health and Emotional Well-Being (1994) Edited a health guide addressing the physical and emotional well-being of Black women. Passing for Black (2008) Published her first novel, exploring race, sexuality, identity, and family; it was nominated for a Lambda Literary Award. “America’s Hidden HIV Epidemic” (2017) Reported on the HIV epidemic among Black gay and bisexual men for The New York Times Magazine and received an NLGJA Excellence in Journalism Award. “Why America’s Black Mothers and Babies Are in a Life-or-Death Crisis” (2018) Reported on racial disparities in maternal and infant health and was a finalist for a National Magazine Award. The 1619 Project Contribution (2019) Contributed an essay examining medical myths to The New York Times’s 1619 Project, later included in the 2021 book. Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation (2022) Examined the effects of racism on Black health and the U.S. health-care system and was a finalist for the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction. Learn More Linda Villarosa Her official website provides her biography, journalism, books, current projects, and professional information. NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists Documents Villarosa’s induction into the LGBTQ+ Journalists Hall of Fame and her contributions to LGBTQ+ journalism. The Pulitzer Prizes Documents Under the Skin as a 2023 Pulitzer Prize finalist in General Nonfiction and provides information about the book. Columbia University Elders Project Provides an oral-history interview in which Villarosa discusses her life, journalism career, and experiences as a Black lesbian in New York. Instagram: @Linda_Villarosa Villarosa’s verified Instagram account. Previous Next

Barbara Smith Biography Barbara Smith emerged as a writer and activist during the Black feminist and lesbian feminist movements of the 1970s. She co-founded the Combahee River Collective in 1974 with Beverly Smith and Demita Frazier and was among the authors of the collective's influential 1977 statement addressing interconnected racial, gender, class, and sexual oppression. In 1980, Smith co-founded Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, creating an independent publishing space for women of color. Her writing and editorial work includes Toward a Black Feminist Criticism (1977) and Home Girls: A Black Feminist Anthology (1983), which became important works in Black feminist literary and political thought. Smith also served two terms on the Albany Common Council from 2006 to 2013 and has continued her work as an author, activist, independent scholar, and movement educator. Her personal papers were acquired by Harvard's Schlesinger Library in 2026, where the collection is being processed for future public research. BQW Impact Barbara Smith is a foundational figure in Black feminist and lesbian history. Through the Combahee River Collective and Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, she helped create spaces for Black feminist and Black lesbian perspectives within political organizing, scholarship, and publishing. Her writing and activism connected race, gender, class, and sexuality in ways that continue to influence Black feminist and queer movements. Her work helped establish a lasting intellectual and cultural foundation for Black queer women. Notable Works Toward a Black Feminist Criticism (1977) Foundational essay establishing a framework for Black women's literary criticism. The Combahee River Collective Statement (1977) Collective work by the Combahee River Collective, with Smith among its credited authors, addressing interconnected racial, gender, class, and sexual oppression. Home Girls: A Black Feminist Anthology (1983) Influential anthology edited by Smith and published through Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press. Learn More Barbara Smith Official Website Official information about Smith's life, writing, activism, publications, and movement history. Home Girls: A Black Feminist Anthology Publisher information for Smith's influential anthology. Smith College Voices of Feminism Oral History Project Oral-history transcript documenting Smith's activism and writing. Harvard Radcliffe Schlesinger Library Information on the 2026 acquisition of Smith's papers and its ongoing processing. Previous Next

Val Kalende Biography Val Kalende is a Ugandan human rights advocate and LGBTQ+ activist whose work has contributed to the development of organized lesbian and LGBTQ+ advocacy in Uganda. She was a founding member of Freedom and Roam Uganda (FARUG), one of Uganda's earliest organizations dedicated to advancing the rights, visibility, and well-being of lesbian, bisexual, and queer women. Through grassroots organizing, public education, writing, and international advocacy, Kalende became a prominent voice on discrimination, violence, and human rights affecting LGBTQ+ people in Uganda. Kalende's advocacy extended beyond Uganda through her involvement with international human rights networks, including the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC), now Outright International. Her work and public speaking helped bring international attention to the experiences of LGBTQ+ Ugandans and to the challenges facing African LGBTQ+ movements. She also participated in advocacy opposing discriminatory legislation and policies targeting LGBTQ+ people in Uganda. Her public journey has included a significant and highly personal intersection of faith, sexuality, and identity. In 2018, Kalende publicly renounced her lesbian identity after becoming involved with evangelical Christianity and conversion-oriented teachings. In her 2022 first-person essay, Unchanged: A Lesbian Christian's Journey Through 'Ex-Gay' Life , she reflected on that period and explained that attempts to change her sexual orientation had not succeeded. She reaffirmed her identity as a lesbian while writing about faith, healing, conversion therapy, and the importance of acceptance. Her story provides a personal perspective on the pressures LGBTQ+ people can experience when sexuality and religious beliefs come into conflict. BQW Impact Val Kalende helped establish an early organizational foundation for lesbian advocacy in Uganda and brought greater visibility to the experiences of lesbian and queer women within the country's LGBTQ+ rights movement. Her international advocacy connected Ugandan LGBTQ+ organizing with broader human rights networks. Her personal journey has also contributed to conversations about the intersection of sexuality, faith, conversion therapy, and identity. By publicly documenting both her departure from and later reaffirmation of her lesbian identity, Kalende has provided a firsthand perspective on the pressures LGBTQ+ people can experience when sexuality and religious beliefs come into conflict. Notable Works Freedom and Roam Uganda (FARUG) Helped establish an organization dedicated to the rights, visibility, and well-being of lesbian, bisexual, and queer women in Uganda. International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) Participated in international advocacy and discussions concerning African LGBTQ+ movements and human rights. Unchanged: A Lesbian Christian’s Journey Through ‘Ex-Gay’ Life (2022) First-person essay reflecting on faith, conversion therapy, sexual orientation, and the reaffirmation of her lesbian identity. LGBTQ+ Rights Advocacy in Uganda Participated in advocacy opposing discrimination and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation affecting LGBTQ+ Ugandans. International Human Rights Writing & Speaking Used writing, public speaking, and advocacy to address LGBTQ+ rights, gender, sexuality, religion, and human rights. Learn More Freedom and Roam Uganda (FARUG) Learn about the organization Val Kalende co-founded to advance the rights and visibility of lesbian, bisexual, and queer women in Uganda. Outright International Explore the global human rights organization formerly known as the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission. Rights Africa – Unchanged: A Lesbian Christian's Journey Through Ex-Gay Life Read Kalende's first-person essay reflecting on faith, conversion therapy, and reclaiming her lesbian identity. Human Rights Watch – Uganda Explore reporting on the human rights landscape surrounding LGBTQ+ advocacy in Uganda and the context in which activists like Val Kalende have worked. Outright International – Africa Program Learn more about regional initiatives supporting LGBTQ+ rights across Africa through one of the international organizations with which Kalende has been associated. Previous Next

Irene Monroe Biography Born in Brooklyn in 1955, Monroe studied at Wellesley College and Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University before pursuing doctoral study at Harvard Divinity School as a Ford Foundation Fellow. Her ministry and public theology have examined the intersections of religion, race, sexuality, gender, and social justice. Monroe is a founding board member and member emeritus of the National Black Justice Coalition and has been involved with organizations including Equal Partners of Faith and Christian Lesbians Out. In 1998, she became the first African American lesbian Grand Marshal of Boston Pride. Her journalism has appeared in publications including The Boston Globe , The Advocate , and The Huffington Post . Her media work includes All Rev'd Up , a Boston Public Radio segment that began in 2013 and became a podcast in 2019. Monroe continues to work as a public theologian, writer, speaker, and Visiting Scholar in Boston University's Religion and Conflict Transformation Program. She also serves as the Boston voice for Detour's African American Heritage Trail. BQW Impact Monroe's work has helped create space for Black lesbian voices within religious and public conversations about justice. Her public theology challenges religious frameworks that reinforce racism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of exclusion while advocating for more inclusive communities. Her career also connects Black LGBTQ+ organizing, journalism, ministry, and public history. Through All Rev'd Up , her writing, and her organizational work, Monroe has brought conversations about faith, race, sexuality, and social justice to broader audiences. Notable Works All Rev'd Up (2013) Boston Public Radio segment exploring faith, race, culture, and social justice that expanded into a podcast in 2019. National Black Justice Coalition Monroe is a founding board member and member emeritus of the organization advocating for Black LGBTQ+ communities. “Coming Into Power: Taking Theology to the Streets” (2001) Essay articulating Monroe's approach to public theology and the intersections of faith, sexuality, and social justice. Detour African American Heritage Trail Monroe serves as the Boston voice for the trail, connecting African American history with public storytelling. Learn More Irene Monroe's Official Website Monroe's biography, writing, speaking work, and current projects. National Black Justice Coalition Documents Monroe's founding board role and emeritus status. GBH: All Rev'd Up Background on the radio and podcast project. Boston University Religion and Conflict Transformation Information about the program with which Monroe has been affiliated. Previous Next