Koleka Putuma Biography Born in Gqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth, South Africa, in 1993, Putuma studied Theatre and Performance at the University of Cape Town. Her practice spans poetry, theatre, performance, and creative production, with work addressing homophobia, womanhood, race, relationships, religion, and politics. Putuma's debut poetry collection, Collective Amnesia , was published in 2017 and won the 2018 Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry. Her literary and performance work includes No Easter Sunday for Queers , Hullo, Bu-Bye, Koko, Come In , We Have Everything We Need to Start Again , and the spoken-word album Can I Get a Witness? Putuma is the founder and director of Manyano Media, a multidisciplinary creative company that creates opportunities and platforms for Black queer women and other independent artists. The company works across theatre, film, readings, workshops, publishing, and other storytelling forms. BQW Impact Putuma's work places Black queer women's experiences at the center of contemporary South African literature and performance. Her poetry and theatre examine the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, religion, and history while creating space for Black queer perspectives. Her creative practice engages questions of visibility, memory, identity, and representation within contemporary South African society. Through Manyano Media, she extends that work into creative production and storytelling by Black queer women. Notable Works Collective Amnesia (2017) Putuma's debut collection exploring Blackness, womanhood, history, sexuality, religion, relationships, grief, and memory. No Easter Sunday for Queers (2019) Play exploring queer love, homophobia, Christianity, violence, and the relationship between scripture and lived experience. Hullo, Bu-Bye, Koko, Come In (2021) Poetry collection addressing Black femme erasure, identity, memory, and visibility. We Have Everything We Need to Start Again (2024) Poetry collection exploring identity, self-discovery, transitions, and navigating young adulthood. Learn More Koleka Putuma's Official Website Official information about Putuma's writing, theatre, poetry, creative practice, and current projects. African Poetry Book Fund Institutional information about Collective Amnesia , including its 2018 Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry. Sharjah Art Foundation Institutional artist profile documenting Putuma's literary and theatre practice, awards, and current work. Koleka Putuma on Instagram Putuma's verified professional Instagram account. Previous Next

Kim Jackson Biography Raised in rural South Carolina, Jackson studied at Furman University before earning a Master of Divinity from Emory University's Candler School of Theology. She became an Episcopal priest and has served as a college chaplain, consultant, preacher, and vicar at Church of the Common Ground, a parish in downtown Atlanta that co-creates church with people experiencing homelessness. In 2010, she became the Diocese of Atlanta's first Black openly LGBTQ+ priest. Jackson was elected to the Georgia State Senate in 2020, becoming Georgia's first out LGBTQ+ state senator. She represents District 41 and currently serves as Minority Whip. Her legislative work has included support for Black farmers and Pre-K programs, protections for survivors of domestic violence, stalking, and human trafficking, and advocacy concerning LGBTQ+ rights, voting rights, refugee and immigrant rights, and mental and maternal health. Jackson is also Senior Vice President of Programs at State Innovation Exchange (SiX). She and her family live on an urban farm in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Her work brings together political leadership, Episcopal ministry, community advocacy, and agriculture. BQW Impact Jackson's public leadership expands the visibility of Black lesbian and queer women in political and religious institutions. Her election created a historic place for openly LGBTQ+ representation in the Georgia State Senate, while her ministry connects faith leadership with service to people experiencing homelessness. Her legislative and advocacy work addresses issues affecting marginalized communities, including LGBTQ+ equality, voting access, refugee and immigrant rights, domestic violence, homelessness, and support for Black farmers. Her work demonstrates how queer Black women's leadership can operate across government, faith, and community institutions. Notable Works Georgia State Senate, District 41 Elected in 2020 as Georgia's first out LGBTQ+ state senator and reelected in 2024; currently serves as Minority Whip. Church of the Common Ground Episcopal ministry in downtown Atlanta that co-creates church with people experiencing homelessness. Address Confidentiality Program (SB 324) Legislation sponsored by Jackson that created a victim-centered address confidentiality program for survivors of stalking, domestic violence, dating violence, and human trafficking. God, Goats, and Government Podcast co-hosted by Jackson and Shereetha J. from 2021 to 2024 about faith, farming, government, and public service. Learn More Georgia State Senate, Kim Jackson Official legislative profile and current District 41 information. State Innovation Exchange, Kim Jackson Current professional biography and policy work. Kim Jackson for Georgia Campaign biography and legislative priorities. God, Goats, and Government Podcast featuring Jackson's conversations about faith, farming, government, and public service. Previous Next

Dai Burger Biography Dai Burger began her career as a dancer, including work as a backup dancer for Lil Mama. She later worked in fashion as a stylist at Patricia Field before transitioning into music. Her experiences across dance, fashion, and performance helped shape the distinctive visual and musical identity she brought to her work as an independent artist. Burger developed her music career through New York's independent and queer club scenes, releasing projects including Soft Serve , Bite the Burger , and Back in ya Mouf . Her music draws from hip-hop, house, Baltimore club, R&B, and other dance-oriented sounds, while incorporating themes of sexuality, confidence, femininity, and self-expression. Her later release Dai Dreamin' continued her evolving musical work. Burger has also used her platform to support the next generation of creatives. Through Where My Girls , she has helped create opportunities for young women and women of color to explore music, production, and creative careers. Her work as an artist, mentor, and cultural organizer has made Black queer visibility and femme empowerment recurring elements of her creative practice. BQW Impact Dai Burger has helped expand the visibility of Black queer women within hip-hop and New York's underground club culture. Through music, fashion, performance, and community work, she challenges expectations around gender, sexuality, and who gets to shape hip-hop culture. Her Where My Girls initiative extends that work by supporting young women and creating opportunities for women of color and queer creatives, connecting representation with mentorship and access. Notable Works Soft Serve (2017) Debut studio album establishing Burger's blend of hip-hop, club music, and performance. Bite the Burger (2019) Album combining queer hip-hop, dance music, sexuality, and Burger's distinctive performance style. Back in ya Mouf (2021) Album revisiting and expanding material from Burger's earlier In Ya Mouf work. Dai Dreamin' Later music release continuing Burger's evolving sound. Where My Girls Creative initiative supporting girls and young women of color interested in music and the arts. Learn More Dai Burger World Official hub for current music, social platforms, merchandise, and appearances. PAPER Dai Burger Interview covering Bite the Burger , her creative background, and Where My Girls . The FADER Dai Burger & UNIIQU3 Conversation about Black women, dance music, and the Nailz N Ponytailz tour. Them Dai Burger Interview addressing her music, identity, and creative work. Previous Next

Zanele Muholi Biography Zanele Muholi is a South African visual activist, photographer, and artist whose work has helped transform the visibility of Black LGBTQIA+ communities in South Africa and around the world. Born in Umlazi, Durban, during apartheid, Muholi studied Advanced Photography at the Market Photo Workshop in Johannesburg before earning a Master of Fine Arts in Documentary Media from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University). Muholi has long described their practice as "visual activism," emphasizing photography as a tool for social justice rather than simply artistic expression. Muholi's internationally recognized body of work documents the lives, resilience, and dignity of Black lesbian, transgender, queer, intersex, and gender-diverse people. Their landmark portrait series Faces and Phases (2006–Present) serves as a living archive of South Africa's Black LGBTQIA+ communities, while the acclaimed self-portrait series Somnyama Ngonyama (Hail the Dark Lioness) (2014–Present) confronts racism, colonialism, labor, gender, and representation through powerful staged imagery. Muholi also co-founded the Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW) in 2002 and later founded Inkanyiso, a platform dedicated to queer visual activism and media. Beyond exhibitions in leading museums worldwide, Muholi continues to support education, mentorship, and community building. In 2021 they established the Muholi Art Institute, supporting young artists through creative education and visual activism. Their work continues to challenge erasure while preserving the histories, identities, and lived experiences of Black LGBTQIA+ people for future generations. BQW Impact Zanele Muholi has fundamentally reshaped how Black queer lives are documented, remembered, and represented in contemporary visual culture. Through photography, publishing, institution building, and community activism, they have created one of the world's most important visual archives of Black LGBTQIA+ life. Muholi's work has expanded global conversations about race, gender, sexuality, and human rights while inspiring artists, activists, and scholars committed to representation, visibility, and social justice. Notable Works Faces and Phases (2006) Ongoing portrait series documenting the lives and histories of Black lesbian, transgender, queer, intersex, and gender-diverse people across South Africa. Somnyama Ngonyama (2014) Internationally acclaimed self-portrait series exploring race, colonialism, labor, gender, and identity through visual activism. Only Half the Picture (2006) Photographic book documenting Black lesbian communities while confronting violence, discrimination, and resilience in post-apartheid South Africa. Inkanyiso (2009) Founded an online platform supporting queer visual activism, storytelling, education, and community media. Muholi Art Institute (2021) Founded a creative institution supporting photography, youth development, and visual activism in South Africa. Learn More Official Website Explore Zanele Muholi's official website featuring exhibitions, publications, artwork, and biography. Muholi Art Institute Learn about the institute founded by Muholi to support photography, creative education, and emerging visual activists. MoMA – Zanele Muholi Explore Muholi's work in the Museum of Modern Art collection and learn about their contributions to contemporary photography and visual activism. National Museum of Women in the Arts – Zanele Muholi Read about Muholi's artistic practice, exhibitions, and lasting impact on contemporary art. Instagram (@muholizanele) Follow Zanele Muholi's official Instagram for current exhibitions, photography, visual activism, and creative projects. Previous Next

Monica Simpson Biography Monica Simpson is an American activist, organizer, singer, and spoken-word artist whose work centers reproductive justice, LGBTQ+ liberation, racial justice, and human rights. She serves as Executive Director of SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, where she advances reproductive justice through organizing, advocacy, education, and movement-building. Simpson helped launch Black Mamas Matter in 2015 and was a founding steering committee member of the Black Mamas Matter Alliance. She also created Artists United for Reproductive Justice in 2014, a SisterSong project connecting artists and creative expression with reproductive-justice advocacy. Her creative practice includes spoken-word performance and music, and she released her first solo album, Revolutionary Love , in 2015. Her activism connects reproductive justice with Black feminist and queer liberation movements. Simpson has spoken publicly about her identity as a Black queer woman and about the importance of queer liberation within reproductive-justice organizing. Her work has helped build platforms for Black women, queer people, and other communities whose experiences have historically been marginalized in reproductive health and rights conversations. BQW Impact Simpson contributes to Black queer cultural life through reproductive-justice organizing, queer liberation advocacy, and creative expression. Her work connects the struggle for bodily autonomy with racial justice, gender justice, and LGBTQ+ liberation. Through SisterSong, the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Artists United for Reproductive Justice, and her music and spoken-word work, Simpson creates spaces for Black women and queer communities to shape conversations about health, rights, identity, and liberation. Notable Works SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective (2010) National reproductive-justice organization where Simpson serves as Executive Director, advancing advocacy, education, organizing, and movement-building. Artists United for Reproductive Justice (2014) SisterSong project created by Simpson to give artists a platform to collaborate on creative work advancing reproductive justice. Black Mamas Matter (2015) Reproductive-justice initiative Simpson helped launch through a 2015 Atlanta convening focused on Black maternal health and reproductive justice. Revolutionary Love (2015) Simpson's first solo album, combining music and social-justice themes. Black Men Trust Black Women Roundtable SisterSong initiative created by Simpson to engage Black men in conversations about reproductive justice, trust, accountability, and collective liberation. Learn More SisterSong SisterSong's official site documents Simpson's leadership and the organization's reproductive-justice work. Monica Simpson, Ford Foundation Interview discussing Simpson's reproductive-justice work, Black feminist organizing, and queer identity. Black Mamas Matter Alliance Organization focused on Black maternal health, rights, and reproductive justice. Artists United for Reproductive Justice SisterSong project connecting artistic expression and reproductive-justice advocacy. Previous Next

Wanda Sykes Biography Wanda Sykes was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, and raised in Maryland. After graduating from Hampton University with a degree in marketing, she worked as a contracting specialist for the National Security Agency before beginning her career in stand-up comedy in 1987. Her early performances in Washington, D.C., eventually led to television opportunities and a position as a writer and performer on HBO's The Chris Rock Show . Her work on the series earned her a Primetime Emmy Award in 1999 for Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program. Sykes expanded her career across stand-up, television, film, writing, and producing. She created, wrote, produced, and starred in Wanda at Large , while also becoming widely recognized for roles in Curb Your Enthusiasm and The New Adventures of Old Christine . Her work has continued across scripted television, film, animation, and stand-up specials, with her comedy frequently drawing on politics, family, culture, relationships, and everyday social contradictions. She is also an author, publishing Yeah, I Said It , a collection of essays addressing life, family, and current events. Sykes publicly came out as lesbian in 2008 and has continued to speak openly about LGBTQ+ identity and representation throughout her career. Her combination of comedy, cultural commentary, and visibility has established her as a distinctive voice within American entertainment. BQW Impact Wanda Sykes's significance to BQW extends beyond being a successful entertainer. Her career has placed an openly lesbian Black woman at the center of mainstream American comedy, television, film, and popular culture. She has maintained visibility across decades while bringing her own perspective on race, sexuality, gender, politics, family, and everyday life into spaces where Black lesbian voices have historically been underrepresented. Her approach to comedy is especially significant because observation becomes a way of making culture visible. Sykes addresses social contradictions directly, using humor to challenge assumptions while remaining accessible to broad audiences. Her sustained visibility demonstrates the cultural impact of Black lesbian authorship and performance in mainstream entertainment. Notable Works The Chris Rock Show (1997 - 2000) Sykes worked as a writer and performer on the HBO series, earning the 1999 Primetime Emmy Award for writing. Wanda at Large (2003) Sykes created, wrote, produced, and starred in her own Fox comedy series. Curb Your Enthusiasm (2001 - 2011) Sykes became widely known for her recurring role on HBO's acclaimed comedy series. Yeah, I Said It (2004) Sykes's collection of essays explores family, culture, current events, and everyday life. Wanda Sykes: Legacy (2026) A current Netflix stand-up special that received a 2026 Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special. Learn More Official Website Wanda Sykes' official website featuring tour dates, projects, news, and career updates. IMDb Explore Wanda Sykes' complete filmography, television credits, awards, and production work. Wikipedia Read a comprehensive overview of Wanda Sykes' life, career, activism, and major accomplishments. Instagram (@iamwandasykes) Wanda Sykes' verified Instagram featuring comedy, projects, advocacy, and personal updates. Previous Next

Dee Rees Biography Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Dee Rees attended Florida A&M University before earning an MFA in directing from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Her 2007 short film Pariah became the foundation for her acclaimed 2011 feature of the same name. Pariah follows a young Black lesbian woman navigating sexuality, family, friendship, and self-discovery. Drawing from aspects of Rees's own coming-out experience, the film established her as an important voice in independent American cinema and brought greater visibility to Black lesbian experiences on screen. Rees continued to explore complex stories of identity, race, gender, and history through projects including the HBO television film Bessie , the historical drama Mudbound , and the political thriller The Last Thing He Wanted . She has also directed television projects including When We Rise , Empire , and Philip K. Dick's Electric Dreams . Mudbound received four Academy Award nominations, including a nomination for Rees for Best Adapted Screenplay. BQW Impact Dee Rees holds an important place in Black queer film history through her creation of stories that center Black women, sexuality, family, race, and self-definition. Pariah is particularly significant to BQW cultural representation because it places a young Black lesbian woman's coming-of-age experience at the center of a feature film. Rees has also expanded the visibility of Black queer women as filmmakers and storytellers. Her work demonstrates how directing and screenwriting can create space for Black queer experiences while engaging broader questions of race, gender, history, identity, and belonging. Notable Works Pariah (2011) Semi-autobiographical feature following a Black lesbian teenager as she navigates sexuality, gender expression, family, and self-discovery. Bessie (2015) HBO biographical film about blues singer Bessie Smith, starring Queen Latifah. When We Rise (2017) Television miniseries chronicling the history of LGBTQ+ rights activism in San Francisco. Mudbound (2017) Historical drama examining two families, racial inequality, and the Jim Crow-era Mississippi Delta. The Last Thing He Wanted (2020) Political thriller directed by Rees and adapted from Joan Didion's novel. Learn More NYU Tisch Profile Institutional biography covering her education, career, and major directing projects. BFI Interview Conversation about Pariah , its creation, and its significance as a lesbian film. Sundance Artist Interview Rees discusses her debut feature and the ideas behind the film. United States Artists Profile Professional artist profile documenting her creative practice and career. Directors Guild Profile Industry interview examining Rees's filmmaking career and approach to Pariah . Previous Next

Chinyere Ezie Biography Chinyere Ezie has deep family and personal ties to Buffalo, New York, and has spent much of her adult professional life in New York City. She is a queer woman of Nigerian and African American heritage. Ezie studied sociology and international relations at Yale University before earning her J.D. from Columbia Law School. After working in private practice and at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, she joined the Southern Poverty Law Center's LGBT Rights Project, where she represented LGBTQI clients and served as lead counsel for transgender activist Ashley Diamond in landmark litigation challenging the treatment of transgender prisoners in Georgia. Ezie later joined the Center for Constitutional Rights, where she serves as a Senior Staff Attorney focused on racial justice, gender justice, LGBTQI rights, and governmental abuses of power. Her work combines civil rights litigation, advocacy, scholarship, and public speaking. She originated the #BoycottPrada campaign, which challenged Prada over imagery criticized as resembling blackface and led to a settlement requiring racial equity measures. Her scholarship has addressed transgender and intersex rights, transgender incarceration, and the political power of Black women. She has also served in leadership roles with organizations including the Transgender Law Center and Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights. BQW Impact Ezie's work directly connects Black women's political power with LGBTQI and racial justice advocacy. She has publicly described herself as a queer woman of African and African American descent, providing direct evidence of the intersection of identities that informs her advocacy. In Not Your Mule? Disrupting the Political Powerlessness of Black Women Voters , Ezie examines the gap between Black women's political participation and their political power. Her legal and advocacy work has also addressed transgender rights, racial discrimination, and the treatment of transgender people of color. Together, her litigation, scholarship, and organizing demonstrate how civil rights advocacy can address the overlapping effects of racism, gender discrimination, transphobia, and political marginalization. Notable Works Deconstructing the Body (2011) Legal scholarship examining transgender and intersex identities and sex discrimination. Diamond v. Owens (2015) Landmark litigation in which Ezie served as lead counsel for transgender activist Ashley Diamond. #BoycottPrada (2018 - 2020) Advocacy campaign challenging racist imagery associated with Prada that led to a racial equity settlement. Rainbow Police (2019) Washington Post commentary examining LGBTQ+ symbolism and policing. Not Your Mule? Disrupting the Political Powerlessness of Black Women Voters (2021) Legal scholarship examining Black women's political participation and political power. Dismantling the Discrimination-to-Incarceration Pipeline for Trans People of Color (2023) Legal scholarship examining how discrimination contributes to poverty, criminalization, and incarceration among transgender people of color. Learn More Center for Constitutional Rights Current professional profile and advocacy work. Columbia Law School Education, identity, and early career background. University of Colorado Law Review Publication record for Not Your Mule? . New York City Commission on Human Rights Documentation of the Prada settlement. Previous Next

Jerrilynn Patton (Jlin) Biography Jlin began producing music while working at a steel factory in Gary, Indiana. Her debut album, Dark Energy , established her as a distinctive voice in electronic music and introduced the complex rhythmic structures that became central to her work. Her practice subsequently expanded beyond electronic production into contemporary composition and interdisciplinary performance. She has created music for dance and chamber ensembles and collaborated with artists and ensembles including Wayne McGregor, Third Coast Percussion, Kronos Quartet, Philip Glass, and Björk. In 2023, Jlin was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for Music for Perspective . In May 2025, she premiered the Library of Congress's first complete electronic music commission, A Dance With My Favorite Opponent and Veyari (Sanctum Aeternum) . She continues to compose, record, and perform internationally. BQW Impact Jlin has expanded the visibility of Black queer women within electronic and contemporary music. Her work challenges the boundaries between club music, electronic production, contemporary composition, and experimental performance while maintaining a distinctive rhythmic language rooted in her experience and musical influences. Her trajectory from Gary's industrial landscape to major international stages and contemporary-music institutions has broadened the visibility of Black women and queer artists within genres and compositional spaces where they have historically been underrepresented. Notable Works Dark Energy (2015) Jlin's debut studio album, establishing her distinctive approach to complex electronic rhythm and sound. Black Origami (2017) Her second studio album, expanding the rhythmic and compositional vocabulary introduced on Dark Energy. Autobiography (2018) Music created for choreographer Wayne McGregor's dance work Autobiography. Embryo (2021) An EP extending Jlin's electronic and compositional practice. Perspective (2023) A suite of electronic compositions that became the basis for her Pulitzer Prize–finalist work. Akoma (2024) A studio album featuring collaborations with Philip Glass, Björk, and Kronos Quartet. Learn More Official website Current releases, biography, projects, performances, and professional information. Instagram — @jlin_p Official social account for current updates and work. Library of Congress Record of Jlin's 2025 electronic music commission and premiere. Pulitzer Prize Official record of Jlin's 2023 Music finalist recognition. Previous Next

Aishah Shahidah Simmons Biography Aishah Shahidah Simmons is an American documentary filmmaker, writer, activist, educator, and Black feminist cultural worker whose interdisciplinary work explores healing, accountability, liberation, and survivor-centered justice. Raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she has spent more than three decades creating media, facilitating dialogue, and advocating for survivors of sexual violence, with a focus on Black women, girls, trans, and gender-nonconforming survivors. She is best known for writing, producing, and directing NO! The Rape Documentary, the first U.S. feature-length documentary by and about Black women to address sexual violence. Developed over more than a decade, the award-winning film has become an influential educational resource used by universities, advocacy organizations, and community groups throughout the United States and internationally. Beyond filmmaking, Simmons is the editor of influential anthologies, a Fulbright Specialist, public speaker, and educator whose work bridges art, scholarship, and activism. Through writing, teaching, and community engagement, she continues to advance conversations about survivor-centered justice, intersectional feminism, accountability, and collective healing. BQW Impact Aishah Shahidah Simmons has transformed public conversations about sexual violence by centering the voices, histories, and resilience of Black women and LGBTQ+ survivors. Her work has expanded Black feminist scholarship, influenced community-based approaches to healing and accountability, and provided educators, organizers, and advocates with vital tools for addressing sexual violence through an intersectional lens. By combining documentary filmmaking, writing, and activism, she has helped reshape how survivor justice is understood and practiced. Notable Works NO! The Rape Documentary (2006) Groundbreaking documentary examining sexual violence against Black women through survivor testimony, history, and activism. Love WITH Accountability: Digging Up the Roots of Child Sexual Abuse (2019) Influential anthology exploring survivor-centered accountability, healing, and ending child sexual abuse. NO! Educational Outreach & Community Screenings Educational screenings, facilitated dialogues, and community engagement built around NO! The Rape Documentary. #LoveWITHAccountability Project Initiative promoting community accountability, healing, and the prevention of child sexual abuse. Learn More Official Website Explore Aishah Shahidah Simmons' official website featuring her films, books, speaking engagements, teaching, and current projects. NO! The Rape Documentary Official website for NO! The Rape Documentary , including educational resources, screenings, and historical background. Women Make Movies Aishah Shahidah Simmons Learn more about Simmons' filmmaking career and the distribution of NO! The Rape Documentary through Women Make Movies. Wikipedia Aishah Shahidah Simmons Read an overview of her life, filmmaking career, publications, activism, and awards. Instagram (@aishahshahidahsimmons) Follow Aishah Shahidah Simmons' official Instagram for updates on films, writing, speaking engagements, advocacy, and current projects. Previous Next

Kehlani Ashley Parrish Biography Kehlani was born in Oakland, California, and began performing publicly as a member of the teen group Poplyfe. After the group appeared on America's Got Talent , Kehlani pursued a solo career, releasing Cloud 19 in 2014 and You Should Be Here in 2015. The latter earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album. Kehlani's debut studio album, SweetSexySavage , followed in 2017, with While We Wait (2019), It Was Good Until It Wasn't (2020), Blue Water Road (2022), and Crash (2024) continuing the artist's catalog. Kehlani's music draws from R&B while incorporating pop, hip-hop, electronic, and other contemporary influences. Their work has also extended into acting, including an appearance on The L Word: Generation Q . Across their career, Kehlani has collaborated with artists including Cardi B, Justin Bieber, and Syd. In 2026, Kehlani released the self-titled album Kehlani through Atlantic Records. The album marked the artist's fifth studio album and continued an exploration of love, vulnerability, identity, and personal growth. Kehlani also received two 2026 GRAMMY Awards for “Folded,” winning Best R&B Song and Best R&B Solo Performance. Kehlani has publicly discussed being queer and later identified as a lesbian. They have also spoken about being nonbinary and use she/they pronouns. Kehlani has publicly described their heritage as Black, White, Native American, Filipino, and Spanish. BQW Impact Kehlani's career contributes a Black queer and nonbinary perspective to contemporary R&B and popular music. Their public discussions of sexuality and gender have made those identities an explicit part of their cultural presence, rather than identities inferred from their music. Their work also expands visibility for queer and gender-diverse artists within mainstream music. Through songwriting, recording, performance, and public advocacy, Kehlani connects personal experiences of love, identity, vulnerability, and community with a broad contemporary audience. Notable Works Cloud 19 (2014) Debut solo mixtape that established Kehlani's early R&B sound and launched their solo recording career. You Should Be Here (2015) Breakthrough mixtape that expanded Kehlani's audience and earned a GRAMMY nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album. SweetSexySavage (2017) Debut studio album combining contemporary R&B with pop and hip-hop influences. Crash (2024) Genre-spanning album incorporating R&B, pop, rock, and other contemporary influences. Kehlani (2026) Fifth studio album, released April 24, 2026, continuing Kehlani's exploration of love, vulnerability, identity, and personal growth. Learn More Kehlani Official Website Official artist website and current projects. Kehlani on Instagram Verified official social account. Recording Academy: Kehlani Official GRAMMY artist record, including the two 2026 wins for “Folded.” Atlantic Records: Kehlani Official announcement for the 2026 self-titled album. Previous Next

Arlan Hamilton Biography Hamilton began her career in the music industry before moving into venture capital. In 2015, she founded Backstage Capital and built the firm around investing in founders who have historically been overlooked by traditional venture capital. Backstage's current materials state that the firm has invested in 200 companies led by underrepresented founders. Hamilton has also publicly identified with the communities Backstage serves, including women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ people. Hamilton is the author of It's About Damn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated into Your Greatest Advantage (2020), which draws on her experience building a venture-capital firm and navigating professional environments in which she was underestimated. She has also created and hosted Backstage podcast programming, including ArlanWasHere and The Bootstrapped VC . Backstage Capital's current website identifies Hamilton as the firm's Founder + Managing Partner. She continues to be associated with the firm's mission of investing in and supporting underestimated founders. BQW Impact Hamilton's significance to BQW comes from the intersection of her identity as a Black lesbian woman and her work challenging structural exclusion in venture capital. She built Backstage Capital around increasing access to investment for founders from communities historically overlooked by the industry. Her career expands the visibility of Black queer women in entrepreneurship, investment, and economic leadership. Through venture capital, writing, podcasting, and mentorship, Hamilton has used her platform to challenge assumptions about who can build, fund, and lead successful companies. Notable Works Backstage Capital (2015) Venture capital firm founded by Hamilton to invest in founders who are women, people of color, and/or LGBTQ+. It's About Damn Time (2020) Memoir and business book about Hamilton's career and her experience turning being underestimated into an advantage. Backstage Studio (2018) Initiative co-founded by Hamilton to support underestimated founders through accelerator programs. The Bootstrapped VC Backstage Capital podcast hosted and executive produced by Hamilton, focused on venture capital and building a fund. Learn More Official Website Hamilton's official website Backstage Capital Hamilton's venture-capital firm and its current mission, portfolio, and resources. It's About Damn Time Simon & Schuster Publisher information about Hamilton's book. Instagram @arlanwashere Hamilton's public Instagram account. LinkedIn Hamilton's professional profile. Previous Next