Black women have always anchored movements for change, even when history forgot to credit them. For Black LGBTQ+ changemakers, that erasure runs deeper still. The intersection of race and sexuality creates compounding barriers that straight allies rarely face. That’s why celebrating Black lesbian leaders matters now more than ever—these are the women who disrupted politics, activism, and the status quo by showing up completely as themselves, without apology or compromise.
Women like Barbara Smith and Stormé DeLarverie turned identity into a form of power. Others—Lori Lightfoot, Black lesbian leaders like Laphonza Butler and Karine Jean-Pierre—wielded their visibility into tangible political action. In recognition of International Lesbian Day each October, we honor these disrupters, activists, artists and politicians whose courage expanded what leadership can look like and whose legacies continue to make space for those coming next.
Laphonza Butler
Laphonza Butler built her career at the intersection of politics, labor, and social justice. In 2023, she became California’s first openly LGBTQ+ Black senator and the first openly lesbian Black senator in Congress. As an abortion rights activist and labor organizer, Butler changed what visibility means for Black queer women in national politics. Her election arrived during a notable rise in LGBTQ+ representation across federal office.
Audre Lorde
Audre Lorde weaponized poetry as a method for social change. A self-described Black lesbian, feminist, mother, warrior and poet, the “Zami” author challenged racism, sexism, homophobia and class inequality through her words. Lorde’s work gave marginalized communities permission to embrace their identities and speak against systems designed to silence them.
Lori Lightfoot
In 2019, Lori Lightfoot made history as Chicago’s first Black woman and first openly gay mayor. Her election represented a watershed moment for both Black and LGBTQ+ representation in major American cities. Though she served just one term, Lightfoot’s career has centered public service, government accountability and reform.
Park Cannon
Park Cannon emerged as a vocal progressive voice in Georgia politics. An openly queer Black woman, she’s fought for reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ equality, racial justice and voting rights. Her work in Southern politics challenges old assumptions about who belongs in elected office and whose concerns deserve a seat at the table.
Sherry D. Harris
Sherry D. Harris shattered barriers in 1991 when she became the first openly lesbian Black elected official in a major American city. Her election to Seattle’s City Council demonstrated the political power of Black LGBTQ+ communities and created crucial visibility for queer people in public office.
Barbara Smith
Barbara Smith stands as a foundational figure in Black feminist activism. Co-founder of the Combahee River Collective, she helped develop the intellectual framework for understanding how racism, sexism, class oppression and homophobia work together. Her scholarship and organizing continue to shape feminist and LGBTQ+ movements.
Karine Jean-Pierre
In 2022, Karine Jean-Pierre made history as the first openly gay person and first Black woman to serve as White House press secretary. Her role placed a Black queer woman at the center of national political communication, marking a significant milestone for representation in federal government.
Stormé DeLarverie
Stormé DeLarverie was a Black lesbian performer, community protector and key figure in LGBTQ+ history. Known for her presence in New York’s lesbian nightlife scene, DeLarverie is widely credited with throwing the first punch that ignited the Stonewall uprising. Her legacy embodies the courage and fierce community defense that sparked early queer liberation.
La’Tasha Mayes
La’Tasha Mayes brought the lived experience of a Black lesbian into Pennsylvania’s state legislature. As a representative and longtime advocate for reproductive justice, she centers LGBTQ+ rights, healthcare equity, racial justice and economic fairness in her work.
Barbara Jordan
Barbara Jordan was a pioneering Black congresswoman from Texas whose powerful speeches and commitment to constitutional principles made her a major political force. Though she didn’t publicly identify as a lesbian during her lifetime, historians have documented her long-term relationship with Nancy Earl, adding important context to her legacy.
Rev. Delores Jackson
Rev. Delores Jackson embodies the vital connection between Black faith traditions and LGBTQ+ liberation. As a Black lesbian religious leader, she’s worked to create greater inclusion within faith communities while pushing hard for LGBTQ+ equality. She founded Salsa Soul Sisters, the oldest Black lesbian womanist organization in America. Her leadership directly challenges the false idea that religious identity and queerness are incompatible.
Lorraine Hansberry
Lorraine Hansberry was a groundbreaking playwright, intellectual and activist who transformed how Black life appeared in American theater. Best known for “A Raisin in the Sun,” she also explored race, gender, class and sexuality with uncommon depth. Her relatively short life generated outsized influence on Black feminist and queer intellectual traditions.
Simone Bell
Simone Bell carried the perspectives and experiences of Black lesbian women into Georgia’s state legislature. As a representative and activist, she fought for LGBTQ+ equality, reproductive justice and racial equity. Her political work demonstrated why representation from historically excluded communities matters in Southern institutions that have long resisted change.
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