Celebrating the Voices of Gay, Queer, and Lesbian Black Women Writers
Photo Credit: Daniel Dobson
Out of all of the literature I’ve read, it has been the voices of gay, queer, and lesbian Black women who have made the most profound impact on my thinking and writing, shaping narratives and breaking boundaries with their unique perspectives and powerful storytelling. These writers have not only contributed to the richness of literary culture but have also provided a mirror for many readers who see their experiences reflected in these works. Here, we celebrate some of the most influential and trailblazing figures in this important literary tradition.
Audre Lorde
Audre Lorde, a self-described "Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet," remains one of the most influential voices in contemporary literature. Her works such as "Zami: A New Spelling of My Name," "The Cancer Journals," and numerous poetry collections explore the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and class. Lorde's writing is both deeply personal and universally resonant, offering insights into the complexities of identity and the power of self-expression. For anyone looking for an intro to Audre Lorde, I recommend Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches.
Alice Walker
Best known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "The Color Purple," Alice Walker has made significant contributions to literature and activism. Walker's work often addresses issues of race, gender, and sexual identity, creating a space for Black women's voices in mainstream literature. Her candid exploration of lesbian relationships, particularly in "The Color Purple," has brought visibility to Black queer experiences, inspiring countless readers and writers alike.
June Jordan
Poet, teacher and truth-teller, Jordan’s collections, Things That I Do in the Dark & Haruko, bring Black bisexual womanhood into vivid focus with fearless compassion and radical politics.
Angela Davis
A revolutionary mind whose book, Angela Davis: An Autobiography , links queerness, feminism, and racial justice in powerful, personal ways. Davis’s legacy continues to shape critical thought worldwide.
Cheryl Clarke
A foundational voice in Black lesbian feminism, Clarke’s poetry (Living as a Lesbian) and essays changed how we understand gender, intimacy, and social power.
Jewelle Gomez
Author of the Black lesbian vampire classic The Gilda Stories, Gomez fuses speculative fiction with themes of survival, chosen family, and queer immortality.
Barbara Smith
Co-founder of Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, Smith is one of the architects of Black feminist theory. Her anthology Home Girls remains essential reading.
Danez Smith
Danez Smith is a nonbinary, queer poet whose brilliance shines in Don’t Call Us Dead and Homie. Smith writes with sharp beauty about love, grief, race, and transcendence.
Samiya Bashir
Samiya Bashir is a poet of queer futurism and unapologetic Blackness. Field Theories explores race, gender, and science with kinetic lyricism.
Akwaeke Emezi
A trans, nonbinary, Igbo-Tamil writer whose novels such as Freshwater and The Death of Vivek Oji, explore spirit, gender, trauma, and healing with bold spiritual language.
Pat Parker
A fierce poet and activist. Movement in Black confronts racism and homophobia while honoring queer intimacy and sisterhood.
Alexis De Veaux
Author of Yabo and biographer of Audre Lorde, De Veaux’s work carries forward the legacy of Black queer freedom writing.
More Voices to Know:
Tanya Denise Fields – a radical food and motherhood activist.
Nikki Giovanni – an iconic poet of love, Black power, and rebellion.
Toshi Reagon – musician and librettist creating queer Black stories on stage.
Toni Cade Bambara – Bambara is not always labeled queer, but her work is radically inclusive in spirit.
These writers remind us that Black queer stories are important, revolutionary, and necessary.
