From HIV justice to trans equity and public policy, these Black LGBTQ+ leaders are building durable systems of care, power and protection for communities too often pushed to the margins.
Black history is not only a record of survival. It is a living practice, carried forward by people building systems of care, power, and protection in the present tense. Across public health, policy, advocacy, and community infrastructure, Black LGBTQ+ leaders continue to shape a future grounded in accountability rather than symbolism, and justice that reaches the ground.
Gaye Magazine is proud to present our 2026 Black LGBTQ+ Leaders List for Black History Month!
Harold J. Phillips
CEO of the National Minority AIDS Council, Harold J. Phillips is a leader forged in collective struggle and guided by the belief that public health must respond to those most impacted. With over three decades of experience shaping federal and community-based HIV responses, including his tenure in the White House Office of National AIDS Policy, Phillips emphasizes the importance of centering racial justice and community leadership. As a Black gay man living with HIV, he stresses that real progress involves building durable, equitable, and accountable care systems.
Michael Elizabeth
As a nonbinary leader and director of public health policy at Equality Federation, Michael Elizabeth mobilizes state-based advocacy to shape public health policy. Their focus is grounded in practical applications for LGBTQ+ communities, particularly concerning HIV and structural health inequities. With over a decade in LGBTQ+ political organizing, they aim to build durable power and hold elected officials accountable.
Seane Coleman Ebony
A Brooklyn-raised strategist, Seane Coleman Ebony is the founder and CEO of Destination Tomorrow, which has grown from $35,000 to $19 million. His organization provides economic empowerment, housing, and health support to Black LGBTQ+ communities. Through consultancy, he emphasizes moving nonprofits beyond grant dependency toward long-term sustainability.
Dr. Elijah Nicholas
Dr. Elijah Nicholas is a trans man and retired military officer who advocates for transgender and nonbinary equity. As the founder and chairman of The Global Trans Equity Project, he leads initiatives across 15 states to promote health, racial, and education equity, aiming to reduce barriers to access for transgender individuals.
Ronnie L. Taylor
A Black trans woman and advocate, Ronnie L. Taylor began organizing at 16 and made history as the first openly transgender chief of staff in the Maryland General Assembly. Currently a senior leader at FreeState Justice, she focuses on advocacy that centers Black, queer and trans voices.
Mariah Moore
A national transgender rights advocate based in New Orleans, Mariah Moore centers her work on safety and dignity for transgender communities. Serving as the director of policy and programs at the Transgender Law Center, she has organized against discriminatory laws while advocating for a future where transgender individuals can live safely and openly.
Kierra Johnson
President of the National LGBTQ Task Force, Kierra Johnson is a bisexual Black woman who has long been a leader at the intersection of queer liberation and racial equity. Her advocacy work emphasizes the importance of living fully and leading visibly as acts of resistance.
Dr. Melanie Bryant
Dr. Melanie Bryant is the director of Baltimore’s Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ Affairs and founder of Ujima Consulting Group. She focuses on community-centered policy and has significantly enhanced funding for nonprofits, strengthening systems of care, particularly for Black and Latinx communities.
Terrie Pendleton
A co-founder of Lesbian Women of Color (LWOC), Terrie Pendleton has significantly impacted the landscape of activism for African American lesbians since the 90s. Her organization addresses critical issues such as healthcare disparities and workplace discrimination.
Imani Rupert-Gordon
As the Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR), Imani Rupert-Gordon advocates for the rights of LGBTQ+ families and fights against conversion therapy. Her humanistic approach ensures that legislation aligns with the realities of marginalized communities.
Marissa L. Miller
As the founder of the National Trans Visibility March, Marissa Miller emphasizes that visibility is essential for social power. She advocates for healthcare access and policies addressing the disproportionate violence faced by trans women of color.
Tyree Williams
Co-founder of Brother of Bonds, Tyree Williams addresses the unique challenges faced by Black transgender men by creating a supportive brotherhood that emphasizes mental health and resource sharing.
E. Lee Dyer IV
E. Lee Dyer IV, working alongside Tyree Williams, helps create sustainable support for Black transgender men, focusing on holistic needs including professional development and emotional wellness.
Dewayne Queen
As the Director for Atlanta’s LGBTQ Affairs, Dewayne Queen ensures that city policies are inclusive and equitable, acting as a liaison between LGBTQ+ activists and local government.
Rashad Burgess
As a Vice President at Gilead Sciences, Rashad Burgess combines his grassroots public health experience with corporate strategy to ensure life-saving treatments reach marginalized communities, particularly those impacted by HIV.
Tiommi Luckett
Tiommi Luckett demonstrates her commitment to the transgender community through her various roles, including leadership at Positively Trans and advocacy at national events such as AIDSWatch.
Kylar Broadus
A pioneer for Black trans rights, Kylar Broadus made history by being the first openly transgender person to testify before the U.S. Senate in favor of employment protections for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Ceyenne Doroshow
Founder of G.L.I.T.S., Ceyenne Doroshow focuses on supporting Black transgender individuals and LGBTQ+ sex workers by providing critical resources and community.
Jordyn Jay
Jordyn Jay, an organizer and producer, founded the Black Trans Femmes in the Arts Collective, which amplifies the voices and artistry of Black transgender femme artists through resources and opportunities.
Monica Raye Simpson
Monica Raye Simpson, an executive director at SisterSong, leads efforts to expand reproductive rights for women of color. Her advocacy intersects with racial, gender, and economic equity.
Together, these leaders represent a contemporary Black history defined not by abstraction, but by action. Their work affirms that liberation is not symbolic. It is practiced, protected, and built every day by those closest to the harm and most invested in the future.
Stay tuned as we spotlight more Black, LGBTQ leaders each week.
