February is Black History Month here in the United States, and as such we wanted to celebrate some of our favorite Black, Queer celebs. These people have enriched our lives in more ways than we can really ever comprehend. This group has helped to shape the global zeitgeist through their genius, their artistic gifts, their athleticism, and their absolute beauty. They're making the world a better and more beautiful place to be in, and in 2023 we need a lot more of that energy.

Here are ten of our favorite Black, Queer celebs to celebrate Black History Month.

Actors

McKinley Belcher, III

 

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Fresh off his critically acclaimed performance in the incredible Broadway revival of Death of a Salesman, McKinley Belcher, III continues to wow fans around the world as one of the most talented American actors today. He's also knee-quiveringly gorgeous and recently celebrated his marriage to his husband, Blake Fox.

Jeremy Pope

 

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Speaking of brilliant and gorgeous Broadway actors, Jeremy Pope is another absolute supernova. Having starred in the Broadway productions of Choir Boy, and most recently The Discussion, Pope has a smile that will weaken you, a voice that will astound you, and is a better actor than most of his peers.

Billy Porter

 

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In 2023, it's very socially accepted to blur the lines of gender and sex, particularly where fashion is concerned. But like so many other aspects of being Queer, that was not always the case. This, my dear readers, is a fact that has never stopped Billy Porter who, for years, has been pushing the envelope and living his best life for as long as he's been a performer. I first saw Billy in the iconic The Broken Hearts Club. He went on to be one of the most talented Broadway performers of our generation, winning a Tony Award for his incredible performance in the original production of Kinky Boots. And just to top it all off, the gorgeous actor has a jaw that could cut glass and a smile that's brighter than the marqueed theatres he graces.

Tituss Burgess

 

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Whether you know him from The Adventures of Kimmy Schmidt, Dolemite Is My Name, or any of his other countless credits, Tituss Burgess has established himself as one of the strongest character actors around. I love a bigger man, so I miss "bigger" Tituss, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't still think he was hot as fuck now that he's all fit.

Musicians

Lil Nas X

 

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I genuinely don't think there is a celebrity out there who I have a bigger crush on than Lil Nas X. At the age of 23 years old, Lil Nas X is one of the most brilliant artists to grace our presence in recent memory. His music is almost universally loved and respected, he is so hot it's ridiculous, and he has more business acumen than industry vets who have been doing it for decades. I'm truly blown away by this man and I am so beyond excited to keep following his career.

Frank Ocean

But before there was Lil Nas X there was Frank Ocean. Ocean made waves in 2012 when he wrote a Tumblr post (aw, remember Tumblr?) coming out as bisexual, the first mainstream rapper to do so. This gorgeous musician paved the way for other Queer artists like Janelle Monae, ILoveMakonnen, Young MA, Tyler the Creator, Kehlani, Angel Haze, MNEK, and others. He went on to win the 2013 Best International Male Artist at the prestigious Brit Awards, before winning numerous Grammys, became the 2016 Artist of the Year at the Attitude Magazine Awards, and a slew of other accolades. Slay. There's also that whole thing about his $25K cockring.

Creators/Producers

RuPaul Charles

 

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We're all so used to seeing RuPaul Charles in his iconic drag lewks that it's sometimes easy to forget just how fracking handsome the man behind the drag is. There are very few Queer artists who have had a larger impact on Queer representation in mainstream media than RuPaul, and generations (TRULY generations) to come will benefit from the work he's done. RuPaul's Drag Race is one of the most celebrated and franchised shows in TV history, and for those of us who are of a certain age, we remember The RuPaul Show back in the early '90s. Who else remembers this kiss?

Lee Daniels

 

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Lee Daniels is one of the best producers, writers, and directors in the world; he's also what I refer to as "husband hot." It's actually the highest compliment of "sexiness" I can think of because it's another way of saying, "He's sexy, he's hot as fuck, and he's also real." He's produced everything from Monster's Ball (for which Halle Berry became the first Black Best Actress winner), to Precious (for which Mo'Nique won Best Supporting Actress), to The Butler, to Empire. The man has created some of the greatest content of the last 20 years, and he also rocks one hell of a sexy beard.

Athletes

Michael Sam

 

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Michael Sam made history as the first openly gay athlete to be drafted in the NFL. Shortly after clinching the prestigious All-American and SEC Defensive Player of the Year honor he publicly came out as gay. The move no doubt impacted his draft standings, but that only makes him even more of a badass. He's gorgeous, he's talented, and he's an active human rights activist fighting for both LGBTQ+ rights, as well as a vocal supporter of the Anti-Bully movement.

Jason Collins

 

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But like so many others we've just talked about before there was so-and-so... there was so-and-so. And before there was Michael Sam, there was Jason Collins. Collins came out as gay shortly after the 2012–13 NBA season. Now a free agent, he signed with the Nets in 2014 and became the first publicly gay athlete to play in any of four major North American pro sports leagues (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL). His bravery and athleticism landed him on the cover of Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World" in 2014.

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