23 Black LGBTQ Actors Who Deserve More Airtime

Casting directors, take note.

1. Angelica Ross

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Seen in: American Horror Story and Pose

Fun fact: Aside from acting, Angelica is also the founder and CEO of TransTech Social Enterprises, which "is an incubator for LGBTQ Talent with a focus on economically empowering the T, transgender people, in our community."

2. Blake Young-Fountain

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Seen in: Grown-ish, Make the Moon, and The Mindy Project

Fun fact: He was named after Blake Carrington, a character in the popular '80s soap Dynasty.

3. Indya Moore

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Seen in: Pose and Queen & Slim

Fun fact: Indya first met their Pose costar Dominique Jackson (who plays Elektra Abundance) at the age of 13 when they were part of an after-school program at the Bronx Community Pride Center.

4. Keiynan Lonsdale

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Seen in: The Flash, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, and Love, Simon

Fun fact: Keiynan fell in love with music at an early age and just released his debut album, Rainbow Boy, which is described as a "love letter to the queer, Black community as well as to his younger self."

5. Jeremy Pope

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Seen in: Hollywood and The Ranger

Fun fact: Jeremy, who grew up in Orlando, was told that if he wanted to be a performer, he had to do it at Disney World. He followed his gut instead and moved to New York City and joined the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. He now has two Tony nominations under his belt.

6. Mj Rodriguez

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Seen in: Pose

Fun fact: She told Vogue that when she was younger, she was an R&B girl who had dreams of becoming a pop star, before acting came along.

7. Jaboukie Young-White

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Seen in: The Daily Show, Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens, and Someone Great

Fun fact: The first time Jaboukie did stand-up, he was 19, and according to him, it went badly. So badly, in fact, that he didn't do stand-up for another year or two after. Thankfully for us all, a friend convinced him not to give up. Thank you, friend.

8. Brian Michael Smith

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Seen in: 9-1-1: Lone Star, The L Word: Generation Q, and Queen Sugar

Fun fact: Brian told Pop-Culturalist that the biggest influence in his career was his time as an athlete on a football team and a track team. He learned how to show his best in everything he does.

9. Tituss Burgess

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Seen in: Central Park, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and 30 Rock

Fun fact: After his small role on 30 Rock ended, Tituss told the Guardian that he went home and got on his knees, sobbed, and prayed that he would find another series regular role because he'd finally found his purpose. Years later, he was cast in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt as a series regular, and when he pulled up to the set on his first day, he discovered that his trailer was parked right outside the very apartment he had cried and prayed in years ago.

10. Kiersey Clemons

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Seen in: Easy, Angie Tribeca, and Dope

Fun fact: She was inspired to act by being an only child and often having to use her imagination. Her father was also in the Navy, so she moved around a lot and would always need to adapt to her new environment, she said, and be someone different everywhere she went.

11. Samira Wiley

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Seen in: The Handmaid's Tale and Orange Is the New Black

Fun fact: Out Magazine described her Baptist pastor parents as "pillars of the LGBT[Q} religious community" because their church was the only traditionally Black Baptist church in DC to perform same-sex unions in 2007.

12. Billy Porter

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Seen in: American Horror Story, Pose, and Like a Boss

Fun fact: It's no secret that Billy has an eye for fashion. He discovered style from growing up in the church, which he called "a fashion show from head to toe." His grandmother also used great patterns to make incredible dresses, so he's known great style for quite some time now.

13. Amiyah Scott

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Seen in: Star

Fun fact: Amiyah was very active in the Atlanta ball scene at just 17 years old, and her category of choice was Face. She quickly began winning despite being new to the scene.

14. Rutina Wesley

Instagram: @rutina_wesley

Seen in: Queen Sugar, Hannibal, and True Blood

Fun fact: If she weren't an actor, Rutina would love to be a dancer. Her dream would be to dance in the Alvin Ailey dance company.

15. Isis King

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Seen in: When They See Us and The Bold and the Beautiful

Fun fact: Isis auditioned for the part of Elektra Abundance on Pose.

16. Sasha Lane

Instagram: @sashablane

Seen in: Hellboy, Hearts Beat Loud, and American Honey

Fun fact: Sasha was cast in her first feature film after the director of American Honey saw Sasha on a Florida beach. Despite having no acting experience, she accepted the role as a way of getting out of her rut. The film went on to get a BAFTA nomination for Outstanding British Film of the Year.

17. Darryl Stephens

Instagram: @darrylstephens

Seen in: Boy Culture, Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom, and Private Practice

Fun fact: Darryl is also an author and wrote the book Required Reading: How to Get Your Life for Good, in which he talks about his experience as a Black gay man in Hollywood.

18. Alex Newell

Instagram: @thealexnewell

Seen in: Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist and Glee

Fun fact: Alex's role as Mo in Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist was modeled after his own life. After creator Austin Winsberg met with Alex and asked what a character with that much confidence could be struggling with, Alex talked about his struggles with his faith and sexuality at church.

19. Dyllón Burnside

Instagram: @dyllonburnside

Seen in: Pose, Central Park, and Yinz

Fun fact: Prior to moving to New York to study acting, Dyllón was in a boy band. He told Paper Magazine that although he was able to express himself musically, it was just a costume for him, since acting was his actual dream.

20. Rosanny Zayas

Instagram: @rosannyzayas

Seen in: The L Word: Generation Q and Orange Is the New Black

Fun fact: While Rosanny was at Queens College in New York City, a professor by the name of Claudia Feldstein was the first person to tell her that she would be a great actor. This heavily influenced her to pursue acting as a career.

21. Dominique Jackson

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Seen in: Pose and Strut

Fun fact: Aside from acting, she has been modeling for over 20 years and has appeared in Vogue España.

22. Dalila Ali Rajah

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Seen in: The Young and the Restless and How to Get Away With Murder

Fun fact: She is also the co-creator of Cherry Bomb!, a show in which queer women discuss sex and relationships. It ran for five seasons on Canada's OUTtv and later became a podcast.

23. Jasika Nicole

Instagram: @jasikaistrycurious

Seen in: The Good Doctor, Scandal, and Fringe

Fun fact: She often makes her own clothes and makes and reupholsters furniture. She told the Advocate that she wishes crafting wasn't so undervalued, given the time and energy it takes to create something.

This list includes many names, but as you and I both know, there are many, MANY more talented Black LGBTQ actors out there who also deserve excellent roles. I am but one person, so feel free to shout someone out in the comments below if you'd like.

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