Five black Canadian queer activists making history
by Christine Kinori
Black History Month has just wrapped up but it is still important to honour people in the Black queer community who are changing history by championing for change.
They are not only inspiring us but making sure that the next generation has a better life and that their voices are heard.Here are some of the Black queer activists who are making remarkable contributions in the Canadian LGBTQ2S+ community.
PHOTO: https://www.instagram.com/ravynwngz
Ravyn Wngz
Wngz is an artist who identifies as a Queer,2 Spirit,Transcendent.She is the founder of Nana DiverseCity Dance Company y. She started the company to create a safe space for Black queer artist after facing a lot of racism and homophobia as an artist herself. She is also the artistic director of the OVA (Outrageous Victorious Africans) collective, OVA enables Black 2SLGBTQ+ to find their voices through art and theater. Lastly,she is also a member of Black Live Matter Toronto Steering committee .
In one of her past interviews, she talks about how Martin Luther King inspired her and she hopes and continues to fight for a world where a young, pansexual, queer, trans and Afro-Indigenous woman like her won’t have to go through so much intolerance in the world.
Angela Robertson
She is a black LGBTQ2+ activist who is well known in Toronto’s LGBTQ+ circles.She has dedicated most of her life fighting against homophobia and racism.She used to be an editorial member of Women’s Educational Press.In that role,she gave racialized and queer-identified women representation in the arts and politics through the publication. She is still actively advocating for feminism and empowerment of the Black women and the LGBTQ+ community.
Douglas Stewart
Douglas is a gay right activist who has devoted his life with working in the Black community to advocate for gay rights and awareness.In 1984, he was a co-founder of Zami which was the first queer group in Toronto. Zami was formed to combat issues arising from “queer establishments” in the 1980s. He was also the founding Executive Director of the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention. In his role, he worked to create HIV/AIDS awareness among the black queer community in the 1980s.
Courtnay Mcfarlane
He is a gay visual artist and poet mostly known for his poetic work which has been published in numerous African Canadian and Queer anthologies. He is one of the active volunteers in the Black and LGBTQ+ community organizations such as Inside Out and the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention. He uses his artistry to share Black LGBTQ+ stories in a relatable yet profound way. He is currently trying to address the barriers faced by the marginalized community while trying to access health services.
Cicely Belle Blain
Blain is a non-binary writer and CEO of Bakau consulting Inc. The company is an equity, inclusion and anti-racism consulting company. They are also a co-founder of Black Lives Matter in Toronto. For the past few years, they have been raising awareness and advocating for greater inclusion within Pride.Their book Burning Sugar is featured on top LGBTQ+ Canadians books to read.
Some of these activist have been passionately advocating for the rights of the queer community and also fighting anti-racism for years. It is amazing to see their dedication to bring change and their courage to be the first to speak up against discrimination.
Christine Kinori is a queer travel freelance writer. “I enjoy meeting new people and experiencing new culture. I believe in equality and I want my daughter to live in a better world.”