Happy Pride Month
Thank you to our icons - those who did the work so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today.

This is Marsha P. Johnson. She was a Black Trans Woman who is known for throwing the first brick in Stonewall riots.

She was funny, incredibly stylish and an inspiring leader. We celebrate her today, this pride month and forever. #pride

This is Nakhane

An award winning and internationally recognized author, actor and musician

An artist who has dedicated his life to making sure that our stories are are seen, heard and felt across the globe

Nakhane is queer black excellence, and we celebrate him this #Pride

This is Dr Bev Ditsie
She is one of the organizers of the First #Pride March in South Africa

At a 1995 United Nations World Conference, she became the first person to address The UN about LGBT issues

She is a FilmMaker, Activist and all round incredible woman. We celebrate her

She is Audre Lorde

She described herself as a “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet”. She was ALL of these things.

She understood, spoke and wrote about intersectionality before the term was even coined. She was accomplished and brilliant. Someone we always remember
#Pride

She is Thandiswa Mazwai

Her contribution to the South African musical canon is unparalleled
From her work with Bongo Maffin to an illustrious Solo career
Her work is deeply political, and there isn’t a genre she hasn’t conquered.
A storyteller.
The voice of a generation
#Pride

She is Ayanda Denge

The definition of resilience. An advocate for transgender people, sex trafficking survivors and sex workers. She left behind a legacy of love. A legacy that’s fighting for equal rights for ALL. May she rest in peace. We celebrate her.

#pride

He is Simon Tseko Nkoli

An Anti-Aparthied Activist, AIDs activist and Gay Rights Activist
He managed to achieve the impassible so many times

His activism lead to real change. His activism reached presidents, it impacted our Bill Of Rights

We will forever celebrate him
#Pride

She is Janet Mock

A Transgender Rights Activst, a Best Selling Author, Television Host, Producer, Director - the list is endless

All her work finds a way to teach us about not only the human experience, but the black experience, the transgender experience.

#pride

He is Khanya The Designer

An illustrator. Tattoo Artist and Graphic Design. He creates work that is not only technically incredible. It’s work that reflects our community, how beautiful we are, how wonderfully complex our existence can be. We celebrate you this #Pride

He is James Baldwin

An essayist, novelist, playwright, poet, and social justice advocate

His words have moved us, shifted our consciousness. His work considers what it means to be human. He challenges what we know about identity and freedom. We celebrate him, forever

#Pride

They are Zanele Muholi

A powerhouse. A creative force who makes powerful art that is confrontational & emotional.

Zanele’s work explores race, gender and sexuality. It’s a body of work looking at black lesbian, gay, transgender, and intersex individuals. We salute them

#Pride

He is Binyavanga Wainaina

BRAVE. He was not only an incredible wordsmith whose work is widely celebrated. He was also a champion for LGBT rights in Kenya

Completely unafraid to live his truth, he empowered an entire generation to be bold, unapologetic. He is forever.

#Pride

They are Desire Marea

An icon for the new age. Desire is not only THE MOMENT, but the embodiment of where our future is headed. An incredible musician, a fashion & style star. An incredible voice for South African creatives. We celebrate them this #Pride

She is Laverne Cox

She’s an Emmy Award winning Actress, Producer, Transgender Rights Activist. She is forever etched into the history books by achieving a series of “firsts”

She continues to use her platform to fight for more inclusive representation on TV and Film.

#pride

She is Brenda Fassie

The Queen of African Pop. Brenda was a superstar, period. She was loud and outspoken. A daring voice who spoke out against the apartheid regime and advocated for the freedom to love whoever you want. An icon in EVERY sense of the word.

#Pride

He is Frank Ocean

He is one of the most acclaimed musicians of his generation

In 2012 he released an open letter that addressed his sexuality. That letter opened the door for long overdue conversations - especially in the black hip hop community. We celebrate him this #Pride

She is Alice Walker

And she gave us The Color Purple, a literary masterpiece (which has a black lgbt woman as the protagonist)

She was also an activist in the Civil Rights Movement. Protested against the Iraq War and is a champion of intersectional feminism. An icon.

#Pride

They are George M Johnson

Consistent. From their work as an award winning writer, to their challenging, confrontational activism for LGBT people.

Their debut book “All Boys Aren’t Blue” is in one word, brilliant. George is an important voice and we celebrate them.

#Pride

He is Rich Mnisi

One of the most exciting contemporary design voices to come out of Africa. He creates pieces that reflect and are inspired by pop culture, film, music, art and nature

He’s a tastemaker and an incredible visual storyteller. We celebrate him

#Pride

She is Aaron Philp

Representation for ‘minority’ groups is still shockingly low across all mainstream media. So Aarons success as a black, disabled, transgender model is important

At 19 she’s already worked with major brands and publications - she’s unstoppable.

#pride

This is Fela Gucci

Fela is incredible. A musician who is proudly South African and internationally in demand. A fashion maven who thrills with every look. An event curator who is creating much needed spaces for young black lgbt artists. A true artist. We salute you

#Pride

This is Olwee

An award winning Director, who has worked on some of the biggest shows on our content. To DJing on the most exciting stages across the country.

Excellence is standard procedure for any project that Olwee is a part of. A modern icon. We celebrate you.

#Pride

They are Janelle Monáe.

A limitless talent. Intentional with all the work they put into the world. Watching and hearing a Janelle project is always a thrill. They are outspoken, stylish and one of the most important artists of our generation. We love them.

#Pride

He is Olivier Rousteing

Undoubtedly one of the most influential and impactful designers of the 2010s. He’s one of the first black creative directors of a high end Fashion House.

As head of Balmain, Rousteing introduced the French brand to completely new audience.

#PRIDE

She is Stormé DeLarverie

“Why don't you guys do something?” She asked the question that would lead to The Stonewall Rebellion. She was a gay civil rights icon and entertainer, who performed and hosted at the Apollo Theater and Radio City Music Hall.

#Pride

He is Lelowhatsgood

A champion for creating spaces for us to be seen. Lelo is a widely celebrated DJ, having played in major international festivals. He also created Vogue Nights Jozi an ode to black lgbt people, an event created to celebrate US.

#Pride

She is Dr Angela Davis

A radical thinker. She has challenged oppressive systems at EVERY turn.

A very qualified voice that speaks out for the equal treatment of black people and women

The leading voice in movement to abolish the prison-industrial complex. A hero.

#Pride

They are Indya Moore

A model who started working when they were just 15. A lead actor on a show with the largest cast of transgender actors ever, Pose. A voiceover artist. And a Pro Black, Pro LGBT++ Acitvist, who puts in the WORK. They are a force of nature.

#Pride

They are Mx Blouse

A true vanguard. Always a step head of the curve. A writer, music artist and DJ. They create genre defying music that is always authentically South African. Mx Blouse resists limited definitions of what makes a rapper, vocalist. They are the future

#Pride

He is Essex Hemphill

A poet & essayist. Radically honest, till his very last moments. He wrote about being black, gay and proud, at a time when that wasn’t celebrated.

He was a trailblazer. His use of language was outstanding, his words are his undeniable legacy.

#Pride

He is Letlhogonolo

He amplifies importance of the Black (LGBT+) experience

From a excellent podcast where he engages with authors & thought leaders

To his involvement with Find New Words and Queermas he doing the work to BULD our community, we celebrate him.

#Pride

He is Billy Porter

An entertainer, a masterclass in longevity and much needed representation for black gay men in Hollywood

He is a stellar performer having been in broadway shows like Kinky Boots. He is the lead on Pose, and he’s a risk taking fashion icon. We love him

#Pride

He is Jason Collins

He’s a former NBA player and he was the first openly gay athlete to play in any of the four major North American Pro Sports Leagues

His visibility was an incredible step. He opened the door to having much needed conversations in the Pro Sports World

#PRIDE

He is Bayard Rustin

An LGBT and civil rights activist. Best known for being a Key advisor to Martin Luther King Jr. He organized the 1963 March on Washington and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the USAs highest civilian honor, in 2013 for his activism.

#pride

He is Edward Enninful

The editor in chief of British Vogue. He is the first black male editor of any Vogue magazine.

By 18 became the fashion director of i-D magazine

His brilliance lies in his ability to make fashion more diverse and accessible - a icon

#Pride

She is Isis King

A model, actress and fashion designer.

12 years ago Isis competed on ANTM, she was the first transgender person I had ever seen on Television. She was brilliant, incredibly beautiful and a beacon. Her visibility meant EVERYTHING

A trailblazer

#Pride

He is Jericho Brown

A poet. A master of words. The recipient of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. He writes with a fresh, contemporary voice, one that reflects the world as it is around us. He is a writer who is explicitly black, proudly queer and so EXCELLENT!

#Pride

He is Thebe Magugu

A fashion story teller

He is the first African designer to win the coveted LVMH Prize. He creates clothes that are not only beautiful but they show his history, they tell stories. He is a powerful custodian of African fashion.

#pride

She is Tracey ‘Africa’ Norman

She was the 1st black, transgender model. She posed for Avon, Clairol & Vogue Italia in the 70s

In 1980, an editor on a shoot discovered her birth sex and tried to end her career. Tracey, however, moved to Paris and signed with Balenciaga

#Pride

He is Willi Ninja

The Godfather of Vogue. He was introduced to the world in the award-winning 1990 documentary "Paris Is Burning. He was the mother of the House of Ninja, one of the most respected houses in ball culture. An icon

#Pride

She is Caster Semenya

A 2 time Olympic Gold Medlaist. Caster is the definition of black excellence. Her story is one of beating the odds everytime. It one of being attacked and still coming out on top

She’s a brilliant sportswoman and an all round inspiring bad ass.

#Pride

He is Somizi Mhlongo

His groundbreaking visibility has been a beacon so many LGBT people, not only in South Africa, but throughout Africa

He has had an almost 3 decades long career, filled with culture shifting projects. He is important, and we celebrate him

#pride

They are Nkunzi Nkabinde

A South African sangoma, author, and LGBT activist. They were incredibly gifted, smart and articulate. A spiritual leader who challenged the concept that homosexuality is "un-African."
They were an incredible vessel.

#Pride

He is Don Lemon

An Emmy award winning television journalist. He’s an incredible voice not only for black people, but for the LGBT community as well

His role at CNN gives him a platform that we rarely get to see black, gay men on. He is an outspoken leader.

#pride

He is Jean-Michel Basquiat

The famed progidy was not only an increble painter (with a style that many are still trying to replicate). But he was also a magician and poet.

One of the important artistic voices of ALL time. His influence lives on forever

#Pride

She is Munroe Bergdorf

An internationally celebrated model
A transgender and womens rights advocate

She is currently on L’oreals diversity and inclusion board, a board that was only formed because of Munroe and her platform. She is an important voice

We celebrate her

#pride

He is MNEK

A musician, producer and songwriter whose song writing credits include writing hits for Beyoncé, Dua Lipa, H.E.R. and Madonna

At just 25 he has managed to become one of the great songwriters of his generation, a vanguard.

#Pride

They are V.I.N.T.A.G.E Dance Crew

Founded by Ashwin Bosman and Lee-ché Janecke, they were challenging the norms of society one dance performance at a time. Fusing fashion, dance and theatricality. They’ve been on stage with everyone from Busiswa to Lady Gaga. Icons

#Pride

She is Pat Parker

An American poet and Activist. All her work was driven by her experiences a black lesbian feminist

She lived an incredible life, from her involvement with The Black Panthers Party to her forming the Womens Press Collective. She was brilliant, fearless

#pride

She is Josephine Baker

The ORGINAL baddie. She lived an incredible life, celebrated as an iconic performer and musician.

She also aided in the French Resistance during WW2, she was a loud voice in the American civil rights movement. She was a powerhouse. A superhero.

#pride

He is Richard Akuson

He founded and was the editor in chief the first LGBT magazine in Nigeria, A Nasty Boy

He challenges the outdated ideas that Nigeria has about masculinity, gender and sexuality and he does it through the most powerful medium in the world, The Media

#pride

She is Ricky Nathanson

A LGBT rights activist from Zimbabwe

In 2014 she was arrested for using the ‘wrong bathroom’ as a transwoman. She sued, and was awarded over $400K in damages. This was a historic win, and a step forward for LGBT rights in Zimbabwe We celebrate her

#pride

He is Law Roach

A style Architect. Laws impact on fashion in contemporary pop culture is powerful, whether it’s as a judge on shows like ANTM or creating the iconic looks of some of today’s biggest stars - he is a fashion visionary

#Pride

She is Sister Rosetta Tharpe

The Godmother of Rock and Roll. The music she was creating in the 1930s and 40s was the precursor of what we understand to be Rock and Roll today. She is counted as an influence by everyone from Elvis Presley to Little Richard. A pioneer

#Pride

She is Lena Waithe

Screenwriter. Actor. Producer. She made history when she became the first black woman to win an Emmy for writing in a comedy series. She won for an episode that was based on her coming out to her mother. She is telling OUR stories and that’s IMPORTANT

#pride

They are Kirvan Fortuin

An internationally loved choreographer and performer. Mother of House of Le Cap, one of Africa’s first ballroom houses

They had one of the first balls on the continent in 2017, they created a space for love, freedom and expression. A supernova.

#Pride

And we are, The Future

The work we’re doing is helping shape the future

We’re activists, models, djs, actors, business owners, directors, doctors and lawyers

We’re creating spaces, and using our voices and talents to build a better tomorrow

Happy #Pride Everyone

And this goes without saying but this thread of incredible people is not complete - there’s so many powerful LGBT++ people who are doing important, impactful work. We are everywhere. And I have so much #Pride because of it.