Zaya's bravery is contagious. Her willingness to be who she is at such a young age not only sets an example, but her family's public navigation of it—especially in regards to her exemplary father Dwyane Wade—shows families across the country that they can learn from their children just as much as teach them. This bio …
#QueerHeroes Day 9 – Big Freedia
#QueerHeroes Day 9. Big Freedia Big Freedia is the queen of New Orleans. As a child, she was inspired by Salt-N-Pepa and the legendary queer artist Sylvester. Like Sylvester, her first exposure to music was in her church choir. She became skilled in piano as well. In the late 90s, she began performing as a backup …
#QueerHeroes Day 6 – Angelica Ross
#QueerHeroes Day 6 Angelica Ross. It was acting that made Angelica Ross famous, but it’s her determination and raw intelligence that make her a mogul. Her career started in tech when she taught herself computer code. Using this knowledge, she founded TransTech Social Enterprises—a networking firm that boosts visibility of transgender people in the tech industry. …
#QueerHeroes Day 5 – Patrick Kelly
#QueerHeroes Day 5. Patrick Kelly. Patrick Kelly was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi in 1954. His mother was a home economics teacher and he learned to sew in his teenage years. After graduating high school, he moved from Mississippi to Atlanta, where he worked in a thrift shop. He began modifying the donated designer fashions and constructing …
#QueerHeroes Day 3 – Josephine Baker
#QueerHeroes Day 3 - Josephine Baker Josephine Baker was born 114 years ago today. She died at 68 years old, but had dozens of lifetimes’ worth of experiences. After becoming a breakout Vaudeville star in her teenage years, Baker appeared in Shuffle Along—a hugely successful 1921 Broadway musical starring and written by Black Americans. Baker …