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Actors Justice Smith, Nicholas Ashe Come Out as Boyfriends

two actors

My HEART!

MikelleStreet

Well if you needed a pick me up, here's a dose of queer Black boy joy!

In an Instagram post uploaded Friday, The Get Down actor Justice Smith reflected on his participation in a protest against systemic racism and police brutality in New Orleans.

"Nicholas Ashe and I protested today in New Orleans," he wrote. "We chanted 'Black Trans Lives Matter' 'Black Queer Lives Matter' 'All Black Lives Matter.' As a Black queer man myself, I was disappointed to see certain people eager to say Black Lives Matter, but hold their tongue when Trans/Queer was added." There is no indication that the actor, who is also the lead in Pokemon: Detective Pikachu and made a mark in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, had previously spoken about his sexuality.

"I want to reiterate this sentiment: If your revolution does not include Black Queer voices, it is anti-Black," he continued. "If your revolution is okay with letting Black trans people like Tony McDade slip through the cracks in order to solely liberate Black cishet men, it is anti-Black. You are trying to push yourself through the door of a system designed against you, and then shut the door behind you." McDade notably was killed by police. The name of the involved officer has yet to be released.

"There is so much tragedy on the timeline these last couple of days so I added some photos of me and Nic to show some Black boy joy, Black love, Black queer love," he continued. Of his upcoming projects, Smith will play a queer high schooler in the HBO Max dramedy Generation. "You 've been my rock and guiding light through all of this and I love you so much. I know that on the other side of this is change, though the fight is far from over."

Ashe is also an actor, notably having appeared on Queen Sugar and in Tarell Alvin McCraney's Broadway production Choir Boy. Given that we don't often see two Black gay celebrities dating, this is certainly a sight for sore eyes!

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Mikelle Street

Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.

Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.