From comedic roles in Reno:911 and Scream Queens to dramatic parts in When They See Us and Dahmer, Niecy Nash-Betts is not only an acclaimed actor of impressive range; she is a cultural powerhouse that moves audiences to care about marginalized people. As the Out100 Icon of the Year, Nash-Betts is a leading light to inspire the LGBTQ+ community to be bolder and brighter even in the face of setbacks.
“I love being Black. I love being a woman. And now I’m a Black queer woman in a relationship with another Black queer woman, and it matters," says Nash-Betts, whose 2022 marriage to Jessica Betts is an inspiration in the power of queer love.
And Nash-Betts won't back down as conservative forces threaten to undo the progress of LGBTQ+ rights. “Stepping on somebody’s ability to love whoever they want to love is wild. It’s wild behavior. And so let me tell you, I would definitely be on the front lines [to fight for marriage equality]," she says in Out's cover story. @niecynash1
Years before Stonewall, a cafeteria riot became a breakthrough for trans rights
All about the Compton's Cafeteria riot, when drag queens and trans women rose up against police at a diner in San Francisco.