Bre-Z says seeing Black, masculine-presenting women on TV is important: 'It's a lifeline'

The 2025 Out100 celebration, presented by Lexus, saw some of the biggest LGBTQ+ celebrities in Hollywood under one roof. The festivities included a dazzling red carpet, a sensational performance of the smash hit "Golden" from KPop Demon Hunters by husbands Sam Tsui and Casey Breves, and some notable speeches. One of those speeches last night was given by Bre-Z, a 2025 Out100 honoree who is currently starring in the Netflix series All-American.

In her speech, Bre-Z emphasized the importance of diversity. "When I got into this industry, I didn't see anything that looked like me. I remember seeing a girl named Felicia Pearson, also known as Snoop, in The Wire," the actress said onstage. "I'd seen it and thought, 'Damn, a masculine-presenting Black woman, Hollywood ain't gonna allow this for too long, but we're going to enjoy it while it's here.' But either way, here I am."

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She went on to say, "I spent a long time feeling misunderstood, not just by the industry, but sometimes by the world around it. When you don't fit into a box, people try to build one around you. They tell you what you should be, what you shouldn't be, who your audience will or won't accept, and I think that's crazy. But for a while I carried that weight."

The Netflix star and rapper said she realized how powerful authenticity is every time she embodied a character living in their truth, unapologetically, and says that sort of representation on screen is vital for anyone who needs to see themselves reflected in media. "I've been told on many occasions that [her character on All-American] has helped mothers, brothers, sisters, uncles, cousins, and friends better understand the person in their life that looks like Coop," Bre-Z said. "Representation isn't just a buzzword; it's a lifeline. It's a mirror for kids growing up feeling like they're too different to be seen, too unusual to be celebrated, and I'm here because of the community that held me up, this community."

She ended her speech by saying that it was an honor to be recognized by Out and that she is grateful to all the people who refuse to shrink to make someone else comfortable, adding that she promises to keep showing up as herself and keep opening doors for the people who come behind her.