If you’re not following Dr. Jonathan Paul Higgins, you’re missing out on one of the sharpest, wittiest, and most unapologetically Black, queer, and femme voices in media today. A self-described “reformed educator” turned community leader, podcaster, and author, Dr. Higgins has made it their mission to uplift the voices that mainstream culture often ignores. But don’t mistake their work for a never-ending sermon on oppression: Jonathan is here to crack jokes, spill tea, and remind us all that Black queer joy is just as revolutionary as resistance.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Higgins for an interview that was less of a Q&A and more of a fabulous kiki about the realities of navigating an industry—hell, a society—that often doesn’t know what to do with Black, fat, femme, nonbinary people who refuse to shrink themselves. If there’s one thing Dr. Jon has made clear, it’s this: they’re not asking for permission and are certainly not dimming their light.
Dr. Higgins’ journey into media didn’t start with a viral tweet or an internet-breaking take. Instead, they spent over a decade in academia, researching and advocating for LGBTQ+ students, only to find that the ivory tower had firmly pulled up their drawbridge.
“I knew that if I was really going to make an impact, I had to leave academia,” they told me. “There was too much gatekeeping happening while I was there.”
And so, in 2017, they left higher education, stepped into the unknown, and decided to start telling the stories that universities and mainstream media weren’t interested in. It was the birth of Dr. Jon Paul as we know them: a writer, media critic, and cultural commentator who speaks truth to power.
Dr. Jonathan Paul Higgins: a writer, media critic, and cultural commentator who speaks truth to power.Sequoia Emmanuelle Photography
It wouldn’t be a proper queer origin story without a little bit of drama and a social media spat. In the early days of their media career, Dr. Higgins found themselves in an online back-and-forth with none other than Milk screenwriter Dustin Lance Black. The debate? The lack of representation for Black queer stories in Hollywood.
“In so many words, he basically said, ‘If you want to see stuff that looks like you, you have to be the person to create it,” they recalled. “And while I hate that statement, there’s an element of truth in it. Because the industry is not doing what it should be doing to make sure they elevate us.” So Dr. Jon Paul took the begrudging advice and ran with it. They launched their podcast, Black Fat Femme, creating content that celebrated Black queer brilliance.
Ever wondered why certain people seem to get a fast pass in the entertainment industry while others have to kick down doors? Dr. Higgins has an answer for you: desirability politics.
“If you’re not desirable in this industry, a lot of people don’t want to have anything to do with you,” they said bluntly. “Me presenting as a Black, fat, femme, nonbinary person…that’s not ‘desirable’ to a lot of people [in the industry]. Because femininity, when it’s attached to queerness and Blackness, is not deemed sexy.”
And yet, despite not fitting into the industry’s narrow mold of who “deserves’ visibility, Dr. Jon Paul has built an undeniable career. From securing major media deals to having their book land with a major publisher, they’ve proven that Black queer voices—and presence—are necessary.
Dr. Higgins knows that visibility is a double-edged sword. While they relish the opportunity to be their full, audacious self in public, Jon Paul is also aware of the pressure and exhaustion of being in the public eye.
Dr. Jonathan Paul Higgins on bringing their most authentic self in media. Sequoia Emmanuelle Photography
“I don’t think André Leon Talley set out to be my inspiration model,” they mused. “I think he was just trying to work and live authentically. And now, years later, I’m looking at him and realizing how much his presence meant to me.” Such was the case when a Black queer family approached them at The Grove in LA. Full of admiration, the mother told them how their podcast helped build a connection between her and her nonbinary child. In that moment, all the battles with the industry, all the times of rejection at a personal and professional level, melted away. Because they’re doing, Higgins asserted, isn’t about industry accolades but real people, families—and real change.
With Black Fat Femme: Revealing the Power of Visibly Queer Voices in Media and How to Love Yourself hitting the shelves next month and their podcast continuing to thrive, Dr. Jon Paul is showing no signs of slowing down. The focus is not just on their own success but actively uplifting others, making sure that more Black queer voices get the recognition they deserve.
“They may not see it for your right now but, honey, one day they will.”
And trust me, the world is catching on.
You can preorder Black Fat Femme directly on their website, from the publisher, or on Amazon, and follow Dr. Jonathan Paul Higgins on social media for more insights, laughs, and unapologetically Black queer brilliance.
