Black Queer Talent and Stories Stand Out Among NAACP Image Awards Nominations | GLAAD

The eve of the 55th NAACP Image Awards is rapidly approaching. With a star-studded nomination lineup featuring numerous nods to Black LGBTQ entertainers, we’re looking forward to an evening filled with Black queer joy and (hopefully) wins. 

Colman Domingo and Ayo Edebiri’s powerhouse performances from the past year were clearly reflected in the nominations for this year’s awards, with the actors leading across motion picture and television categories. Domingo received three nominations across the motion picture categories for his roles in George C. Wolfe-directed Rustin and Blitz Bazawule-directed The Color Purple. 

His performances in the films, both of which champion Black LGBTQ representation, secured the actor nominations for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture (Rustin), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture (The Color Purple), and Entertainer of the Year. 

Edebiri led nominations in the television and streaming categories, earning nods for her Outstanding Guest Performance for her role in Abbott Elementary and Outstanding Supporting Actress for her performance as Sydney in The Bear. Although not up for an Image Award, her performance as Josie in Bottoms was equally ramifying, and a major win for the representation of Black queer women in film. 

Entertainment icon Keke Palmer is also recognized across a variety of categories, securing nominations for Entertainer of the Year, her voiceover performance in The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, her role directing Big Boss, and her podcast Baby, This is Keke Palmer. 

Additional Black queer talent earning nominations across the categories include Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture – Origin), Teyana Taylor (Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture and Outstanding Breakthrough Performance in a Motion Picture – A Thousand and One), RuPaul Charles (Outstanding Host in a Reality Competition), Michaela Jae Rodriguez (Outstanding Supporting Actress in a  Television Movie – American Horror Story: Delicate), Ariana Debose (Outstanding Character Voice Over Performance in a Motion Picture – Wish), Tamron Hall (Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information Series or Special and Outstanding Talk Series), Terrell Grice (Outstanding Social Media Personality), and Queen Latifah (Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series – The Equalizer). Queen Latifah is also set to host the 55th NAACP Image Awards Dinner. 

Multiple allies who make it a habit to show up for the LGBTQ community, the issues we face, and representation of our lived experiences on-screen, also received nominations including Sheryl Lee Ralph, Gabrielle Union, and Shonda Rhimes.

Individual films, television shows, and programs with Black queer representation were woven throughout the nominations. Perhaps the biggest winners were Rustin and The Color Purple, both of which received numerous nods across Image Award Categories, and Dewayne Perkins’ The Blackening earned two nominations. Other nominees that featured Black LGBTQ characters and storylines include Bel-Air, Black Cake, The Other Black Girl, Harlem, Survival of the Thickest, A Black Lady Sketch Show, Wanda Sykes: I’m An Entertainer, Turning the Tables with Robin Roberts, and The Laverne Cox Show. 

Black LGBTQ talent also dominated in the music entertainment categories. Victoria Monét led the charge with six nominations across the Outstanding Album, Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album, Outstanding Female Artist, Outstanding New Artist, Outstanding Duo, Group, or Collaboration (for her collaboration with Lucky Day), and Outstanding Soul/R&B Song.

Janelle Monáe also received multiple nominations across the music categories for their album The Age of Pleasure, and Megan Thee Stallion earned two nominations for Cobra. 

To keep track of your favorite queer nominees and winners, you can view the full list of nominations here and tune in to the 55th NAACP Image Awards telecast on March 16 on BET and CBS.