7 Black LGBTQ+ Things We're Looking Forward To This Spring
Are you looking forward to spring as much as we are? Besides the anticipation of warmer temperatures, there are quite a few exciting projects on our radar from Black queer creatives that we believe should be on yours too. From new book releases to theatrical productions, and even an LGBTQ+ bus tour. There’s something for every Black LGBTQ+ person and our allies to enjoy as queer content creators continue to elevate the stories and experiences of our community from the page to the screen. This is not a comprehensive list. And while we’re excited to share our picks with you, we’d love to hear about the Black queer projects that have you excited about their spring arrival. Dive into our selections below.
Don’t Cry For Me by Daniel Black
Award-winning author and Clark Atlanta University professor Daniel Black returns with his latest novel, “Don’t Cry For Me.” Named one of the most anticipated books of 2022 by Essence Magazine, a Black father makes amends with his gay son through letters written on his deathbed in this wise and penetrating novel of empathy and forgiveness. “Don’t Cry For Me” is published by Hanover Square Press and is available everywhere books are sold.
Moon Witch Spider King by Marlon James
American Book Award-winner and queer author Marlon James returns with his latest novel “Moon Witch, Spider King.” It’s the second installment in the trilogy that began with James’ 2019 bestseller “Black Leopard, Red Wolf.” Through these books, James is inviting readers into a fantasy filled with intrigue and steeped in African mythology, writes The Orange County Register. “Moon Witch, Spider King” is published by Riverhead Books and is available everywhere books are sold.
Boys Come First by Aaron Foley
Author Aaron Foley (How to Live in Detroit Without Being a Jackass) makes his debut as a novelist with a story about three Black gay men navigating love in all its iterations in the iconic Motor City in “Boys Come First.” "Imagine the thirtysomething angst of Insecure meeting the queer Black friendships of Noah's Arc intersecting with the dating dilemmas of Waiting to Exhale all rolled up into the dynamics of a gentrified Detroit... and you've got Boys Come First,” writes author Frederick Smith. “Boys Come First” is published by Belt Publishing and is set to be released on May 31, 2022.
Out Front Theater Company: When We Last Flew
Black queer playwright and screenwriter (Invisible Life, HBO) Harrison David Rivers’ stage drama “When We Last Flew” is coming to Atlanta’s Out Front Theater. “After stealing his local library’s only copy of “Angels in America,” misfit teenager Paul locks himself in the bathroom and begins reading the landmark play. He soon finds that his life and the lives of those around him in his small Kansas suburb are about to take flight, and over the course of a seemingly ordinary day, extraordinary things start to happen.” “When We Last Flew” opens on March 17 and runs through April 2, 2022.
When Boys Exhale
Black gay playwright and director Anthony Green brings his hit play “When Boys Exhale” to Atlanta in April. Inspired by the 1995 hit film “Waiting To Exhale,” Green found refuge and inspiration in the Black classic after the painful loss of a friend, but stereotypical queer representations in the two Black gay characters in the original. In his version, the lives of Black gay friends are centered and explored in a meaningful way.
Actor’s Express: Booty Candy
Black gay playwright Robert O’Hara’s critically acclaimed play “Booty Candy” will entertain Atlanta audiences through a new production at Actor’s Express in May. “Booty Candy” is an audacious series of subversive vignettes that explore what it means to grow up gay and black in America. “Booty Candy opens on May 14 and runs through June 12-2022.
LGBT Detroit Bus Tour
LGBT Detroit, a Michigan-based nonprofit organization working to increase awareness and support of Detroit's dynamic LGBT culture through education and advocacy, will kick-off their “Sex, Hooking Up and The Apps College Tour” on March 29. The tour will visit four colleges throughout Michigan: University of Michigan - Dearborn, Wayne State University, Henry Ford College, and College for Creative Studies.
