THE BLACK LESBIAN NETWORKMore Than A
Network
A Movement.
Creating spaces for visibility, healing, empowerment, leadership, and community—where every Black lesbian is seen, valued, and celebrated.
501(c)(3) - Active • Community-Led • Houston, Texas • 4,800+ Community
ABOUT BLN
Created By Us,
BLN is a transformative movement created by a Black lesbian for Black lesbians to connect, collaborate, and thrive. We exist at the intersection of race, gender, and sexual orientation—building pathways to visibility, healing, economic empowerment, and leadership.
For Us,
01
Visibility & Voice
We combat erasure by amplifying Black lesbian stories, achievements, and leadership at every level. BLN creates platforms where our voices are heard, our contributions are honored, and our presence is undeniable.
Healing & Wellness
We create spaces for collective healing, mental health support, and holistic well-being rooted in community care. BLN addresses the unique challenges at the intersection of race, gender, and sexual orientation with culturally responsive resources.
02
Empowerment & Leadership
We build pathways to economic empowerment, leadership development, and civic engagement for Black lesbians. Through mentorship, collaboration, and opportunity, we ensure our community not only survives, but thrives.
03
LIVING HISTORY
We honor the Black lesbians, queer women, and freedom fighters whose courage, brilliance, and love paved the way for The Black Lesbian Network. Their legacy is our foundation.
Standing on Their Shoulders
Audre Lorde
Self-described 'Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet,' Audre Lorde's words and activism continue to illuminate the path toward liberation and intersectional justice.
WRITER · WARRIOR · POET
Belinda Drake
POLITICIAN· COMMUNITY LEADER·
A steadfast advocate whose visibility and leadership strengthened Black lesbian community across decades.
Angela Davis
ACTIVIST · SCHOLAR · REVOLUTIONARY
A towering figure in the movements for racial justice, prison abolition, and intersectional liberation whose work continues to shape our struggle.
Doechii
ARTIST· VISIONARY·
A bold contemporary artist reshaping the cultural landscape and carrying forward the legacy of unapologetic Black queer expression
Linda Bellos
ACTIVIST · ORGANIZER
A pioneering Black lesbian feminist activist who challenged racism within the women's movement and fought for intersectional inclusion.
"When I dare to be powerful — to use my strength in the service of my vision — then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid."
-AUDRE LORDE
LIVING HISTORY
The Rainbow Aunties
Honoring 40+ years of Black lesbian radical love and community resilience.
Known throughout the community as The Rainbow Aunties, Wilma and Marilyn first met in 1977 at just 13 years old—coming of age in a world where the language to describe their connection was largely unspoken and their visibility actively suppressed. What society denied them in affirmation, they answered with a radical, private commitment. Long before the law or public acceptance offered a roadmap for Black lesbian partnership, they made a quiet vow to stand together, laying a foundation of resilience that would stretch across four decades.
As their lives unfolded, their union became an act of resistance in itself. Their devotion evolved into a blueprint for radical love—one rooted in shared care, family, and consistency—proving that their bond was not only a personal triumph but a vital thread in the broader fabric of Black LGBTQ+ history. By choosing each other daily and remaining visible within their community, Wilma and Marilyn carved out space for future generations to exist more openly and freely.
This Black History Month, their journey stands as living history. Celebrating 41 years of love and 11 years of legal marriage, The Rainbow Aunties embody the often unrecorded legacy of Black lesbian endurance. "She took my breath away the first time I saw her," Scales recalls. "I knew it was love when I realized that the feeling I had at 14 never went away when I saw her again at 20." In centering Wilma and Marilyn, we affirm a broader truth: Black history is inseparable from Black lesbian history—written in a love that refused to disappear and a community that continues to thrive because of it
THE INCLUSIVE LESBIAN FLAGOur Logo
FROM CONCEPT TO ICONIC LOGO
Our logo combines the lesbian flag and the Pan-African flag. Throughout history, there have been many changes to the lesbian flag, and there are various variations. We have chosen to use the more inclusive lesbian flag that represents lesbians of all spectrums, from very masculine, very feminine, trans lesbians, and others.The other half of our logo is the Pan-African flag, which is also more inclusive of people of African descent. The Pan-African flag was established in 1920 by Marcus Garvey, with red representing the blood of ancestors, black representing the race, and green representing the motherland.The combination of the two flags describes the intersectionality that Black LGBTQ+ people carry. Though we do use the Pan-African flag and the lesbian flag, we love all of our LGBTQ+ siblings.