The 3rd Annual Black Queer Creative Summit is in LA on Sept 18-21

If there is one overriding consequence of the 100+ days of this horrific, homophobic, transphobic and unashamedly racist administration is that we need to make our voices heard if we are to retain any of the rights that our community fought so hard for. The overwhelmingly deafening silence from the Democrats in general has been a learning curve that we could so done without now, as we have the realization that there are levels The Orange Man will not sink below, or laws he will totally disregard. The mere mention of the possibility of a dictatorship in the US would have had us rolling with laughter this time last year, but as alarming as it may sound, it is now very much a reality.

However, looking on the bright side (!) an invitation we found in Queerguru’s inbox this morning reminded us that we are so not alone! GLAAD’s Black Queer Creative Summit, (BQCS)—a game-changing creative experience is returning to Los Angeles this fall from September 18–21, 2025 for its 3rd annual event. If you haven’t yet heard of the summit (!) it’s a powerful, one-of-a-kind gathering that brings together more than 200 Black LGBTQ+ creatives—spanning film, television, digital, music, and podcasting—for four days of workshops, mentorship, networking, and community celebration

This summit centers the voices that are often left out of mainstream queer narratives—Black LGBTQ+ creatives who are actively reshaping what visibility, leadership, and ownership look like in media today. If there ever was a time to meet next-gen talent, and support a space deeply rooted in equity and community, IT IS NOW.

DaShawn Usher, Senior Director, Communities of Color and Media at GLAAD. added “The Black Queer Creative Summit is a declaration of presence, purpose, and power. At GLAAD, we remain deeply committed to investing in Black queer creatives who are boldly shaping the future of entertainment, media, and culture. This year’s overwhelming application response speaks volumes about the need for opportunity and community, especially now. We proudly welcomed over 200 dynamic creatives into our cohort; visionaries who are not only breaking barriers but building bridges for those coming next.This year’s summit is presented by GLAAD in partnership with Crocs and Hinge’s One More Hour initiative, and will include programming across five key entertainment sectors:

🎬 Executives & Industry Leaders
📖 Creators & Storytellers
🎧 Audio & Music Development
📺 On-Screen & Live Talent
🎥 Behind-the-Scenes Visionaries

GLAAD’s Communities of Color and Media team—led by DaShawn Usher and Julian J. Walker—built this initiative to ensure Black queer creatives aren’t just invited into the room, but given the tools to thrive within it.