Resource for all the TV shows and movies with black sapphics (cis and trans lesbians, bisexuals, pansexuals, and non-binary characters in relations). My intention is to bring awareness and create content often overlooked for black sapphics. I only create the gifs. None of the content itself is mine. It belongs to the creators or production companies themselves.
I wanted to compile a list of movies with black sapphics that made history in one way or another! Let's celebrate our stories!
Happy #BlackHistoryMonth!
The Watermelon Woman (1996, U.S)
An important film in Black queer cinema. As the first feature film directed by a Black lesbian about the Black lesbian experience, this documentary style fiction was a pioneer.
In 2021, it was selected for preservation in the U.S National Film Registry for its cultural and historic significance.
2. Stud Life (2012, UK)
One of the earliest films to center a Black stud lesbian as the protagonist. Its impact was heavier as it is a British film that shined a light for stud visibility and Black queer existence in the UK.
It has since been selected by the British Film Institute as one of the top queer films to watch.
3. Rafiki (2018, Kenya)
The first Kenyan lesbian film which sparked global conversations about queerness, censorship, African queerness and cinema.
It was banned in Kenya for 'promoting lesbianism' however, it was temporarily unbanned so it can qualify for the Academy Awards (even though it didn't win). It did go on to become the first Kenyan film to screen at the Cannes Film Festival and win other awards like: 'Best Film in an African Language, Best Editing' at the Africa Movie Academy Awards, 'Outstanding Film - Limited Release' at the GLAAD Media Awards and the 'Silver Q-Hugo' Chicago International Film Festival.
It was the first African sapphic film to gain global visibility, first Kenyan film to premiere at Cannes, and for that, it will always be historically significant.
4. Pariah (2011, U.S)
A coming-of-age drama following a Black teenager rifling through her sexuality and identity.
It has since won 'Outstanding Independent Motion Picture' at the NAACP Image Awards, the 'Excellence in Cinematography Award' at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, and has been added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry.
5. Under The Christmas Tree (2021, U.S)
The Lifetime movie which became the network's first lesbian holiday romance movie.
On the 23rd of January 2026, Kenya's Court of Appeal ruled that the 2018 ban on the film Rafiki was unlawful and unconstitutional. This lift on the ban marks a major victory for artistic freedom, particularly of queer cinema and black African LGBTQ+ art.
Bisa, Jamila, Jazz, K'wame, Nia, Sam, Kiara, Giselle, Ace, Reese,
Ava (Queerious: Web series)
Anissa*, Chenoa, Jamillah* (Black Lightning: TV series)
Jada*, Joyce, Yulissa (Fruit Loops: Short film)
Ally (Ghosts: TV series)
"The girl from the bar" (Fleur Bleue: TV series)
Jean (Sew Into You: Short film)
Jude and Taz (Pineapple: Short film)
Jackie and Bobbi (Bruised: movie)
Lexi (Take Note: Short film)
Stephanie*, Keke*, Amber* (The Comic Shop: Web series)
Yasmine* and Lisa (You Are The Reason: short film)
Jade (Yellow Bellied: Short Film)
Kiara (Under the Same Roof: short film)
Izzy (Bit: movie)
Dom (A Tourist's Guide to Love: movie)
Joanne* (Rent: movie)
Brianna, Kyra (A New Diva's Christmas Carol: movie)
Kylie (Friends and Family Christmas: movie)
Victoria (Lapse: short film)
Katie (In Her Place: short film)
Kendra (Long Story Short: TV series)
Poussey, Suzanne (Orange is the New Black: TV series)
Ìfé*, Adaora (Ìfé: short film)
Yessika (Gentefied: TV series)
Taylor (A Luv Tale: movie)
Camille*, Kris*, Stacy-Anne*, Yuri*, Edwina* (195 Lewis: web series)
Maxine, Esther (A League of their Own: TV series)
Margaux (The Only Beautiful Thing: short film)
Izzy (The Lincoln Lawyer: TV series)
(Born in Flames: movie)
The Arti$t, kwn are assumed lesbian recording artists.
Kehlani is a confirmed lesbian recording artist.
NB: This list contains black and black-mixed characters who either are canon lesbians* or assumed lesbians as they have shown interest in only one gender.
I wanted to compile a list of movies with black sapphics that made history in one way or another! Let's celebrate our stories!
Happy #BlackHistoryMonth!
The Watermelon Woman (1996, U.S)
An important film in Black queer cinema. As the first feature film directed by a Black lesbian about the Black lesbian experience, this documentary style fiction was a pioneer.
In 2021, it was selected for preservation in the U.S National Film Registry for its cultural and historic significance.
2. Stud Life (2012, UK)
One of the earliest films to center a Black stud lesbian as the protagonist. Its impact was heavier as it is a British film that shined a light for stud visibility and Black queer existence in the UK.
It has since been selected by the British Film Institute as one of the top queer films to watch.
3. Rafiki (2018, Kenya)
The first Kenyan lesbian film which sparked global conversations about queerness, censorship, African queerness and cinema.
It was banned in Kenya for 'promoting lesbianism' however, it was temporarily unbanned so it can qualify for the Academy Awards (even though it didn't win). It did go on to become the first Kenyan film to screen at the Cannes Film Festival and win other awards like: 'Best Film in an African Language, Best Editing' at the Africa Movie Academy Awards, 'Outstanding Film - Limited Release' at the GLAAD Media Awards and the 'Silver Q-Hugo' Chicago International Film Festival.
It was the first African sapphic film to gain global visibility, first Kenyan film to premiere at Cannes, and for that, it will always be historically significant.
4. Pariah (2011, U.S)
A coming-of-age drama following a Black teenager rifling through her sexuality and identity.
It has since won 'Outstanding Independent Motion Picture' at the NAACP Image Awards, the 'Excellence in Cinematography Award' at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, and has been added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry.
5. Under The Christmas Tree (2021, U.S)
The Lifetime movie which became the network's first lesbian holiday romance movie.
Poussey x Soso (interracial sapphic: black x asian)
x Franziska (interracial sapphic: black x white)
Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" x Maureen (interracial sapphic)
Sophia x Crystal (black sapphic)
Sex & Nudity - Severe
Frequent full female nudity (breasts, butts)
Full frontal male nudity (penis seen)
Graphic sapphic sex (oral, fingering) with moaning
Brief segments of commercial porn
Simulated sex scenes (heterosexual)
Discussion of lesbian sex
Characters are naked together
Implied masturbation
Sexual assault
Violence & Gore - Moderate
Prison violence (non-gory, not bloody)
Character's throat is slit
Character is stabbed in the back with a screwdriver
A body is cut up and buried; lots of blood visible
A young girl is murdered by two older women
A goat is shot and sliced open, and a fetus falls out; lots of blood visible
Character held down by a gang and branded (with a swastika) using a hot metal spike
Character is raped (by a guard)
Sexual blackmail and harassment
Character dies on-screen due to suffocation
Prison riot in response to a character's death
Profanity - Severe
Use of fuck, bitch, ass, shit, cunt, whore, asshole, damn, etc
Multiple instances of racist slurs and stereotypes (Black, Latino, Asian, queer)
