The Flash of Fluidity: Keiynan Lonsdale, The Black Queer Icon Who Chose Joy Over Labels

Hey there, my loves! It’s Cerinass, here. Today, we’re celebrating an artist who floats between worlds—from the superhero speedster to the dance floor dominator—and does it all with an intoxicating joy and fluidity. He’s an actor, a musician, a dancer, and a true inspiration. We are celebrating the phenomenal Keiynan Lonsdale

You know how some people just radiate pure, unadulterated sunshine? That’s the energy of Keiynan Lonsdale. He’s a charismatic Black, Nigerian-Australian queer actor, singer, and dancer who has made his name by being incredibly visible and beautifully honest about his fluid identity and self-acceptance. He taught me that the greatest superpower you can possess is radical self-love, no matter what the world expects.

From Dance to DC Comics

Keiynan Lonsdale (born 1991 in Sydney, Australia) started his career where many of the best artists do: in dance. His early work as an MTV VJ in Australia and his roles in films like The Divergent Series: Insurgent quickly established his dynamic energy.

He gained global fame for his role as Wally West / Kid Flash in the Arrowverse shows, including The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow. This visibility placed a young Black man in a major superhero role, an important shift in mainstream media.

He solidified his status as a queer icon with his lead role in the groundbreaking film Love, Simon (2018), playing Bram Greenfeld. The film was a cultural moment, and Keiynan’s role gave young queer people around the world a beautiful, complex character to see themselves in.

The Challenge of The Shifting Labels

Keiynan Lonsdale’s journey has been defined by the very public struggle to define his sexuality and gender identity in a world that demands a rigid box.

Lonsdale initially came out publicly in 2017 via an Instagram post, stating, “I like to change my hair, I like to take risks with how I dress, I like girls, and I like guys”. His openness about his attraction to multiple genders was a massive win for Black bisexual visibility in Hollywood, a space often dominated by monosexual narratives.

Even with his sexual identity clarified, Lonsdale continuously battled gender expectations. He frequently spoke about his desire to wear dresses and feminine clothing, feeling a disconnect with hyper-masculine Hollywood expectations. He famously wore a gorgeous floral-printed women’s dress to the MTV Movie & TV Awards in 2018, stating that wearing it gave him a feeling of “divinity” and “power”.

He has since embraced the use of both he/him and they/them pronouns and clarified that he doesn’t adhere to a fixed identity, using his visibility to promote a more fluid understanding of selfhood. This journey of radical self-acceptance is a powerful beacon for every young person questioning where they fit, echoing the journey of other fluid artists like Janelle Monáe.

The Inspiring Triumph of Joy as Resistance

Keiynan Lonsdale’s triumph is his fearless commitment to joy and self-expression as a form of resistance. He uses his artistry to heal and inspire. His music, including the album Rainbow Boy (2020), is a celebration of his journey, Blackness, queer love, and spirituality. The music is an auditory extension of his personal philosophy: embracing all the colors of his identity.

Through his acting and music, he provides a model of a successful, thriving Black queer person who is comfortable in his own skin, an icon whose visibility saves lives. His courage to live openly is built on the groundwork of pioneers like Bayard Rustin, who fought for the right to simply exist.

Cerinass’ Takeaway

For me, Cerinass, Keiynan Lonsdale taught me that you don’t need a label to be loved, and you don’t need permission to wear the dress. He showed me that your internal joy is the energy that truly moves the world.

So, the next time you see a hero embracing all their complexity, remember Keiynan Lonsdale. Remember the icon who proved that being fully yourself is the fastest way to freedom.

Stay fabulous, and keep shining Bright!

Cerinass

XOXO

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Sources for Further Reading:

Keiynan Lonsdale. Instagram Post announcing his sexuality (May 2017).

The Hollywood Reporter. Interview discussing his Love, Simon role and his coming out (2018).

Teen Vogue. “Keiynan Lonsdale Explains Why He Wore a Dress to the MTV Movie & TV Awards” (2018).

The Advocate. “Keiynan Lonsdale on His Fluid Identity, Love, and Rainbow Boy” (2020).