“Shows like 'Empire'... one of the most profound powerful things is that there's a gay male character who is loved. That character is going to save a lot of people's lives. Black families are confronting the idea that a gay black character can be human.”

American filmmaker, actor, and author

Justin Simien is an American filmmaker, actor, and author. He is known for his work on Dear White People and for being named to Variety's 2013 "10 Directors to Watch" list. His first feature film, Dear White People, won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. The film was later adapted into a Netflix series that ran from 2017 to 2021, extending the reach of his work into television.