Gabrielle Union developing show that celebrates queer Black experience

Gabrielle Union is continuing to uplift and amplify Black voices, this time through a brand new television series she has in development with Sony Pictures TV. The actress and producer confirmed on June 11 that she’s optioned the rights to George M. Johnson’s bestselling memoir All Boys Aren’t Blue, bringing his story one step closer to mass audiences.Johnson’s memoir focuses on his childhood and teenage years growing up in New Jersey, along with his college experience in Virginia. The tome doesn’t hold back from the hard stuff, including a five-year-old Johnson getting his teeth kicked in by bullies. Mixed in are stories of his first sexual experience, his strong relationship with his grandmother, and growing up with a father who worked in law enforcement.

I’m developing a TV series based on my book, All Boys Aren’t Blue. Thank you Gabrielle Union ????https://t.co/oqwcoeg9IG

— George M Johnson (@IamGMJohnson) June 10, 2020

“I wrote this memoir and shared these stories because of the importance and need to center black stories from the black perspective,” Johnson said, as per Deadline. “I didn’t have stories like these growing up and honestly I don’t have many now so I knew I needed to do my part to make sure the next generation of black queer children had something they could relate to and connect with. There are days I look at TV and film and still don’t see myself represented. So, my ultimate goal was providing the story I didn’t have but always needed and to be the vessel so that so many can feel seen and heard.”[video_embed id='1976022']RELATED: 'Harry Potter' author and actors respond to anti-trans controversy[/video_embed]All Boys Aren’t Blue was released in April 2020, and in only two months the essays within, including themes of toxic masculinity, structural marginalization, consent and Black joy, have become hyper-relevant topics in the current climate following George Floyd’s killing on May 25 and the continued anti-Black racist demonstrations.Working with Union on bringing his book to life for a new audience is exciting for Johnson, especially given her work in the LGBTQ+ community and her continued and vocal desire to advocate for and support trans stepdaughter Zaya Wade.“She’s someone who is not only a champion in the fight for supporting marginalized communities of colour but the work she’s doing as a storyteller and producer is lifting every voice who hasn’t had the opportunity to be heard,” Johnson told Deadline.“Queer black existence has been here forever yet rarely has that experience been shown in literature or film and television,” Union told the publication. “Being a parent to a queer identifying daughter has given me the platform to make sure that these stories are being told in a truthful and authentic way and George’s memoir gives you the blueprint for that and more. What I love about this book is that it not only offers a space for queer kids of colour to be seen and heard but it also offers those who see themselves outside of that standpoint to be held accountable and help them better understand what it takes to truly have acceptance with someone who is considered other.”

 

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We keep moving forward. We keep leading with love, light, and hope for a better more inclusive world. Stay put and stay mad if you want. We keep it pushing. Always. ❤❤❤

A post shared by Gabrielle Union-Wade (@gabunion) on Mar 8, 2020 at 10:25am PDT

Union is involved under her I’ll Have Another Productions, which also has a first-look deal with Sony Pictures TV. The two companies previously teamed up on another one of Union’s projects, L.A.’s Finest, which just wrapped production on its second season. Meanwhile, Union is also producing two upcoming films: The Perfect Find, in which she stars as a woman who risks everything for a secret romance, and Relentless, which is based on NFL star Vernon Turner’s autobiography. I’ll Have Another is also in development on other shows at HBO Max, Apple and Quibi.[video_embed id='1975482']RELATED: Jordan Peele donates $1 million to Black Lives Matter[/video_embed]