The Role That Made Queen Latifah Cry—And Why It Still Resonates for Queer Women of Color

Queen Latifah has long been a trailblazer in music, film, and television, but few of her roles have carried the emotional weight and cultural significance of Cleo in Set It Off (1996). This portrayal marked her first explicitly queer character and remains a powerful touchstone for queer women of color nearly three decades later.

Cleo in Set It Off (1996)

Latifah’s Cleo is unforgettable: a bold, unapologetically butch Black lesbian bank robber whose “quiet, intoxicating confidence” captivated critics and audiences alike. As one Autostraddle review put it, Cleo was “young, mighty, unadulterated, sweet to her friends, sexy in the way that only studs can be.” This performance was groundbreaking, challenging stereotypes and providing representation rarely seen on screen at the time.

Despite initial hesitation—fearing backlash from her family—Latifah fully committed to Cleo’s truth, recognizing the importance of portraying a character that reflected intersectional strength. Cleo embodied the complexities of Blackness, queerness, and femininity, sending a vital message to queer women of color: their stories matter and deserve to be told authentically.

Breaking Boundaries in The Wiz Live! (2015)

Nearly two decades later, Latifah again pushed boundaries with her gender-bending role as the Wiz in NBC’s The Wiz Live!. Sporting a green pantsuit and blending masculine and feminine flair, she presented a powerful embodiment of “female masculinity,” a concept deeply rooted in Black butch identities.

Scholars like Kara Keeling and Francesca Royster have praised this portrayal for its “eccentric performance” style and Afro-Caribbean musical influences, highlighting its celebration of fluid gender expression. Queer audiences responded with enthusiasm, recognizing the role as a genuine and empowering representation of queer identity and desire.

A Broader Cultural Impact

Queen Latifah’s impact extends far beyond individual roles. Emerging from a male-dominated hip-hop scene, she carved out space for feminist and Afrocentric voices with songs like “U.N.I.T.Y.,” which confront misogyny, domestic violence, and the objectification of Black women. This aligns with what scholars term “hip-hop feminism”—a resistance to patriarchal norms while embracing cultural expression on one’s own terms.

Moreover, Latifah’s personal approach to her sexuality—choosing neither to confirm nor deny labels—has allowed queer audiences to see reflections of their own experiences in her work, fostering connection and representation without constraint.

Why It Still Matters

Queen Latifah’s performances as Cleo and the Wiz remain monumental because they offer visibility and validation for queer women of color, whose stories have often been marginalized. Through her artistry, Latifah continues to inspire generations by embodying strength, complexity, and authenticity at the intersection of race, gender, and sexuality.