College Hill's Ray Cunningham discusses HBCU legacy, queer visibility

Honda Battle of the Bands (HBOB) has long celebrated HBCU culture, music, and excellence. In 2025, the event made history with its first-ever West Coast appearance at SoFi Stadium.

Sign up for the Out Newsletter to keep up with what's new in LGBTQ+ culture and entertainment — delivered three times a week straight (well…) to your inbox!

Hosted by Nick Cannon and featuring a special performance by GloRilla, the event drew tens of thousands of fans, students, and alumni to witness the electrifying performances of six HBCU marching bands. Under the theme, "Driving the Legacy of HBCUs," the showcase honored the rich traditions of Black colleges while reinforcing their impact on education, opportunity, and culture.

Amid the vibrant energy of HBOB, Out caught up with Ray Cunningham, a proud HBCU alumni who knows firsthand the power of these institutions. A graduate of Virginia State University, Cunningham has dedicated his career to uplifting the Black community in the entertainment industry and beyond.

Best known for his groundbreaking appearances on BET's College Hill and VH1's Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood, he has since taken on a pivotal role as the Community Outreach Consultant for the United Negro College Fund's Los Angeles office. His philanthropic efforts span fundraising for student scholarships and advocating for social justice, ensuring that HBCU students and minority voices receive the support they deserve.

Beyond his work in education and advocacy, Cunningham has been a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ visibility. At a time when queer people — especially those in Black spaces — were often expected to stay silent, he unapologetically embraced his identity on College Hill. He also gave audiences a rare glimpse of an openly gay Black man on reality television.

Since then, he has remained steadfast in his mission to encourage queer individuals to take up space, be fearless, and own their truth — whether in school, their careers, or any walk of life. His message is clear: no one should have to shrink themselves to fit in, and every person deserves to be seen, heard, and celebrated.

Out: Why was it important for you to attend an HBCU?

Ray Cunningham: I'm a third-generation HBCU graduate. So, for me, the C in HBCU stands for "cookout," which means that "everybody is welcome." Ever since I was a child, I've been walking the campuses of Virginia State and Virginia Union. And then [we started] taking tours with my high school, and my church group, to Morgan State, visiting Howard, Hampton, Norfolk State… I'm from Virginia, so we have our own HBCUs in Virginia, as well as D.C. and Maryland.

So just cousins, uncles, aunts, and grandparents who have all graduated from HBCUs. I've been to their campuses and been to their homecomings, and it just felt like because we were skin folk, we were kinfolk; that's how HBCUs make you feel. I grew up in the era when the series A Different World existed, so I knew I had to find my helmet. This is a 360 because I was a part of College Hill, the original series, which was the first African American reality series which happened to be about Black college students at an HBCU.

Now, as an adult, I'm meeting people who grew up watching me, my series, and the other seasons of the show. [Some people even] say they went to college because of me. That is such an amazing life moment to know that you've influenced someone to go to college.

What was your queer experience in college? Did you evolve from when you attended?

When I was in school — and I graduated in 2006 — gay boys on campus were literally one of two things. You could either be in the gospel choir, or you could be in the marching band. That was about it. With that being said, I'm a band-head. I was able to do a lot of things, but I chose to be a part of the band in college because I love music. I love how it brings everybody together.

When you were in the band, and now seeing how the band has evolved, do you feel proud to have witnessed its evolution, and you being part of that fabric?

Here's a little throwback for you. I actually attended the first Honda Battle Of The Bands event. Virginia State University has gone nine times in a row, consecutively. We were there for the first two. I was the first mascot for Virginia State, and I got to perform with the band out there on the 50-yard line. I had a full-body uniform on, and I was still popping, locking, and dropping it.

It's just amazing to see how mainstream it is now. It's the heartbeat of HBCUs, and that's always been the case. I mean, even when you watch these national parades — and the HBCU bands are there, and they're showcasing — the crowd goes crazy. So, to see it on a major platform like SoFi in Los Angeles, which is the biggest market that there is… it's just a testament to HBCUs and what we mean to the culture.

Were you able to always be your full, authentic self when you were in band?

Yes, I was. I've been blessed with this Aries personality that I've always had. I've always been confident. I've always been outspoken. I've always known what I wanted, and if I couldn't get it, I figured out another way to get it.

Everybody knew in college. I hung out with the boys and with the girls. I was with the football players, the cheerleaders, the choir… I hung out with everybody. I never presented myself as a threat. I wasn't trying to convert or convince anybody of anything. I was just always myself.

I have a lot of friends who told me that I was one of their first-ever gay friends and that it allowed them to look at our community in a different light because they see that everybody's not the same. Everybody doesn't identify as the same. We have different layers. They saw me as a person, not for what my [sexuality] was.

You are also a part of the Divine 9. Do you have any advice for queer individuals who may be looking to pledge?

Individuals who are in our community and who want to explore the D9, I would [suggest] researching the chapters in your area that you want to join. Get to know them, see who they are, the people that are in them, if you gel with them or not. I encourage everybody to make sure that they go to as many events as they can so you can see who's in that chapter.

I had a discussion with some of my big brothers about how I don't believe any fraternity or sorority is homophobic. I believe there are individuals within them that may be homophobic. The overall objective of the Divine Nine is about community service and being of service to people around you. Put your best foot forward and clean it up a little bit because we're representing such a huge legacy.

With the D.E.I. rollbacks that are increasing workplace discrimination, and ongoing efforts to erase marginalized voices, many people are struggling to feel seen and valued. What words of encouragement can you share to reassure our community that they are heard, that they matter, and that they should continue showing up as their full, authentic selves?

My advice for our community is to protect your space. When I say protect your space, that's more along the lines of owning who you are — mastering what you do, being accountable, being trainable and coachable. We already have so many strikes against us as it is. I'm not saying to just dumb yourself down and be quiet, but if you stand firmly and look people in the eye and speak what you say — and mean it — there's not much they can do to rock you out of your spot. So, as I said, protect your space.