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Tell the Senate to repeal 'Don't Ask Don't Tell' now

Happy 7th Anniversary: Look How Far We Have Come Together

NBJC Co-Founder Mandy Carter Meets with Obama

Logo's 'The A-List': A Symbol of Gay Apartheid?

Senator Ricky Hendon's impassioned speech in support of civil unions for Illinois

Maryland Poised to Approve Same-Sex Marriage

Bishop Eddie Long Agrees to Mediation

Once-homophobic black pastor today becomes advocate for gays

The Wages of Sin is Death

'Don't Ask' Repeal Won't Die

Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. Supports Marriage Equality

NBC on SheWired: Students Rally for Lesbian Coach – Video

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The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) is a civil rights organization dedicated to empowering Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. NBJC's mission is to eradicate racism and homophobia

Dear Friend,

Greetings, we are celebrating Founders Week at NBJC!

In this week's edition of the E-Digest, NBJC celebrates seven years of education and advocacy to empower Black LGBT people, Founding member Mandy Carter represents NBJC at a meeting with President Obama, repeal of DADT is voted down in Senate, Bishop Eddie Long opts for mediation of the multiple sexual coercion charges filed against him, and Senator Ricky Hendon calls out hypocritical politicians who oppose Illinois' move to pass civil union legislation.

Also, in celebration of NBJC's anniversary, we invite you to join the Justice Society, whose members are a driving force behind NBJC's educational, organizing and advocacy programs. They are the core of our work creating a diverse alliance of LGBT people and allies dedicated to nurturing the next generation of LGBT African American leaders. Please make your donation to NBJC today—this time is a pivotal one, and your investment in the African American LGBT movement is needed more now than ever!

To read more click here.

Contact your Senators Today!

Every member of the United States Senate needs to hear from repeal supporters today.

We must send a clear message to the Senate: Fund our troops and stand up for all of our service members by passing the defense bill with the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" during the lame-duck session.

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Happy 7th Anniversary: Look How Far We Have Come Together

Wednesday marked the Seventh Anniversary of the National Black Justice Coalition. Through trials and triumphs, NBJC has provided leadership at the intersection of race and sexuality, advocating for a world free from racism and homophobia. I reflect with gratitude on what we've achieved together over these years. We have made real progress towards a better future for Black LGBT people, evidenced in the OUT on the Hill Black LGBT Leadership Summit and One Nation, Working Together and that simply couldn't have happened without supporters like you. NBJC's next chapter starts now.

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NBJC Co-Founder Mandy Carter Meets with Obama

NBJC Co-founder and Obama Pride National Co-Chair Mandy Carter attended President Obama's speech at the Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem, NC. Carter attended along with North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue, Senators Kay Hagan and Richard Burr, and Representatives Mel Watt and Brad Miller. Afterwards she posed for photos with President Obama, thanked him for all of his work on Don't Ask Don't Tell, and shared NBJC's support of marriage equality with him. He replied, "we're going to get this done [DADT]."

Logo's 'The A-List': A Symbol of Gay Apartheid? – The Root

At a time when LGBT people are fighting to end "Don't ask, Don't tell" and quell a quasi epidemic of teen suicides, many might ask why whitewashing on trash TV should even matter. The problem is that it's not only D-list programs like The A-List that render invisible Black members of the LGBT community. Of the 23 regular LGBT characters on shows in the 2010-2011 prime-time season, not one is African American, according to GLAAD (the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), the leading LGBT media-watchdog group.

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Senator Ricky Hendon's impassioned speech in support of civil unions for Illinois – Video

Illinois Senator Ricky Hendon, a self-identified Christian, calls out the hypocrisy and pettiness of lawmakers who were opposed to passing civil unions for Illinois. This is a MUST WATCH.

WATCH VIDEO

Maryland Poised to Approve Same-Sex Marriage

A majority of senators on a key committee in Maryland now favor legalizing same-sex marriage, making it increasingly likely that the state will join five others and the District in allowing such unions.

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Bishop Eddie Long Agrees to Mediation – Huffington Post

Bishop Eddie Long agreeing to mediation of sexual coercion charges is an end-run around the universally accepted moral and ethical responsibilities of any ecumenical leader. Mediation of sexual allegation grievances is tantamount to an admission of "some" guilt, "some" form of ministerial misconduct. Innocent folk don't make deals if the claims against them are baseless and untrue. Mediation for the accused is a forfeiture of the right to ever claim innocence, and readers should be absolutely clear on this point.

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Once-homophobic black pastor today becomes advocate for gays – Orlando Sentinel

Davis, 58, very publicly broke that code of silence when he conducted a series of forums this fall on "Gays in the Black Church: Is it time to come out of the closet?" that called out the hypocrisy and homophobia of black churches. In the forums, Davis apologized to black gay church members for his past homophobia. It was an apology that may never have come were it not for the empathy he received at a low point in his life and which came from a lesbian friend.

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The Wages of Sin is Death – The Maddow Blog

This show features an epic interview with David Bahati, the Ugandan Parliament member who has spent the past year pushing a bill that classifies homosexuality as a capital offense. Mr. Bahati tells us he's now ready to drop the execution part of the kill-the-gays bill, but that doesn't mean he's changed his mind.

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'Don't Ask' Repeal Won't Die

The Senate — for the second time this fall — blocked an effort to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Thursday afternoon. However, proponents of dismantling the law emerged from the bewildering defeat on Capitol Hill declaring that an end to the ban on gays in uniform not only isn’t dead—but that victory may finally be within sight.  

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Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. Supports Marriage Equality

"We stand with you today to support Marriage Equality, and to declare that Proposition 8 must be struck down as unconstitutional.  Peoples’ right to self-expression, self-determination be respected and affirmed.  It’s time to challenge ignorance, a time to break the silence and the chains of hatred, of divisive and discriminatory bigotry.   Marriage is based on love and commitment – not on sexual orientation.  I support the right for any person to marry the person of their choosing." – Rev. Jesse Jackson

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NBC on SheWired: Students Rally for Lesbian Coach – Video

After the president of Belmont University said Wednesday that his school welcomes gay and lesbian students and staff, Lisa Howe, the women's soccer coach who was reportedly pressured to leave her job after coming out to administrators, said she welcomes his words but wants to see an actual policy change in writing.

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For more information, please visit www.NBJC.org.