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 "Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin" Screening; Panel Discussion on HR Diversity Issues/Voter Participation

“Aren't I Black Too: Embracing LGBTQ individuals in the journey towards racial unity”

NAACP Denounces Anit-Gay Violence in Uganda

POV: I Know You’re Not Twisting King’s Words This Month

Still No Freedom Rainbow for Transgender People of Color

Mandy Carter Talks Equality and Justice for All

Navy Developing Training After DADT Repeal

Maryland State Senate Holds Hearings on Marriage Equality Bill

Black Organization Pushes For Same-Sex Unions In Maryland

Maddow: Kato Murder An American Story

New Study: Homophobia Has Adverse Effects on Victims’ Health

Billy Porter Advocates Bringing An End to Religious Bigotry (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,

Happy Valentine's Day to NBJC's Family, Friends and Supporters!

On February 2-6, NBJC attended The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force’s (NGLTF) 23rd National Conference on LGBT Equality: “Creating Change” 2011, in Minneapolis, MN. More than 2,500 people attended this inspirational event, including some amazing, bold, out and proud Black LGBT leaders, activists and youth Photo Highlights of Creating Change.

One of the most memorable moments of the conference was watching NBJC board member and former chair, Kylar Broadus, receive the Susan J. Hyde Award for Longevity in the Movement. It was genuinely touching to see him recognized for his tireless efforts to bring honor, dignity and equality to LGBT people, especially transgender people of color.

The NGLTF leadership deserves high praise for creating a space where all in the LGBT community felt welcomed, visible and included–especially people of color and youth. NBJC salutes our friends–Rea Carey, Darlene Nipper, Russell Roybal and Sue Hyde–for hosting an event that stoked the flames of activism in its attendees and sent us home feeling empowered to create change in our own communities.

Save the Date: NBJC’s Second Annual “OUT on the Hill” Black LGBT Leadership Summit | Washington, DC | September 20-25, 2011 | Download More Information

For more news about NBJC, please visit NBJC.org or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Onward and upward,

Sharon J. Lettman-Hicks

Executive Director

"Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin" Screenings & Panel Discussions

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Busboys and Poets

2021 14th Street, NW

Washington, DC

Panelists included:

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC)

Bennett Singer, Filmmaker

Ilir Zherka, Executive Director, DC Vote

Sharon J. Lettman-Hicks, Executive Director, NBJC

*Sharon J. Lettman-Hicks will also be on panels at other screening events this month:

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Latham & Watkins

555 11th Street, NW #1000

Washington, DC

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

1001 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC

"Aren't I Black Too: Embracing LGBTQ Individuals in the Journey Toward Racial Unity"

The Hispanic Black Gay Coalition (HBGC) is hosting a free public forum on the relationship between Heterosexual  (Straight) individuals and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer individuals within Black communities.

Date: Saturday, February 19, 2011

Time: 2:00 – 4:00pm

Location:

First Church in Roxbury | 10 Putnam Street | Roxbury, MA (close to Boston area)

Guest panelists:

Darnell Williams – President, Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts

Rev. Michael Walker – Minister, Messiah Baptist Church

Ben Perkins – Project Director, The Fenway Institute

Christopher Goodwin – Student, LGBTQ Activist

Mandy Carter – Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, Social Justice Activist

Keynote Address:

Sharon J. Lettman-Hicks, Executive Director of NBJC

NAACP Denounces Anti-Gay Violence in Uganda

In a news conference on Capitol Hill, officials with Trans Africa Forum, the NAACP, the National Black Justice Coalition and Black church leaders said a growing number of mainline U.S. civil rights groups were beginning to speak out against anti-LGBT persecution in Uganda.

The civil rights group leaders and Frank Mugisha, an official with Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG), who also spoke at the news conference, said they were especially troubled that an atmosphere of hostility toward LGBT people in Uganda appears to have been “imported” by U.S. fundamentalist Christian organizations.

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POV: I Know You're Not Twisting King's Words This Month

In her most recent column, NBJC board member, Michelle Brown, asks, “How can we honor African Americans while denying the influence, leadership and greatness of those within our community who happen to be gay?” She cautions against twisting the words of Dr. King into any semblance of a detour from justice. King would stand with us because he stood for global human rights, justice for all, and a “Beloved Community.”

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Still No Freedom Rainbow for Transgender People of Color

The venerable Mandy Carter revisits the tragic 1995 death of Tyra Hunter and writes: “Tyra Hunter’s death outraged us—and launched us into action. It became a national symbol of the hate directed at transgender people … while transgender people have taken some steps forward in the past 15 years, too many continue to face the same grim reality of discrimination that killed Hunter."

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Mandy Carter Talks Equality and Justice for All

Mandy Carter, founder of the Southerners On New Ground and co-founder of the National Black Justice Coalition, spoke to the Vanderbilt community Tuesday night about the importance of connecting activist movements in pursuit of equality and justice for all.

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Curtis Lipscomb Hired As KICK-Detroit's New Executive Director 

KICK-The Agency for LGBT African-Americans, hired long-time volunteer, Curtis Lipscomb, as its first paid, full-time Executive Director in January 2011. NBJC wishes Curtis all the best in his new position.

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North Carolina Elects First Black, Openly Gay State Representative – Goqnotes.com

State Rep. Marcus Brandon (D-Guilford), has earned the distinction of being the first openly gay man elected to the North Carolina State Legislature and the first to hold office in the House. He’s also the first Black, openly gay candidate ever elected to a state-level office. He’s said he will focus his attention on education, community development, and sustainability.

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Ebony Shines Light on Lesbian Couple's  Love  – Ebony Magazine

The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) featured a post on its blog applauding Ebony magazine for including a Black, lesbian couple in its annual “Celebrating Black Love” issue. NBJC thanks Ebony for prominently acknowledging the love shared by Yanette L. Freeman and Willa Walker and for encouraging our community to celebrate all Black love, as well.

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Navy Developing Training After DADT Repeal – Navytimes.com

Command training — or, in some cases, online instruction — will be required for all hands as the Navy moves to lift an 18-year ban on gays serving openly, Navy Adm. Gary Roughead said in a message released Friday.

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Maryland State Senate Holds Hearings on Marriage Equality Bill – Washington Blade

Hundreds of people gathered in Annapolis to testify on legislation moving through the State Senate that could make Maryland the sixth state to allow same sex marriage. The legislation would lift the restriction currently in place that limits marriage to unions involving a man and a woman. Observers are optimistic about the bill’s chances of passing the legislature. Maryland Governor, Martin O’Malley, has promised to sign the bill into law.

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Coverage of Marriage Equality in Black Media Outlets

Blogger and NBJC friend Rod 2.0, has posted video of the Maryland Black Family Alliance speaking in favor of the state’s marriage equality legislation.

In addition to Ebony featuring a lesbian couple in its February 2011 issue, NewsOne.com, another mainstream Black media outlet, also posted a story about the Maryland Black Family Alliance’s support for marriage equality.

NewsOne.com’s coverage is another indication that the mainstream Black media is starting to understand that there are LGBT people who are Black, and they want to get married.

Maryland Black Family Alliance Supports

Marriage Equality (Video) – Rodonline

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Black Organization Pushes For Same-Sex Unions in Maryland – NewsOne.com

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Christian Morality and the Murder of David Kato – HuffingtonPost.com

Anti-LGBT violence and bigotry exists around the world, and in this powerful statement made by the Rt. Rev. Pierre W. Whalon, Bishop in charge of Episcopal Churches in Europe, he calls on Christians to do more–to conquer fear and hatred of “The Other.”  He also says, “It would be easy to point fingers at ‘those Ugandans,’ but we cannot exempt ourselves.”

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Maddow: Kato Murder An American Story – Advocate.com

MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow continues to hold American evangelicals' feet to the fire for their efforts to export the hatred of LGBT people to Uganda and other countries. Maddow says their involvement in creating a climate of intolerance makes the murder of David Kato an “American story.”

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New Study: Homophobia Has Adverse Effects on Victims' Health – Truthwinsout.org

The results are in. A new study shows that homophobia is detrimental to the health of LGBT people. Discrimination due to homophobia can create unhealthy psychological and physical harm.

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The Grio's 100: Hydeia Broadbent, Putting a Face on the Future of AIDS – Thegrio.com

"I am the future, and I have AIDS." Twelve-year-old Hydeia Broadbent presented those words to the 1996 Republican National Convention and changed the negative perceptions preventing many people from discussing HIV/AIDS. Hydeia made history then, and, at age 26, she is still working to increase the Black community’s awareness about HIV/AIDS.

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Billy Porter Advocates Bringing An End to Religious Bigotry (VIDEO) – Advocate.com

African American singer Billy Porter talks about religious bigotry and the harmful effects of bullying.”

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NBJC News is distributed by the National Black Justice Coalition.

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