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NBJC Board Member, Councilman Darryl Moore, Leads Effort for Transgender Equality
New Obama Regulation Removes Restriction on Hospital Visitation for LGBT Couples
New Census Data Show Parenting by Gays More Common in the South
U.S. Supreme Court Ends Bishop Jackson’s Campaign Against Marriage Equality in D.C.
Black AIDS Activist: “Our House is On Fire”
Gay Rights Advocates Rankled By Ministers’ Denouncement
Politician Mad About Ads Celebrating Out, Proud Black LGBT People
“My Thoughts on MLK Day: When Will News Media Stop Enabling Anti-Gay Activists?”
Hopes are High for Marriage Equality in New York
George N. Gibson is Bringing Gay-Friendly, Old School Pentecostalism to Miami
Barkley: "God Bless Gay People"
Mistah Majah P Sings Reggae to Stop Hatred and Discrimination
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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
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Dear Friend,
This has been an amazing week for the LGBT movement, and I am thankful that NBJC can share all of this wonderful and important news with you via our E-Digest.
First, we're proud to report that NBJC Board Chairman, Berkeley City Councilman Darryl Moore, is leading an effort to insure equality for transgender city employees. Councilman Moore has reintroduced his proposal to allocate funds that would allow the city to help cover some of the costs of gender-reassignment surgery. Both of the big health insurance companies the city uses refuse to cover the procedure. He said, "This brings our benefits in line with what's just and fair for the transgender community."
Now, when a person undergoes gender-reassignment surgery, they will benefit from the trans-inclusive federal policy that went into effect on January 18. President Obama implemented a rule to prevent hospitals from denying, "… visitation privileges based on factors including sexual orientation or gender identity." Thanks to President Obama, LGBT families will have the comfort of knowing their loved ones will be at their side when they need them the most.
There's more exciting news. The Census Bureau has officially documented 581,000 same-sex couples living in the United States. They found that most of these families choose to live in the South. Researchers also learned that Black or Latino same-sex couples are twice as likely as whites to be raising children. However, in states where there is no legal recognition of their relationships, they are statistically more likely to be struggling financially, have fewer legal protections, and less health insurance. In combination, all of those factors make their children some of society's most vulnerable. One of NBJC's primary goals is "strengthening Black families," and the new data will help give our primary constituency a face. Accordingly, when men like the Bishop Harry Jackson, a right-wing backed minister trying to undo marriage equality in D.C., go on the attack, NBJC will be able to argue from a stronger position. The data supports what we've known all along. His bigoted actions are harming Black families. He and his backers are denying essential financial resources and critical medical coverage to our babies.
NBJC looks forward to sharing more news and insights with you every Friday. If you can't wait for the next E-Digest, please "Like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Onward and upward,
Sharon J. Lettman-Hicks
Executive Director
NBJC Board Member, Councilman Darryl Moore, Leads Effort for Transgender Equality
 City Councilman and NBJC Board Chairman Darryl Moore, who originally introduced the idea four years ago, told the San Francisco Chronicle the resolution he's proposing would add to the wide variety of benefits offered to city employees. "We've introduced this policy resolution to close a gap in health care coverage that negatively impacts the city's transgender employees. Right now, they either have to pay for everything out of pocket up front, or they get nothing. We have an obligation to correct that problem," said Moore. Currently, the city's two health insurance companies do not cover gender-reassignment surgery. Councilman Moore's plan would set aside funds to assist with the costs.
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New Obama Regulation Removes Restriction on Hospital Visitation for LGBT Couples – Whitehouse.gov
 NBJC applauds President Obama for implementing new hospital visitation regulations that went into effect January 18. The policy will allow LGBT people to remain in the hospital room of a sick or injured spouse or partner. Now, instead of being turned away, LGBT couples will be able to provide comfort and a sense of security during extremely difficult times. This is an important step in recognizing LGBT families. Mr. President, NBJC thanks you for your leadership on this issue.
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New Census Data Show Parenting by Gays More Common in the South – New York Times
 Gay men and lesbians have always been involved in parenting and nurturing the next generation. Figures from the Census Bureau show that LGBT parenting is more common in the South. This recognition is especially significant for two reasons. First, it will be harder for the federal government to continue to ignore 581,000 LGBT households. Second, it documents the real diversity of the LGBT community and flies in the face of the stereotypes propagated by anti-LGBT factions in the South.
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U.S. Supreme Court Ends Bishop Jackson's Campaign Against Marriage Equality in D.C. – Washington Post
 First, Bishop Harry Jackson tried to stop marriage equality from coming to D.C. When he lost that fight, he went to court to try to undo D.C.'s marriage equality law. He claims that the people of D.C. haven't been heard, and there should be a referendum on the law. The problem is, according to the city's attorneys and the Federal Courts, the people of D.C. spoke on this issue more than 30 years ago when the Human Rights Act of 1977 was put in place. Under this law, LGBT people are a protected class. He lost that fight and took his case to the U.S. Supreme Court. This week, the Court declined to hear the case without comment, which means the lower court ruling stands upholding marriage equality in DC.
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Black AIDS Activist: "Our House is On Fire" – Colorlines.com
 Phil Wilson, president and CEO of the Black AIDS Institute, appeared on Anderson Cooper 360 to talk about HIV/AIDS. The Black community has been plagued by HIV/AIDS for 30 years, yet the loss of life and the devastating toll this disease has had on our families continues. The problem is so wide spread and urgent that Wilson said, "Our House is on Fire."
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Gay Rights Advocates Rankled By Ministers' Denouncement – CBS Chicago
 Some gay rights advocates are taking issue with an event earlier this week, where clergy members denounced any comparison between the gay rights movement and the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
This past Monday, the conservative religious group, the Illinois Family Institute, organized a news conference at a church in Hillside, at which ministers called the comparisons "offensive."
The Rev. Al Cleveland, the pastor of a church in Bensenville, is opposed to homosexuality on religious grounds and was among the participants at the event. He told WBBM News radio 780 that comparing the gay rights movement to the work of Dr. King perverts a noble cause.
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Politician Mad About Ads Celebrating Out, Proud Black LGBT People – Advocate.com
Ads created in Albany, NY to heighten awareness of HIV/AIDS in the Black community have been attacked by some politicians and black clergy. A local Black minister said that he "hates what God hates," but he fails to realize he's saying that he hates our brothers, sisters, and other members of the Black family. NBJC will continue to play a leading role in speaking out against this type of destructive rhetoric and doing our part to strengthen the Black family. The ads are sponsored by the organization, In Our Own Voices.
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"My Thoughts on MLK Day: When Will News Media Stop Enabling Anti-Gay Activists?" – Huffington Post
 The news media feels compelled to feature individuals who are virulently anti-LGBT whenever there is a debate about gay rights. This only serves to enable anti-gay activists and gives them a platform to spread lies and untruths about LGBT people. Eric Deggans makes several good points in this column as he calls out the media on this biased, destructive practice.
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Hopes are High for Marriage Equality in New York – Advocate.com
 It appears the battle over same-sex marriage is about to heat up in the New York Senate, and hopes are high for winning that battle. Yesterday, State Sen. Thomas Duane announced he would introduce legislation “within weeks” to legalize same-sex marriage in the Empire State and will push for a vote by the end of June.
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George N. Gibson is Bringing Gay-Friendly, Old School Pentecostalism to Miami – Miami New Times
 George N. Gibson has a dream. That one day all Miamians — gay and straight, HIV-positive and -negative, black and white — will attend church together in old timey clothes, speak directly to the Lord, wash one another's feet during Communion, and play music on wooden washboards.
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Barkley: "God Bless Gay People" – Advocate.com
 "Former NBA MVP Charles Barkley took time out during a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. before Monday's Celtics-Magic game to speak out against antigay discrimination.
"He said: 'You know, people try to make it about black and white. [Dr. King] talked about equality for every man, every woman. We have a thing going on now — people discriminating against homosexuality in this country. I love the homosexual people. God bless the gay people. They are great people."
CLICK HERE to see the video on YouTube.
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Mistah Majah P Sings Reggae to Stop Hatred and Discrimination – Truthwinsout.org
 Reggae has a sordid history of promoting violence against LGBT people. Reggae artist Mistah Majah P says, "It is time to stop the madness; it's time to stop the hatred and discrimination that certain songs and artists have celebrated." His song is on time and so needed.
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