NBJC

Where is the Black 'New Normal' in Primetime? 

Where are Black Americans who are gay and raising families in primetime?

"The public has to push the media to do the right thing," Sharon Lettman-Hicks, the Executive Director and CEO of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), told theGrio. As the head of a civil rights organization that fights to promote the rights of black LGBT families, Lettman-Hicks recognizes the importance of positive media stereotypes, but she's not holding her breath waiting for Hollywood to lead the way. "I give a lot of credit to some of the black media for doing responsible coverage of our community, but Hollywood needs to catch up," she says. 

READ MORE

The Black Gay-Straight Alliance 

Last month the National Black Justice Coalition sponsored its third annual OUT on the Hill summit, which brought together a strong group of African-American leaders, activists and media professionals — all committed to NBJC's mission of empowering black LGBT Americans and helping to eradicate both homophobia and racism. White House Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett and the Rev. Delman Coates of the 8,000-member Mount Ennon Baptist Church in Clinton, Md., were among the many prominent figures who lent their solidarity.

"It's extremely important to have straight allies, but especially faith leaders who believe in our cause," said Kimberley McLeod, NBJC's communications director. "The more people see important voices in their own communities speaking out in favor of gay rights and marriage equality, they realize it's OK for them to evolve — just like President Obama did."  

READ MORE

Coming Out in Two Acts: One Man's Story of Family, Love, and Living Authentically  

– Huffington Post     

 

In honor of National Coming Out Day, the National Black Justice Coalition's Programs and Policy Manager Michael J. Brewer tells his story of personal growth and family acceptance:

It all started with an awkward conversation with my dad when I was 16. On what I thought was a day like any other, we were passing our neighborhood Wal-Mart when my father began the line of questioning I'd been dreading since before I was positive I knew the answers.

On that day there were no raised voices, no fire-and-brimstone condemnations of my sinful wickedness, no renouncements of my branch on the family tree. My father's message was unmistakable: You're my son, and I will always love you — unconditionally.  

READ MORE

State of Black Gay America Summit Seeks to Inspire Change Through 'Collective Power'  

– The GA Voice     

 

Keynote speaker Je-Shawna Wholley, a recent Spelman graduate who now lives in Washington, D.C., and is [the Outreach and Programs Associate] at the National Black Justice Coalition, tackled the subject of this year's theme at the summit at the Melia Hotel. "Embracing Our Collective Power to Influence Change" must be made by building coalitions and being sincere in the work people do, Wholley said.

"We have to understand the difference between tokenized representation and intentional inclusion," she said. "We have to determine what we want this revolution to look like for us. We can't allow the narrative be determined for us … based on our collective truths and experiences.

"We are a community made up of groups with many variances, faces … we are descendants of royalty and we hold the blueprint of this nation's history on our backs. We want to own our collective power," she added.  

READ MORE

ATLANTA, GA: NBJC's Je-Shawna Wholley Keynotes at Atlanta Black Pride, Michael J. Brewer Serves as Panelist   

NBJC's Outreach and Programs Associate Je-Shawna Wholley served as the keynote speaker for the State of Black Gay America (SBGA) Summit. The annual conference focuses on solution-based approaches to challenges facing African-American lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people.

"To me, building coalitions is more than just being in a space. It means us being sincere in the work that we do. It means not just showing up … but truly engaging with one another," she said. "If you show up and open up yourself to the possibility to being changed, you are on the breaking point of coalition building."

NBJC Programs and Policy Manager Michael J. Brewer served as an SBGA panelist on "Embracing Our Collective Power to Fund Progressive Campaigns," discussing sources for funding campaigns for progressive Black LGBT candidates or candidates who will work on behalf of LGBT issues.

CHARLOTTE, NC: NBJC Serves on Panel at TransFaith in Color Conference 

 

 

NBJC's Director of Communications Kimberley McLeod served on a panel, entitled "Building a Better World: How to Impact Policy & Laws," at the annual TransFaith in Color Conference, a gathering of faith leaders and trans activists on spirituality and empowerment. Moderated by Darlene Nipper, Deputy Executive Director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the discussion explored the role of local and national groups in mobilizing around policy change as well as the role of the media. Other panelists included Human Rights Campaign's Allyson Robinson and Charlotte City Council's LaWana Mayfield.

  

Distinguished presenters, keynote speakers and guests throughout the conference included Bishop Tonyia Rawls, founding pastor of Unity Fellowship Church Charlotte (UFCC) and NBJC Leadership Advisory Council member; Kylar Broadus, founder of the Trans People of Color Coalition (TPOCC) and NBJC board member; Mandy Carter, NBJC founding member and coordinator of the Bayard Rustin Centennial 2012 Project; and Monica Roberts, founder of TransGriot. 

 

 

CHARLOTTE, NC: NBJC Attends Democratic National Convention   

 

 

NBJC board member Kylar Broadus was appointed to the Rules Committee for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) 2012 Convention Platform Committee. Broadus was one of thirteen transgender delegates to serve on the Democratic National Committee. In the weeks leading up to the 2012 Democratic National Convention, delegates from across the country came together to draft a platform that outlines the Democratic Party's priorities. Other Black LGBT advocates in attendance included Charlotte City Council Member LaWana Mayfield, The Task Force's Stacey Long, and NBJC's Sharon Lettman-Hicks and Mandy Carter. 

 

 

JACKSONVILLE, FL: NBJC's Sharon Lettman-Hicks Keynotes at JASMYN "Coming Out" Breakfast  

 

 

NBJC Executive Director Sharon Lettman-Hicks delivered a powerful message to the audience at the Jacksonville Area Sexual Minority Youth Network (JASMYN) annual "Coming Out" Breakfast: "I'm not one of those speakers that stands up and talks and goes home. I'm going to give you something to do. I'm going to challenge you to make something happen," said Lettman-Hicks. And that she did. Her well-researched and thoughtful comments about what happened in Jacksonville ended with a decisive call to action: "People! Take your city back!" 

 

Read Emerging Leader's Testimonial

 

 

BOSTON, MA: NBJC's Sharon Lettman-Hicks Keynotes at Bentley University

 

Ms. Lettman-Hicks did it again at Bentley University for their 2012 Rainbow Luncheon where she declared: "Freedom is being able to help those different from yourself." Bentley University is one of the nation's leading business schools, dedicated to preparing a new kind of business leader and one with the deep technical skills, the broad global perspective and the high ethical standards required to make a difference in an ever-changing world. 

 

 

WASHINGTON, DC: NBJC Attends Vice President's End of Summer BBQ for LGBT Emerging Leaders 

 

 

The Vice President and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, hosted an "End of Summer BBQ" at the Vice President's Residence with emerging young leaders of the LGBT community. They were joined by senior Obama Administration officials, leaders of national LGBT organizations, and campus and community leaders from all over the country. Guests at the event represented tremendous diversity and talent within the LGBT community. They included students and community organizers, advocates and artists, and veterans – all committed to the pursuit of equality, justice, and dignity for LGBT people. NBJC's Sharon Lettman-Hicks and Kimberley McLeod were in attendance. 

 

WASHINGTON, DC: NBJC Partners with White House for First-Ever LGBT Workshop at HBCU Summit   

 

 

NBJC partnered with the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) for the workshop "LGBT – HBCU Communities – Diversity and Inclusion: What Does it Mean for HBCUs?" during the 2012 HBCU Week Conference. This session aimed to help participants develop an understanding of the changing socio-political climate around LGBT issues on a broad national level and how that context affects HBCUs. The workshop was the brainchild of NBJC's Leadership Advisory Council Member, Rev. George Walker, who also serves on the White House Board of Advisors for Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Guests included Spelman College President, Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, and The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights President and CEO, Wade Henderson. 

 

WASHINGTON, DC: NBJC Serves on National Minority AIDS Council Community Forum and Study Panel

 

 

At the National Minority AIDS Council Community Forum and Study Panel, NBJC Executive Director Sharon Lettman-Hicks discussed NBJC's federal policy priorities and efforts to mitigate factors like high rates of anti-LGBT violence, and the stress of coping with systemic discrimination around racism, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, as well as a lack of cultural competency in the health care system that contribute to Black gay/bisexual men suffering exceptional vulnerability to HIV/AIDS infection. Other presenters included Hutson Inniss, NBJC LAC member and Executive Director of the National Coalition on LGBT Health, and Aisha Moodie-Mills, LGBT Policy & Racial Justice Advisor at the Center for American Progress.  

 

WASHINGTON, DC: NBJC Supports DC's Transgender and Gender Identity Respect Campaign

 

 

NBJC's Je-Shawna Wholley and Rodney Nickens attended the launch event for the DC Transgender and Gender Identity Respect Campaign at MOVA Lounge. The groundbreaking Transgender and Gender Identity Respect Campaign has been deemed the first government-funded campaign focused exclusively on the betterment of transgender and gender non-conforming people. Developed at the DC Office of Human Rights (OHR) in close consultation with transgender advocates and community members, the campaign aims to increase understanding and respect for the transgender and gender non-conforming communities, decrease incidents of discrimination and increase reporting of discrimination to OHR. Help spread the word about the campaign by sharing the ads on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #TransRespect. Click here for more information. 

 

WASHINGTON, DC: NBJC Celebrates Rebranding of International Federation of Black Prides 

 

 

NBJC's Programs and Policy Manager Michael J. Brewer and Policy and Networks Associate Rodney Nickens attended the International Federation of Black Prides (IFBP) relaunch event at the National Council for Negro Women. IFBP has rebranded itself as the Center for Black Equity, focused on building a multinational LGBT network dedicated to improving health and wellness opportunities, economic empowerment, and equal rights while promoting individual and collective work, responsibility, and self-determination.

 

Read the full press release here. 

Wear Purple on Spirit Day, Oct. 19, in Support of LGBT Youth!

Spirit Day is an annual day in October when millions of Americans wear purple to speak out against bullying and to show their support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth. The event draws support from students, schools, organizations, corporations, media professionals, celebrities, parents and many more. Everyone from Oprah to the cast of Jersey Shore went purple last year. Even the White House joined the cause! Check out this year's Spirit Day Ambassadors. It's easy! Simply take the pledge to "go purple" on October 19th as we work to create a world in which LGBT teens are celebrated and accepted for who they are. 

Gay Couple's Wedding Video Trends on Twitter 

– Advocate

New York couple Robert Brown and Nathanael Gay got married at the Mansion at Griffin Gate Marriott Resort in Lexington, Ky., according to a video posted last Thursday. Video of the couple's wedding went viral on Twitter Tuesday, as some found it surprising that a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, a traditionally African-American fraternity, would get hitched with the support of family and friends. Brown confirmed on Twitter that only Gay is a member of the fraternity, but added that he's glad he could be an inspiration for others who have reached out to him. 

READ MORE  

Gay Phi Gay 

– HuffPost LIVE  

Marc Lamont Hill chats with newlyweds Nathanael Gay and Robert Brown about the uproar that followed their wedding video going viral as well as highlights the politics of shame and denial in the Black community around sexuality.

WATCH THE SEGMENT 

LOVE IS LOVE: A Kappa Man Speaks on the Viral Video 'Controversy' 

– Ebony  

Ravi K. Perry says the reaction to a wedding video featuring his fraternity brother does not speak to the truth of Black Greek-lettered organizations. Robert and Nathanael's courage has forced a larger societal dialogue about social mores, norms and respect.  Will we work together focusing on issues that bridge our common humanity? Or will we seek to create divisions among our Black community based on our individualized experiences as a part of it?

READ MORE  

LGBT History Month: 21 Influential Black LGBT Icons 

– Huffington Post  

Richard Bruce Nugent

The struggle for equality in the LGBT black community has a long history with roots stemming back to the Harlem Renaissance and The Civil Rights Movement. Historical figures such as Bayard Rustin, Langston Hughes, and James Baldwin battled against both racial and sexual discrimination in an attempt to rise above the hatred and intolerance that tainted their generations. In honor of LGBT history month here are 21 influential black icons that have helped shape the LGBT movement.

READ MORE  

Transgender Voters Left in Cold With Patchwork of ID Laws   

NCTE [the National Center for Transgender Equality] has partnered with the advocacy organization GLAAD to launch a series of public service announcements, "Voting While Trans," aimed at educating and preparing transgender voters for the upcoming election. Voter laws vary from state to state, but according to the Williams Institute study, voters will face the most complex requirements in Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.

READ MORE

D.C. Launches First-in-Nation Transgender Ad Campaign   

The D.C. Office of Human Rights officially unveiled its first-in-the-nation government-sponsored transgender ad campaign Sept. 13 before a packed room at a local bar, MOVA Lounge. The campaign – developed through collaboration with transgender advocates, focus groups and LGBT organizations such as Transgender Health Empowerment, the DC Trans Coalition and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force – features five variations. Two of the ads feature transgender women, two feature transgender men, and the fifth features a person who identifies as "genderqueer."

READ MORE

Live Out Loud Launches "Gay It Forward" Campaign with Tiq Milan 

– IKONS Magazine 

  

Live Out Loud announced the launch of its first national ad campaign, created by Deutsch A Lowe & Partners Company. The ads were created to encourage the LGBT community around the country to "Gay It Forward" by participating in the Homecoming Project! IKONS Magazine has its very own Editor-in-Chief, Tiq Milan, as one of the "Gay It Forward" advocates sharing his story to help inspire LGBTQ youth. The "Gay It Forward" campaign features individual testimonies sharing lessons learned in order to benefit the next generation of LGBTQ youth.

  

READ MORE

 

Interview with KOKUMO, Chicago Trans* Activist and Founder of KOKUMOMEDIA 

– Huffington Post 

  

"My name is KOKUMO (pronounced "koh-koo-mah"). I gave myself that name, because KOKUMO is Yoruba, a West African Dialect, for 'This woman will not die.' The reason I named myself that is because, unfortunately, that's what typically happens to women like myself. We are basically murdered, or just subjected to lives of isolation…I want the media depiction of trans* people to move beyond whether or not we had a surgery, or what was our name before we transitioned, or whether or not were passive or active; I want it to be about who we are as people."

  

READ MORE

NOH8 Campaign Comes to Spelman 

– The Spelman Connection  

The NOH8 campaign wants you! To promote and raise awareness for marriage equality and anti-discrimination, the NOH8 campaign will host an open photo shoot on Spelman's campus on Friday, Oct. 5, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Cosby Academic Center Auditorium. Campus departments, student organizations and student groups are encouraged to participate and sign up Oct. 1-5 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Office of Student Life and Engagement, located in Upper Manley, room 201. The first 75 groups of six to eight individuals can have their photos taken free of charge. On the day of the photo shoot, participants will receive a numbered model release to complete, followed by the NOH8 temporary tattoo and silver duct tape. The required white T-shirt will be provided by the Office of Student Life and Engagement. The event is sponsored in collaboration with Afrekete, Student Affairs, registered student organizations and the Women's Research and Resource Center.

READ MORE

Morehouse Students Create Bayard Rustin Scholars Program to Remember Gay Civil Rights Activist 

– The GA Voice  

Students from Morehouse College have formed a Bayard Rustin scholars program at the all-male college which will introduce a new chapter of social justice at the school, according to a story in the student newspaper the Maroon Tiger. "The program is named after him because the motto of the program is modeled after his theory and methods," said sophomore Marcus Lee, one of three students to introduce the program. "[The scholars] will be learning how to community organize and learning how to tackle more issues at once."

READ MORE

Rev. Sharpton, Black Clergy Urge Support of Md. Same-Sex Marriage Referendum 

– Washington Post

The Rev. Al Sharpton and prominent African-American clergy on Friday [September 21] urged black voters to set aside their personal and religious views on gay marriage and think of Maryland's November ballot referendum as a question of civil rights that follows blacks' own struggle for equal treatment under the law.

"This is not an issue about gay or straight, this is a issue about civil rights and to take a position to limit the civil rights of any one is to take a position to limit the civil rights of everyone," Sharpton said at a press conference attended by a dozen pastors and ministers who had traveled to Washington to attend the annual Congressional Black Caucus Prayer Breakfast.

READ MORE

University Diversity Officer Put on Leave for Signing Maryland Marriage Petition 

– Advocate     

Angela McCaskill, the chief diversity officer for Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., was placed on paid leave after it was revealed that she signed a petition to place the marriage equality law on the ballot in Maryland.

Gallaudet President T. Alan Hurwitz announced the move Wednesday in a statement, according to WJLA-TV. He said that she "participated in a legislative initiative that some feel is inappropriate" for someone in her role. The legislature passed the marriage equality law earlier this year, but opponents gathered enough signatures to trigger the referendum, known as Question 6, which voters will decide next month.

READ MORE

The Black Church is Accepting LGBT People as Congregations, Pastors Talk

– Washington Post  

More and more pastors and others in the Black community need guidance as we journey toward understanding. Part of the guidance will come from LGBT people and their families sharing themselves with their pastors. The leaders I am describing want to know and need to know about the lives of these precious gay and lesbian people they love. Not knowing – especially about difficult subjects – breeds silence and their reluctance to speak publicly. Just as statistics class can stymie students, the complexities of human sexuality, gender identity, and the Bible could be considered a perfect storm of tough subjects.

READ MORE

Standing on Solid Ground: Finding Your Way Theologically Presented by Many Voices

We are at a moment in history when many people of faith are torn. They may wish to affirm gay and transgender (LGBT) people but feel that doing so flies in the face of everything they've been taught. Rev. Dr. Ron Hopson will provide theological grounding for the discussion and celebration of our human sexuality, explore the impact of isolating and marginalizing some in our flock, and take a careful look at sacred texts and our use of texts to empower people and expand God's justice in the world. For more information, visit Many Voices.

Empowering Ourselves: Using Our Faith as an Anchor Presented by LGBT Faith Leaders of African Descent

The LGBT Faith Leaders of African Descent fall forum will explore bridging the gap between spirituality and sexuality for social change and will include various workshops. Bishop Yvette Flunder, founder of the City of Refuge United Church of Christ in San Francisco and NBJC Executive Director Sharon Lettman-Hicks will serve as keynote speakers. Lunch will be provided. The event is free and open to the public.

RSVP for the event:  

dperry30@nyc.rr.com

917-916-8393