NBJC Celebrates Historic Wins for Black LGBTQ+/SGL Candidates
CONTACT: Jordan Wilhelmi | jordan@unbendablemedia.com
WASHINGTON — Dr. David J. Johns, CEO and Executive Director of the National Black Justice Collective (NBJC), issued the following statement on a night of historic wins for Black LGBTQ+/Same-Gender Loving (SGL) candidates:
“Yesterday’s election results mark another decisive step toward a democracy that truly reflects an inclusive and diverse representation of who we are. Across the country, Black LGBTQ+/Same-Gender Loving (SGL) candidates broke barriers, won reelection, and proved that our communities are not just participating in democracy, but helping to shape it.
“From Antwon Womack’s historic victory as the first out same-gender loving Black man elected in Alabama, to Virginia’s General Assembly breaking new ground with four Black LGBTQ+/SGL delegates (Rozia Henson, Marcia Price, Joshua Cole, and Adele McClure) more than any other state in the nation, and Crystal Hudson, Chi Ossé, and Denzel McCampbell continuing their transformative work in New York and Detroit, these leaders represent extraordinary changemakers reshaping our politics, policy, and world.
“These victories remind us that visibility is not enough. We need power rooted in community and governed by values of justice, and care. The wins of LaWana Slack Mayfield, Aaron Polkey, Keanuú Smith-Brown, and so many others send a clear message: when Black queer, trans, and gender-expansive people lead, all of us move closer to freedom.
“As extremists across the country attempt to legislate our existence out of classrooms, athletics, the military, and more, last night’s results affirm that we are here, we are capable, and we are building a future where every member of our cities, neighborhoods, and communities can live, lead, and thrive.
“NBJC celebrates these historic wins and the voters that made them possible. This is what collective liberation in action looks like.”