Our government represents those who vote.
Elections are only one part of the political process. However, Get Out the Vote (GOTV) efforts are required to ensure that we are all safe and supported as we endeavor to participate in every aspect of our social democracy.
Year-round GOTV efforts encourage and support voters in learning about and engaging with elected officials, shaping and advancing legislation, and supporting policy implementation at every level.
NBJC’s civic engagement goal is to ensure that voters participate in every election (primaries, generals, mid-terms, presidential, and municipal elections) and have information to channel their energy into sustained and meaningful engagement before and after the November elections. Elections are about ensuring the issues you care about have the support of the majority in legislative bodies and the executive leadership to sign your priorities into law. NBJC works diligently to educate, motivate, and organize Black LGBTQ+/SGL people – and those that love us – to (this list is not exhaustive):
- Attend public meetings or hearings
- Join commissions and boards on topics of interest, personal experience, or expertise
- Contact lawmakers and strategic decision-makers about the issues, policies, and programs our community are impacted by the most and urge them to follow recommendations that ensure we are all served
- Provide feedback or comments on new or updated policies and programs through federal, state, or local administrative agencies
- Apply for government grants to build new projects or developments, support local organizations or government initiatives, and more
- Connect our people with the programs designed to help us as they roll out for the first time or new deadlines to apply approaches
- Attend awareness events such as rallies, protests, and marches
Ensuring our government works for us and not against us happens between elections, but election day is when we ensure we have the right voices, perspectives, and leadership at the table to get the job done right!
Campaigns
NBJC is collaborating with organizations and media outlets across the country to mobilize Black LGBTQ+/SGL voters ahead of this year’s midterm elections. Scheduled programs and initiatives are listed below, with more to come (this list is not exhaustive):
- Ongoing voter registration and Get Out the Vote technical assistance for state and local Black LGBTQ+/SGL organizations (Black prides, Black LGBTQ+/SGL churches, advocacy organizations, health centers, campus organizations, etc.)
- Voter registration workshop with Black LGBTQ+/SGL elected officials
- Voter empowerment activations with NBJC’s Good Trouble Network
- Labor Day Weekend voter engagement workshop during Atlanta Black Pride educational events
- Voter registration collaboration with Black leaders across Florida at monthly events
- Voter resource amplification via NBJC’s website, earned media, and other digital platforms sharing culturally competent information on the impact of voting, the influence of one vote, vote by mail FAQs, voter registration FAQs, and more
Advocacy (Policy Priorities):
Americans across the country would benefit from electing progressive majorities who will champion policies that center on the most marginalized among us; such as reproductive justice, civil rights laws that include Black women and LGBTQ+ people, economically inclusive health and wellness programs, education and workforce development that ensures equity, and addresses privacy and civil rights concerns when it comes to technological justice. Still, before elections this fall, we must ensure that the candidates chosen by all political parties in their primaries will champion issues that matter to Black LGBTQ+/SGL people, families, and communities, including people living with HIV/AIDS. This list of policy priorities is illustrative, not exhaustive, and includes public policy issues that disproportionately impact our community. Review your candidates’ websites, social media, statements, local news coverage, and campaign events (town halls, constituent meetings, meet and greets, barbecues, etc) to identify how they would vote on these issues, and if you can’t find the answer engage them to learn more (and let us know when we can assist).
Civil and Human Rights:
- Ensure your candidates would vote to include and protect Black women and LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in public life
- Ensure your candidates would vote to ensure law enforcement investigates all crimes thoroughly with Black LGBTQ+/SGL cultural competency to increase accountability for criminals targeting members of our community
- Ensure your candidates would vote to support restorative justice sentencing and voting rights restoration
- Ensure your candidate would vote to support voting rights
- Ensure your candidate would vote to support an expanded definition of family that includes chosen family
- Ensure your candidate would vote to ensure kids in the child welfare system don’t lose out on a supportive family simply because the parents are same-gender loving
- Ensure your candidate would vote to provide more student loan relief, including relief for students living with a disability who are often penalized with taking out more loans when taking longer to graduate
Technology Justice:
- Ensure your candidates would vote to support protections and privacy for consumers on the Internet, including the use of mobile apps, to limit
- Ensure your candidates would vote to support mandates for tech companies to only use algorithms that treat all users the same without regard to stereotypes or bias
- Ensure your candidates would vote to support mental health protections for youth and others vulnerable to attacks on social media
Education and Workforce Development:
- Ensure your candidate would vote to decrease police presence in schools and to increase funding for mental and behavioral health therapists and programs
- Ensure your candidate would vote to use federal mental health dollars to support the mental health of every child in school using Medicaid dollars, where applicable
- Ensure your candidates would vote to ban the question regarding criminal records from job applications
- Ensure your candidates would vote to prohibit cannabis testing of employees or prospective employees when there is no evidence of use during work hours
Health and Wellness:
- Ensure your candidates would vote to support abortion access
- Ensure your candidates would vote to support increased research for LGBTQ+ inclusive reproductive healthcare, Long COVID, and intersectional health data reporting to determine disparities that require nuanced solutions
- Ensure your candidate would vote to support Black maternal mortality prevention measures
- Ensure your candidate would vote to prevent the criminalization of HIV/AIDS and increase PREP and PEP access
- Ensure your candidate would vote to mandate inclusive, culturally competent teacher training programs
- Ensure your candidate would vote to prohibit the use of conversion therapy on children and dependent adults
- Ensure your candidate would vote for comprehensive and inclusive sex education