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OUT on the Hill

Letter from Our Executive Director

Greetings, 

The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) is thrilled to bring back our signature event OUT on the Hill, taking place from September 20th to 24th. This event brings together advocates, thought leaders, community members, allies, and partner organizations to advance a policy and advocacy agenda that is unapologetically focused on the intersectional needs of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+, and same-gender loving (LGBTQ+/SGL) people. 

For those in need of the OUTlook for our urgent policy priorities, this passport highlights events during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference that includes or focuses on topics that disproportionately impact our community or include speakers from our community. For those on the lookOUT for resources and tools to use during the upcoming Presidential election, our passport connects you to our new 2024 Vote Ready Toolkit. 

We must show up and show OUT in spaces that seek to represent the Black community, make our unique needs known, and ensure that our beautifully diverse community is considered in policies and programs to improve outcomes and opportunities for the Black LGBTQ+/SGL community. 

We look forward to being OUT on the Hill with you. 

In love and continued struggle, 

Dr. David J. Johns
Executive Director
National Black Justice Coalition

Explore the OUT on the Hill Passport HERE!

About the National Black Justice Coalition 

Since 2003, the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) has been America’s leading national civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer+, and same gender loving (LGBTQ+/SGL) people, including people living with HIV/AIDS through coalition building, federal policy change, research, and education. Our mission is to end racism, homophobia, and LGBTQ+/SGL bias and stigma. NBJC supports Black individuals, families, and communities in strengthening the bonds and bridging the gaps between the movements for racial justice and LGBTQ+/SGL equity. We envision a world where all people are fully empowered to participate safely, openly, and honestly in family, faith, and community, regardless of race, class, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

About OUT on the Hill

OUT on the Hill is a signature program of the National Black Justice Coalition that connects Black LGBTQ+/SGL community members, leaders, advocates, policymakers, and emerging leaders to members of the Congressional Black Caucus during its Annual Legislative Conference to ensure our urgent priorities are heard and included in their policymaking. NBJC urges all attendees to read NBJC’s Federal Public Policy Agenda for Black LGBTQ+/SGL Lives in preparation for grassroots advocacy during the CBC’s ALC.

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About CBCF ALC

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) will present its highly anticipated 52nd Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) from September 20 – 24, 2023, at the prestigious Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Join us “OUT on the Hill” during the CBCF’s ALC under the inspiring theme “Securing Our Democracy. Protecting Our Freedoms. Uplifting Our Culture.” The conference will be an extraordinary gathering of visionaries, activists, and leaders who are shaping the future of African Americans and the global Black community. This is your opportunity to be part of the transformative dialogue and collective action that will shape our nation’s future.

Resources to Prepare for the CBCF ALC

  • The CBC Issue Leaders Guide highlights which members of the CBC lead on various policy priorities.
  • The CBC Leadership List highlights the names of the CBC Chair and Vice Chairs.
  • The CBC Members List highlights the names of every member of the CBC.
The CBC Policy Agenda highlights the policy priorities of the CBC during this Congressional term (2023-2024).

Be on the LookOUT

During OUT on the Hill 2023, Be on the LookOUT for yourself, one another, solutions, and resources that can improve the quality of life, opportunities, and outcomes for Black LGBTQ+/SGL people and those we know and love. We hope this passport is a useful guide for you as we take up space as our complete selves, demanding our complete inclusion in the agenda for Black America. Please report on what you learned from your experiences using THIS FORM.

Goals of OUT on the Hill 2023

  • We aim to make Out on the Hill attendees feel they are part of a greater movement that demands respect and inclusion within an intersectional society and economy.
  • To achieve this, Out on the Hill will include opportunities for attendees to connect with others who share their values and vision for a more just and equitable world. We work to facilitate meaningful conversations and interactions that build community and inspire action.
  • Moreover, we prioritize the importance of being included in forming and advancing just policies. Out on the Hill serves as a platform to empower the voices being muted across the country in policymaking.
  • Ultimately, our goal is for all members of the community to feel valued, respected, and supported. We strive to create an experience that leaves attendees feeling empowered to take action and make a difference in their communities.

Best Practices for Engaging Law Makers at Public Events

Ask a Question: Develop a list of questions you will ask members of Congress during the event. Listed with each event below, you will find “Queer Considerations” that highlight how the CBCF ALC workshop tackles a policy area that has a disproportionate impact on Black LGBTQ+/SGL people, including people living with HIV/AIDS alongside a question we would like you to ask during the session. 

      • If the issue directly impacts you, incorporate your personal story briefly to show real impact on our community. 
        • Story+Queer Considerations Template: As a member of the Black LGBTQ+/SGL community, _______ (policy issue) has impacted me by ________ (describe how you’ve been impacted, then pivot to queer considerations and question). Practicing your story and questions with others can help you feel more confident. 
        • Story+Queer Considerations Example: As a member of the Black LGBTQ+/SGL community, the lack of inclusive reproductive healthcare has had an incredibly negative impact on my life. Black same-gender loving women, transgender men, and others with female reproductive organs are disproportionately impacted by reproductive health disorders such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, fibroids, and uterine cancers. Our community also faces erasure when it comes to abortion, contraception, and fertility resources. What do lawmakers and community leaders need in order to ensure Black same-gender loving women, transgender men, and others with female reproductive organs are included in policies and critical conversations related to reproductive health and its economic impacts?
      • Arrive early to organize yourself and select prime seating.  
      • Sit close to a standing mic, to the front where you can be easily seen to be called on, and/or be prepared to meet with the lawmaker after the session ends to ask your question one-on-one. 
      • Where and if appropriate, record the interaction for social and earned media use in addition to congressional accountability during legislative drafting, markup, and voting. Be sure to Google any prohibitions on recording at public events as they vary across communities. 
      • Show your approval or disapproval of the member’s response as appropriate by clapping your hands, nodding your head, or other non-verbal methods of communication. 
      • If you are able to ask your question, please provide notes on the responses shared in our event report form HERE.
      • Take a photo and capture the essence of the member’s response in a social media post tagging #OUTontheHill and @NBJContheMove. 
      • Be persistent and polite – politicians are known to stick to talking points with canned answers. It’s important we know who our active accomplices are versus fair-weather allies. 
      • After the event connect with your member of Congress about the issues important to you via Phone, Social Media, Fax, Email, or Letter to the Editor using our digital action hub HERE.

Be an active participant: Asking questions isn’t comfortable for everyone. Being an active audience member can also be helpful in supporting our community. If something positive about our community or our community is explicitly included in a conversation point, it is important to clap and demonstrate other signs of public support for Black LGBTQ+/SGL inclusion. Conversely, if something is said or shared that would harm or negatively impact our community, it is important to share our disapproval of those comments – including harmful comments and questions from other audience members. If you are attending with other members from your community or organization, spreading out in the audience can help amplify the perception of public support being even larger than if everyone sits together in one section.

Voting is a Super Power

Each one of us has the opportunity to Own Our Power. However, it is our choice whether we activate our powers. One of the superpowers in a democracy is voting. How our members of Congress show up for us – or don’t – matters deeply because we have one chance every two years in the House of Representatives and every six years in the U.S. Senate to identify someone else who will show up for our community. Our Vote Ready Toolkit will ensure you have everything you need to exercise your right to vote, restore your right to vote or participate in our democracy using other superpowers. Read and use our toolkit, then share it with the people in your life who need a reminder that their voice matters just as much as anyone else in our nation. Finally, if members of Congress claim to represent the Black community but exclude the Black LGBTQ+/SGL community, use this toolkit to ensure there are enough voters ready in your community to change your players in the game. We must have a Congressional Black Caucus that is truly rooting for everybody Black.

The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) is a civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and same gender loving (LGBTQ/SGL) people, including people living with HIV/AIDS.