FAMU Rattlers Rally for Justice for Robert Champion Jr.
As a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), Florida A&M University (FAMU) is rich with history. With an incredibly knowledgeable faculty, FAMU teaches its students to think critically and creatively. FAMU is also fun. Students come together like family and just kick back at our weekly campus-wide event, Set Friday. FAMU is many great things. But one thing FAMU is not, is inclusive of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
As members of the FAMU LGBT Student Pride Union, we are deeply saddened by the recent death of our fellow Rattler, Robert Champion Jr.Robert, a gay drum major of FAMU’s marching band, was killed as a result of a hazing ritual that took place aboard a band bus after our biggest game of the year. Friends have said they believe his sexual orientation may have been a factor in the severity of the brutal beating that killed him. The Champion family attorney has also admitted that it may have been a factor in his death.
Massachusetts Gov. Patrick Signs Transgender Equality Bill Into Law
by Jorge Rivas, Thursday, January 19 2012
On Thursday, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick held a ceremonial signing for H.3810, “An Act Relative To Gender Identity,” which now legally protects transgender individuals from discrimination in housing, education, employment and credit. The new law also provides additional civil rights and protections from hate crimes.
“No individual should face discrimination because of who they are,” Governor Patrick said in a press release. “This legislation gives Massachusetts the necessary tools to stop hate crimes against transgender people and to treat others fairly. I am proud to sign it.”
Gov. Christie nominates two for state Supreme Court, including gay African-American mayor
Published: Monday, January 23, 2012, 2:35 PM
TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie today nominated an openly gay African-American Republican mayor and a Korean-American assistant attorney general to the state’s highest court.
Two nominees are Phil Kwon, 44, who worked under Christie when he was U.S. attorney for New Jersey, and Bruce Harris, 61, who was elected mayor of Chatham Borough in November.
Kwon, of Bergen County, would be the first Asian-American to sit on the state Supreme Court, and Harris would be the first openly gay justice.
"I am honored to nominate these two gentlemen," Christie said at a Statehouse news conference. "I trust the Senate will take into account their extraordinary backgrounds and experience and will give them swift hearings.”
Why Black Gay and Transgender Americans Need More Than Marriage Equality
By Aisha C. Moodie-Mills | January 19, 2012
Liberty and justice for all is not yet a reality in America. Despite the election of our nation’s first African American president, black Americans continue to trail behind their white counterparts in education, employment, and overall health and wellbeing. And while some states and the federal government continue to expand protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, more than half of all states still deny them basic civil rights. Such systemic inequities render people of color who are also gay and transgender among the most vulnerable in our society.
Black gay and transgender Americans in particular experience stark social, economic, and health disparities compared to the general population and their straight black and white gay counterparts. According to the data we currently have, families headed by black same-sex couples are more likely to raise their children in poverty, black lesbians are more likely to suffer from chronic diseases, and black gay and transgender youth are more likely to end up homeless and living on the streets.
Why We Cannot Wait: NBJC Celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) reflects on King’s legacy as we continue to demand justice for Robert Champion Jr.
Champion, a gay drum major at Florida A&M, died as a result of a hazing ritual abroad a band bus on November 19, 2011. Last week, NBJC launched a petition drive urging the U.S. Justice Department to investigate whether his death was a possible hate crime. Our call to action, just days before King’s birthday, is tragically timely.
During this time of reflection, NBJC stands proud knowing that the LGBT community is standing in solidarity with our cause. Eliza Byard, the executive director of the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and great friend to NBJC, wrote a letter to her membership supporting our effort. Her words are a testament to the meaning of a true ally:
NBJC is calling on the Black and LGBT communities to join us in demanding a fair and thorough investigation. Sign the petition and urge the Department of Justice to begin an investigation TODAY!
Be it hazing or hate crime, justice must be served.
NBJC Calls for Investigation Into Robert Champion’s Death as a Potential Hate Crime
Amidst the revelation of the 26-year-old’s homosexuality, the National Black Justice Coalition worries there could have been ulterior motives.
By Danielle Wright Posted: 01/10/2012 05:33 PM EST
Could Florida A & M University student Robert Champion Jr. have been beaten to death because he was gay? The National Black Justice Coalition, the nation’s largest Black LGBT civil rights organization, says it’s possible, and because of it they are urging the U.S. Department of Justice to launch an immediate investigation into Champion’s death as a potential anti-gay hate crime.
“Anti-gay violence is not only a civil rights issue; it is a Black issue. It is a Black issue because violence against gay and transgender individuals is disproportionately affecting our Black youth,” said Sharon Lettman-Hicks, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition. “The civil rights community can no longer stand on the sidelines while our sons and daughters continue to suffer in silence."
CALL TO ACTION: NBJC Calls For Hate Crime Investigation in FAMU Hazing Death
The National Black Justice Coalition Demands Responsible Federal and Community Response
Washington, D.C., January 10, 2012 – On November 19, 2011 Florida A&M University student Robert Champion Jr. was found unresponsive aboard a band bus after the school's biggest game of the year. Police ruled the death a homicide from hazing; furthermore, the parents of Mr. Champion, a 26-year-old drum major in the university’s famed marching band, have recently revealed that Mr. Champion was gay. The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), the nation’s largest Black LGBT civil rights organization, is urging the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service (CRS) and Civil Rights Division, in addition to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, to launch an immediate investigation into Mr. Champion’s death as a potential anti-gay hate crime.
The loss of Mr. Champion is an unfortunate reminder of the need for proactive measures that foster inclusive environments for all students, regardless of their perceived or actual sexual orientation or gender identity, and that address the severe issue of hazing at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the country—Florida A&M being one of the nation’s oldest and largest HBCUs.
NBJC's Sharon Lettman-Hicks discusses work, motivation and a lesson from Transgender Day of Remembrance
by John Riley | Published on November 23, 2011
At first glance, Sharon Lettman-Hicks doesn't seem like your typical LGBT activist.
For starters, she's a straight woman. She's married to a military husband. She proudly says she was raised with ''strong Christian values.'' But LGBT people, especially those of color, would have a hard time finding a more passionate advocate who demands nothing less than their full equality and freedom to express their identity.
Just don't call her an ally.
Currently serving as the executive director of the National Black
Justice Coalition (NBJC), a civil rights organization dedicated to
empowering black LGBT people by fighting racism and homophobia,
Lettman-Hicks describes her involvement as a fierce advocate for LGBT
equality as part of a ''natural migration'' resulting from her own
experiences facing discrimination from within the African-American
community.
Growing up as the dark-skinned child of Hispanic immigrants,
Lettman-Hicks says she often faced discrimination from both the Latino
and African-American communities, who were unsure of how to deal with
her. A personal battle with obesity during adolescence also made her a
target for discrimination.
The National Black Justice Coalition Recognizes Transgender Day of Remembrance with a Statement from Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY) to End Bias Against Black Transgender People
Washington, DC
- This Sunday, November 20, is Transgender Day of Remembrance. It is a
day to honor those who have died due to hate violence and to raise
awareness of the hate crimes against transgender people. It is also a
day where we call upon our allies to step forward and stand with us in
solidarity.
To direct attention to the disproportionate violence and
discrimination faced by Black transgender people, last September the
National Black Justice Coalition in conjunction with the National Gay
and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center for Transgender Equality,
released a groundbreaking study entitled “Injustice at Every Turn: A
Look at Black Respondents in the National Transgender Discrimination
Survey.”
This report determined that Black transgender and gender
non-conforming people face some of the highest levels of discrimination
of all transgender people.
In response to the report, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke (D-NY) released this statement:
When I first became the executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), the nation's leading organization advocating for black lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, I was often asked why I had chosen to accept the position. I am a straight woman who was raised in suburban Florida with a military husband from urban Detroit, Mich., a family with strong Christian values and an upbringing that included attending one of America's Historically Black College and Universities. At first, I was deeply focused on black churches and far-right activists' anti-gay rhetoric. Then I tried to engage people and share with them the stories of everyday people who couldn't find work or suffered from workplace discrimination because of their gender identity. Even worse were the horror stories of teenagers being attacked, bullied, and even murdered, because people suspected they were gay. This journey caused me to question how we, as a society, have come to define "community."
At NBJC, we work at the intersection of race, orientation and gender identity. Daily, we are standing in support, solidarity and commitment to building safe communities, families, schools, churches, and places of employment for everyone, inclusive of our LGBT brothers and sisters. And while it is incredibly rewarding to know that we are helping to make the world a better place for all people, the challenges of this work have resonated with me, as a wife, stepmother and advocate, deeply.
"Can you imagine what it's like to see people you work with refuse to walk on the same side of the street with you or sit with you at lunch, or to be told that you are unhirable, just because you are a transgender man?" asks Kylar Broadus, an African-American lawyer and board member of the National Black Justice Coalition, a national black LGBT civil rights organization based in Washington, D.C.
Broadus, who was born a woman and transitioned into a man 17 years ago, has been passed over for jobs because of his gender identity. "I'm basically unemployable because I can't hide the transgender part of me. Most likely I am not getting hired once employers see that my Social Security card and school transcripts all have a female name," he says. "I am a human being who deserves the right to make a living like everyone else."
Today, October 11, is National Coming Out Day.
We at the National Black Justice Coalition are taking a moment to honor
all Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people who have been
bold and courageous enough to choose living an open, authentic life over
the crippling darkness of being closeted. We know that for many of you
coming out and staying out--may have been the hardest thing you ever
had to do. You may have lost family and friends, at times you may have
felt unsafe, and you may have even questioned your faith. But with time
and determination, you formed new families, transformed the families
that you were born and adopted into, created safety for others,
discovered spiritual practices that affirm you, and became shining
examples to all of those who are still making the journey to lovingly
embrace themselves for who they are. We thank you and implore you to
never give up.
Obama tells gay activists he is committed to equality
October 01, 2011|By Kevin Liptak, CNN
President Obama addresses a gathering of gay and lesbian activists in Washington, on Saturday.
President Barack Obama, speaking to a gathering of gay and lesbian activists, said Saturday that he is committed to equality, citing the repeal of the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy as an example.
Obama said his accomplishments on gay rights issues have been substantial since he last headlined the annual National Dinner of the Human Rights Campaign, in 2009.
He acknowledged "we have more work to do," including on the issue of bullying.
The president currently supports same-sex civil unions, and has said his views on gay marriage are "evolving." He recently announced his support of the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act, a 1996 law that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.
This report by the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the National Center for
Transgender Equality (NCTE) is a supplement to the groundbreaking
national study, Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey,
which was published in February and revealed widespread discrimination
experienced by transgender and gender non-conforming people across the
board.
Discrimination was pervasive for the entire sample, but
anti-transgender bias coupled with structural racism meant that
transgender people of color experienced particularly devastating levels
of discrimination, with Black respondents often faring worse than all
others. Among the key findings of the analysis released today:
Black transgender people had an extremely high unemployment rate at
26 percent, two times the rate of the overall transgender sample and
four times the rate of the general population.
A startling 41 percent of Black respondents said they had
experienced homelessness at some point in their lives, more than five
times the rate of the general U.S. population.
Black transgender people lived in extreme poverty with 34 percent
reporting a household income of less than $10,000 per year. This is more
than twice the rate for transgender people of all races (15 percent),
four times the general Black population rate (9 percent), and eight
times the general U.S. population rate (4 percent).
Black transgender people were affected by HIV in devastating
numbers. More than one-fifth of respondents were living with HIV (20.23
percent), compared to a rate of 2.64 percent for transgender respondents
of all races, 2.4 percent for the general Black population, and 0.60
percent of the general U.S. population.
Former Marine Evelyn Thomas on the Fight to End Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
September 27 2011 - Corporal Evelyn Thomas was two weeks shy of graduating from high
school when she enlisted in the Army National Guard on May 17, 1986. She
was 17, and her mother had to sign the contract that allowed her to
enter the military because she was not of legal age.
Thomas was transferred from the National Guard to the U.S. Marine
Corps in Camp Pendleton, Calif. She lived with other cadets in the
on-base barracks, but Thomas soon found herself in the crosshairs of the
military’s ban on gay and lesbian servicemembers, after a fellow Marine
found a letter in her footlocker from her mother that asked her about a
woman she was dating. The letter was turned into Thomas’ commanding
officer—and military police promptly arrested her.
“They asked me if I’m a homosexual—I literally began to shake in my
boots because I thought, ‘How did they find out?’” she says now. “As I’m
standing there shaking, my commanding officer and my supervisor began
to laugh, because they thought it was funny.”
The National Black Justice Coalition Celebrates The Official End to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
Washington, DC - On September 20, 2011, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
Repeal Act of 2010 became official and as of today all gay, lesbian, and
bisexual people have the backing of the United States government to
serve openly in the military.
Since 1993, the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy made it legal for
lesbian, gay or bisexual servicemembers to be fired if they chose to
live openly while they served. In December 2010, President Barack Obama
signed the bill into law, and the Department of Defense commissioned a
committee to embark upon a comprehensive review of military policies
that would potentially be affected by the repeal of DADT, with the focus
of guaranteeing military readiness, military effectiveness, unit
cohesion, and recruitment and retention of the Armed Forces.
In response to this landmark confirmation of equal rights for
lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, National Black Justice Coalition
Executive Director Sharon Lettman-Hicks stated,
“This victory has been long overdue, but the joy of justice from a
well fought fight to secure equality for lesbian, gay, and bisexual
servicemembers who have risked their lives in order to protect American
civilians, makes me even more proud of our freedom to advocate and
protest in this country. This law was wrong when it was put in place
back in 1993, and has negatively impacted the lives of thousands of
servicemembers, many of whom are Black lesbians. We are thankful to the
Obama administration for their steadfast commitment to closing out this
shameful chapter in American history; to restoring dignity to lesbian,
gay, and bisexual servicemembers; and to strengthening our military.
With the victory of today’s repeal under our belts, we must continue to
organize on behalf of transgender people who want to serve openly in the
military.”
Following on an annual outing begun last year, the National Black Justice Coalition will be returning to Capitol Hill next year for ''Out on the Hill,'' six days of meeting with legislators, discussing the issues, and otherwise advancing the mission of the ''leading national Black LGBT civil rights organization focused on federal public policy.''
Md. anti-marriage-equality advocates continue with claim marriage is not a civil right
Sharon Lettman-Hicks, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), a self-described “Black LGBT civil rights organization,” told The American Independent that the black-centric argument against legalizing gay marriage is no argument at all.
“This conversation is getting old,” she said. “At the end of the day, one part of [same-sex-marriage] opponents’ campaign is a manipulation of words [that] trumps history. … Civil rights – little ‘c,’ little ‘r’ – belongs to everyone in the United States.”
Lettman-Hicks, who lives in Maryland, said the issue of same-sex marriage is about the “preservation of personal privacy” and about “two consenting adults [wanting] to be a family.”
She pointed out that African-American households are overwhelming single-parent run. (Figures from the Census Bureau in 2010 indicate that only 38 percent of African-American families in America consist of two parents.) “You’re going to tell me that two mommies is worse than one?” she said.
Since 2003, the NBJC has attempted to unite the black and LGBT communities, but despite the efforts of gay African-Americans to convince socially-conservative African-Americans that marriage equality is about equality for all Americans, the community is still divided on the issue.
Federal Health Officials Push ‘Strength Through Affirmation’ of Black Gay Men
When the Center for Disease Control and Prevention released its latest estimates of HIV infection earlier this month, it made unexpected headlines with a startling finding: 30 years into the epidemic, researchers have found a burgeoning epidemic among young black gay and bisexual men. This week, at the agency’s massive annual convening of HIV prevention scientists and experts, federal health officials rolled out a rare national campaign targeting black gay men.
Gays Are Us: Why LGBT Equality Is Not a "White" Issue
"One of the problems with this 'either/or' approach—that this issue is either “black” or “white”—is that it creates a false dichotomy between LGBT issues and other issues of social justice. Another is that it fosters a hierarchy of oppression in which certain matters are placed at the top of the political agenda while others are tabled."
be a STAR: Show Tolerance And Respect the Anti-Bullying Initiative of The Creative Coalition and WWE
Founded by The Creative Coalition and WWE, the mission of be a STAR is to ensure a positive and equitable social environment for everyone regardless of age, race, religion, or sexual orientation through grassroots efforts beginning with education and awareness. be a STAR (Show Tolerance And Respect) promotes positive methods of social interaction and encourages people to treat others as equals and with respect, because everyone is a star in their own right.
Obama: Human rights violators won't be allowed into U.S.
President Barack Obama has issued a proclamation stating that violators of human rights and those who conspire with them shall be denied entry into the U.S. The document included language that would block those who persecute others based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. "The Council praises this move, which could in principle be used to justify the exclusion of hate-promoting politicians like Ugandan parliamentarian David Bahati, who introduced a 'kill the gays bill' in a previous legislative session in Uganda and may do so again," said Mark Bromley, chairman of the Council for Global Equality.
Transgender TSA Agent Who Was Forced to Pat Down Men Wins Settlement
Managers at Los Angeles International Airport commanded a woman, who was originally male before undergoing hormone therapy, to pat down male passengers and use the men's restroom.
Ashley Yang, 29, was living her life as a woman, dressing in more feminine clothing, using the ladies' room and wearing her hair long.
That kind of behavior was apparently not acceptable to managers in Los Angeles International Airport. In order to keep her job as a security checkpoint screener, managers allegedly forced her to cut her hair and dress as a man, citing the fact that she had not had physical surgery to change her sexual identity. However, California recognizes her as a woman on her driver's license.
HIV Epidemic Growing Fastest Among Black Gay and Bisexual Men
Young black gay and bisexual men are the only population in the U.S. in which the pace of HIV’s spread is increasing, according to a startling study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention yesterday.
You are cordially invited to attend the National Black Justice
Coalition’s Second Annual OUT on the Hill Black LGBT Leadership Summit
in Washington, DC, September 20-25, 2011. This unique gathering
convenes the nation’s preeminent Black LGBT activists, thought leaders,
elected officials, faith leaders and youth to participate in social
action on the national stage to demonstrate that all politics are
local. We will educate the Obama Administration, Congressional leaders,
and federal agencies on public policy concerns of Black LGBT people and
our families. We have the ability to move the masses towards an America
that is more inclusive of Black LGBT people!
Throughout the life of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," Servicemembers Legal Defense Network published the "Survival Guide" -- a booklet to help guide servicemembers living under DADT. In a move that shows the changed landscape in the military -- and within the LGBT organizations that have pushed for DADT repeal -- SLDN is releasing "Freedom to Serve: The Definitive Guide to LGBT Military Service" -- a booklet to help guide servicemembers after DADT.
Summer Greetings, Black Enterprise features LGBT in July, President Obama certifies the end of DADT and moves against DOMA, LGBT teens and homelessness, Zanele Muholi photographs lesbians in love in South Africa, Marriage equality celebrated in New York and more...
Statement by the President on Certification of Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell
The White House -- July 22, 2011
Today, we have taken the final major step toward ending the discriminatory ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ law that undermines our military readiness and violates American principles of fairness and equality. In accordance with the legislation that I signed into law last December, I have certified and notified Congress that the requirements for repeal have been met. ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ will end, once and for all, in 60 days—on September 20, 2011.
As Commander in Chief, I have always been confident that our dedicated men and women in uniform would transition to a new policy in an orderly manner that preserves unit cohesion, recruitment, retention and military effectiveness. Today’s action follows extensive training of our military personnel and certification by Secretary Panetta and Admiral Mullen that our military is ready for repeal. As of September 20th, service members will no longer be forced to hide who they are in order to serve our country. Our military will no longer be deprived of the talents and skills of patriotic Americans just because they happen to be gay or lesbian.
I want to commend our civilian and military leadership for moving forward in the careful and deliberate manner that this change requires, especially with our nation at war. I want to thank all our men and women in uniform, including those who are gay or lesbian, for their professionalism and patriotism during this transition. Every American can be proud that our extraordinary troops and their families, like earlier generations that have adapted to other changes, will only grow stronger and remain the best fighting force in the world and a reflection of the values of justice and equality that the define us as Americans.
President Obama moves closer to supporting same sex marriage
CNN.com -- July 20, 2011
President Obama is now supporting the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the ban on same sex marriage President Clinton signed into law in 1996.
"He is proud to support the Respect for Marriage Act ... which would take DOMA off the books once and for all," said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney at yesterday's briefing. "This legislation would uphold the principle that the federal government should not deny gay and lesbian couples the same rights and legal protections as straight couples."...
It may seem like an incremental move but one Democratic source I spoke with actually described it as "momentous" because the president has taken a nuanced view on DOMA, calling it "unconstitutional" (as recently as June) but never outright calling for its repeal.
As a presidential candidate Barack Obama only went as far as supporting civil unions. He has never endorsed same sex marriage, though his view on the position has been "evolving," as he has said, signaling he may change his mind...
CALL TO ACTION: NBJC and Black Enterprise Address LGBTs in Corporate America
July 14, 2011
This week, Black Enterprise (BE) magazine, the most respected business journal for Black America, released an eight-page article on being Black, Gay and in Corporate America that is sending shockwaves through Black communities.
We spent several weeks working with the BE editorial team to ensure that their understanding of our community was free of stereotypes and to link them to key achievers and organizations to complete the depth of the project that they were seeking. BE decided to dedicate the entire month to bring awareness of Black LGBT people and some of the challenges and successes of our community. Job well done!
In addition, BE featured several LGBT organizations, including the National Black Justice Coalition, to show their readers the widespread organized movement around LGBT equality. Some may say that ‘it is about time.’ However, the reality is that we have a long way to go within Black communities to achieve recognition and full inclusion, and we cannot do it without strategic alliances and an intentional plan on how to break down the barriers within the Black community...
Former Dallas Cowboys great Michael Irvin appears shirtless on the cover of this month's gay men's magazine Out and discusses his passion for equality issues.
Michael Irvin appears on the latest cover of Out Magazine. He tells the publication that he would support any athlete who comes out.
Irvin publicly acknowledges that the impetus for taking a stand comes from his relationship with his gay brother, Vaughn, who died of stomach cancer in 2006. Irvin had not spoken publicly about his brother previously, according to the magazine.
In the article, Irvin describes how his brother's sexual orientation contributed to his own issues....
Black Enterprise: Black and LGBT in Corporate America
July 6, 2011
We’re not going to pretend this was an easy topic for Black Enterprise to consider. Let’s face it—the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community is one of which our society whispers, mocks, ignores, and, in extreme cases, vehemently rejects. For Black members of this community, the emotional backlash can be even more intense. Editor-at-Large Carolyn M. Brown and I spent months producing this feature. Due to the topic’s controversial nature, we had some difficulty finding subjects. Even some of those who agreed to participate in our cover story, “Black and Gay in Corporate America,” felt some trepidation about how revealing their sexual orientation would affect relationships with family, friends, and associates outside the workplace...
Black Enterprises addresses a host of Black LGBT issues at BlackEnterprise.com. A list of all their features is HERE.
Rashad Taylor’s 24-hour journey out of the closet
ATLANTA, GA — June 1, 2011
Seven days ago, Rashad Taylor woke up in his temporary Baltimore flat, pulled on a fresh pair of pants, and found a $10 bill in one pocket.
“This is going to be a great day for me,” Taylor thought. From chicken entrails to Internet surveys, omens have always had a place in politics. Most of them have been wrong — as was Taylor’s leftover greenback.
The hefty, 30-year-old state lawmaker and political operative from Atlanta was about to begin the worst day of his life — 24 hours of personal and political crisis-management that would span three cities and involve much of Atlanta’s political elite...
In the two-plus weeks since Don Lemon announced he is gay in tandem with the release of his new memoir, 'Transparent,' the CNN anchor has received both kudos and criticism.
The praise is geared toward the courage it took to openly embrace his homosexuality as a public figure. The criticism lies mainly with the language Lemon used in his announcement. Lemon told the 'New York Times', where the news of his announcement first broke: "It's quite different for an African-American male...It's about the worst thing you can be in black culture. You're taught you have to be a man; you have to be masculine. In the black community they think you can pray the gay away."
Lemon also mentioned black women specifically, expressing his concern "that black women will say the same things [about me being gay] as they do about how black men should be dating black women."
Easter was the time of year when Christians acknowledge the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. This year, those of the Jewish faith celebrated Passover from April 19th to the 25th. For many people of faith this is a time of spiritual renewal.
The Black Church continues to be a resonant force, a cultural franchise for African Americans, uniquely American with a rich history of shelter, succor and solace…most of the time. But the Black Church has also been a place of conflicting values writ large on the heart and souls of Black folk.
Lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people stand at the Door of Truth of the Black Church and challenge the Church to “either follow Christ or maintain our prejudices. There is no compromise. The contending positions are mutually exclusive”- Bishop John Shelby Spong.
In the spirit of resilience and rejuventation, NBJC is pleased to
announce three major faith community events occurring in May, June and July.
The National Black Justice Coalition has
worked with and supported the People of African Descent Conference and
The Fellowship since their inception. We are consecrated allies in the
Movement for LGBT rights standing at the door of the church, challenging
the intersections of oppression and creating the foundations for a just
future. These three events are bold steps in our liberation journey.
Kids Facing Critical Shortage of Homes, Increased Likelihood of Poverty, Homelessness, Incarceration, Early Parenthood
WASHINGTON,
DC – NBJC applauds the introduction of Every Child Deserves a Family
Act by US Representative Pete Stark (CA). May is Foster Care Awareness
Month. There is no better time to highlight a growing child welfare
crisis where an estimated half a million children are in the U.S. foster
care system…120,000 of those could be adopted, but each year 25,000
children “age out” before finding a loving family.
The
Every Child Deserves a Family Act (ECDF) would ensure that states do
not impose discriminatory restrictions that significantly limit the
number of foster and adoptive homes available to kids who desperately
need them.
NBJC Stands Proud with US Senators on Employment Non-Discrimination Act
Washington—April 14, 2011, NBJC was proud to stand with
United States Senators Merkley (Oregon), Kirk (Illinois), Harkin (Iowa),
and Collins (Maine) as they introduced the Employment
Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would address discrimination in the
workplace by making it illegal to fire, refuse to hire or refuse to
promote employees simply based on a person's sexual orientation or
gender identity.While a vast majority of businesses in the
United States have already started addressing workplace fairness for
gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees, we still need a
federal standard that treats all employees the same way in both the
private and public sectors.
In 30 states, there are no statewide laws
providing express protection against discrimination based on sexual
orientation in the workplace, and in 40 states, there are no statewide
laws providing express protection against discrimination based on gender
identity in the workplace.Read More
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Coalition for
LGBT Health and the National Black Justice Coalition ask their members
and supporters across the country to join in celebrating the 9th Annual National LGBT Health Awareness Week from March 28-April 1.
LGBT Health Awareness Week aims to bring attention to the devastating
cycle of discrimination and health disparities that affects the lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Because LGBT people are
regularly discriminated against in employment, relationship recognition
and insurance coverage, they are more likely to get sick and less
likely to be able to afford vital health care than their straight and
non-transgender neighbors.
“To be afraid is to behave as if the truth were
not true”
Bayard
Rustin transcends history. He is an American original who helped shaped
America, transforming it into a more just society at a time when
justice for African Americans was a intermittent, random reality. Bayard
was born March 17, 1912, and was a proud, openly gay Black man. He
lived a phenomenal life, and we believe that he has not been celebrated
with due diligence. He was a civil rights activist, who was a close
advisor to and trusted friend of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
NBJC is mourning the loss of Reverend Peter Gomes, who died on February 28, 2011, after suffering a brain aneurysm and heart attack. He was 68. Born in 1942 of a Cape Verdean father and African American mother in Boston, Massachusetts, Reverend Gomes was a remarkable man who lived an exemplary life of service and devotion to justice for LGBT people.
NBJC Salutes President Obama's Decision to No Longer Defend DOMA
The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) applauds President Obama for his pro-family, pro-equality decision to no longer defend in court Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Section 3 defines “marriage” for federal purposes as only between a man and a woman, and it is the specific provision in the law that denies our families access to necessities like spousal health care benefits and family tax credits. Today, the Obama administration acknowledged that the President now sees that DOMA is unconstitutional and discriminates against loving, committed LGBT families.
In commemoration of Black History Month and Presidents’ Day 2011, the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) asks you to join us in celebrating the extraordinary heights President Barack Obama has reached in his unwavering mission to shape our nation’s policies and governing laws to recognize the full equality of LGBT people. In his election night acceptance speech, President-elect Barack Obama told an enthusiastic crowd of tens of thousands of joyous supporters, “… while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism and doubt and those who tell us that we can’t; we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes WE Can.
NBJC Board Member, Kylar Broadus, Featured in BlackEnterprise.com
On Thursday, February 17, NBJC Board Member Kylar Broadus was featured in an article on BlackEnterprise.com drawing attention to workplace discrimination against Black LGBT people. Kylar is the former NBJC Board Chair and a recent recipient of The Task Force’s "Susan J. Hyde Award for Longevity in the Movement." NBJC was honored to help facilitate this interview so that the larger African American community can hear Kylar’s story and be as inspired by him as we are.
NBJC featured in a Groundbreaking Lesbian Soldier's Story in Essence Magazine
Essence magazine’s March 2011 issue, which is currently on newsstands, takes a bold, inclusive step toward shedding light on the challenges of being Black and LGBT in America. Essence, the “definitive voice of today’s dynamic African American woman,” takes an in-depth look at how Black LGBT servicemembers operate in a society much like our ancestors’ days of racial segregation and find the resolve to continue risking their lives defending liberty when they have had extreme limitations placed on their own freedoms. The magazine breaks new ground by publishing a four-page article in which a Black, active duty, female servicemember details her life as a lesbian living under the discriminatory and now—thankfully—repealed Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) policy.
NBJC Lights A Candle For Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
Monday, February 7, marks the 11th Annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. As part of our mission to strengthen Black families, the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) is joining organizations across the country to promote actions that will empower our communities and save lives. This year, we are working in coalition to highlight strategies that Black communities need to effectively combat this epidemic and to reduce the rate of new infections.
In the nearly 30 years since the HIV/AIDS epidemic emerged, Black communities have been hit hardest. According to the CDC, Black women are diagnosed with HIV 19 times more often than White women, and Black gay and bisexual men, ages 13-29, represent more than 25 percent of new infections. In addition to reducing the rate of new infections, another one of NBJC’s top priorities is providing greater access to comprehensive health care for our friends and loved ones--including older adults and members of the Transgender community--who are already infected.
NBJC Board Member Michelle E. Brown Shares Her Story and Passion for Advocating For Stronger Black Families and Communities with Curve Magazine
Michelle E. Brown is fierce, fearless and NBJC is very proud to have an outstanding advocate for stronger black families serve on our Board of Directors. Michelle E. Brown is an author and activist born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. Her work is strongly influenced by the socio-economic, political and human rights history of the city. Drawing upon the city’s rich history and her own personal travels locally and nationally for inspiration, she has written essays for several mainstream and alternative newspapers, is a monthly columnist in “Between the Lines” Michigan’s only LGBT Newspaper, and has published poetry, short stories and authored two books. Michelle shares her story with Curve Magazine, a publication focusing on the lesbian community.
NBJC Sends Condolences to the Friends and Family of Slain Ugandan Activist David Kato
"The global Black LGBT community is mourning the loss of one of its most courageous advocates for human rights. In a statement on the passing of Ugandan LGBT Activist David Kato, President Barack Obama stated “LGBT rights are not special rights; they are human rights. My Administration will continue to strongly support human rights and assistance work on behalf of LGBT persons abroad. We do this because we recognize the threat faced by leaders like David Kato, and we share their commitment to advancing freedom, fairness, and equality for all." NBJC joins with the friends and family of David Kato to mourn his loss and recommit ourselves to our shared struggle for the recognition of our rights and human dignity.
Parenting by African-American Gays More Common in the South, Census Shows
According to new census data, Black or Latino gay couples are twice as likely as whites to be raising children. They are also more likely than their white counterparts to be struggling economically. NBJC is deepening its focus on the African American family, putting a face on the Black LGBT community, and fostering a collective effort to accord dignity and respect to all African American families as an important step in individual and community empowerment. “Building Stronger Black Families” is the theme guiding NBJC’s planning and program development as NBJC focuses on removing the inequalities of policy-based initiatives that weaken families, communities, and ultimately, the country.
Secretary of Defense Gates, Pentagon Officials Outline DADT Repeal Implementation
Calling the implementation of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal a "milestone event" for the Defense Department, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced today that repeal implementation "must be accomplished across the entire Department at the same time" and occurs "in a deliberate and careful manner." In a memorandum to Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Clifford Stanley that was provided to Metro Weekly, Gates directed Stanley on what he called the "solid foundation" for the implementation of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act.
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, 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.
NBJC Partners With NGLCC and Leadership of Diverse Groups at NYSE Event
"The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) hosted its fourth annual Diversity & Leadership in Financial Services Awards at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The awards recognized the commitment made to diversity by the leadership of the financial services sector and the deepening relationship between LGBT business advocates and other diverse segments. The event was the first-ever cross segment diversity event in the financial services industry. Participating groups represent over $8.89 trillion in spending power."
A Ugandan judge ruled Monday that media companies cannot out gay people in the African country, citing the constitutional right to privacy in a decision that could help activists fighting the proposed bill that would impose the death penalty for homosexuality.
According to Agence France-Presse, the judge issued a permanent injunction against the newspaper Rolling Stone, which last year published the photos and addresses of more than 20 gay rights campaigners. One issue included the headline “Hang Them” with calls for execution from an unidentified evangelical pastor.
The National Black Justice Coalition Attends Presidential Signing for the Repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
December 22, 2010—Today, President Obama signed into effect the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” (DADT) a 17-year old law prohibiting gay and lesbian people from serving openly in the military. NBJC Executive Director Sharon Lettman-Hicks and Director of Public Engagement Jasper Hendricks, III will be present to witness the signing.
In response to this historic moment, Lettman-Hicks stated:
“By repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ President Obama, along with the American people, has added a new chapter for civil rights in this country by officially putting an end to legalized anti-gay discrimination within the military.
With the stroke of a pen, the President is strengthening our military by opening its doors to the untold thousands of gay and lesbian citizens, who previously have chosen not to serve out of concern that they would be dishonorably discharged. In these tough economic times, repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ creates job security for thousands of service members who have lived in fear that they might be expelled for characteristics that are outside of their control and that have no effect on their ability to perform their duties.”
The military's prohibition of openly gay people serving within its ranks is one step closer to ending, after the Senate voted Saturday to repeal the armed forces' "don't ask, don't tell" policy.
Eight Republicans and independent Joe Lieberman of Connecticut joined the chamber's Democrats to back the legislation, which passed around 3 p.m. by a 65-31 margin. The bill needed a simple majority -- meaning support from 51 of the Senate's 100 members -- to pass.
On the heels of World AIDS Day comes a stunning medical breakthrough: Doctors believe an HIV-positive man who underwent a stem cell transplant has been cured as a result of the procedure.
Timothy Ray Brown, also known as the "Berlin Patient," received the transplant in 2007 as part of a lengthy treatment course for leukemia. His doctors recently published a report in the journal Blood affirming that the results of extensive testing "strongly suggest that cure of HIV infection has been achieved."
by Justin Johnson via NY Daily NewsAs a gay former Marine officer, I have intensely followed the efforts to repeal the policy banning open service by gays and lesbians, but until now have kept a low profile about my views on the subject. I hope that by sharing my relatively unique experience with the subject, I can help assuage concerns and effect a change that will have an enormously positive effect on our military's fighting capacity and our country's commitment to human dignity, fairness and equality.I say this from close personal experience: This is a very bad policy, and Congress has failed mightily in deciding against repeal to this point. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" should not last another month, let alone another two years.Read the article here.
December 8 marks the Seventh Anniversary of the National Black Justice Coalition. Through trials and triumphs, NBJC has provided leadership at the intersection of race and sexuality, advocating for a world free from racism and homophobia. I reflect with gratitude on what we've achieved together over these years. We have made real progress towards a better future for Black LGBT people, evidenced in the OUT on the Hill Black LGBT Leadership Summit and One Nation, Working Together and that simply couldn’t have happened without supporters like you.
NBJC’s next chapter starts now. In recognition of NBJC’s years of advocacy and leadership empowering the African American LGBT community, we need you on the frontline as a stakeholder to embolden our movement. We invite you to join theJustice Society, whose members are a driving force behind NBJC's educational, organizing and advocacy programs. They are the core of our work creating a diverse alliance of LGBT people and allies dedicated to nurturing the next generation of LGBT African American leaders. It only takes a few minutes at NBJC.org/justicesociety to register your monthly donation and pledge your support toward Building Stronger Black Families.
A gay, lesbian or bisexual adolescent is punished more severely at school and by the criminal-justice system compared to heterosexual people of the same age for the same offenses, researchers from Yale University report in the medical journal Pediatrics. The authors say the disproportionate punishments cannot be explained by worse illegal activities or behaviors. They add that in order to achieve equality among heterosexual and non-heterosexual youth, it is important first to understand what causes these disparities in school expulsions, arrests, imprisonments, and then to address them.
As a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), Florida A&M University (FAMU) is rich with history. With an incredibly knowledgeable faculty, FAMU teaches its students to think critically and creatively. FAMU is also fun. Students come together like family and just kick back at our weekly campus-wide event, Set Friday. FAMU is many great things. But one thing FAMU is not, is inclusive of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.
by Jorge Rivas, Thursday, January 19 2012
By Aisha C. Moodie-Mills | January 19, 2012
By Danielle Wright
Washington, D.C., January 10, 2012 – On November 19, 2011 Florida A&M University student Robert Champion Jr. was found unresponsive aboard a band bus after the school's biggest game of the year. Police ruled the death a homicide from hazing; furthermore, the parents of Mr. Champion, a 26-year-old drum major in the university’s famed marching band, have recently revealed that Mr. Champion was gay. The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), the nation’s largest Black LGBT civil rights organization, is urging the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service (CRS) and Civil Rights Division, in addition to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, to launch an immediate investigation into Mr. Champion’s death as a potential anti-gay hate crime.
Currently serving as the executive director of the National Black
Justice Coalition (NBJC), a civil rights organization dedicated to
empowering black LGBT people by fighting racism and homophobia,
Lettman-Hicks describes her involvement as a fierce advocate for LGBT
equality as part of a ''natural migration'' resulting from her own
experiences facing discrimination from within the African-American
community.
"Can you imagine what it's like to see people you work with refuse to walk on the same side of the street with you or sit with you at lunch, or to be told that you are unhirable, just because you are a transgender man?" asks Kylar Broadus, an African-American lawyer and board member of the National Black Justice Coalition, a national black LGBT civil rights organization based in Washington, D.C.
October 01, 2011|By Kevin Liptak, CNN
September 27 2011 - Corporal Evelyn Thomas was two weeks shy of graduating from high
school when she enlisted in the Army National Guard on May 17, 1986. She
was 17, and her mother had to sign the contract that allowed her to
enter the military because she was not of legal age.
When the Center for Disease Control and Prevention released its latest estimates of HIV infection earlier this month, it made unexpected headlines with a startling finding: 30 years into the epidemic, researchers have found a 
"One of the problems with this 'either/or' approach—that this issue is either “black” or “white”—is that it creates a false dichotomy between LGBT issues and other issues of social justice. Another is that it fosters a hierarchy of oppression in which certain matters are placed at the top of the political agenda while others are tabled." 
President Barack Obama has issued a proclamation stating that violators of human rights and those who conspire with them shall be denied entry into the U.S. The document included language that would block those who persecute others based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. "The Council praises this move, which could in principle be used to justify the exclusion of hate-promoting politicians like Ugandan parliamentarian David Bahati, who introduced a 'kill the gays bill' in a previous legislative session in Uganda and may do so again," said Mark Bromley, chairman of the Council for Global Equality.
Managers at Los Angeles International Airport commanded a woman, who was originally male before undergoing hormone therapy, to pat down male passengers and use the men's restroom.
Young black gay and bisexual men are the only population in the U.S. in which the pace of HIV’s spread is increasing, according to a startling study released by the 
Throughout the life of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," Servicemembers Legal Defense Network published the "Survival Guide" -- a booklet to help guide servicemembers living under DADT. In a move that shows the changed landscape in the military -- and within the LGBT organizations that have pushed for DADT repeal -- SLDN is releasing "Freedom to Serve: The Definitive Guide to LGBT Military Service" -- a booklet to help guide servicemembers after DADT.
President Obama is now supporting the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that would repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), the ban on same sex marriage President Clinton signed into law in 1996. 
ESPNDallas.com — 
ATLANTA, GA — 
NEW YORK, NY — 
Washington—April 14, 2011, NBJC was proud to stand with
United States Senators Merkley (Oregon), Kirk (Illinois), Harkin (Iowa),
and Collins (Maine) as they introduced the Employment
Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which would address discrimination in the
workplace by making it illegal to fire, refuse to hire or refuse to
promote employees simply based on a person's sexual orientation or
gender identity.
The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) applauds President Obama for his pro-family, pro-equality decision to no longer defend in court Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Section 3 defines “marriage” for federal purposes as only between a man and a woman, and it is the specific provision in the law that denies our families access to necessities like spousal health care benefits and family tax credits. Today, the Obama administration acknowledged that the President now sees that DOMA is unconstitutional and discriminates against loving, committed LGBT families. 
Essence magazine’s March 2011 issue, which is currently on newsstands, takes a bold, inclusive step toward shedding light on the challenges of being Black and LGBT in America. Essence, the “definitive voice of today’s dynamic African American woman,” takes an in-depth look at how Black LGBT servicemembers operate in a society much like our ancestors’ days of racial segregation and find the resolve to continue risking their lives defending liberty when they have had extreme limitations placed on their own freedoms. The magazine breaks new ground by publishing a four-page article in which a Black, active duty, female servicemember details her life as a lesbian living under the discriminatory and now—thankfully—repealed Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT) policy.
Michelle E. Brown is fierce, fearless and NBJC is very proud to have an outstanding advocate for stronger black families serve on our Board of Directors. Michelle E. Brown is an author and activist born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. Her work is strongly influenced by the socio-economic, political and human rights history of the city. Drawing upon the city’s rich history and her own personal travels locally and nationally for inspiration, she has written essays for several mainstream and alternative newspapers, is a monthly columnist in “Between the Lines” Michigan’s only LGBT Newspaper, and has published poetry, short stories and authored two books. Michelle shares her story with Curve Magazine, a publication focusing on the lesbian community.
"The global Black LGBT community is mourning the loss of one of its most courageous advocates for human rights. In a statement on the passing of Ugandan LGBT Activist David Kato, President Barack Obama stated “LGBT rights are not special rights; they are human rights. My Administration will continue to strongly support human rights and assistance work on behalf of LGBT persons abroad. We do this because we recognize the threat faced by leaders like David Kato, and we share their commitment to advancing freedom, fairness, and equality for all." NBJC joins with the friends and family of David Kato to mourn his loss and recommit ourselves to our shared struggle for the recognition of our rights and human dignity.
Calling the implementation of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal a "milestone event" for the Defense Department, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced today that repeal implementation "must be accomplished across the entire Department at the same time" and occurs "in a deliberate and careful manner." In a memorandum to Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Clifford Stanley that was provided to Metro Weekly, Gates directed Stanley on what he called the "solid foundation" for the implementation of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act.
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, 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.
December 22, 2010—Today, President Obama signed into effect the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” (DADT) a 17-year old law prohibiting gay and lesbian people from serving openly in the military. NBJC Executive Director Sharon Lettman-Hicks and Director of Public Engagement Jasper Hendricks, III will be present to witness the signing.
In response to this historic moment, Lettman-Hicks stated:
“By repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ President Obama, along with the American people, has added a new chapter for civil rights in this country by officially putting an end to legalized anti-gay discrimination within the military.
On the heels of World AIDS Day comes a stunning medical breakthrough: Doctors believe an HIV-positive man who underwent a stem cell transplant has been cured as a result of the procedure.
