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Black LGBTQ Youth Leader Warns Congress about the Unique Mental Health Challenges Experienced by Black Queer Youth
October 16, 2019 12:01 PM

The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) yesterday, joined Susan Taylor, former Essence magazine editor-in-chief, and the National CARES Mentoring Movement to support a youth delegation offering testimony about the experiences of Black youth struggling with trauma, stress, and mental health-- specifically Black queer students-- at “Hearing Their Stories: Students and How They Handle Their Mental Health,” hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Taskforce on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health.

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National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) Statement in Support of the DC SCOTUS Rally
October 8, 2019 11:53 AM

WASHINGTON-- As the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on cases concerning the application of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to anti-LGBT discrimination, hundreds of LGBTQ advocates from across the country are participating in the DC SCOTUS Discrimination Rally and calling out the efforts to legalize discrimination against marginalized communities, including Nakisha M. Lewis, a speaker at the rally and an advocate with the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), the nation’s leading civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black LGBTQ/SGL people including people living with HIV/AIDS. In support of the rally, Lewis and David Johns, NBJC Executive Director released the following statements:

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New Report Offers Look at Lives of LGBT People of Color in Rural America, Shattering Stereotypes of Life in Rural Communities
September 19, 2019 08:38 AM

 Today, the Movement Advancement Project (MAP) released a new report, Where We Call Home: LGBT People of Color in Rural America,  which examines the unique challenges of LGBT people of color in rural America and highlights distinct experiences across different communities of color. As the second publication in the Where We Call Home series, this report details how the structural challenges of rural life amplify acceptance of or discrimination against LGBT people of color. 

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National Black Justice Coalition on Murdered Trans Teens: We Have to Do Something, Now!
September 6, 2019 12:34 PM

WASHINGTON-- Bailey Reeves, at 17-years-young, and Bee Love, at only 18, became the 17th and 18th trans people murdered in the United States this year. Bailey, a trans woman of color, was found dead in Baltimore, Maryland, over Labor Day weekend. Bee, a Black trans woman, was found with her hands tied, shot and burned to death in her car in Clewiston, Florida. Too many trans women, and especially too many Black trans women are being murdered and it is beyond time that as a community we stand together and call for an end to these heinous acts. 

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National Black Justice Coalition Statement on Security Over Policing of LGBTQ/SGL Patrons
August 26, 2019 04:21 PM

Yesterday, eight coworkers from the advocacy group Bienestar Human Services were forcefully dragged out of the bar Las Perlas in Los Angeles after being harrassed by a couple using transphobic and homophobic slurs. The couple was allowed to leave the bar without incident, but the eight coworkers were forcefully removed without apparent cause.

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NAACP Votes Unanimously on 3 Pro-LGBTQ resolutions
July 24, 2019 05:15 PM

WASHINGTON -- On July 23, 2019 The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the nation’s oldest civil rights organization, voted unanimously on 3 pro-LGBTQ resolutions with far reaching impact on their 2,000+ units/chapters across the country. The NAACP was a champion for marriage equality and remains a strong advocate for the Equality Act and is now taking action to do deeper work with their units and chapters to invoke change locally. 

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Protect Black Trans Men: Avary Palmer is OUR Brother!
July 5, 2019 02:00 PM

WASHINGTON--On June 24th, Avary Palmer, a Black trans man, was drugged and raped by a United States Marshall. Palmer shared his experience via Instagram. In response to the horrific incident, National Black Justice Coalition Executive Director David Johns released the following statement:
“Violence against Black people, Black trans people must come to an end. Sexual violence affects every demographic and every community; however lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and same gender loving (LGBTQ/SGL) people experience sexual violence at similar or higher rates than heterosexual people. We do not have an exact count of the frequency with which Black trans people have been sexually assaulted because federal statistics are limited and we know that there is significant under-reporting. We do know that these violent acts disproportionately plague Black LGBTQ/SGL people and the hate filled rhetoric attacking diversity and difference coming from the White House is multiplying prejudice. 

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National Black Justice Coalition on Democratic Debates: Black LGBTQ/SGL Rights Matter Too!
June 27, 2019 07:07 PM

WASHINGTON -- In response to the first night of Democratic Debates, David J. Johns, Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition released the following statement:
“Tonight’s Democratic debate officially kicks off the long road to the 2020 election – the outcome of which will be pivotal in determining America’s future. An eclectic array of Democratic candidates is eager to challenge Trump’s tenure as president and are poised to speak to diverse issues including the economy, border security, and climate change. 

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National Black Justice Coalition on SCOTUS Citizenship Question Decision
June 27, 2019 07:04 PM

WASHINGTON--Today, the Supreme Court announced their ruling on the controversial citizenship question that was slated to appear on the 2020 census, blocking the question temporarily. In response, David Johns, Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition released the following statement:
“The 2020 Census is critically important to ensuring democracy in America.  Not only does a complete and accurate Census provide better data on the diversity that exists throughout the country it also enables the equitable apportionment of resources to meet critical needs.  

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NBJC on National HIV Testing Day
June 27, 2019 05:58 AM

WASHINGTON -- Today, June 27, is National HIV Testing Day. In recognition of the day, David Johns, Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), released the following statement:
“With recent advancements in technology, healthcare and making space for Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and same gender loving (LGBTQ/SGL) people, we are proud to celebrate a day where HIV testing and awareness no longer carries the weight of a death sentence. Testing should be a tool that each of us uses to ensure that our community--the beautifully diverse Black community continues to thrive in the face of white supremacy and anti-Blackness. Let us take full advantage of opportunities like National HIV Testing Day to ensure that we can invest all of our resources into thriving.

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