White House Welcomes NBJC, HRC, and LGBT HBCU Students For Signing of Executive Order

Today, National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) Executive Director Sharon J. Lettman and Board Vice Chair Donna Payne will join presidents of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) across the country, key civil rights leaders and select HBCU students as President Barack Obama signs the executive order, “Promoting Excellence, Innovation, and Sustainability at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)” at the White House.

The David Bohnett Foundation supported this extraordinary outreach opportunity by aiding NBJC and the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) HBCU Project to sponsor two LGBT students from HBCUs invited to Washington for this event. The students are Bennett College senior Journalism and Media Studies major Lauren Waters and Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) junior Psychology major Michael Evans.

“The National Black Justice Coalition is honored to participate in this historic event by bringing these future leaders to Washington,” said Sharon J. Lettman, Executive Director and CEO of NBJC.  “We feel that it is imperative to our sustainability and our future to mentor our youth for leadership positions in the movement.  Lauren and Michael should be praised for their work on campus and in their communities promoting equality and justice for all.”

Lauren Waters is co-president of B.R.I.D.E (Belles Recognizing Individuality Diversity and Equality), a campus organization at Bennett College committed to making the school, “a more positive and affirming place for LGBTQ students as well as their straight allies.”  Waters is currently conducting research on the mental and emotional health issues faced by young African Americans making decisions about coming out in the Black community.  Her research focuses on family, church and community responses to LGBT people—and how those responses influence decisions about if, when and how to come out.  Additionally, she is examining the relationship choices of young women who consider themselves “lesbians until graduation” (LUG).   Waters plans to use her Journalism degree to advocate for the rights of LGBT people of color in the media.

“This is a huge step forward for the LGBT community and within the Black community.  I feel humbled and honored to be a part of it, and to represent LGBT students on HBCU campuses,” said Waters.   

Michael Evans is a devoted activist and advocate for the equality and respect of same-gender loving individuals. Michael serves on the executive board of the WSSU Gay-Straight Student Alliance and also serves as a University Lead Health Peer Educator for the Office of Student Development. He served as a panelist at the 2009 Equality North Carolina Conference and was recently selected as a 2010 Emerging Leader for the Human Rights Campaign Carolinas Gala. He has been featured on a local radio station for his HIV/AIDS awareness efforts and advocacy work within the Black and Latino communities, and has been recently selected as the new Director of Support Initiatives for Speak-Life, a new non-profit organization that supports HIV/AIDS education and training.

“This goes beyond any opportunity that you can bottle up.  This is part of history, and I am incredibly honored” said Evans.  “I will be able to look back on this and say the 44th president, the first Black president, acknowledged that I exist as an LGBTQ student in America.”

HRC’s HBCU program launched in 2002 in the wake of a swell of violence against LGBT students at HBCUs, and is led by Joey Gaskins and NBJC Board Vice Chair Donna Payne as a part of HRC’s Diversity Department.  It educates and organizes students, faculty and administrators on LGBT issues specific to each institution’s needs. It also opens campus-wide debate on LGBT issues, often for the first time, and trains students to build viable student-led LGBT-friendly organizations on campus.

“NBJC is proud to partner with the Human Rights Campaign’s HBCU program in this endeavor.  They are a valuable ally in identifying, mentoring and supporting African American LGBT future leaders in this movement,” said Lettman.