READ Mo'Nique's Open Letter to the Black Community about LGBT Love and Support

I can remember the first time I was introduced to the gay community. I was 16 years old. It was a group of beautiful young Black men. They were friendly, kind and funny. They introduced me to the gay nighliife scene–The Clubhouse in Washington DC and The Garage in New York City– and can I say, I’ve never partied so hard in my life! What a moment in time. It was at The Garage that I saw Grace Jones rocking out on top of a speaker, completely naked.

For as great as these experiences were, I was heartbroken to hear over and over again as most of my gay friends had the same unnerving story about being ostracized for being who they were made to be. Some of them had families rejecting them, others were simply not accepting of themselves. That made those clubs their safe haven. I found out that I had a lot in common with them, despite my own gender and sexual orientation, I was a plus-sized Black woman who knew what it was to be ostracized and rejected by both my own family and society because of my size.

When my husband, Sidney and I received the script for Blackbird from Isaiah Washington through our attorney Ricky Anderson, we knew we wanted to be a part of this necessary and amazing film. Blackbird is our love letter not only to the gay community, but to the church community as well. We all want to be loved.

Our hope is with this movie people can start living the life that they were given and not the one someone thinks they should live.

As a little girl, I had an uncle named Donald. My family treated him different and I didn’t understand why until I got older and understood that he was gay. Uncle Donald never really seemed to be too happy, and the only time I really saw him laughing was when he was drunk. “What a way to live,” I would always think to myself. Not being accepted for simply being how you were made to be. With this campaign #ThisIsLuv, maybe we can truly understand the meaning of the word ‘love.’ We believe the moment we practice the meaning of love, people can stop ‘coming out’ and simply just be who they are. Imagine having to make an announcement that you’re heterosexual. Imagine one day that to be considered normal, you must stop being heterosexual based on someone’s belief and go against everything you feel inside of you–just to survive, to be accepted!. Sounds silly, right? It is.bird

Blackbird is a movie that allows you to come inside and see the journey that one family has to take on the road to acceptance. Julian Walker, who plays Randy, is fearless and brave to tell this story through his eyes and own personal journey. For the parents who may be struggling to accept their baby for who they were made to be, this film is for you. For the parents who are full of acceptance, this film is for you. For every LGBT person who has ever faced resistance for living their truth, this film is for you. With this film and this campaign, we are truly trying to make a difference. We hope not just the Black community, but all communities will come to a place of acceptance so people can really live their truth.”

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Is the LGBTQ Community Separated by Gender and Race? - VIDEO

New Poll: LGBT Americans have a Lower Well-Being than Straight Folks

A new Gallup poll claims that our well-being, as LGBT people, is not so great.

Here's the news:

Americans who identified as LGBT had an average Well-Being Index score of 58, compared with 62 for non-LGBT people. As Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index researchers also pointed out, that difference held true even after gender, age, race, educational attainment and other factors were taken into account.

Among the report's other findings: 35 percent of LGBT adults are thriving socially, compared with 41 percent of non-LGBT adults, while LGBT Americans are also 10 percentage points less likely to be thriving financially than their non-LGBT counterparts.

Also, LGBT women had a Well-Being Index score of 57, compared with 63 for non-LGBT women, while men who identified as LGBT had an average of 59, while those who did not identify as LGBT had an average of 61.

For more info on this, go here

READ the Fact Sheet of Advancing The Human Rights Of LGBT Persons Globally

From the White House:

Yesterday, the White House hosted the first Global Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Human Rights Forum, bringing together the faith community, private sector, philanthropy, HIV and other health advocates, LGBT activists from around the world, and the broader human rights community to discuss how to work together with the U.S. government and others to promote respect for the human rights of LGBT individuals around the world.  

The group discussed how to counter legislation that attacks the rights of LGBT folks (UGANDA) and how to support them as well.

Another piece included The Forum, which is the U.S. government’s ongoing efforts to use diplomacy and assistance to promote and protect the human rights of LGBT persons around the world. There is a longer and more detailed description of this after the jump

In the U.S., LGBT Community Spend $7.9 Billion a Year on Cigarettes

You may ask yourself, who smokes in 2014? Well, the LGBT community.

Network for LGBT Health Equity reveals that 33% of Americans who identify as LGBT smoke and spends $7.9 billion on cigarettes each year.

Go to Buzzfeed for more

Black Christian Group working for LGBTQ rights from within Black Churches

This is great news!

An new initiative is geared to strengthen ties between the Black and Gay communities. It's called Many Voices and it could be a game changer.

Here's more:

Many Voices is committed to creating a national movement for gay and transgender justice from within the Black church.

Working in partnership with nationally-recognized pastors, theologians, and Christian educators, Many Voices is laying a foundation for respectful and loving dialogue. Through trainings, mentoring, and online resources that provide a safe place to ask questions, learn, and take new steps, we equip African American pastors and church members to publicly share the faith journeys that have led them to affirm love and justice for gay and transgender (LGBT) families.

Here's their promo video


Go here, for more info

LGBT People of Color is still an Issue in Television

In GLAAD's 18th Annual Where We Are on TV report, we learn that diversity within our community is still on the low side.

Here are the results:

• Out of 796 primetime broadcast scripted series regulars, 26 will be LGBT this year, or 3.3%. This in down from 4.4% last year but still up from 2.9% at the beginning of the 2011-2012 season. In addition, GLAAD found 20 recurring LGBT characters, down from 25 last year.

• ABC and FOX are the only networks to show increases this year and have the highest percentage of LGBT characters at 5.4% each. The CW is in third place at 3%. CBS is no longer last with 1.9% of its regular characters being LGBT, while NBC dropped from last year to 1%.

• Of the 46 LGBT regular and recurring characters on broadcast networks, half are women and 28% are people of color. While last year there weren't any regular transgender characters on broadcast television, there will be one this season with the character of Unique on Glee.

• On cable, GLAAD counted 42 regular LGBT characters, up from 35 last season. An additional 24 recurring characters were counted. HBO will have the most characters with a total of 11, followed by Showtime with 8 characters. Of those LGBT characters, 39% are women and 29% are people of color. Only one transgender character, Adam on Degrassi, was counted though he no longer appears on the program.

• Of the 796 overall regular characters on broadcast primetime, the percentage of female characters has declined somewhat to 43%. People of color will once again make up 23% of all regular characters, while just 1% will be depicted as people with disabilities.

More work to be done.

President Obama's Inaugural Speech addresses LGBT Equality

In his speech, President Obama spoke about LGBT equality. This is what he said:

We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths that all of us are created equal is the star that guides us still; just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall; just as it guided all those men and women, sung and unsung, who left footprints along this great Mall, to hear a preacher say that we cannot walk alone; to hear a King proclaim that our individual freedom is inextricably bound to the freedom of every soul on Earth.

It is now our generation’s task to carry on what those pioneers began. For our journey is not complete until our wives, our mothers and daughters can earn a living equal to their efforts. Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law for if we are truly created equal, then surely the love we commit to one another must be equal as well. Our journey is not complete until no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote. Our journey is not complete until we find a better way to welcome the striving, hopeful immigrants who still see America as a land of opportunity; until bright young students and engineers are enlisted in our workforce rather than expelled from our country. Our journey is not complete until all our children, from the streets of Detroit to the hills of Appalachia to the quiet lanes of Newtown, know that they are cared for, and cherished, and always safe from harm.

Melissa Harris Perry discusses the LGBT movement

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

more after the jump

Discrimination leads Substance Abuse in the LGBT Community

 Center for American Progress reports that LGBT folks turn to drugs to deal with discrimination and hate.

The Advocate states:

Noting that definitive figures are hard to come by, the center estimates that 20% to 30% of LGBT people are substance abusers, as opposed to 9% of the general population. A major contributor to the problem, it says, is “the stress that comes from daily battles with discrimination and stigma.”

“In order to lower these rates, our health care system needs to better meet the needs of gay and transgender people, and our government needs to advance public policies that promote equality for this population,” the brief continues. 

 There's more info here

I'm From Driftwood: Stephen Winter tackles the issue of Race in the LGBTQ Community - VIDEO

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New Study: Everyday Stigma Harmful to LGBT Well-Being

An interesting study co-signs that stigma and social inequality can be harmful to the health of LGBT people:

The study, “We’d Be Free”: Narratives of Life Without Homophobia, Racism, or Sexism, was published in Sexuality Research and Social Policy.  The study examined the effects of exposure to everyday stigma -- consistent, ongoing experiences of inequality. Subjects reported estrangement from families, failure to complete schooling, and isolation in the workplace. “Imagine living life anticipating exclusion from your friends, family and professional circles simply because of who you are and who you love – that resulting stress takes a toll on one’s life and health,” said co-author Dr. Ilan Meyer.

Black and Latino LGB participants, in particular, characterized homophobia, racism and sexism as a source of stress that led to missed life opportunities, including a quality education and higher levels of self-confidence. “For members of minority groups, day-to-day life experiences that may seem minor to others can and do have significant and lasting impact on one’s well-being,” said Dr. Meyer. “The idea that simply walking out your door will expose you to societal rejection and stigma creates a climate of stress that can lead to detrimental, long-term consequences.”

The research also found that, paradoxically, sexual minorities sometimes view stigma as having enhanced their lives and as having a defining impact on their identity. For example, LGB individuals who were forced to leave their hometowns found a more accepting community and new professional and personal opportunities in big cities that might not otherwise have been available to them.

Please go here for more.

INFOGRAPHIC: What has President Obama done for LGBT Americans?

P.S. A LOT.

Julian Bond speaks on Homophobia at NAACP LGBT Town Hall Meeting

Here is some Coverage from the NAACP LGBT Town Hall Meeting

I'm a little surprised that there wasn't a lot of coverage on the NAACP LGBT Town Hall meeting, but I managed to find something:

From FreeSpeech TV

And here is a report from People's World

Bond spoke on the taskforce's three-part mission:


* to strengthen NAACP's knowledge of LGBT issues and policies;
* to build relationships among LGBT civil rights and human rights organizations;
* to advance awareness of LGBT issues "as they relate to overarching programs and interest of the NAACP."


In his opening, Bond, a veteran civil rights leader, said, "We know sexual orientation is not a choice. We know homosexuality is not a mental illness. We know you can't 'pray the gay away.'"


The event was organized as a town hall-styled meeting with audience participation and a panel that included famous gay African Americans, like comedian and actress Wanda Sykes and CNN Anchor Don Lemon who publicly came out in his memoir, "Transparent."


Bond said gay rights are another component of civil rights.


"Sexual disposition parallels race. I was born black and had no choice. I could not and will not change it if I could. Like race, our sexuality isn't preference. It is immutable, unchangeable, and the constitution protects us all from prejudices and discrimination based on immutable differences."


Many panelists and audience members spoke about the role of the church in the Black community, and the conflicts that have arisen from that relationship on the issue of LGBT rights.


Bond said although one might be a member of a church that preaches against a religious same-sex marriage that viewpoint should not be extended to same-sex marriage in city halls, as a civil right.


Sykes said her church experience pressured her from being truthful with her sexuality because of the ingrained notion that gay and lesbian relationships were fundamentally wrong. Such sermonizing can be lethal, she said, because of bullying and violence against LGBT youth and the high level of suicides.


"You just suppress everything and become this other person. You start living that life that you think that you're supposed to do. I worked it so hard I got married! It just hit me, like, wait a minute. Why aren't my relationships going further? Why can't I really open up? And I realized oh, that's right. I forgot; I'm a lesbian! That's what it is. You don't have breasts!" Sykes said to an applauding and laughing audience.


Sykes and other panelists urged the formations of social support groups, including within churches.


Halfway through the meeting, NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous joined the panelists on stage.


Jealous has been an outspoken supporter of LGBT issues and spoke briefly on his adopted brother being gay, and instances of defending him during childhood from bullies.


The discussion turned to California's anti-same-sex marriage Prop. 8 that passed in 2008. Many people blamed it on African American voters who came out in big numbers to vote for Barack Obama.


But, according to Jealous-and audience members-the bigger issue was the lack of outreach to the African American community at an early stage.


Jealous criticized LGBT groups "who come to the black community late" because it sends a message of disrespect.


"If folks really wanted to win on Prop. 8, and thought the black community was so important, then they should have been organizing" outreach a lot sooner, he said.
I'm disappointed with lack of coverage on this event. But I'm also hurt by the lack folks at the session. Still, I'm glad the topic was talked about.

10 Ways African-Americans can be more accepting of the LGBT community

Black folks are seriously behind the times when it comes to LGBT acceptance and understanding. Many within the community still struggle with gay people and still believe
demons are the reason why we are gay.

Well, I'm hear to say, Wake Up and get over it! It is what it is. Blacks folks are LGBT people too!

It is time for Black folks to finally get on the bandwagon and here's how:

1. Stop saying that LGBT issues are White issues. It's an everybody's issue.
2. Education yourself. Stop relying on rumors and lies about the LGBT community.
3. Remember our struggle. We don't have to compare it, but remember the struggle and how it took a lot of love and support to get through.
4. Challenge the church. You should not allow false preachers to carelessly speak for you or put stupid thoughts in your head. 
5. Actually read the Bible see how wrong you have been all these years.
6. Remember, these 'Gay' people are your family. Gays are not some new race. They are your cousins, sons, daughters uncles and aunts. They are a part of you and your family. Always keep that in mind.
7. Realizing gay marriage will not destroy the family unit. That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. You know what hurts the family? Ignorance and foolishness.
8. Stop forcing stereotypical gender roles in our community. I think men truly struggle with their sexual identities due to the myths we have adapted as acceptable roles.
9. Denounce homophobia in our community. Stop promoting hate!
10. Understand that civil rights applies to all.
    

Christian Conservatives gather together to plan a War against the LGBT Community

These group continue their haterade towards our fam. They gathered together this weekend in Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va to start their losing battle against us.

The first step for Christian conservatives to win the war against the gay movement is to rebrand the terms, said a few panelists at this weekend’s The Awakening conference at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.


“‘Gay’ is a left-wing socio-political construct designed to create grounds for fundamental rights [based on] whimsical capricious desires,” said Ryan Sorba, chairman of the Young Conservatives of California. “Gay identity does not exist.”


Sorba proposed alternatives to the word “gay,” which received approval by a unanimous show of hands by the 40-some audience members:


* “Same-sex attraction”
* “Same-sex intercourse”
* “Sodomy”
* “Unnatural vice”


Later in the discussion, it was suggested that gays should also be referred to as “anti-Christian.”


The one self-described ex-gay on the panel, Greg Quinlan — who founded the Pro Family Network in 1996 and is now the president of Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays & Gays (PFOX) but spent his gay years lobbying for the LGBT-rights group Human Rights Campaign – explained that his foray into homosexuality was caused by abuse from his father and looking at Playboy magazine as a young boy.


“Feelings change, and they don’t define you,” Quinlan said, noting that through counseling he was able to re-orient his sexual attraction, which led to a heterosexual marriage (he’s now divorced).


“If you had all the facts, you wouldn’t choose to be gay,” Quinlan, 52, said. “When you live a lie, you tell a lie. Truth is not a philosophy. Truth is a person, and his name is Jesus Christ. Tell the truth in love, but it isn’t love until you tell the truth.”


As a board member of PFOX, he proposed a resolution to PepsiCo Inc. shareholders (PDF) in 2010, asking the corporation to rescind their funding to the Parents and Families, Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), because he claimed they promote intolerance to the ex-gay community and protest against religious conferences featuring ex-gay speakers. He has also spoken before the Disney Board of Directors, pushing a resolution to include ex-gays in the company’s mandatory sexual orientation diversity training for employees.

We are anti-Christian? Please, what do they think they are, Saints?


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So, How Many LGBT folks live in America?

A new study from the Williams Institute claims (close to) 9 million Americans are LGBT.

That's it? I thought there were more... Anywho, there is more info from this study that you may find interesting.

In total, with approximately 700,000 transgender Americans, nearly 4% of the nation's population is openly LGBT.

Furthermore, an estimated 19 million people, or 8.2%, have engaged in some relationships or sexual behavior with someone of the same sex, and 25.6 million admit to harboring at least some same-sex attraction at some point.

The research shows that slightly more people identify as bisexual (1.8%) than as lesbian or gay (1.7%), and women are more likely than men to identify as bisexual.

The Los Angeles-based think tank came to the number after cross-referencing four recent national and two state-level population-based surveys.

"Last week, the Institute of Medicine at the National Academies released an analysis of LGBT health research calling for federal statistical agencies to quickly move toward LGBT inclusion in their data collection," lead researcher Gary Gates said in a statement. "The surveys highlighted in this report demonstrate the usefulness of sexual orientation and gender identity questions on large-scale national population-based surveys.

Better data can provide the building blocks for critical information to understand the lives of the 9 million LGBT Americans who have been historically marginalized in both society and research."

Here is a link to study. Check it out.

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Black LGBT Organizations March in the Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King

Tomorrow, I will be marching in the annual MLK Day March for LGBT of Color. I'm excited and I hope to see a huge group marching with us.

Here is the official press release:

BLACK LGBT ORGANIZATIONS UNITE IN COALITION TO MARCH IN REMEMBERENCE OF KING FOR 3^rd CONSECUTIVE YEAR

 

On the heels of the historic repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", the Barbara Jordan/ Bayard Rustin Coalition, The Here to Stay Coalition, Black Lesbians United, In the Meantime Men's Group, At the Beach Los Angeles Black Pride, and over 50 same gender-loving/LGBT activists will march down Crenshaw and King Blvd. on Monday, January 17, 2011 for the third consecutive year to promote acceptance, visibility, dialogue and community-building as a strategy to fight homophobia and promote more awareness of Black LGBT issues within the Black community.

 

"We as Black LGBTQI's are Here to Stay and we are walking together in theMLK parade in our community because we are a living, loving, andvibrant part of both the Black and LGBTQI communities.  We are here tocelebrate the beauty of both again for the 3rd year," said Here to Stay Organizer Yardenna Aaron.

 

On Saturday, January 15^th, 2011 Here to Stay Coalition and Jordan/Rustin Coalition are hosting a sign making party and check in at Jewels Catch One at 11:30 am.  "The sign making party is a time where our organizations can come together and show unity before the parade. All participants in the LGBT contingency of the parade have been asked to where white as a symbol of unity," said JRC Field Organizer Andre J. Molette.

 

"This is a historic time for our country and the Black LGBT community has to ensure that our issues are not being forgotten amidst the statewide and national climate, said Rodney Nickens Jr. JRC Field Organizer. "Some will question what purpose the MLK March serves for the Black LGBT community in Los Angeles, but I think now more than ever, it is important that we come together in solidarity and present a united front to ourselves and to the world. It is only going to be through coming together during difficult times that we can begin to have difficult conversations."

 

All of this occurring as a record number of pro-LGBT political candidates swept statewide offices and a number of Black LGBT candidates took office nationwide in last year's midterm elections. Democrat Marcus Brandon, an openly gay African-American political consultant from North Carolina made history Tuesday, after being elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives becoming the 2^nd openly gay person elected to the North Carolina General Assembly. Brandon will be the only openly LGBT state legislator in North Carolina, and one of just five openly LGBT African-Americans serving in state legislatures across the country (including Maryland House of Delegates candidate Mary Washington. 

 

Openly lesbian N.C. State Sen. Julia Boseman is stepping down at the end of this term. "Although JRC is a non-partisan organization we are very excited to see so much progress being made across our great nation.  It is truly inspiring to watch our movement strengthen as Americans realize the inherent harm in discriminating against the LGBT community.  As more LGBT legislators of color rise to power it is very likely that the Black LGBT community will become more empowered to live healthier and happier lives as openly LGBT individuals and families, said JRC Field Organizer Rodney Nickens Jr. 

 

 WHO: BLACK LGBT COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS

WHAT: BLACK LGBT ORGANIZATIONS UNITE IN COALITION TO MARCH IN REMEMBRANCE 

OF KING FOR 3^rd CONSECUTIVE YEAR

WHEN: MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 2011 AT 11 a.m.

Marchers will gather at Lucy Florence Coffee (on 43^rd and Degnan Ave. beginning at 8:30 a.m.)

Gays Bloggers and Activists played a part in the DEMS election fallout

I'll say it and put it on the carpet... Some of our gay bloggers and activists played a decent role in the Republican win last week.

They can't deny it. After all they did in order to hold Obama and Dems accountable, their actions took on a powerful negative effect. I will highlight a few of these actions from the past 2 years:

• Showtime! Ever since Obama was elected, several folks were all over CNN, MSNBC and the internet, dooming Obama's actions on the LGBT community. Dan Savage and Dan Choi, could be found any news outlet, pushing a lot of their anger, but never offering many solutions.
• Blog, Rant, Blog- Pam Spaudling, John Aravosis, David Mixner and journalist Kerry Eleveld spent the majority of their blogs or posts about Obama/Dems failing at everything Gay. In fact, they blogged more negative posts on Obama/Dems than positive. After a while, a faithful reader of their work would be convinced that Obama hated Gay people. I'm not saying they should be all roses and unicorns about Obama, but they could have at least threw a dog a bone.
• Boycotts- There were at least 3 DNC boycotts, trying to make gays close the gAyTM. It didn't really work, but it did send the message to everyone that was watching.
• Attacking within. There were so much infighting within our activists. Without strong leadership, everyone with after everyone. The usual target was HRC. In fact, the online Town Hall meeting of LGBT bloggers spent most of their time attacking HRC and yet, STILL not putting out many solutions.
• getEQUAL- They could have been great, but their breakout performance left many confused and bitter. I hope they will get better in time.
• Confusion/Half-truths/partial stories - John Aravosis was a puppetmaster. He basically spat out a lot of foolishness, that critical thinking person could easily see through. However, his popularity allowed him to manipulate many folks into believing in his crap. Only a few LGBT activists and writers called him out, only a few.
• No accountability on the quality of the info spewed out by some LGBT bloggers/activists. And if you challenged them, you were attacked by many of their drones.
• Presenting the LGBT Civil Rights movement as a quick fix. If anything, the Civil Rights movement in the 60s should have taught us that this will take time.
• Not educating ourselves. I believe some us took a lot info for granted and not challenge the validity of the content or the credibility of the writer.

Okay, I'll stop there, because there are more issues. Yes, there are things Obama/Dems can improve on, but we really need to do the same. Looking back at everything over the past 2 years, made me really sad. The lack of leadership and clarity cause many of our fam to vote Republican or not vote at all. Instead of educating our peeps, some of our "activists" used them to their own advantage, trying to build up their readership by causing chaos and confusion.

We really did a number on ourselves, we really did. And instead of claiming that it didn't happen, we need to own it, so we can move forward and not go down this path again.