The fabulous straight ally Sharon Lettman-Hicks, the executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition, was the keynote speaker at the State of Black Gay America summit in Atlanta last weekend. Black LGBTs need a Black LGBT agenda, Lettman-Hicks told the audience.
"Black gay people are Black people first. Whether you are gay, straight, bisexual, transgender, questioning ... you are still Black first. So when we speak of 'our' people, we need to think of our entire community and bringing LGBT issues to the Black community. We need to create a Black LGBT agenda to move the bully pulpit forward."
Other SBGA panelists included Joan P. Garner, who just became the first openly LGBT official elected to the Fulton County Commission; Simone Bell, who was elected the first openly lesbian black state legislator in U.S. history; filmmaker Maurice Jamal; and athlete-model-actor Demarco Majors.
There is a gallery of photos HERE. Via the GAVoice, watch the video AFTER THE JUMP ...
In related news: NBJC is holding the OUT on the Hill Black LGBT Leadership Summit in Washington DC on September 15-18. The conference will be held in conjunction with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference. More information HERE.
Humanity is something I believe should come before sexual idenity, gender and yes, even race. The former is something most LGBT in minority communities are denied and deprived not only from American society in general but Straight folks that make themselves the spokesperson of "the communities" that have no qualms discussing racism but will justify and rationalize homophobia and socially conservative attitudes that are equally toxic, outdated and belong back in the good 'ol days
It's good to see this woman speak out a fundemental truth because no matter what those annoying psuedo-Black Nationalists or Rastas say, there IS such a thing as being Black and LGBT and that ain't going any where any time soon, EVER.
Posted by: Kevin Perez | 09 September 2010 at 13:58
"...but if you take those fingers and ball them into a fist; you can strike a mighty blow. Now, this family GOT to be that fist"
Posted by: Amir Swag | 09 September 2010 at 17:16