The Transgender Day of Remembrance should be a call to action, not just a moment of mourning, and communities should take practical steps to protect Black trans lives and create a Blueprint for Change.
Category: LGBTQIA+
Posted inLGBTQIA+
Marriage Equality Remains Secure, but Uncertainty Persists for LGBTQ+ Couples
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to revisit the 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, preserving the constitutional protections established under Obergefell v. Hodges and providing relief to LGBTQ+ couples, though uncertainty remains in states such as Texas where state law still defines marriage as between a man and a woman.
Posted inHealth
A Diagnosis, A Decade, and the Weight of Stigma
HIV continues to disproportionately affect Black communities in the South due to systemic inequities, but progress is being made through community-led prevention models and campaigns featuring trusted voices to break the stigma and increase access to testing, treatment, and PrEP.
Posted inTexas Tribune
Texas Universities Under Fire as Lawmaker Takes Stand Against LGBTQ+ Studies
Texas Rep. Brian Harrison has been using his social media platform to pressure universities to remove courses and programs related to LGBTQ+ topics, resulting in the removal of a course at Texas State University and the resignation of a professor and president at Texas A&M.
Posted inLGBTQIA+
Masc Gent Bosses Launches Droppa, a Fragrance for QTBIPOC Community
Coach Dee, Founder and CEO of Masc Gent Bosses, is launching Droppa, a luxury fragrance created and owned by a masculine queer entrepreneur, to represent identity, visibility, and pride for the QTBIPOC community.
Posted inWord In Black
How James Baldwin Inspired This Black Gay Refugee’s Fight for Justice
Edafe Okporo, a Black and gay refugee, found a sense of home in Harlem and opened a shelter for asylum seekers, inspired by James Baldwin’s work, and is now running for New York City Council in District 7.
Posted inWord In Black
Peer Support Groups Bridge Critical Gaps in HIV Care
LOTUS, a peer-led support group founded by Freda Jones, provides a safe space for Black, healthy cisgender women living with HIV to share experiences, build community, and reach their full potential through support and advocacy.
Posted inSocial Justice
Alexander Gumby: A Gay Harlem Revolutionary
Alexander Gumby, a forgotten figure of the Negro Renaissance, was a gay intellectual who established the Gumby Book Studio in Harlem, where he hosted intellectual circles and was a fierce gay revolutionary, and his scrapbooks are now preserved in Butler Library’s rare book room.
Posted inSpiritual
Gay by the Grace of God: A Black Pastor’s Journey
Bishop Joseph Tolton is working to revitalize Pan Africanism and promote intersectional justice for LGBTQIA+ individuals, while countering the efforts of “family values” activists who are promoting oppressive restrictions on queer identity on the African continent.
Posted inHealth
Prism Health North Texas: Bridging the Gap in Community Care
Prism Health North Texas is a community health center in South Dallas that offers a range of services, including primary care, women’s health, behavioral health, and HIV/STI testing, to empower families to prioritize their health and well-being.
