QUEER QUOTE: LGBT Groups Issue Statement On Michael Brown Killing

The fatal shooting of an unarmed 18-year-old Black man named Michael Brown by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri (just outside St. Louis) has been roiling the internets since it happened on Saturday August 9.

LGBT groups are often criticized by other progressive groups, especially African American civil rights organizations for a lack of reciprocity when it comes to coalition work but today comes word of a joint statement from numerous LGBT groups about the heinous Michael Brown killing:

When communities experience fear, harassment and brutality simply because of who they are or how they look, we are failing as a nation. In light of the recent events in Missouri, it is clearer than ever that there is something profoundly wrong in our country. The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community cannot be silent at this moment, because LGBT people come from all races, creeds, faiths and backgrounds, and because all movements of equality are deeply connected. We are all part of the fabric of this nation and the promise of liberty and justice for all is yet to be fulfilled. 

The LGBT community stands with the family of Michael Brown, who was gunned down in Ferguson, Missouri. We stand with the mothers and fathers of young Black men and women who fear for the safety of their children each time they leave their homes. We call on the national and local media to be responsible and steadfast in their coverage of this story and others like it--racialized killings that have marred this nation since the beginning of its history. We call on policy makers on all levels of American government not to shrink from action, and we are deeply grateful to Attorney General Eric Holder and the Department of Justice for their immediate commitment to a thorough investigation. At this moment, we are inspired by the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies … but the silence of our friends." 

ACLUCenter for Black Equity, Inc.Equality FederationGay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)GMHCHuman Rights CampaignNational Black Justice CoalitionNational Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR)National Center for Transgender EqualityNational Gay and Lesbian Task ForceNational Minority AIDS CouncilNational Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA)PFLAG NationalPride at Work, AFL-CIOSoulforceSoutherners on New Ground (SONG)United AIDS

Good work!

Even while on vacation, President Barack Obama has also commented on the shooting, calling it "heartbreaking."

Black Lesbian and Gay Federal Judicial Nominees Confirmed By U.S. Senate!

Wow! I didn't see this one coming. An openly lesbian, African-American woman named Staci Michelle Yandle, survived a cloture vote on Monday June 16th (55-37) and was confirmed by the United States Senate today by a vote of 52-44! President Barack Obama nominated Yandle to be a U.S. District Court judge in the Southern District of Illinois.

Bizarrely, Republican Illinois Senator Mark Kirk (who has been outed as gay himself) voted against the confirmation of Yandle, while Illinois' other U.S. senator, Dick Durbin votes yes.

In addition to Yandle, the nomination of Darrin Gayles to become the first openly gay, Black man in the federal judiciary was less controversial. His confirmation vote was 98-0.

Two openly LGBT Black federal judges confirmed in one day. Thanks, President Obama!

Hat/tip to Joe Jervis

Today is GIVE OUT DAY! Support LGBT Rights!

Today is Give Out Day 2013. Here is the info about what it is:

On May 9th, 2013 we invite you to be part of history and participate in the 1st national Give OUT Day for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Queer community.  

So, what is the Give OUT Day? 
Give OUT Day is a new national initiative that aims to mobilize thousands of individual donors on a single day across the country to give in support of the LGBTQ nonprofit community. Give OUT Day will be breaking new ground as it adapts a fundraising model that has proven successful for local multi-issue fundraising to a national single-issue focus.

Giving Day campaigns across the country have been successful at raising millions of dollars for local nonprofits. What’s more, this model has proven to bring in NEW donors and NEW dollars, complimenting and amplifying nonprofits’ existing fundraising efforts. More dollars and new donors is what our community needs today.
Giving Day campaigns across the country have been successful at raising millions of dollars for local nonprofits. What’s more, this model has proven to bring in NEW donors and NEW dollars, complimenting and amplifying nonprofits’ existing fundraising efforts. More dollars and new donors is what our community needs today.

Organizations which I give money to (and you should, too) are: National Black Justice Coalition, Freedom To Marry, Immigration Equality, Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, Equality California, Lambda Legal, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Gay Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, American Foundation for Equal Rights, Center for Health Justice, Jordan/Rustin Coalition, The Williams Institute at UCLA and the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center!

FBI Announces Involvement In McMillian Case

The latest news in the murder of Marco McMillian is that the Federal Bureau of Investigation  has announced that it is going to conduct an investigation of the horrifying death of the Black, gay man whose body was found beaten and burned last week. A suspect, Lawrence Reed, has been named in the case.

The action by the FBI is in response to a letter from the National Black Justice Coalition calling for such an investigation, since Mississippi does not have a hate crime law which includes sexual orientation.

NBJC Executive Director Sharon Lettman-Hicks issued a statement:

After speaking extensively with the family, community and anti-violence coalition members like the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP), NBJC feels the perpetuation and validation of the “gay panic” defense is irresponsible. The conflicting reports as well as the current racial and anti-LGBT climate in Mississippi is justification enough for a federal investigation. 

NBJC is standing firmly with Marco McMillian’s family so that their concerns do not fall on deaf ears. The details of this case just aren’t adding up. Whether on the basis of race or sexual orientation, hate is hate. If there is the possibility that McMillian was murdered because of who he is, that warrants the Department of Justice’s involvement.

There are conflicting reports about the relationship between the suspect and the victim and concerns have been raised that a "gay panic" defense may be used by the defendant.

Hat/tip to Rod 2.0

LGBT Groups Issue Joint Trayvon Martin Statement

Several national LGBT groups issued a joint statement on the Trayvon Martin case yesterday:

An Open Letter: Standing Alongside Trayvon Martin’s Family and Friends

The tragic killing of Trayvon Martin is a national call to action. Our hearts go out to Trayvon’s family and friends for the loss they have experienced. We stand in solidarity with them as they demand answers and justice. We represent organizations with diverse lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender constituencies.

Many in our community have been targets of bigotry and bias. We have a great deal of experience grappling with the role bias plays in violent crimes against our communities. We well know the stories of young people targeted for violence just because of who they are: Rashawn Brazell, Lawrence King, Ali Forney, Deoni Jones, Brandon White, Matthew Shepard, Angie Zapata, Sean Kennedy and countless others.

Trayvon’s killing is a wakeup call to the enduring cancer of racism and racial profiling. The pain his family continues to endure transcends communities and unites us all. Every person, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity, must be able to walk the streets without fear for their safety.

Trayvon’s killing is tragic and the stark reality that racial bias played a role in his death has alarmed our nation. Questions must be asked. Answers must be sought. And justice must be served. We join our voices to the chorus of so many others to demand that local and federal authorities find those answers. We stand in solidarity with Trayvon’s family and friends as they seek justice for his killing. In the timeless words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

The letter was signed by

CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers  

Equality Federation 

Family Equality Council 

Freedom to Marry 

GLAAD 

Human Rights Campaign 

Immigration EqualityInternational Federation of Black Prides

Lambda Legal 

LGBT Progress at the Center for American Progress 

National Black Justice Coalition 

National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) 

National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) 

National Coalition for LGBT Health 

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force

National Stonewall Democrats

Out & Equal Workplace Advocates

PFLAG National 

Pride at Work 

Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE)

Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN)

The Trevor Project 

UNID@S

Hat/tip to TowleRoad. It is good to see LGBT groups stepping up and responding to this tragic situation whihc has captured the nation's attention.

NBJC's Out on the Hill Conference

Next week the National Black Justice Coalition will be holding it's Out on the Hill conference to be held simultaneously with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual legislative Conference September 15-18 in Washington, D.C.

The event will bring thought leaders, faith leaders, legislative officials, philanthropists and activists from the Black LGBT community from around the country to DC for a number of seminars, trainings, receptions and workshops, including two which will be occurring at The White House itself. Sadly, since I have a day job teaching Math and Cultural Studies at Occidental College, I can not attend but here are some people who will be there:

Confirmed elected officials include Georgia State Representative Simone Bell and Detroit City Council President Charles Pugh. Both are outstanding examples of Black LGBT leadership and activism. Also in attendance will be veteran activists like Mandy Carter, founder of NBJC and Southerners on New Ground (SONG); Donna Payne, Diversity Program Associate Director for HRC; Courtney Snowden, Senior Associate for the Raben Group; and Aisha Moodie-Mills, President of Campaign for All DC Families.

Early registration for the conference ends tomorrow, and if you want to attend the events at the White House they need specific information from you at the NBJC office by 5pm EDT Friday. For more information, call 202-319-155.

MadProfessah.com will try to have coverage of what happens at the conference next week.

New Executive Director of NBJC: Sharon Lettman

Sharon Lettman, formerly of People for the American Way, has been named Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition, the country's largest (and only) national Black LGBT advocacy organization.

On the occasion of her appointment she said:

"We must bring our families together," Lettman said. "Gay and transgender people are our children, our brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, parents, co-workers and friends. They are a vital part of the black community, and it is time for everyone to recognize the real issues we all face when our brothers and sisters are denied full participation in the life of our community.

"What has always drawn me to this work, and to the people I've been proud to stand alongside, is the knowledge that we must work together to create the better future we seek," Lettman continued. "In my new role at NBJC, that means lifting the voices of our community, building bridges so that all who experience discrimination can understand the common ground we share, and walking across those bridges together in greater and greater numbers toward equal rights for all."

Congratulations to NBJC for selecting a dynamic leader. I look forward to continuing to work with NBJC here in LA to advance the mission of empowering the Black LGBT community.

Hat/tip to Pam's House Blend.