Black LGBT leaders meet for six-day confab

About 100 black LGBT leaders and activists from across the country were participating this week in a series of meetings and events in D.C. associated with the National Black Justice Coalition’s Second Annual Out on the Hill Black LGBT Leadership Summit.

NBJC, a D.C.-based civil rights group focused on black LGBT issues, says the Sept. 20-25 string of events were timed to coincide with the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Annual Legislative Conference, which takes place at the Washington Convention Center.

“We are ecstatic about the overwhelming response to the second annual Out on the Hill Black LGBT Leadership Summit,” said Sharon Lettman-Hicks, NBJC’s executive director. “Extending NBJC’s resources to black LGBT organizations from around the country in order to create a more unified, politically savvy body of activists is our priority,” she said.

Events were to include a Black LGBT Leader Day forum at the White House, which was to include presentations from Obama administration officials; an “Issue Advocacy Day” on Capitol Hill, where participants would be given a chance to advocate for issues with their members of Congress; and a screening of the Sundance Film Festival feature produced by Nekisa Cooper called “PARIAH,” which tells the coming out story of a black lesbian youth. Spike Lee served as executive producer of the film.

To view the full OUT on the Hill schedule, visit nbjc.org.