What Mormon BYU Students Know about Black History
February 14, 2012
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At BYU, African Americans make up less than 1% of the Student Body….
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Black History Month: Celebrating Notable LGBT African Americans and their Struggle for Equality
February 14, 2012
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Although February has been marked by LGBT marriage victories in California and Washington, lets not forget and more Importantly take time to recognize the LGBT African-Americans who have fought and struggled for Equal Rights and Human rights not just because of their sexuality, but because of their ethnic background. They have in so many ways paved the way and blazed the trail which we follow today. Take time out to respect those who put their lives on the line so that we have the right to fight our battles in court, protest on the street, and lobby for change. Harvey Milk exhorted LGBT’s to follow the path of the African-American Civil Rights leaders of the 50′s and 60′s…
Harvey Milk once said “The blacks did not win their rights by sitting quietly in the back of the bus. They got off! Gay people, we will not win our rights by staying quietly in our closets… We are coming out! We are coming out to fight the lies, the myths, the distortions! We are coming out to tell the truth about gays!”
FAMOUS AND NOTABLE LGBT AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE
Alice Walker: author, poet, and advocate
Alvin Ailey: choreographer and advocate
André Leon Talley: editor-at-large for Vogue magazine, current contributing editor
Angela Davis: political advocate, scholar, and author
Audre Lorde: author and advocate
Bayard Rustin: chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, advisor to Martin Luther King Jr.
Bessie Smith: blues singer
Bill T. Jones: artistic director, choreographer and dancer
Countee Cullen: poet
Darryl Stevens: actor
Don Lemon: reporter for CNN and news anchor
Doug Spearman: actor
E. Denise Simmons: mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts, during the 2008-2009 term, first openly lesbian African American mayor in the United States
E. Lyn Harris: author
Emil Wilbekin: former openly gay Editor-in-Chief of Vibe Magazine, current managing editor of Essence.com
Felicia “Snoop” Pearson: actress
Glen Burke: Major League Baseball player
Isis King: America’s Next Top Model contestant
James Baldwin: author
Jasika Nicole: actress
Jean-Michel Basquiat: artist
John Amaechi: former NBA player
Josephine Baker: dancer, singer, and actress
June Jordan: author
Kevin Aviance: female impressionist and entertainer
LZ Granderson: ESPN.com columnist
Langston Hughes: poet and social advocate
Laverne Cox: actress, producer and transgender advocate
Lee Daniels: film producer and director
Linda Villaros: author, journalist and public speaker
Ma Rainey: blues singer
Maurice Jamal: filmmaker and director
Meshell Ndegeocello: singer
Paris Barclay: television director and producer
Patrik-Ian Polk: director, producer, screenwriter, singer and actor
Roy Simmons: former NFL player
RuPaul: actor, drag queen and singer-songwriter
Sheryl Swoopes: WNBA player
Stacy Ann Chin: author and poet
Tracy Chapman: singer
Wanda Sykes: actress and comedian
via Black History Month Resource Kit | GLAAD.
Related articles
- Seven LGBT African-Americans Who Changed The Face Of The Gay Community (queerty.com)
- Don Lemon: Being black and gay is ‘about the worst thing you can be in black culture’ (thegrio.com)
- Is the Black-LGBT Divide Exaggerated? (theroot.com)
- Black History Month | NBJC Creating Change & LGBT White House Briefing (oblogdeeoblogda.wordpress.com)
Vivace Turns 6 in SLC! Details at usuo.org/vivace
April 10, 2011
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Springville,UT Man Educates Youth on Gay Issues
December 8, 2010
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Local Springville,UT resident Leonard Ridley who is unhappy with his conservative town’s view on LGBT issues took the matter personally. He began posting signs such as “Gays are Born Gay” and “Stop Gay Suicide” in his back yard facing the local elementary school. His intent was to attract the attention of school children and spark a conversation between the kids and their parents about LGBT issues. The local school board expressed discontent with Ridley because they feel it’s an adult topic that school children shouldn’t be exposed to. Ridley disagrees and is within his rights to post the signs.
Springville,UT
Leonard Ridley says he fought for the rights of African-Americans in the late 50’s and now the retired social worker, artist, grandfather and East Coast native is taking on the role of activist again. This time, he is speaking out for gay people in his Utah County community by posting signs in his backyard that read: “Stop gay suicide. Tell the truth. Gays are born gay.”
Note the subtle message telling readers Ridley’s not a Utah native… a typical Utah passive-aggressive way of reporting that ‘he ain’t from these parts!’
Ridley focused his message on gay suicide because he said people need to be aware that when young, gay people are bullied at school, they often become depressed. The same happens when gay teens are alienated by their community, their families and church members. Those teens often become so depressed, they commit suicide he said. Ridley was inspired to act by a recent series of articles about suicide that appeared in his community’s newspaper.
Ridley said his signs send a message that might be contrary to beliefs in the local community. “The signs convey that homosexuals are born this way and need to be respected like all other people in society,” he said. But more than his message, people in Springville are upset over the placement of Ridley’s signs. He placed them in his backyard facing the field at Art City Elementary. Ridley feels because bigotry and misconceptions about homosexuality are learned at a young age, then kids should see the signs. He figured kids would see the signs and go tell their parents. “This is the way to combat prejudice. To open the topic for discussion,” he said.
The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a ruling by a lower court in 2008 advocating teaching children about homosexuality and LGBT relationships as early as Kindergarden. Ridley is right that teaching children at an early age combats prejudice. People are not born bigots.
But the Nebo School District said the students at Art City Elementary should not be learning about gay suicide from Ridley. Lana Hiskey , spokesperson for the school district, said parents should be around for that discussion. Hiskey said Ridley went about this the wrong way. “He could talk to the school board, district officials, even talk to the adults here at Art City instead of exposing children to adult content.” Hiskey said while the signs are on Ridley’s property and the school can’t force him to move them.
Ridley disagrees that the topic of his signs is too much for young kids to handle. His own great granddaughter attends the school.
via Springville Man’s Gay Supporters Sign Campaign Aimed At School Kids – Connect2Utah.com.
Related Articles
- How One Utah Grandfather Is Working to Stop Anti-Gay Bullying (gayrights.change.org)
- For LGBT teens, acceptance is critical (cnn.com)
- Parents’ Acceptance May Help Protect Gay Teens (nlm.nih.gov)
- Study Shows Family Acceptance of LGBT Adolescents is Key to Healthy LGBT Adults (pinkbananaworld.com)
