The National Black Justice Coalition, in conjunction with the Human Rights Campaign and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, is pleased to host the 2013 Black LGBT Emerging Leaders Day in Washington, DC. Select events will take place on February 21-22, 2013.

January 23-27, the 25th National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change is coming to Atlanta! Creating Change is an annual organizing and skills-building event for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and their allies. NBJC will be among this year's presenters. Join us for our workshops "A Morning With NBJC: LGBT Emerging Leaders Briefing" and "Beyond 2012: Crafting an Agenda for the Black LGBT Community."

Today is World AIDS Day. Held on December 1 each year, World AIDS Day is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died.  An estimated 33.4 million people worldwide live with HIV/AIDS and more than 25 million people have died since 1981.  The 2012 theme for World AIDS Day is "Working Together for an AIDS-Free Generation." As NBJC recognizes World AIDS Day and the tremendous progress that has been made in the fight to eradicate HIV/AIDS, it is important to mark the milestones and bring continued awareness to the devastating impact that HIV/AIDS has had in our community, particularly among Black gay and bisexual men and transgender women.

Most recently, NBJC has launched the Black LGBT Emerging Leaders Initiative, an intentional effort to create more programs and sponsorship opportunities dedicated to empowering and mobilizing young Black LGBT leaders between the ages of 18 and 30.  This sense of responsibility has led me to spearhead a signature initiative for NBJC by spreading the word about the importance of giving back on Giving Tuesday, November 27, and beyond.  Giving Tuesday is a national campaign with hundreds of charities, organizations and non-profits purposed to celebrate and encourage more giving during the holiday season.

Today is Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR). As we honor our trans sisters and brothers who are no longer with us due to senseless anti-transgender violence, we also call upon our allies to step up and stand with us in solidarity. During Transgender Awareness Week and leading up to TDOR, NBJC launched our #BlackTransProud social media campaign to raise public consciousness about what it means to live at the intersection of racial justice and trans equality. Trailblazers--both seasoned and emerging--like Kylar Broadus, Janet Mock, Kye Allums and Monica Roberts, have submitted their photos and testimonials telling us why they're proud to be Black and trans.

The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), the nation’s leading Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, has been a proud supporter of the Maryland Marriage Campaign working actively to win the freedom to marry in the Free State.

Washington, DC-based International Federation of Black Prides (IFBP), an international organization committed to achieving equality and social justice for the Black LGBT community announced today that it has changed its name to the Center for Black Equity (CBE). IFBP has been in existence since 1999.  The announcement of the name change was made yesterday by CBE president Earl Fowlkes and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, at a press conference in Washington, DC.

In honor of National Coming Out Day, the National Black Justice Coalition's Programs and Policy Manager Michael J. Brewer tells his story of personal growth and family acceptance:

It all started with an awkward conversation with my dad when I was 16. On what I thought was a day like any other, we were passing our neighborhood Wal-Mart when my father began the line of questioning I’d been dreading since before I was positive I knew the answers.

I experienced the most exciting, engaging, empowering, and transformative four days of my life at the National Black Justice Coalition’s (NBJC) OUT on the Hill Black LGBT Leadership Summit. Thank you, NBJC, for inviting me into a space so wonderfully and artfully created by your leadership team. I have not stopped gushing about my experience since I've been back home. In fact, I've made a commitment to ensure that Morgan State University doubles the size of the student delegation next year so more students will have the opportunity to be a part of such a life-changing experience.

"I am extremely disappointed and disgusted by FAMU's lack of accountability in gay drum major Robert Champion, Jr.'s hazing death," says Sharon J. Lettman-Hicks, NBJC Executive Director and CEO. "Blaming the victim sends a dangerous and unacceptable message that institutions should get a pass for not proactively and effectively addressing the violent hazing culture."