Celebrating Black History Month

Happy Black History Month! In honor of the resilience and inspiration of Black voices, we are celebrating and highlighting Black LGBTQ+ joy!

This month, we’re featuring Black-led/serving organizations and initiatives working to secure the ability to thrive within the intersections of all our identities.

The amazing work of these organizations inspires hope, pride, and joy as a form of resistance. We know that representation matters this month and every day. Pushing beyond representation, these leaders are doing everything to make sure our communities have a chance to thrive. Be sure to join these organizations in the fight for liberation!

The Normal Anomaly Initiative

Founded in 2016 in Houston, The Normal Anomaly Initiative originated as a blog dedicated to sharing the stories of those often overlooked at society’s margins. When COVID-19 led to global shutdowns in 2020, the organization identified pressing needs within the communities it served. Shifting from narrative-sharing to impactful action, the group birthed initiatives like the Positives Organizing, Wellness and Resilience (POWR) Project, Transgender Allyship Collective (TAC), Project Liberate, and the Black Queer Center for Liberation in 2021.

The transformative journey continued with the creation of the Black Queer Advancement Festival in 2022, attracting over 1200 attendees. Noteworthy features on The Jennifer Hudson Show, recognition through Lil Nas X’s “Baby Registry” initiative, and impactful collaborations with organizations such as Securitas North America and Blue Cross Blue Shield have further solidified The Normal Anomaly Initiative’s commitment to LGBTQ+ advocacy.

Highlighted in publications like Ebony Magazine and Billboard Magazine, the organization has become a prominent voice in eliminating barriers and creating new norms. Engaging with the community through diverse initiatives such as learning cohorts, development programs, HIV testing, employment linkage, and even a thrift store, The Normal Anomaly Initiative is making a lasting impact.

To support their cause, join them in their mission to break down barriers and redefine what’s considered normal.

Black Trans Femmes in the Arts Collective

Jordyn Jay, recognizing the absence of Black trans femme representation in art history, artistic spaces, and academia, took the initiative to establish the Black Trans Femmes in the Arts Collective. This visionary move aimed to address the systemic lack of resources, opportunities, and platforms for Black trans femme artists.

In 2019, the collective’s inaugural meetup facilitated crucial discussions on pressing issues and strategies to overcome them. Today, the BTFA Collective stands as a trailblazing advocate, actively working to uplift and advance the status of Black trans folx.

Guided by the mission “To create spaces for the production and preservation of Black trans art and culture by building community with Black trans femme artists and providing them with the resources and support necessary to thrive,” the BTFA Collective is breaking down barriers. Their commitment involves creating an environment where Black trans femme artists can freely express themselves, unrestricted by financial, accessibility, or opportunity constraints.

You can contribute to the Collective’s impactful work by donating, volunteering, or participating through the following links. Join them in their mission to empower and amplify the voices of Black trans femme artists.

Black LGBTQ+ Migrant Project

Guided by a team of individuals directly impacted, the Black LGBTQ+ Migrant Project (BLMP) is dedicated to creating a world where forced migration is eradicated and Black LGBTQ+ liberation prevails. Utilizing organizing, base-building, strategic communications, and a focus on long-term viability, BLMP strives to cultivate Black queer power, community, and access amid systemic challenges.

The BLMP “envision[s] a world without borders, rendering the word “immigrant” obsolete: a world where all Black people and our loved ones have housing, bodily autonomy, health, and the ability to move and travel freely, with dignity, free of criminalization, anti-Black racism, misogyny, and all forms of transphobia and homophobia.”

The Project actively contributes to national resistance efforts against enforcement, detention, and deportations within criminal justice and migrant rights movements. BLMP manages six programs: Deportation Defense, the Malaika Network, Garifuna Organizing, Fierce Freedom School, Regional & National Membership, and the Border Butterfly Project.

Join BLMP in shaping a world that champions equality and justice for Black LGBTQ+ migrants.

Center for Black Equity

Established in 1999 under the name International Federation for Black Prides, the Center for Black Equity has cultivated a rich history of fostering Black queer power through radical joy, coalition building, and collaboration. Its mission is to create a network of individuals committed to enhancing health and wellness opportunities, economic empowerment, and equal rights, all while championing individual and collective responsibility and self-determination.

Dedicated to connecting Black LGBTQ+ communities, the Center for Black Equity serves as a hub for Pride celebrations across North America, South America, Europe, the Caribbean, Africa and more. By supporting and advocating for the significance of spaces that foster community, education, and resource-sharing, the organization plays a pivotal role in unifying Black Prides globally.

In 2012, the organization changed its name to the Center for Black Equity, aligning with its mission to establish equal treatment and justice for the Black LGBTQ+ community. This shift also marked the introduction of programs focused on equity in health, economy, and social arenas.

Join the Center for Black Equity in advancing the well-being and rights of the Black LGBTQ+ community.

Black AIDS Institute

Founded in 1999 by a Black, gay man living with HIV, a Black, gay doctor, and a Black, lesbian doctor, the Black AIDS Institute (BAI) emerged to mobilize and educate Black Americans about HIV/AIDS treatment and care.

BAI is committed to putting an end to the HIV/AIDS epidemic within the Black community. Their vision revolves around ensuring liberation for Black individuals by eliminating systemic oppression, enabling them to lead long, healthy lives.

Rooted in advocacy and policy work, BAI strives to enhance the health and wellness of Black people through research, community initiatives, and clinical efforts. By prioritizing Black experiences and perspectives, BAI is transforming the HIV response to ensure that Black individuals can lead their fullest, healthiest lives with dignity, care, and respect.

To actively support BAI in its mission to halt the AIDS epidemic in Black communities by engaging and mobilizing both institutions and individuals to confront HIV, explore the links below. Join the movement toward a healthier and more equitable future.

Let’s work to support and partner with more organizations like these year-round. And if you’d like to see another organization featured in the future, send us a message on social media. We’d love to hear from you.