The Digest is a bi-weekly newsletter by the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), the nation’s leading Black LGBT civil rights organization. Stay in the know about news relevant to our community, learn how to take action, and find out what the organization has been doing to advocate on our behalf.

Greetings!

It has already been an eventful month for our community and our nation as a whole. On May 9, President Obama affirmed his support for the freedom to marry. NBJC has been at the forefront ensuring that the media’s representation of this historic moment is fair, accurate, balanced, and inclusive of voices at the intersection of the Black and LGBT communities.

Our movement for full equality is at a tipping point. We need your support and energy more than ever to keep the momentum going. Find out what’s been keeping NBJC busy, learn how to take action, and stay in the know about news relevant to our community.

In this issue of the E-Digest: Black civil rights, religious and thought leaders commend President’s Obama stance on marriage equality, North Carolina passes Amendment One, DC Mayor nominates two transgender women to the Human Rights Commission, a national survey documents and celebrates LGBT people of color, and more.

View NBJC on Fox 5 News: Analysis of Newsweek’s Obama Cover

Expelled Indiana Bullied Teen Beaten in Local Mall
- The Indianapolis Star

When Darnell “Dynasty” Young, an openly gay Black student in Indianapolis, was expelled after wielding an electrical self-protection device in the air to scare off bullies who were threatening him with physical violence, NBJC immediately reached out to the family and issued a statement demanding that Arsenal Technical High School hold its administration accountable. After reporting the bullying to the school more than 10 times, Young’s mother, Chelisa Grimes, said she gave him the device for protection because school authorities weren’t doing enough.

To make matters worse, Young, 17, was recently attacked at a local mall. Khyran R. Delay, 34, has been identified as the assailant. Young and Donald Richardson, a janitor who witnessed the incident, told police that when Young walked past Delay’s table in the food court, Delay told Young to get away from him and used homophobic slurs. They said that Delay pushed Young and then hit him in the face, according to court documents. Richardson said he radioed for mall security, and then Delay came toward him because he was mad that Richardson had called security. Security officers arrived and detained Delay. He has been charged with a misdemeanor count of battery.

READ MORE

Read NBJC’s statement in support of Dynasty Young HERE

Cast Your Vote Now: The AFRO Asks Readers to Weigh in on Obama and Marriage Equality
- AFRO

The AFRO, a weekly publication for African Americans in the Baltimore/Washington metropolitan area, is asking readers “How will his declared position on [marriage equality] impact your support of a second term for President Obama?”

Vote at www.afro.com, then spread the word! Be sure to scroll down to see the banner on the right side of the website and make your voice heard.

 

Continue reading The Digest here!

Category: Week in Review