National Black Justice Coalition Inc

I’m very sorry to say but this organization is trying to repress free-speech. I’m sad to say somewhat successfully. As an openly non-binary trans-african Free speech is all I have in America. I hope some of the administrators of this organization see this review and change for the better of humanity.

I loved working with National Black Justice Coalition as they were empowering in sharing my story as an openly gay, African American. I made great connections to others like me.

I was recently introduced to NBJC this year, and have continued to be enlightened, encouraged, and inspired by the work of this amazing organization. It's not an easy task to create safe spaces for Black LGBTQ people, and NBJC not only takes this on with fearless commitment, but also works to educate our community on the issues that Black LGBTQ people face. I look forward to seeing the strides that NBJC will continue to make - and also to helping out as a volunteer to continue the fight for equality.

NBJC is THE leading organization for Black LGBT persons. The innovative and knowledgeable staff are second to none and as an allied professional I am proud to call each of them my colleagues. As someone who works in the movement, the strain of carrying the torch of Black representation is not as great because I know NBJC has it covered.

After reaching out to a former colleague at the NBJC, I received a wealth of information and assistance about LGBTQ topics and programs related to my job and personal aspirations. This was my first interaction with anyone from the NBJC and afterwards I was more than enthused that I could find help and information from an organization interested about improving the rights and exposure of topics specifically concerning people of color in the LGBTQ community.

The NBJC is such a growing and innovative organization. Working with them reemphasizes this reputation and I will definitely volunteer with them again.

NBJC has served as an instrumental unofficial adviser to my fraternity. As the first LGBT Greek Lettered Organization, we serve as mighty ambassadors of the Black GLBT community and are expected to be present in fight for equality, inclusion and forward progression. We look to NBJC for guidance on current issues affecting our community and see collaboration with NBJC as a major opportunity to get involved with changing the closed minded views of the past.

I am a member of NBJC's Leadership Advisory Council and an admirer of NBJC's work from Chicago. One thing that NBJC helps us at Affinity Community Services do is tie national policy and initiatives to our work at the local level. Our work has been expanded because of our affiliation with NBJC and our expectations for the impact of our work have expanded too. NBJC is the organization that LGBT communities and Black communities have needed for a long time. The organization will prove to be an absolutely critical bridge to multiple communities as this nation and social justice spaces become more female and more people of color. Kudos to NBJC for being such a standard bearer!

Black bisexual poet and intellectual June Jordan once said, "We are the ones we have been waiting for." I feel that The National Black Justice Coalition, under the leadership and guidance of Sharon Lettman-Hicks, truly embodies this quote. NBJC is what the Black LGBT community has been waiting for. I have never been more inspired and empowered by an organization than I have been by NBJC. There is something about Sharon's visionary leadership, and her accessible team, that sparked a fire inside of me. I can truly say that 2012 has been one of the most powerful years of my life, in terms of social and political activism, and I have NBJC to thank for a large part of that. NBJC has consistently provided members of the Black LGBT community, and our allies, opportunities to let our voices be heard and to serve as vessels of change in our various communities. The White House meeting for emerging LGBT leaders, Out on the Hill conference for Black LGBT activists and advocates, and the organizations many efforts to harness the power of the Black LGBT community, are just a few examples of how NBJC stands out in a dynamic way. I recently had the opportunity to work with NBJC to secure marriage equality in the state of Maryland. I can't begin to state how amazing this experience was, and how much support NBJC gave its volunteers and supporters. This is an organization that operates with compassion, care, truth, knowledge, and love. I can't speak for others, but I know that NBJC is the organization that I have been waiting for.

The National Black Justice Coalition has been a beacon of clarity and direction for the Black LGBT community. I can always count on NBJC to do work that is relevant to Black LGBT people, and I know that they are always advocating on my behalf. Their staff is very nimble, and the organization is very active.

I am the convener of an all volunteer community based organization dedicated to educating and advocating for the rights of LGBT people in the Black community. For us on the ground, it is difficult to locate resources and persons who can articulate the needs of the larger Black LGBT community while providing valuable policy resource materials. We look to the National Black Justice coalition as the ground grounded and solid in the delivery of materials that we need to advocate and educate at the grass roots level. In turn, we as a grass root organization have the ability to have our voices heard through NBJC because they function in D.C. and can speak directly to national elected officials and policy makers. In the NBJC, we also find a foundation for our effort to place ourselves as Black LGBT people in the context of the needs and issues that effect the larger Black community. This representation is our priority and we share it with them. We believe that the existence of the National Black Justice Coalition is crucial to our functioning and to having the our needs projected to a larger audience.

From the Peak of the Mountain Top, I want to Thank the National Black Justice Coalition for fighting for the LGBT community and offering events and platforms to the masses. The NBJC is not just a non-profit, the organization and the staff are my extend ed family. I admire the Executive Director Sharon Lettman and her vision , she is a role model for all man kind.

As the religious leader of the largest international denomination with a ministry to LGBT people -- Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC), I find the work of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) invaluable to the cause of lifting up the voices of black LGBT people and advancing the issues that are critical. NBJC has continued to work toward shaping the national dialog around the intersections of race, gender, sexuality and equality. And because the intersections of sexuality, spirituality, and justice is key work for MCC, NBJC has been an extremely important partner. NBJC has demonstrated a strong presence -- standing with us and other faith voices to counter homophobia, discrimination, and other forms of injustice in the religious and social spheres. We are indeed stronger together. And the overall LGBT and faith communities are the better because there is NBJC.

I have the utmost respect for NBJC. It is mission-focused on the black LGBT community. Stealth in its connections, and valuable for its ability to mobilize and grow a movement. Hats off!

The National Black Justice Coalition isn't just a non-profit organization, we're a family. Back 2010, During my Senior year of college, I got a call saying that I had been invited to the White House to witness Barack Obama sign the HBCU initiative. The moment was completely surreal, and I could not fathom why the President of the Unites States wanted to meet ME... But the morning of February 26, 2010 forever changed my life. That's the day I met Sharon Lettman-Hicks and became a part of this family. She installed in me that the work I'm doing matters and is changing the lives of other Historically Black College & University students. That's what NBJC is all about, empowering US, to change the face of the movement for LGBT equality. NBJC is the sole reason I do the work I do today.

As a Black lesbian working in and for the LGBT community, I depend on the NBJC to keep me informed of current issues. I also depend on them to represent the needs and concerns of the Black LGBT community and in the last year have been impressed with their involvement in the Robert Champion case. I feel that they bring a perspective and understanding that is unique to the NBJC; and necessary in these types of situations.
As a mother, I am grateful for the work that the NBJC has done around our families. From the high visibility of Black LGBT families at the White House Egg Roll, to the work that they are doing with Black LGBT student groups, the NBJC proves their commitment to our families on a daily basis.
I’m proud to be a part of this organization and know that the work that they are doing is creating a better world and more positive reality for Black LGBT people, as well as the larger community.

It's relieving to know that there is an organization whose sole function is to represent and advocate for the black LGBTQ community. Thanks for the work you all do.

NBJC serves an important role in the lives of many African-American LGBT individuals and families by being a strong advocate on the issues that impact our lives and welfare. We count on NBJC to keep us informed on the latest policies out of Washington that should motivate us toward action.

NBJC has been one of the influential stepping stones in my life. As an African American gender non-conformant young person, I often searched for a group of people that could fully understand my struggle and thankfully I didn't find just a group of people, I found a family within the members of NBJC. The organization has and continues to intentionally pave a path for me to succeed in a help lead out movement and for that I will be forever grateful!

NBJC is a fantastic organization. As a young leader of a growing LGBTQ organization, NBJC has played a special role in helping me grow as a leader, connect with other LGBTQ leaders of color, and host local advocacy events. I am inspired every year by their OUT on a HILL day which brings together people from all around the country to build community and advocate for LGBTQ people of color. It is one of the first national organizations many come to learn of as an LGBTQ person of color looking to get involved and make a difference.

NBJC is a testimony to spearheading the needs of the minority LGBTQ community. I am so impressed by their professionalism and unshakable effort to their cause. While in attendance to their events, not only did I learn more about what NBJC does, but subsequently have been exposed to other events that uplift and celebrate the LGBTQ community. I am in full support of the team’s future endeavors. They have been so influential that they have inspired me to become more proactive and volunteer in activities that support their mission. This is certainly a group worth supporting.

NBJC's work of "empowering Black lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people," is second only to its' role as a social lighthouse for LGBT people of color. NBJC provides a refuge for those who often feel underrepresented by other mainstream LGBT organizations. As an example, under the zealous charge of director Sharon Lettman-Hicks, when the "slow to evolve on LGBT rights" wing of the Black community remained decidedly mum about the role sexuality played in the hazing-related death of Robert Champion Jr. , NBJC sounded a necessary rallying cry. Where the homophobic motives of Champion's attackers provided unpopular discussion for many Black organizations, and garnered a rather lack-luster response from mainstream LGBT groups, NBJC worked tirelessly to publicize the vital "hate crime" underpinnings of the "hazing incident." Many such instances of unspoken suffering, endured by LGBT people of color have finally been given a voice by NBJC's work and efforts. In a time when "The Advocate Magazine" provocatively declares on its cover that "Gay is the new Black," NBJC plays a vital and necessary role by advocating for those who must endure the causal discriminations of both civil rights movements (Black and LGBT) on a daily basis.

The National Black Justice Coalition takes action on its mission and name everyday. Unflinchingly, this organization stands for and provides successful advocacy on the concerns and rights of same-gender loving and attracted members of the Black family. All of our lives are enriched as positive images of loving same-gender couples, bisexual and transgender sisters and brothers are put forward and justice is secured in our society. NBJC is steadfast in bringing such a vision to life.

The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) has been and continues to be a critical avenue for creating in gay and Black spaces ways to communicate about and respond to issues that impact black LGBT peoples. Because of the work of NBJC the voices and concerns of black LGBT people have received positive and increased attention from the wider public, LGBT, political, black religious and social activism communities. NBJC is a powerful portal for highlighting the intersections around being black and gay -- which is vital for evolving dialog within and external to the black LGBT community. NBJC engages freedom building and empowerment of black LGBT people.

The National Black Justice Coalition offers a fresh perspective on LGBTQ rights in this country. As a member of the Leadership Advisory Council and a fan of the work I believe that NBJC helped push the Obama administration to support same-sex marriage. Without NBJC the debate on racial politics in the LGBTQ movement would also be different. I appreciated the space offered to NBJC at the Creating Change conference in 2012. I expect to see this organization thrive and sustain it's reputation as a freedom fighter and lover of justice.

I am constantly informed by the articles they present. There are many important stories and pieces of information that I don't see presented to the public by other media outlets. I love the work they do and how they bring people together on key social issues.

The National Black Justice Coalition has been an amazingly empowering force in my life. Sharon’s commitment to cultivating leadership is unsurpassed, and she and the NBJC staff have consistently encouraged, empowered, and supported the voices of Black LGBT folk, providing tangible policy and community initiatives that have produced real community engagement (i.e. Out on the Hill, White House briefings, etc).
NBJC has provided me with opportunities to develop myself as an activist and advocate of LGBT equality, and I am immensely grateful for their existence and profound leadership in the realm of civil rights.

I have volunteered with the NBJC since Out on the Hill 2011. It has been an absolute pleasure working along side the team at NBJC in the midst of their tireless work. Because of the NBJC the LGBT community and the African American community are hearing that I am not just a lesbian but I am Black too! They are giving voice to LGBT students at the nation's HBCU's and continue to add the Black LGBT voice to injustices at every turn. Thank you NBJC for all that you do! I am looking forward to more opportunities to volunteer my time to such an amazing coalition.

The blessing and joy of having NBJC on the front line every day, proactively fighting and demanding justice for ALL is comforting. As a bisexual man of African and Caribbean descent, who has been in a committed same gender loving relationship for almost 24 years, having an organization that understands the complexities of and struggles we endure every day, is rewarding. NBJC continues the legacy of the National Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gays (NCBLG) and other People of Color organizations that came before it. NBJC gets the connection of racism, sexism, ageism, classism, and homophobia. Repeatedly, NBJC boldly takes a proactive stand on issues of equity and nondiscrimination. NBJC's Executive Director, Sharon Lettman-Hicks, seems to be everywhere giving a sensible voice to issues that affect us all. She has enabled NBJC to work with partnerships and coalitions to get results.

My first experience with NBJC was at this January's Creating Change conference in Baltimore, MD. They created the space for Black queer persons to come together and having meaningful conversations about improving and reshaping our own community. Since January, NBJC also afforded me the opportunity to attend the White House Briefing for Black LGBT Emerging Leaders. This organization understands the importance of the critical balance between both policy work AND community building that must be achieved in order for persons of color to make progress. I'm proud to know of and stand in solidarity with NBJC's work.

NBJC sponsored one of the most controversial and stunning stage plays the black LGBT community has seen, "SheBaltimore". As an actress in the production, I understand the importance of support and community. If the support NBJC offered "SheBaltimore" is any indication of the beliefs and resources it uses on a daily basis to promote equality and justice in the lives of not only LGBT people, but everyone, I must say, the world has seen nothing yet.

This is a great organization and it sends a positive message of hope and encouragement to our communities.

The National Black Justice Coalition has opened up spaces in my mind and in the possibilities I see for my life. Never have I experienced an organization that has imbued so much empowerment, consciousness, and confidence into who I am as a black LGBT emerging leader. This organization is not just an entity but a platform to which other organizations and other black LGBT leaders throughout the nation can stand upon. I am motivated to not only see myself as equal with the rest of society, but to understand that I am privileged, special, and uniquely-qualified to tackle social issues because of the message the NBJC has stood for. The very identity that many hold as an impediment or social handicap is actually the very trait that is my source of empowerment and strength. Being a member of the LGBT community of color has given me a cause, a mission, a sense of self that I stand for something bigger than myself. I stand for a social movement that will liberate not only the Black LGBT community but liberate all oppressed, marginalized, and underserved communities. We're blessed to be given the opportunity to use our experiences as a testimony to the power of the human spirit. The NBJC uses its position of power and influence to show us that education, leadership, and a sense of self-efficacy are the tools that can be used to build a future of possibilities and promise. I owe so much to the NBJC, and look forward to seeing the growth and advancement of the organization for years to come.

I became familiar with NBJC as a follower of Keith Boykin for many years. The NBJC is a exemplary leader in rights for all! I serve ad regional director, part of a national organization that fights for the educational, disability and civil rights of all youth in the USA. I look to & applaude the team at NBJC great work to advocate for the inclusion of GLBTIQ2-S youth/adults of color!

The National Black Justice Coalition is a pivotal and integral entity for inclusion and equality. No other organization statnds at both the crossrads and the forefront of two crucial civil rights movements in our country. At this time in history when there is a pervasive perception of polarization between the Black and LGBTQ communities; the NBJC bridges the gap to say "we are black too"! It is crucial for those of us who are members of both communities to have a vehicle for agency, and a voice for justice.

The National Black Justice Coalition has emerged as one of the most prominent organizations working to secure rights and benefits for the LGBT community. The organization takes as its focus the Black LGBT community, and seeks to end homophobia in our society. I had the opportunity to interact with the National Black Justice Coalition in Washington, DC during an event they held in conjunction with the White House. I found those working on behalf of the NBJC to be welcoming, open, and inviting. The organization creates a climate that is conducive to fostering self-esteem and solidarity between the LGBT and straight Black community. I cannot wait to come into close contact with the organization in the future, and I fully support its mission. We need the National Black Justice Coalition!

i first became aware of NBJC a few months ago when they came to speak at the 2012 GLSEN Students of Color Organizing Conference in Baltimore this past April. I must say I was blown away by the passion they have for the work they do. Since, I have signed up to receive their newsletters and have been wonderful blessed by their movement. My attention toward the issues surrounding LGBT of color has increased and I find myself engrossed in the trials and outcomes more and more. Also sharing with my peers. NBJC is a great organization and their work is priceless in many areas of society. Truly a GREAT nonprofit.

I've beem a board member on a number of national marches on DC, including the one that presented the AIDS quilt. The NBJC group is carring on my early work with colleges, police and AIDS just to name a few. Keeping up to date about events, programs, history, correcting myths and news around the world that involes black LGBT people. LGBT folks of color have always known what it's like to be on the outside within the outside, but with the workings of NBJC and others we contiue to be loving, strong and proud people. I wish more people knew of the NBJC, and the wonderful things it does.