"Lord have mercy, they won't stop us from dancing": The Black queer activists uniting joy & change - LGBTQ Nation

"Ask any LGBTQ+ person living in the coastal U.S. their thoughts about the experiences of queer people in deep red states like Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi, and their reaction is likely to be a combination of fear and sympathy. Sure, some queer people flee the South for more politically and socially progressive states. But others remain and commit themselves to creating a future that is welcoming and affirming of all people, especially Black queer folks who still choose to call the South home."

"Kamilah Kenyatta, Gender/LGBTQ+ Justice Organizer for ACLU Alabama, and TC Caldwell, Executive Director of The Knights Orchid Society (TKO Society), are two of those people. Both Kenyatta and Caldwell served as co-organizers of the inaugural Black Queer Visionaries Summit (BQVS), an offshoot of Black Trans Futures, a five-month, paid organizing and storytelling collaboration between the ACLU of Alabama and TKO Society that provided Black transgender Alabamians with community organizing and storytelling skills to combat anti-trans rhetoric and legislation. BQVS was held in Birmingham over three days in early October."

""The creation of BQVS was our declaration that we have always been here, and we are here to stay," Kenyatta said."

The majority of LGBTQ+ Americans live in the American South. Coastal perceptions of queer life in deep red states often combine fear and sympathy. Some queer people leave for more politically progressive states, while others remain and work to create welcoming, affirming futures, especially for Black queer residents. Kamilah Kenyatta and TC Caldwell co-organized the inaugural Black Queer Visionaries Summit (BQVS). BQVS grew from Black Trans Futures, a five-month, paid collaboration between ACLU Alabama and TKO Society that trained Black transgender Alabamians in community organizing and storytelling to challenge anti-trans rhetoric and legislation. The summit took place in Birmingham over three days in early October, with attendees celebrating Black queer joy.

Read at LGBTQ Nation