"By the mid-1980s, the AIDS epidemic had completely gripped the nation. Its victims, primarily queer men, were dying by the thousands. Fear and misinformation reigned supreme, and our government refused to respond to the crisis. Reverend Charles Angel, a community leader and activist who was living with HIV himself, recognized that queer men of color faced additional disparities due to cultural norms and societal inequities."
"On July 16, 1986, Angel called a meeting at the recently established Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center in Manhattan to discuss the need for more support for gay Black men. The group consisted of fellow leaders and activists, including Tony Crusor, Cary Alan Johnson, Reggie Patterson, Len Richardson, Colin Robinson, Harold Robinson, and Ali Wadud. As a result, Gay Men of African Descent (GMAD) was born - making it the first Black gay organization exclusively dedicated to political activism."
There have been countless thousands of Black activists who devoted their lives to combating HIV/AIDS in their communities. By the mid-1980s the AIDS epidemic gripped the nation and primarily queer men were dying by the thousands amid fear, misinformation, and government inaction. Reverend Charles Angel, living with HIV, recognized additional disparities facing queer men of color and convened leaders on July 16, 1986 at the Lesbian and Gay Community Services Center in Manhattan. That meeting produced Gay Men of African Descent (GMAD), the first Black gay organization focused exclusively on political activism and inclusive of African, Afro-American, Caribbean, and Hispanic/Latino men of color. Angel died of HIV complications the same year. Hydeia Broadbent overcame extreme early challenges and became a beloved, inspiring activist.
Read at Advocate.com
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