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Compiled By GayToday
National Gay & Lesbian Task Force
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Washington, D.C.--A national, multi-city study of Black gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender people released yesterday documents a significant
prevalence of parenting, high levels of political participation, and
widespread experiences of racism and homophobia.
"Say It Loud: I'm Black and I'm Proud" is a collaboration among nine
Black GLBT Pride organizations, a team of Black researchers, and the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. |
Members of In the Life Atlanta take to the streets |
Representing the largest national, multi-city sample of Black GLBT people ever
surveyed on such a wide array of topics, the study also found HIV/AIDS, hate
violence, and recognition of same-sex relationships to be the top policy priorities
of Black GLBT people.
"This report provides a first-time comprehensive look at the
demographics, experiences, and priorities of Black gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender people," said Dr. Juan Battle and
Dr. Cathy J. Cohen, the study's lead researchers and primary authors.
"It contains significant policy implications for the predominantly
White GLBT community, and for the predominantly straight African
American community. This report also provides much-needed data on an
underserved and understudied population which is an integral part of
both the Black community and the GLBT community."
Joining Dr. Battle and Dr. Cohen as authors of the report are Dorian Warren,
Dr. Gerard Fergerson, and Suzette Audam.
The data was collected as part of the Black Pride Survey 2000, a
research collaboration between NGLTF's Policy Institute and nine
U.S. Black GLBT Pride celebrations during the summer of 2000.
A total of 2,645 participants were surveyed at Philadelphia Black
Pride, Houston Splash, Washington, D.C. Black Pride, Oakland Black
Pride, Chicago Black Pride, Los Angeles's At the Beach, Detroit's
Hotter Than July, New York Black Pride, and Atlanta's In the Life.
Among the key findings of the report:
Respondents identify the most important issues facing Black GLBT
people as: HIV/AIDS, hate violence, and marriage/domestic partnership;
A high prevalence of parenting is revealed: 40 percent of women,
18 percent of men, and 15 percent of transgender people reported
having at least one child;
Half of the respondents say racism is a problem in the White GLBT
community;
Two-thirds report that homophobia is a problem within the Black
community;
In terms of sexual identity, three quarters identify as "gay" or
"lesbian," 11 percent "bisexual," and one percent "transgender";
More than half say their church or religion view homosexuality
as "wrong and sinful";
The Black Pride sample is slightly less Democratic, and more
Republican, than the Black population as a whole. At the same time,
the Black Pride sample is more liberal than the Black population as
a whole, with 47 percent identifying as liberal versus only 31
percent of respondents in the 1993 National Black Politics Study.
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"It is important to build a national movement where the experiences
of every person are understood and valued. This report provides
important insights and recommendations for organizations committed
to ensuring that the priorities of Black GLBT people are the
priorities of the entire GLBT movement," said Lorri L. Jean,
executive director of NGLTF. "The Task Force is proud to continue
its commitment to these and other issues of racial and economic
justice."
"Say It Loud: I'm Black and I'm Proud" is the third report released
by NGLTF's Policy Institute in the last year that examines issues
of concern to GLBT people of color and low-income people of all
backgrounds.
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Black Caucus to HHS's Shalala: Declare AIDS State of Emergency
Latino Gay Men and HIV Risk -- A New NGLTF Report
Related Sites:
National Gay & Lesbian Task Force
In the Life Atlanta
GayToday does not endorse related sites.
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The previous two studies examined the effects of
welfare reform on GLBT families and the impact of social
discrimination on HIV risk among Latino gay men.
Black Pride Survey Project: http://www.ngltf.org/pi/blackpride.htm
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