The Forum Dies
By Keith Boykin, in politics
Tuesday, August 19 2003, 10:10AM
While thousands of Americans journey to the nation's capital this weekend to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the March on Washington, the country's only national black gay and lesbian organization will be quietly turning out the lights. After 15 years in business, the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum is finally closing down.
When organizers of the 40th Anniversary March on Washington sought out a gay or lesbian speaker for this weekend's rally, they contacted Matt Foreman, the executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Foreman, a white gay man, agreed to speak.
March organizers also contacted a prominent black gay activist but, as of today, no black gay or lesbian speakers have been announced. That's not a criticism of the march. It's actually a sad testament to the state of the black gay community.
Although the original march was organized by a black gay man, and activists have fought to include black gay speakers in each of the anniversary marches, there may not be a black gay man or woman speaking at this march.
The 1963 march was organized by Bayard Rustin, an openly gay man who was one of Martin Luther King Jr.'s close advisers. At the 20th anniversary march in 1983, black gay activists had to lobby march organizers to allow black lesbian author Audre Lorde to address the crowd. At the 30th anniversary march in 1993, Phill Wilson of the Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum, spoke. Now, ten years later, the Leadership Forum will take its last breath on the same weekend of the 40th anniversary march.
But don't look for a representative from the Forum at the March on Washington. The Forum's final conference will take place this weekend in New Orleans, Louisiana, far away from the march activities in Washington, DC.
"It is with much sadness, as well as a sense of great accomplishment, that the Board of Directors has decided that this year's conference will be the last one for the Leadership Forum,'' said Alvan Quamina, who will resign at the conference as executive director of the Forum. In a press release, Quamina said limited resources forced the Leadership Forum to "drop its conference."
I'm not sure exactly what that means, but dropping the conference is the same as closing the doors. Since the Forum started in 1988, the annual conference has been the organization's most visible activity. Even with the annual conference, the Forum has been virtually invisible in the past few years.
Founded in Los Angeles by Phill Wilson and Ruth Waters, the Forum started out as a conference for black gays and lesbians and in its heyday grew to a full-fledged national organization with programs and staff. I served as executive director of the Forum from September 1995 to February 1998, and two other executive directors followed me in that position.
Cornel West, Alice Walker, June Jordan, Iyanla Vanzant, Michael Eric Dyson, Meshell Ndegeocello and Dr. Joycelyn Elders were among the many speakers and performers to appear before the group over the years. In October 1995, the Forum organized an historic black gay contingent in the Million Man March and the following year it led the media effort against anti-gay gospel recording artists Angie and Debbie Winans.
Despite its accomplishments, the Forum was always plagued by financial and political challenges that left a legacy of baggage for each new administration to unravel. The biggest challenge was fundraising. The Forum was consistently dependent on government contract dollars and unable to raise significant money from the black LGBT community to offset the restricted government funds. Some of the biggest contributions actually came from a few sympathetic white gay foundations, organizations and donors, while those in the black LGBT community rarely gave major dollars.
Without adequate resources, the Forum could not pay its staff or executive directors. The last executive director, Alvan Quamina, worked in a volunteer capacity. In the end, the group's financial challenges doomed the Forum.
Unfortunately, the closing of the Forum couldn't come at a more challenging time for black gays and lesbians. Black support for gay civil rights has tumbled in the past few months. AIDS continues to plague the community. Hate crimes from Morehouse College to Newark, New Jersey have been profiled in the news. Gay issues are front and center in the national dialogue, and there's no one black to represent the diversity of the LGBT community.
A few weeks ago, an ad hoc group of black LGBT activists got together in New York to talk about creating a national voice for the black LGBT community, but it's not clear if this new project will work.
As some leaders in the gay community continue to exclude us and some leaders in the black community continue to avoid us, we still need leaders in the black gay and lesbian community to stand up and represent us.
Comments conceal
Kola Boof
August 19 2003, 11:53AM
This really is sad. To me...the whole culture of public activism is in a coma. Especially for blacks, who basically, don't want to be identified as anything.
You know, when the leaders fall...it's up to the followers to make themselves into leaders and carry on.
This is the perfect time for others to create new gay organizations...and more important...to start "fellowshipping" and "networking" and setting new goals and dreams. Inspiration and focus are key.
kenneth
August 19 2003, 2:11PM
I am curious as to what us as individuals can do to prevent this from actually happening (or from happening to any new organizations that will be created to replace this one).
After all, I new little of the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum. Truly, ignorance is my excuse.
The Sierra Club, the March of Dimes and so many other charities litter my mailbox, and computer screen with spam and bannar ads. My magazines are full of postcards for pledges (gay and straght mags alike) but I recall none of them can I recall from the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum.
Where did I miss the chance to do my part in helping to avoid this catashrophe?
Q
August 19 2003, 7:13PM
ON THE ISSUES
I responded to a previous essay/article you posted on your site and touched some of the ills we're facing in the SGL People of Color community. To reiterate: lack of unity/disunity; unfocused activism; AIDS/HIV and its growing prevalence among heterosexual women of color; spirituality [I saw something today]; bisexuality. Previous Post: http://www.keithboykin.com/arch/2003_08_04.html
ON NEW LEADERSHIP
Again I say, "maybe you should've kept your post Keith @ the NBLGF"....though, as a young black bisexual man I can agree with Brenda Crawford....it is time to hand over the reigns to a newer generation but unfortunately Sidney Brinkley's argument is more valid [see the discussion here: http://www.keithboykin.com/arch/000166.html]-- the mess that has been made has unfortunetly left that newer generation very unprepared.
Over the years, I have listened to so many older [40+] brothers and sisters complain about the state young SGL/GLBT youth are in, but none of them [at least the ones I've talked to] have ever taken the time to "reach or teach" the generation that is following in their paths. The legacy we are working with is plagued with: partying, fashion, irresponsibility and SEX. This amazes me becuase there are so many talented and admirable potential activists/leaders that aren't addressing the needs of the our young SGL men and women of color.
In my mid-twenties, I have adopted the habit of talking to my younger SGL brothers about life period: how it's been for me, things I'd change if I could go back and the array of life experiences that I have had at such a young age, which make up quite an interesting story. In retrospect -- I only wish I'd had someone to teach me some [non sexual] things [life lessons][PLEASE READ INTO THAT STATEMENT]. I probably would've made many different choices.
Doug Cooper
August 20 2003, 10:23AM
It saddens me each time I read about another black gay organization closing its door. I can truly commiserate with the Forum. I have worked on various black gay organizations over my 30 years 'in the life',and have found that there is simply no broad support from the black gay community when it comes to political activism.
But we will party.
Maybe the black gay movement needs to ground itself in a cultural movement that also embraces the black gay identity (in its many facets).
We need to create more images and archetypes through various media (music- - Check out "The Colored Section", by Donnie; print; theatre; everyday language). And we need to support these media. Buy black gay magazines (there are some pretty good ones that sell nationally), request of vendors they sell black gay mags and movies that reflect our lives; call for and watch television shows that embrace black gay characters (i.e. "The Wire"). Support artists, both gay and non-gay that celebrate our community with their art. Then, too, put on parties and other social events (like the Midnight Cruise recently put on by U-Men Entertainment in New York). In other words CELEBRATE US!
This revolution might be the best way of reaching the consciousness of the black gay community, because as it stands now, we are being starved, but we aren't feeling the hunger, and it seems that forming a political voice appears to frightens us.
Cederico
August 20 2003, 5:42PM
I agree Doug Cooper with much that you said.
But at the risk of getting criticized, I gonna place some blame on the decline in black gay activism on the closet and the phenom known as the DL.
Regarding gay black leaders I know many black men who are black community leaders or occupy a higher societal position (job wise etc,) who are secretly gay/bi (or SGL if you prefer). But they are trapped in the closet. These people are the same people who would likely lead the gay black community but alas they fear the homophobia they would face in the larger black community and the lack of support they would get from white gays who don't really care all that much about black gays in part I think because they don't see them as sex objects (but that's another issue).
And I hate to say but the younger black gay men in particular who don't seem to be interested in activism in large part because of the DL culture they are creating. Its based on being hard, being a "man", and I being visibly gay and an activist doesn't quite fit in their minds. I think many feel why come out and risk everything when they can have it all (so to speak)...a heterosexual life and image all the while being able to covertly have sex with other men who like them have no intention of rocking the boat by being out and proud and activist.
It just seems to me that gay black (male)activism was stronger years ago and its apparent decline kinda mirrors the rise of the new culture phenom we now call the DL.
I would think black lesbians face similiar issue of coming out and being active but I'm not informed enough to address them.
Quentin
August 21 2003, 2:55PM
I was under the impression that this organization folded many years ago. I still remember going to their Web site every week just to see if it had been updated and all I found was a blank page. I'm disappointed to see such an organization fold, but I understand the financial plight of running a NON-profit organization, especially one targeting the black gay community.
Anyways, let's not give up our youth. We are the future. There are many young brothas who want to make a difference in the community. We just have to show them how and allow them to lead and contribute in their own way. It's a new millennium and we need a new way of doing things.
I would welcome the opportunity to learn more about the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum to see which areas proved successful for them and investigate areas where they failed. Yes, it's about having a hefty coffer, but was the mission and purpose really being carried out efficiently and effectively? Was the purpose overshadowed by egos and greed? Was the organization really organized? I would genuinely like to learn from this collapse to see how my own organization can make a larger impact within the community.
But wait, just for clarity, wasn't the National Black Lesbian Conference created recently? (Notice that "Gay" was eliminated.)
Guest
August 21 2003, 5:01PM
Well guess what? This is the perfect opportunity to start a new group or organization! Yes indeed it is and yes indeed it is needed. Out of the dust and fall out can come a new day and a new way. I would like to join whomever where ever to make it happen and no it doesn't all have to all about money either. IT CAN BE DONE. Let's really put our efforts and all this talk into ACTION. Commentary and writing about it is fine but taking higher is even better. We got the power, what is there to stop us? Not a damn thing. We can do what we will!
alicia banks
August 21 2003, 6:45PM
this is truly tragic
we must find a way to organize politically as well as we organize to party
political activism is a universal social rarity
in these rabidly homohating times, we homos can not afford any such loss
peace
ab
Lucascage
August 23 2003, 1:55AM
I am in agreement with the sentiments of several of the others who have cared enought to comment on the socially sad and Community crippling passing of the NBGLLF. I resoundly echo Kola Boofs assertion that many in whats left of our Beloved Black Gay Community "dont want to be identified as anything!" I recall the war cry of the eurocentrist( and quite effective I might add)90's radical group Act-Up that went something like "Visablity equalls power" with the corollory rebel yell stating that "silence equalls death."
As we continue to witness the slow erasure of our remaing BGLBT organizations and venues I for one am not surprised( wounded but not surprised) that the old stategy of assimilate and dissipate is again eroding the self-esteem, self-confidence and self-sufficency which ultimately hobbles our ability to be self-determining of our Beloved Black Gay and straight( straights are being relagated to the periphery of many urban cities as well)Communities.
Who would have ever imagined that our old in-group demon "identity politics" would regress us to post slavery conditions in so many areas of our lives after the sacrifices that our Warriors made for us( Sojouner truth,Bayard Rustin,Audre Lorde,Barbara Smith, Joseph Beam, Marlon Riggs,Essex hemphill,Sakia Gunn......)
But we will party.
Perhaps its true that pathology breeds pain, unspoken becomes apathy cha,cha,cha.
Troy Cooper
August 23 2003, 10:24AM
Keith, I agree with Alicia and others- we must find a way to stop this from dying. We live in a time when our voice and concerns need to be addressed. We find ways to do what we have to do and its time again for us to pull it together. I am willing to be a voice a participant or worker-Let's get some life blood back into this much needed organization.
Imani
July 19 2004, 3:13AM
I stumbled upon this site while looking for information about the decline of the African-American community. Unlike the other respondents I see the announcement as a positive. Every bright and energetic black brother and sister must put aside selfish and unorthadox behavior for the good of our people. Conserve your money, brains and energy to uplift our youth and build a true Afro-American Nation. We are a new people devoid of land and culture. Turn to engage our people in year round Kwanzaa, and respect and celebration of Juneteenth. We have precious little more than these things to unify us.