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Black Out 2006 initiative announced

WASHINGTON – The International Federation of Black Gay Prides and the National Black Justice Coalition have announced "Black Out 2006," a year-long effort to enlist at least 2,006 Black LGBT and same gender loving people in every state to come out.
"Whether you are trying to address homophobia in the Black church or ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic it all must start with being open and honest about our lives and our love," said NBJC Board President Keith Boykin.
"The decision to come out is always personal and can be one of the most difficult tasks you confront in your life," said IFBGP Board chair Michel Hinson, "but it can also be one of the most rewarding. We want to help people take control of this process and provide support when they are coping with the ramifications so that you can act positively rather than defensively. Coming out is one way of affirming your dignity and the dignity of other LGBT people."
The national campaign will have two major components. The Leadership and Legacy Initiative will focus on openly LGBT African-Americans in history and leaders of today. The Coming Out for Life Initiative is a national mobilization campaign designed to enroll at least 2,006 Black LGBT individuals to sign a pledge that they will "come out" to at least one person in their life who does not know about their sexual orientation or same-sex partner and family.
"Coming out is a continuing, sometimes lifelong, process," said NBJC Board member Mandy Carter, "with this campaign we are saying that we all have some coming out to do for our own sake and for the well-being of our communities."
In addition to the pledge, which will be available online and distributed at each of the 25 Black Gay Prides scheduled for 2006, the groups plan to compile a resource list of Black LGBT and allied support and social organizations and develop coming out guides.
In addition, the coming out campaign will include a voter registration and education effort.
For more information contact H. Alexander Robinson at [email protected] or Earl Fowlkes at [email protected].

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