There were no hanging chads, contentious recounts or Supreme Court interventions impeding Hank Millbourne's ascendancy to the position of president of Detroit Black Gay Pride, Inc. In fact, the longtime mental health and HIV activist and co-founder of AIDS Partnership Michigan has taken firm grip of the helm of one of the nation's most popular, widely recognized black gay organizations with grace and quiet confidence. The future of Detroit's Black Pride movement is bright.
Currently producing its ninth annual Hotter Than July pride event, as well as collaborating in a host of other events of consequence to Detroit's African American LGBT community, DBG Pride is touting new faces, a fresh can-do attitude, and a combative slogan perfectly suited for these revolutionary times: "Rise up!" Following the departure of vice-president Curtis Lipscomb in 2002 and president Johnny Jenkins last fall, Millbourne was elected to the top position.
"Our Pride has always used a very different kind of process than any other Pride," says Millbourne, a Philadelphia transplant. "It's something Johnny helped create and evolve. It's very much a community planning process. This year what we're doing different, because of input from the community, is we've moved some things around. The Genesis Conference will be in the evening on that Friday. We've moved our march to the day of the picnic [Saturday] in Palmer Park with a new march route."
Millbourne's arrival at the top of his organization was a welcome, if unplanned, turn of events in his activist journey.
"I asked Curtis Lipscomb if I could attend a meeting, and I worked with DBG Pride for about a year until they asked me to join the board. That was just three years ago.
I had no intention of rocketing to the top of the organization. That just kind of happened."
Millbourne is forging ahead as a "big picture" leader with much more on his radar.
To that end, the organization has sponsored numerous activist events, such as its collaboration with Gill Foundation, Triangle Foundation and Affirmations in TurnOut Detroit, a voter registration and education drive, and the Town Halls to combat Homophobia in Detroit.
"The biggest challenge has been trying to envision the organization as more than Hotter Than July. I said when they asked me to become president that I did not want to become an event planner. I think there is a role for Hotter Than July as a Pride event among a number of programs that DBG Pride can run. Our involvement in the community needs to be much broader."
Multi-tasking is a theme that runs concurrently through other DBG board members, as well. Just ask Kim Jones, a customer service representative by day, student at the University of Phoenix, and founder of Pink Ice Productions. She describes her dedication to Pride as a top priority.
"After being a aoard member and watching, befriending, and being mentored by Curtis Lipscomb, I thought it was my next step after his departure," she responds. "I work with Curtis on some of his projects and he was the one person who took me in from the start, giving me things to do to help me learn the organization's needs. Working full time by day and having a home-based business gives one very little time to do much else. I have planned all I do around DBG Pride."
Jones is reluctant to take credit for a surge in female participation in HTJ and its activist outgrowths, despite her status as a well-known, admired and deeply respected member of the LGBT community.
"I don't think it has been my position as much as it has been a steady consistency for major women's events being on the schedule for Hotter Than July Weekend," she says. "I encourage everyone to participate and I even offer assistance if needed with planning. For HTJ 2004, we are going to be back at the wonderful Ponchartrain hotel with a few events taking place there, and for my personal event√ëI'm not tellin' until it's time, but you can trust that it will be something that the ladies will be proud of. There is no reason that we cannot make Detroit a place that people want to come to because Pride is off the hook. It's time get our name up there with DC and Atlanta when we speak of Pride. Our time is coming."
Newly minted board member Imani Williams seems to be everywhere these days. Her list of credentials includes being co-founder and vice-president of PFLAG Family Reunion, S.P.I.C.E. Youth Director, ISIS Program Director, and co-organizer of the Town Halls on Homophobia. Additionally, she is a part-time adjunct with Davenport University in the Social Science department, teaching a Professional Ethics and Sociology course, a freelance writer for two weekly newspapers, Between The Lines and The Michigan Citizen, and has "given birth" to a consulting firm, At Risk Youth Issues Advisor (A.RI.Y.I.A.). And get this: she's also the full-time mother of a teenager daughter.
How does she do it? "Challenges with wearing many hats include learning to say NO to some things," Williams explains. "It's also very important to pull other people in. This community is blessed with a diverse amount of talent. I became a DBG Pride member because I appreciate the effort they have put into building community and want to be a part of its future growth. I wanted the job because I see progressive organizational movement as they build on program development with year round goals that reach beyond Hotter Than July."
Not surprisingly, her focus will be on bringing youth into the production process of Pride.
"I'm hoping to see more youth involved this year, especially with the planning. Our kids need to be groomed for leadership development."
Antonio Johnson just received his Bachelor's Degree (another alum of the University of Phoenix) and is now working on his Master's Degree in Business. He rounds out the board, bringing his expertise in accounting with him. He explains that, following a grueling interview, he was pleased to learn he had made the cut.
"What made me want to join the DBG board is the need to educate others and get to know other gays and lesbians who think on the same lines as I," he said. "I interviewed with a few of the board members for a seat, never really expected getting it. To my surprise, I am now a board member. I really am looking forward to working with the board to accomplish great things in the City of Detroit."
Not gone and certainly not forgotten is Johnny Jenkins, co-founder of DBG Pride. He vacated the presidency after last year's successful event, but remains as program director and behind-the-scenes spiritual guru to ensure continuity. His is DBG Pride's face for TurnOut Detroit and the Homophobia Town Halls. The remaining members of the DBG Pride board are Joseph James, treasurer, Joy Royes, secretary, Charlene Roseborough, Anthony Winn and Michael Lynch.