Black Opportunity Fund’s Post

#TheMorningInclusive Lady Phyll: Pioneering activist and co-founder of UK Black Pride Today, we celebrate the incredible work of Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, also known as Lady Phyll, who has been a driving force in advocating for the rights and visibility of Queer, Trans, and Intersex People of Colour (QTIPOC) in the UK and beyond. Lady Phyll's work has been instrumental in creating spaces where QTIPOC individuals can celebrate their identities and experiences without fear of discrimination. UK Black Pride, which started as a small gathering in Southend-on-Sea, has grown into Europe's largest celebration for LGBTIQ people of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American, and Caribbean descent. This event not only promotes the spiritual, emotional, and intellectual well-being of these communities but also serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of intersectionality in the fight for equality. In 2019, Stonewall, the UK's leading LGBTIQ rights organization, announced a groundbreaking partnership with UK Black Pride. This collaboration aimed to bridge a stronger relationship between the LGBTIQ and Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. Lady Phyll's tireless efforts have highlighted the urgent need for racial inclusion within the queer community, addressing the fact that Pride events have historically been far too much of a whitewash. The partnership between Stonewall and UK Black Pride is a testament to the progress that can be made when we prioritize inclusivity and solidarity. By working together, we can ensure that all members of the LGBTIQ community, regardless of their race or ethnicity, have the opportunity to thrive and be celebrated for who they are. As Lady Phyll herself said, "Until we all have the same rights, until we all do not face any form of injustice, until we all have proper access to housing, to health, to school, to education, then they'll always be a need for Black Pride". Let's continue to support and uplift the voices of QTIPOC individuals and work towards a more inclusive and equitable future for all. #LGBTIQ #BlackPride #Equality #Intersectionality #UK #LadyPhyll #Belonging #Inclusion #Diveristy #Equity #Accessibility NOTE: This image was created by Copilot to represent this text

Each week this #BlackHistoryMonth, we celebrate a different era in the history and story of Black queer folk. This week we celebrate the Black queer activists and liberationists of the #Stonewall era of the queer movement. 💜🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 Stonewall is an important milestone in the history of the queer rights movement in the West. It is the foundational mythology of many queer folk across the globe, and central to that mythology are the Black community leaders who stood up for their community. The Stonewall riots took place in late June and early July 1969 in New York City’s iconic Stonewall Inn, a haven for queer folk in a time when they faced violence and discrimination unthinkable today. The BIPoC queer community of New York faced not only this queerphobia however, also dealing with a deeply racist Police Department and society. 🗽 In American history the Stonewall Riots came at a turning point, as the Civil Rights movement for Black Liberation was at it’s pinnacle, decades of Black activism had created a generation of strategic, wise and generous Black activists who understood the need for liberation of all people. With this context in mind it is unsurprising that in 1969 when police raided Stonewall, it was Black activists who refused to accept the violence. Black activists who by all accounts lead the fight back and stood up for their right to safety and community. ✊🏿 We remember them today with great admiration and thanks for their courage and action. There are three Black activists who stand tall in the memory of that time who we recommend researching further: 💜 Miss Major Griffin-Gracy - a Black trans woman, Miss Major was present on the first night of the Stonewall rebellion. After Stonewall she dedicated her life to activism working to support those with HIV/AIDS and trans people in prison. 💜 Marsha P Johnson - a Black drag queen and a queer liberation activists for decades before and after Stonewall, Marsha used the money she made from sex work to house LGBTQI youth in New York. 💜 Stormé DeLarverie - a Black lesbian activist who fought back against the removal of queer women in handcuffs, a key spark in what she would later call not a riot but a rebellion and an uprising. #LGBTQI #Youth #BHM2024

I Support the Girls is gearing up for #PrideMonth! Pride Month honors the #LGBTQIA Community with so many different types of celebrations- parades, festivals, marches, events, and more! But each and every one of those events centers the queer community and what it stands for. What do you know about Pride and how it started? Here's a quick article to learn more about Pride Month and how to participate! https://lnkd.in/gH2M_vSY

Circa 2021: Human Rights Campaign "As we honor Black History Month, the Human Rights Campaign is committed to and focused on racial justice, equity and inclusion and combatting discrimination in all forms. The past year has brought the consequences of unchecked racism into sharp focus, which in so many ways aligns and intersects with the experiences of the transgender community. In 2020, HRC tracked a record number of violent fatal incidents against transgender and gender non-conforming people, the majority of them Black trans women. This is the result of misogyny, racism and transphobia that is deeply rooted in society; we must work to end the stigma of being Black and trans and combat this epidemic of fatal violence. True liberation requires all of us to be united in defeating oppression. None of us can be free until all of us are free. This Black History Month, we’re reminded of the invaluable work of our Black, queer ancestors and of the important work still yet to be done." Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eg_pT2N2

Today, we celebrate Juneteenth, a day of profound historical significance and a symbol of freedom and resilience. On June 19, 1865, enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned of their emancipation—over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Juneteenth reminds us of the enduring fight for equality and the importance of recognizing and honoring this history. It's a time to reflect on the progress made and acknowledge the work still needed to achieve true equality and justice. As we commemorate this day, it's crucial to also highlight the unique struggles faced by Black members of the LGBTQIA community. They endure the compounded challenges of both racial and queer discrimination, fighting for acceptance and equality on multiple fronts. Let’s amplify their voices, support intersectional advocacy, and continue striving for a more inclusive and equitable society for all. Happy Juneteenth! #juneteenth #freedomday #equality #inclusion #lgbtqia #intersectionality #blacklivesmatter

Celebrating Equality: Honoring Black LGBTQI Voices During Black History Month, we not only celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black individuals but also recognize the diverse experiences within the community. Today, we stand in solidarity with Black LGBTQI persons, who have faced unique challenges in their fight for equality. From the Stonewall uprising to present-day activism, Black LGBTQI individuals have played pivotal roles in advancing civil rights and championing inclusivity. Yet, their struggles against discrimination, prejudice, and violence persist. Let's amplify their voices, uplift their stories, and affirm our commitment to creating a world where everyone, regardless of race, gender identity, or sexual orientation, can live authentically and without fear. This Black History Month and beyond, let's honor the resilience, courage, and contributions of Black LGBTQI persons in shaping a more equitable and inclusive society. #BlackHistoryMonth #LGBTQI #Equality #Inclusion #BlackLGBTQI #Unity

Part of my speech at the Newport Pride Center (RI/US) in celebration of LGBT’s and Black History Month: "Firstly, to acknowledge my positionality as a white cis gay man, I have never suffered the harm of racism or transphobia, so I am not able to measure the material and symbolic violence that permeates the lives of black and trans people. So, I see myself as an ally in the struggle and in defending the rights of LGBT people. Second, this month, we celebrate the LGBT movement’s history; we recognize the revolution at Stonewall in 1969, which is often discussed in history as an event marked by conflicts, aggressions, and beatings. However, this event was also a joyful and vibrant celebration, accompanied by several drag queen lines dancing can-can and the people singing songs from American culture. When discussing Stonewall, we must commemorate the life and activism of Marsha Johnson, who described herself as a drag queen. In 1970, she helped create the Gay Liberation Front (GFL), and she was one of the founders of Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), which mainly helped homeless people and sex workers. Finally, the teachings on the history of Stonewall and Marsha's activism remind us that the struggles in the 1960s and 1970s emerged as a political force capable of contesting gender norms imposed by religion with foundations from medicine and police persecution. It was a moment when LGBT people mobilized against opression. However, despite advances in rights, violence against LGBT people persists. According to data from a global survey, the United States is the second country in the world that kills trans people the most, after Brazil. So, we need to use the political and social power to struggle for rights. We need to rescue this history, rewrite its teachings, and fight for a new LGBT future, especially for trans and black people, whose future is endangered by discrimination and violence." References: 2023 - The LGBTQ History Book - Penguin Random House 2022 - Transrespect vs Transphobia Annual Report - TGEU Event page: https://lnkd.in/eszdpxrc

"As we celebrate Juneteenth, we can't overlook the fact that 'anti-woke' attacks on Black history and Black political power have become one of the biggest threats to our democracy. The consequence of this threat goes all the way up to the supreme court...We must use this federal holiday to dedicate ourselves to achieving true multiracial democracy in the United States." Kimberle Crenshaw, Co-Founder and Executive Director of The African American Policy Forum, is the pioneering legal scholar and thought leader who introduced us to intersectionality and whose groundbreaking work has shifted the ways we address racial, gender, and social justice. Democracy and equity are clearly under attack, and work to advance racial justice, gender equity, LGBTQ and other human rights is critical and noble pro-democracy work. At Global Citizen, LLC, we are proud to serve as a strategic consulting, coaching, training, and transformation partner that works in the United States and internationally to develop inclusive leadership skills and strengthen leaders' capacity to effect organizational transformation and social impact by advancing racial, gender, and LGBTQ equity, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), public health, human rights, and global competence. 👉 Contact us at [email protected] to schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss how we can help you achieve your strategic goals for greater impact and #ForABetterWorld. 💳 Join Global Citizen, LLC in contributing to The African American Policy Forum: https://lnkd.in/ed5KH-Yt. #Juneteenth #Juneteenth2024 #RacialJustice #GenderEquity #LGBTQRights #HumanRights #Intersectionality #IntersectionalDEI Kimberle Crenshaw's full statement: https://lnkd.in/ezbreWeK. (Photo credit: ArtHouse)