GLAAD’s shining a light on the lives of Black LGBTQ people.
In order to honor Black History Month, the LGBTQ organization has announced a new ongoing digital series titled Neon. The series was created in order to create more visibility for Black LGBTQ life and experiences. Throughout the month of February, GLAAD will release photos and videos of Black LGBTQ legacy people twice a month.
This list of people will work in a wide range of disciplines as well. The content series will cover four categories including:
- IN THE MEDIA: Stories about representation.
- COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS: Local stories that highlight changemakers and issues that impact communities on a more intimate level. This includes the upcoming “Making A Barbershop Feel Like Home for Black LGBTQ People” which will be a video about making traditional safe spaces like barbershops and beauty salons more inclusive for Black LGBTQ people.
- CELEBRITY VOICES: Pop culture themed content that looks at LGBTQ celebrities and influencers shaping the narrative. The upcoming #GOALS video series will feature young millennials sitting down with a professional who works in their dream job.
- ON THE SCENE: Having an LGBTQ presence at major events throughout the year. Upcoming events: GLAAD will have a presence at events such as: NAACP Image Awards, BET, Awards, Essence Festival, Black Women in Hollywood Brunch, American Black Film Festival, Black Girls Rock, MOBIfest, Afropunk, and more.
“GLAAD’s continued commitment to communities of color is exemplified with the launch of Neon. We hope to help shift the narratives of underrepresented communities in media, especially for the Black LGBTQ community and their allies. With an increase in violence and murders of Black Trans women, LGBTQ youth suicides, and a decrease in LGBTQ acceptance, Neon comes at a time when it’s absolutely critical to showcase diverse, fair, and accurate representations of Black LGBTQ people within the media” said DaShawn Usher, Programs Officer, Communities of Color and producer of Neon.
“It’s important to me that queer people across the African diaspora can see themselves and hear their stories,” added Major Nesby, Neon’s co-creator and contributing producer. “There are so many opportunities to be represented in the media and yet in 2020, I still don’t feel represented or seen in traditional media. Neon now has the chance to tell these diverse and collective stories.”
New photos and videos for Neon and the “Black History Month: Legacy Series” will release every Tuesday and Thursday. While you wait for the next update, check out the first video, featuring artist and poet Roya Marsha, down below.
Sources: Deadline, Hollywood Reporter
