IFBP CONVENES SUCCESSFUL NATIONAL BLACK AND BROWN SUMMIT
by: Jrfowlkes@aol.com, OIA Newswire

Over
sixty Latino/Hispanic and Black/African American LGBT leaders gathered at the
first National Black and Brown Summit on Friday April 25, 2008 at the
Crowne Plaza Hotel in Philadelphia in conjunction with Philadelphia Black Gay
Pride weekend (April 24 – 27, 2008). Participants came from over one dozen
cities from across the United
States to participate in a facilitated dialogue
about issues that impact LGBT Blacks and Latinos. The Black/Brown Coalition was
conceptualized by Carolina Ramos, Latino Services Coordinator, San Diego LGBT Community
Center and Earl
Fowlkes, IFBP President/CEO after a joint presentation on
reaching out to LGBT Communities of Color for the Democratic National Committee
Western Region training in Las
Vegas, NV in March
2007.



The
IFBP is a coalition of twenty-nine Black Pride organizations formed to promote a
multinational network of LGBT/Same Gender Loving Pride and community-based
organizations dedicated to building solidarity, health and wellness, promoting
unity, and ensuring the development of education, economic empowerment, and
individual and collective work, responsibility, and self-determination.
Over 350,000 people attended Black Prides in the United States in
2007.



"The
purpose of the National Black and Brown Summit wass to identify areas for
potential collaboration between African American and Latino LGBT communities,
leaders, organizations, and grass roots movements," said Fowlkes. The
highlight of the day long summit was the opening plenary and Elder Storytelling
"History of our Movements"
with long time LGBT activists Mandy Carter and Nicole
Murray-Ramirez. "Knowing the
history of Black and Latino participation in the LGBT movement is something that
we never can forgot", said Ramos who also moderated the panel.



Other
highlights of the Summit included
luncheon plenary speakers Jose M. Roman, Executive Director for Restricted Funds
and Financial Compliance at Columbia University and Dr. Marjorie Hill,
President/CEO of the Gay Men's Health Crisis; and actors Jose Ortiz and Michael Everett of
Philadelphia who used prose and drama to eexpose the myths,
stereotypes and obstacles that keep LGBT Black and brown communities
apart.



Several
of the outcomes of the National Black
and Brown Summit include planning four or five regional summits around the
United States; a position paper on immigration equality, and providing technical
assistance and supporting Latino Pride organizations. The Summit was funded by
generous support of the Gill Foundation and Calamus Foundation.

Full Story. [5/8/08]