Formation 1980 Website www.nabwmt.org Founded 1980 | Type Non-profit educational Headquarters California | |
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Motto Resist Racism and Homophobia Similar Trikone, Queer Nation, National Center for Lesbian, ACT UP, OutRight Action International | ||
The National Association of Black and White Men Together, Inc.: A Gay Multiracial Organization for All People (NABWMT) is a longstanding network of chapters across the United States focused on LGBT and racial equality, founded in May, 1980 in San Francisco as a consciousness-raising, multicultural organization and support group for gay men forming multiracial relationships. To attain these ends, its local chapters organise social gatherings and engage in educational, cultural, and political activities. It is a registered IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. NABWMT's goals consist of two major themes: combating racism within the LGBT community and combating homophobia in general society. NABWMT's vision is an America free of racism and homophobia.
Contents
History and Impact
NABWMT got its start in May 1980 when founder Michael Smith placed an advertisement in The Advocate for a potluck that attracted 20 people. Within a year of its founding, local chapters were established in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Los Angeles, Memphis, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, and Milwaukee. Chapters named "Black and White Men Together," "Men of All Colors Together," "GREAT (Gay Racially Equal And Together) Men of (city)," and "People of All Colors Together" which include women, all operate under the NABWMT umbrella. Local chapters host social and educational events, and also support other aspects of their communities. For example, the Detroit chapter raised funds for and provided direct assistance to the Ruth Ellis Center in 2006.
As a result of AIDS education and support work carried out by chapters, the National Task Force on AIDS Prevention (NTFAP) and Bay Area HIV Support and Education Services (BAHSES) both sprung from NABWMT in the late 1980s. In 1980, Reggie Williams, an executive director of NABWMT and NTFAP, began to reach out to Black gay and bisexual men, as well as other gay men of color communities in San Francisco.
Educational Focus
Education about racism, homophobia and HIV/AIDS remain a primary focus of NABWMT and its local chapters. This is accomplished through workshops (presentations, enlightenment sessions) during the annual national convention and during periodic regional weekend get togethers through the Midland and Western Regions. These topics are also regularly discussed in the published quarterly newsletter Q Visions, the NABWMT website (www.nabwmt.org), many podcasts, and local chapter "gabfests." Indeed, the two Facebook pages (with over 13,000 members as of 2016) may represent one of the few opportunities for people from around the world to view and engage in civil communications in real time about these provocative topics, some of which may be forbidden in their countries.
Conventions
The first national convention was held in San Francisco in 1981; the 34th convention was held in Milwaukee, July 2014, 35th convention in Newark, July, 2015, and 36th convention in Memphis, July, 2016, and the 37th convention in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, August, 2017. www
The Boston chapter held the eighth annual NABWT convention in the City of Boston in July 1988 at the Park Plaza Hotel, during which 23 chapters attended.
Convention Years, Locations, and Memorable Highlights
- 1981, San Francisco, CA:
- 1982, Washington, DC:
- 1983, Columbus, OH:
- 1984, Atlanta, GA:
- 1985, Los Angeles, CA:
- 1986, New York, NY: Bayard Rustin addressed outdoor rally during NYC's Pridefest.
- 1987, Milwaukee, WI: Name change controversy: "Black & White Men Together" vs. "Men of All Colors Together"; Author Joseph Beam's provocative comments about interracial relationships and black men dating non-African-Americans.
- 1988, Boston, MA:
- 1989, Tallahassee, FL:
- 1990, San Francisco, CA:
- 1991, Detroit, MI:
- 1992, Dallas, TX:
- 1993, Chicago, IL:
- 1994, Washington, DC:
- 1995, Key West, FL:
- 1996, Cleveland, OH:
- 1997, Charlotte, NC:
- 1998, Ft. Lauderdale, FL:
- 1999, Philadelphia, PA:
- 2000, San Francisco, CA:
- 2001, New Orleans, LA:
- 2002, Miami Beach, FL:
- 2003, Kansas City, MO:
- 2004, Atlanta, GA:
- 2005, Pittsburgh, PA:
- 2006, Long Beach, CA:
- 2007, Cleveland, OH:
- 2008, St. Louis, MO:
- 2009, Philadelphia, PA:
- 2010, Ft. Lauderdale, FL:
- 2011, Las Vegas, NV:
- 2012, San Diego, CA: Keynote address by former US Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders.
- 2013, Columbus, OH:
- 2014, Milwaukee, WI: Professional photographer Thomas Hellstrom; Azha Art Gallery exhibit; LGBT colorguard and Miriam Ben Shalom
- 2015, Newark, NJ: Keynote addresses by Walter Naegle (Bayard Rustin's partner during last decade of Rustin's life) and historian Dr. Martin Duberman.
- 2016, Memphis, TN: Memphis riverboat cruise and tours of the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Hotel.
- 2017, Ft. Lauderdale, FL: