February is Black History Month and an opportunity to make space, listen, amplify, protect and support black voices. This month is a great moment to recognize and celebrate Black excellence and Black contributions to history and culture including within our LGBTQ2S+ communities, so we hope to share with Toronto Pflag families some of the learning we have done this month.
The origin of Black History Month dates back to 1926 in the United States. At that time an African American historian named Carter G. Woodson founded a week that focused on celebrating the accomplishments of African Americans. He decided on a week in February because two important men were born that month. The first was Frederick Douglass, a former slave in the 1800s who spoke out for the freedom of slaves, as well as equal rights for women. And the second was Abraham Lincoln, who as the 16th President of the United States, fought for the freedom of all slaves throughout the United States. While Carter G. Woodson's idea began as a one-week celebration, it eventually became a month-long event called Black Heritage Month in the United States in 1976.
In 1995, Canada's government officially recognized February as Black History Month.
This month actress Viola Davis shared a great graphic on her Instagram:
"How to REALLY celebrate Black History Month."
@violadavis, Instagram
In Canada there are amazing black LGBTQ2S+ artists you can familiarize yourself with like Trey Anthony, Rahnell “Rahsthetics” Branton, Jada Shada Hudson, Tynomi Banks, and Marisa Rosa Grant, or share great laughs with incredible comedians like Brandon Ash-Mohammed, Jade Niles-Craig, or Coko & Dapheney.
Increase your knowledge of amazing LGBTQ2S+ icons and artists like Sylvester, activists like Ernestine Eckstein, legal legends like Pauli Murray, and great families and houses of the Ball Scene of New York City like the ones featured within the legendary film ‘Paris is Burning’. Or further research Black female freedom fighters and be inspired by: Marie-Joseph Angélique, Chloe Cooley, Harriet Tubman, Mary Ann Shadd, Viola Desmond and Rosemary Brown.
Also, for those who identify as Black LGBTQ people the coming out process can be complex to navigate. The Human Right Campaign (HRC) offers a great resource called Coming Out: Living Authentically as Black LGBTQ People which designed for those coming out at the intersections of LGBTQ and Black identities.
#BlackLivesMatter #BlackTransLivesMatter