CONTACT: Jordan Wilhelmi | jordan@unbendablemedia.com WASHINGTON –In response to the distressing news of the arrest of more than 60 Nigerians attending a same-sex wedding celebration, Dr. David J. Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), a leading Black LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, issued the following statement: “The criminalization of individuals based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, in any part of the world, is a direct violation of fundamental human rights. The right to love and express oneself should never be subject to st ..read more

CONTACT: Brett Abrams | brett@unbendablemedia.com   Statement from Dr. David J. Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition, a leading Black LGBTQ+ civil rights organizations “We applaud Congress for taking bipartisan action to pass the Respect for Marriage Act, which statutorily repeals DOMA and prevents future Dobbs-like U.S. Supreme Court action removing or diminishing the right to marry regardless of race or sexual orientation.  “In this democracy, the people have already determined we can all marry the person we love and have our marriage recognized an ..read more

CONTACT: Brett Abrams | brett@unbendablemedia.com  Statement from Dr. David J. Johns, Executive Director, National Black Justice Coalition, a leading Black LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, on the Supreme Court hearing on 303 Creative L.L.C. v. Elenis:   “Today, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments for a hypothetical case of a web designer who says it would be against their religious and free speech rights to design a wedding website for a same-sex couple, and it is unfair for them to face Colorado’s discrimination law penalties. The designer has not worked with an LGBTQ ..read more

CONTACT: Brett Abrams | brett@unbendablemedia.com  Statement from Dr. David J. Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition, a leading Black LGBTQ+ civil rights organization:  “Today’s bipartisan vote in support of the Respect for Marriage Act reaffirms that the freedom to marry is and should remain settled law in a country founded on the premise of liberty and justice for all.  “There is broad bipartisan support for the freedom to marry. Americans from all walks of life, across demographics, geography, and party lines, agree that loving, committed couples w ..read more

CONTACT: Brett Abrams | brett@unbendablemedia.com  WASHINGTON, DC — The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) celebrates the announcement that Tiffany & Co. will start selling engagement rings for men and others who wear masculine jewelry. This is the first time in the luxury jewelry brands 184-year history they will sell an engagement ring line specifically aimed at men and masculine-presenting people. Called The Charles Tiffany Setting, Tiffany & Co. said in a statement that the setting “honors the jeweler’s long-standing legacy in love and inclusivity, paving the way for new ..read more

  Washington — In response to the news that Niecy Nash recently married Jessica Betts, the National Black Justice Coalition released the following statement:  “Love wins — always and in all ways,” said David Johns, Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC). “I’m so happy for Niecy Nash —now officially Mrs. Carol Denise Betts— and her partner Jessica Betts. “I encourage anyone who has questions about what this means for any boxes in which they may have previously tried to trap Niecy, to lean into celebrating her happiness.  “This is a reminder that we eac ..read more

    NEW YORK — in response to news of Congressman John Lewis’ passing, David J. Johns, the Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition, released the following statement: “I am crying. To me, Congressman John Lewis was a superhero, the epitome of a civil servant, a personal hero. We even share the same birthday. It’s one thing to know something is imminent, to accept that at some point each of us will be called home, if we’ve done our job as a good and faithful servant. Knowing this doesn’t make accepting this news any easier.  “I was recently invited to reflect u ..read more

Washington, DC – The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) celebrates several historic decisions handed down by the United States Supreme Court this week, including the expansion of marriage equality nationwide. In the Obergefell v. Hodges 5-4 ruling, the nation’s highest court stated that all Americans, no matter their gender or sexual orientation, have a constitutional right to marry the person they love in every state of the union. The decision legalizes marriage for same-sex couples in the last 13 states with laws that banned it – Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Mis ..read more

The Berkeley City Council is set to vote on a proposal to close the city's domestic partner registry, now that same-sex marriage is allowed in California. Gay District 2 Councilman [and NBJC Board Chair] Darryl Moore has placed a resolution on the council's October 1 agenda that would direct the city manager to close the registry October 11, which marks the 22nd anniversary of the system's launch. Moore is also proposing to declare October 11 Marriage Equality Day. (It's also National Coming Out Day.) "I am happy to say that the City of Berkeley's domestic partnership registry is obsolet ..read more

Kate Kendell spent Pride Weekend pretty much the way you’d expect of someone who has devoted the last quarter century to fighting for LGBT rights and marriage equality. “The whole time, I was laughing and smiling and singing and jumping up and down like I was a kid again,” she says, her euphoria already tinged with wistfulness. There were speeches to give—at a rally in the Castro on the night of the Supreme Court’s rulings overturning Proposition 8 and DOMA, as well as at City Hall, where she famously (and embarrassingly, she would later admit) blurted out “Fuck Prop. 8!” on liv ..read more