Overview

View the conversation:

 

Black lesbian, gay and trans people face unique circumstances, threatened by the intersection of both racism and homophobia. Even within the movement for social justice, they must often fight for their rights and for visibility.

Join us for the next PSEG True Diversity Film screening at NJPAC, when we’ll talk about the experiences of Black LGBTQ+ people, from the barriers they encounter accessing appropriate healthcare to the increased risk of violence they face when coming out as gay, trans or genderqueer.

Before we meet, we’ll screen the Teddy Award-winning documentary Kiki, which chronicles the lives of LGBT youth of color at events known as Kiki balls while delving into their battles with homelessness, illness, and prejudice as well as their gains towards political influence and the conquering of affirming gender expressions.

This season, the films NJPAC will present through the PSEG True Diversity Film Series will focus on social and racial justice. To continue these presentations safely during the pandemic, this series now follows a book club model: We’ll watch the selected films in our homes, on our own time, then come together online to discuss the film with panelists who can offer context.

We encourage everyone to view Kiki on their own schedule through April 25; when you register for this event, you’ll receive a link allowing you to view the film for free. Then, join us for a virtual panel discussion at 7PM on Monday, April 26, 2021.  Our panel will be moderated by Rev. Elder Kevin Taylor,  Senior Pastor of Unity Fellowship Church Newark and an author, television producer and lecturer on themes of empowerment. Gia Love, a Black trans model and activist, whose transition is documented in Kiki, will also be part of the discussion.

Our panelists will include:

Ericka Hart, a black queer femme activist, writer, speaker and sexuality educator. Ericka has taught sexuality education across New York City for more than 10 years, and is an adjunct faculty member at Widener University’s Center for Human Sexuality

Gia Love, a black trans woman model/activist from New York City, who serves as the Director of Community Engagement for Black Trans Femmes in the Arts Collective (BTFA).

Spirit McIntyre, a cellist, vocalist, lyricist, Reiki practitioner, and Compassionate Facilitator. They are the Lead Organizer for Trans*Visible, a network that challenges Binarism and Cis-Sexism in social justice movements.

Amanda Simpson, MSW, Training Coordinator and Program Director at Hetrick Martin Institute New Jersey, which provides counseling and case management for youth, specializing in gender identity and sexual orientation.