National Association of Black and White Men Together
| Motto | Resist Racism and Homophobia |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1980 |
| Type | Non-profit educational |
| Headquarters | Hollywood, CA |
| Website | www |
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.
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.
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.
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Wikipedia