In May, Cheryl Lathan, the founder of New Jersey Black Pride, posed with board members at the “Not Your Grandma’s Bingo” event.The Bluphotoart
For Black LGBTQ+ people in the Garden State, a new nonprofit is bridging the gaps in collective care and community building.
Deborah Glenn, a native of Newark, and Cheryl Lathan, a resident of East Orange, founded the New Jersey Black Pride March with the goal of empowering their community via activism, service, and a little fun. The organization has organized a number of events in only the first three months that have nourished the hungry, bolstered a feeling of community, and connected LGBT business owners with one another. Lathan and Glenn will attend the eighth annual East Orange Pride Celebration today from 4 to 7 p.m. at City Hall, where they will be joined by local officials and artists. The celebration of the joy and genuineness of LGBTQ+ existence will include a fashion display, live entertainment, and a marketplace with local vendors.
According to Lathan, East Orange Pride embodies the core values of New Jersey Black Pride’s objective. Deborah and I both want to demonstrate what it means to collaborate with local governments in a way that puts our community first, establishing welcoming, happy, and affirming environments where we are not only included but also given priority.
In times of political hostility, New Jersey Black Pride is establishing safe spaces that are affirming. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Tennessee law last week that prohibits gender-affirming medical care for young people. New Jersey, which has been a safe haven for those seeking transgender healthcare since Governor Phil Murphy signed an executive order in 2023, is not immediately impacted by the 6-3 ruling. However, proponents of LGBTQ+ rights are currently pressuring lawmakers to codify those protections into state law in order to make them permanent.
Following a tumultuous legislative season in which lawmakers submitted the most anti-LGBTQIA+ measures in US history, the decision was reached. The Williams Institute claims that hate speech has increased the likelihood of harassment and discrimination against LGBT individuals. Black queer individuals have the greatest rates of victimization overall, and LGBTQ+ people are five times more likely than non-LGBTQ+ people to become victims of a violent crime.
Lathan added that segregation exists within the LGBTQ+ group itself, which exacerbates the harm. Lathan, a Brooklyn native, was photographing a previous pride event in New York when she saw how white promoters dominated the bars and excluded Black promoters from the celebrations.
Lathan stated, “I have an issue with the fact that we are simply invisible.” Thus, we were able to form our own group. In order to support Black people, we have New Jersey Black Pride.
Despite the numerous divisions that occur now, Lathan and Glenn recall a period when things were different. House music became Newark’s defining sound throughout the 1980s and 1990s. On weekends, Glenn and Lathan would spend their time dancing at various clubs, such as Armory, Murphy’s First Choice, and Zanzibar. The LGBTQ+ community would have special nights at these places, but according to Lathan, it didn’t matter who they were. Everyone on the dance floor was brought together by the electronic beats that pumped through the air.
According to Lathan, house music established a space where individuals can go to dance, be free, find their tribe, and discover their little rhythm. There was just one love. Everyone was content and listening to the music.
The pair continued to establish safe spaces for Black gay women even as the scene began to wane in the early 2000s. Lathan created a place in Brooklyn called One Hot Spot, while Glenn got the girls together at Armory. Even though they had a good time together, Glenn claimed that the community today lacks a sense of unity.
No one questioned it; everyone was simply enjoying themselves with one another, regardless of whether they were homosexual or straight. You simply go about your own business. “Glenn said.” The good old days were over. Bring that back.
The founders of New Jersey Black Pride, Deborah Glenn (right) and Cheryl Lathan (left), take a group shot at a gay networking event in April.Photo Art in Blu
The strength of mutual support was demonstrated at one of the first Black Pride gatherings in New Jersey. At a gay networking event in April, roughly 26 Black LGBTQ+ businesses shared their expertise and made new contacts. There are unique difficulties in starting a business at the nexus of sexual orientation, gender, and race. Black-owned businesses in general have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and corporate divestment from diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Federal rules that protect LGBTQ+ business owners from client discrimination do not exist.
According to Lathan, the queer networking event was so successful that she anticipates the organization developing an app that will allow LGBTQ+ business owners to meet new customers for various services.
According to Lathan, we are attempting to establish our own ecosystem inside our own network. We can phone Renee instead of traveling outside our neighborhood and phoning Joe Hammer or someone. She is a company owner and caterer.
To ensure that no one feels alone, the nonprofit plans enjoyable excursions. Attendees applauded and joked at the Not Your Grandma’s Bingo night in May. T-shirts, gift cards, and a painting by Lathan herself were awarded to lucky gamers. Even after all the prizes had been collected, Glenn added, people still wanted to play more games, which illustrates the kind of atmosphere that New Jersey Black Pride is fostering.
It’s simply a place where people can come and be themselves without fear. Glenn stated, “That’s what we’re trying to do for everybody.” You can’t be doing too much because there’s a lot going on. Some people will think you’re insane, while others are all over it. Therefore, there is no judgment in this place. Everyone is doing well.
Helping those in need will be the next event on the New Jersey Black Pride calendar. On July 6, Glenn, Lathan and other volunteers will be handing out free groceries and meals at the WOW CommuniTEA Center at 45 Commerce Street from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. According to the New Jersey Economic Authority, about 1.3 million state residentslive in a food desert. With food costscontinuing to rise, Lathan said the organization wanted to be part of the solution.
Everybody is struggling right now, Lathan said. So if we re able to get food and help, that s what community looks like. You got to show up.
The future of New Jersey Black Pride looks like starting community-centered programs, establishing wellness centers across the state and supporting Black queer artists. Lathan said additional funding is needed to help make this vision possible since much of the expenses are currently being paid out-of-pocket. Anyone who wishes to help can send their donations via Zelle to [email protected].
Lathan is looking forward to expanding the nonprofit s impact by collaborating with other groups on the southern end of the state or anyone who is looking to make a change in their area. Doesn t matter if they live in a city center or rural area, everyone deserves to be heard, she said.
Wherever there s Black people that s not being seen, we can partner with them to start doing something with the locals, Lathan said. If they already have something in place, we can come in and build something together. That s the vision.
