BOSTON, Mass. — On April 14, 2012, the Hispanic Black Gay Coalition, along with other community activists, will be honored at the Bayard Rustin Community Breakfast. Created by AIDS Action Committee over 20 years ago, the Bayard Rustin Community Breakfast recognizes the roles of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from communities of color in the fight against AIDS. The Breakfast is an inspiring event, drawing on the spirit of Bayard Rustin’s work in human rights, civil rights, and social activism.
Awards are given out in the names of Bayard Rustin and Belynda Dunn, an activist and former staff member of AIDS Action who contributed greatly to the fight against AIDS and related illnesses here in Boston. Other honorees for the evening will be activist and poet Uriah Bell and activist and entertainer Tangela Bell.
Since its founding in 2009, HBGC has included HIV education and prevention as one of its primary program areas. Their work in this area over the last three years have included improving access to HIV testing and counseling by hosting sexual health fairs in communities of color, implementing popular opinion leader trainings (in collaboration with Fenway Health and the Multicultural AIDS Coalition) aimed at challenging social norms around HIV testing and safe sex, including a health and wellness track at their inaugural Youth Empowerment Conference last year, and hosting public forums to raise awareness and offer resources to those living with HIV/AIDS . Most recently, the organization was a part of the Black AIDS Institute’s African American HIV University (AAHU) Fellowship and released a public video entitled “I Am More Than HIV” for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
This year’s Bayard Rustin Community Breakfast will be held on April 14, 2012 at Hibernian Hall from 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Individuals can learn more and RSVP by visiting www.bayardrustin.org.
About the Hispanic Black Gay Coalition: The Hispanic Black Gay Coalition works to inspire and empower Black and Hispanic/Latino LGBTQ individuals to improve their livelihood through activism, education, outreach, and counseling. Learn more at www.hbgc-boston.org
