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LGBTQ+ history has never been one story told by one community. It is a collection of experiences shaped by race, sexuality, gender, culture, faith and the determination to live authentically in a world that hasn't always made room for differences. From the early fight for civil rights to the cultural contributions of Black LGBTQ+ pioneers, the history we celebrate today was built by generations of people who refused to disappear simply because society wasn't ready to acknowle

This election season, direct democracy is on the front lines of LGBTQ+ equality. Voters in seven states face critical ballot measures that will determine the future of civil rights, youth well-being, healthcare autonomy, and marriage equality in their communities. ​While advocates in some states are fighting to anchor comprehensive protections directly into state constitutions, anti-LGBTQ+ initiatives in other states threaten to roll back essential rights for transgender y

Let's talk about something that deserves more conversation within our own community. We spend a great deal of time encouraging the world to understand and respect LGBTQ+ people, but how often do we sit among ourselves and discuss what all these identities actually mean? Better yet, how often do we acknowledge that even those of us who belong to the community don't always understand every experience represented within it? That was the foundation of this week's INBLK convers

We have two questions: Are you an organization supportive of the LGBTQ+ community? And are you INBLK? If those questions speak to you, we want you paying attention. We are bringing together people and organizations ready to show up, exchange ideas, and explore what we can build when Black LGBTQ+ and Ally voices are included in the

October is LGBTQ+ History Month, and the week of October 11–17 reminds us that visibility, equality and community were never handed to us without a struggle. From the courage of coming out to the organizing power of Black LGBTQ+ activists, this week represents generations of people who refused to let society write their stories for them. Long before Pride became a celebration recognized around the world, LGBTQ+ people were building movements, challenging institutions, crea

Trans Women vs. Cisgender Women: Is the Divide Real?

September 26: Visibility Changed the Conversation

An I AM ME Inc. LGBTQ+ INBLK Recap Season Three of LGBTQ+ INBLK opened with a conversation that was bigger than one artist, one murder case or one era of music. Hosted by Peach, the panel used Tupac Shakur’s legacy as the starting point for a direct and sometimes heated discussion about Black culture, visibility, loyalty and the complicated relationship between hip-hop and the Black LGBTQ+ community. The episode, “Justice for Tupac: We Show Up for Hip-Hop, But Does Hip-Hop Sh

Sometimes LGBTQ+ history isn't found on a protest line with a sign in hand. Sometimes it is found behind a desk, with a pen, an idea, an education and enough influence to change how an entire generation sees itself. September 13 reminds us that queer people were not simply participating in history; we were helping create the culture. One of the most important examples is Alain Locke, the Black philosopher, educator, writer and cultural critic whose ideas became deeply

There is something powerful about looking back at LGBTQ+ history and realizing how recently some of our freedoms were considered controversial. September 12 is one of those dates. It connects music, Hollywood, HIV/AIDS, and the fight for marriage equality, but underneath each story is something deeper: the freedom to live authentically and have that life respected.

Long before LGBTQ+ people had YouTube channels, podcasts, livestreams, social media, and independent platforms like INBLK, authentic LGBTQ+ voices were rarely welcomed onto television. Doctors spoke about us. Politicians debated us. Churches judged us. The media analyzed us. Society questioned whether something was wrong with us. Yet LGBTQ+ people were seldom given the microphone to define their own lives, identities, relationships, and experiences.

🏳️‍🌈 THIS DAY IN LGBTQ+ HISTORY September 10: LGBTQ+ history is complicated. Sometimes we win. Sometimes we lose. Sometimes the same government that gives our community protection in one area turns around and denies equality somewhere else. September 10 is one of those dates that reminds us that progress has never traveled in a perfectly straight line. Across different decades and different parts of the world, September 10 has been connected to employment protections, trans

The wait is almost over. I Am Me Inc’s LGBTQ+ INBLK is officially returning Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 8 PM, bringing back the conversations, opinions, education, and sometimes uncomfortable discussions that make the platform what it is. INBLK was created to give members of the LGBTQ+ community a space to talk about what is happening around us from our perspectives. Whether we are discussing relationships, identity, politics, entertainment, Black culture, transgender

There was a time when serving your country and openly admitting you were gay could cost you your military career. On September 8, 1975, decorated U.S. Air Force Sergeant Leonard Matlovich appeared on the cover of TIME magazine with four words that were impossible for America to ignore: “I Am a Homosexual.” At a time when many LGBTQ+ Americans remained closeted because being open could cost them their jobs, families, housing and safety, Matlovich made his identity national new

August 31: Creating Our Own Spaces, Fighting for Our Right to Serve LGBTQ+ history is not only about gaining acceptance from the world around us. Sometimes our history is about creating spaces of our own, where queer people can gather, build community, explore identity, and exist without having to conform to somebody else's expectations.

On August 30, 1956, American psychologist Dr. Evelyn Hooker presented her groundbreaking research, The Adjustment of the Male Overt Homosexual, at the American Psychological Association’s annual convention in Chicago. At the time, homosexuality was classified by the American Psychiatric Association as a mental disorder. Being gay was not simply stigmatized socially; medical and mental-health institutions often treated homosexuality as something that needed to be diagnosed, tr

LGBTQ+ history isn't only about the moments everybody remembers. It's also about the people who refused to disappear. Every generation of LGBTQ+ people has faced its own fight for visibility, dignity, safety, and equality. August 27offers several moments worth remembering—from early queer representation in literature to battles over LGBTQ+ rights and visibility.

For years, Target positioned itself as one of the country’s most LGBTQ+-friendly major retailers. Pride merchandise was a regular part of its stores, and the company publicly promoted diversity, equity, and inclusion. Then came the 2023 Pride controversy. After facing backlash, in-store confrontations, and threats connected to its Pride merchandise, Target removed certain products and moved some Pride displays. The company said employee s

Before Pride was a celebration, being visible was an act of courage. LGBTQ+ history did not begin with Stonewall, Pride Month, or the rainbow flag. We have always been here. Building community, challenging expectations, creating culture, demanding respect, and finding ways to live authentically in societies that often refused to acknowledge us. On August 25, 1845, King Ludwig II of Bavaria was born. His private diaries and correspondence documented his attraction to men

Let’s keep it real!! Pride ain’t just rainbow fits, parties, and pics for the ‘gram. Pride is remembrance. Pride is history. Pride is people who stood ten toes down when the world told them to sit down and be quiet.