I’m Tiffany Martin (she/her), Black Services Manager at The Center, and I’m excited to invite you to two upcoming events that celebrate the richness, diversity, and power of Black LGBTQ+ voices and lived experiences: The Voices of Black Angels on October 23 and Black Voices, Living Stories: A Community Conversation on October 27.
Our community is made up of countless stories of joy, resilience, love, loss, creativity, transformation, and becoming. Each of us carries experiences that shape who we are and what we bring to the world. Creating opportunities to share, hear, and honor those stories is an important part of building a community where everyone can see themselves reflected, feel affirmed, and know that their voice matters.
At Black Services at The Center, we are here to cultivate spaces where Black LGBTQ+ people can express themselves authentically, connect across experiences, celebrate our histories, and honor the many voices that make up the beautiful fabric of our community.
This month, we’re creating two opportunities to come together to share these stories and celebrate the richness of Black LGBTQ+ lived experience.
On Friday, October 23, at 7pm at The Center, we will host The Voices of Black Angels, a free concert reading of a theater piece featuring classic poetry and prose by Black LGBTQ+ writers, including James Baldwin, Essex Hemphill, Pat Parker, Assotto Saint, and Barbara Smith. Curated and directed by Bil Wright, the evening will celebrate the artistic and cultural legacy of Black LGBTQ+ writers through stories spanning decades of love, loss, political militancy, nightlife, and community.
On Tuesday, October 27, from 5:30-7pm, we invite you to Black Voices, Living Stories: A Community Conversation at Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library. Community members will have the opportunity to participate as “Living Books,” sharing their stories in facilitated small-group conversations, while attendees listen, ask questions, and connect across different lived experiences. This free event is open to the community, and registration is encouraged as space is limited.
To attend and listen, register here. If you’re interested in sharing your story as a “Living Book,” register here.
Every person carries a story worth hearing. I hope you’ll join us for one or both of these special gatherings and help us continue creating spaces where Black LGBTQ+ voices are uplifted, stories are honored, and community is strengthened through connection.
We look forward to sharing these moments with you!
In community,
Tiffany Martin (she/her)
Black Services Manager