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Become A MemberThe Black Men’s Xchange has a rich and prosperous history that has managed to gain momentum, even through some of the most tumultuous eras in Americas history and it’s troubles in the acceptance of SGL men and women. This play-by-play of highlights brings forth our most noteworthy milestones, and continues to update as we move forward as an organization.
1989
BMX founded in South Central Los Angeles as the nation’s first community-based movement devoted to promoting healthy self-concept and behavior, cultural affirmation, advocacy and critical consciousness among same gender loving (SGL), gay-identifying and bisexual African-descended males, and allies. BMX was also the first SGL Black men’s organization to be located geographically within the geographical boundaries of the Black community.
Weekly Forums, a foundational part of BMX begin.
1990
BMX – Bay Area/Oakland/Sacramento chapter founded.
1991
BMX-Denver chapter founded.
BMX-Bay Area-Oakland and Sacramento chapters host a community forum, Black
HIV/AIDS Stigma, Barriers to Prevention. This is one of the first community forms in Bay Area where diverse people of African descent engage in educational dialogue addressing anti-homosexual attitudes and masculinity anxieties in Black communities, to resolve barriers to effective HIV/AIDS prevention messaging, behavior and attitudes.
BMX is the first openly SGL organization to participate in this annual South Central Los Angeles Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade. A major community event in this historically Black area. BMX participates for the next 6 consecutive years.
BMX Los Angeles creates the first support group for parents or family members of SGL/bi/gay-identified youth. Engaging Parents or Family Members of BMX provides willing SGL/bi/gay-identified participants and their families the opportunity to increase their understanding, address, and reduce family and community-level conflicts resulting from anti-homosexual attitudes and behaviors. The support group continues to this day.
BMX hosts its first ever national conference. Hosted by the BMX-Bay Area/Oakland and Sacramento chapters the first BMX-National Conference approximately 100 members attended. BMX membership representing all chapters attended a yearly conference for nation-wide team-building, educational forums, and leadership development, to fortify each chapter across the nation for the next five years.
1992
BMX Sacramento Chairman, Joe Hawkins, appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show and Geraldo to discuss homosexual relationships.
1996
BMX-LA organizes an annual educational summit Straight Talk With Straight Sistahs. Involving Black heterosexual women and SGL men the summit addresses mutual cultural, sexual, attitude and health barriers and challenges. Specifically the dialogue includes discussion about: 1) what are anti-homosexual perspectives and why do they exist; how to be the parent or potential parent of an SGL child; how and why in the Black community HIV/AIDS risks vary across gender; how Black women can help create a context conducive to Black MSM partners self-identifying to reduce HIV risk; sexism and misogyny among SGL Black men. The summit continues meet annual to this day.
1998
The Great Debate on Homosexuality in the Black Community. Co-sponsored by the Nation of Islam (NOI) and BMX-Los Angeles, this event set a historic national precedent for rational, community level dialogue between SGL/gay-identified/bisexual Black people, and heterosexual Black people in America. This event marked the beginning of an ongoing and respectful association between BMX, the NOI and other historically Black leaders and organizations once vehemently anti-homosexual.
2002
BMX-New York City founded.
2003
BMX-NYC organizes and hosts the community symposium NIGGER/NIGGA: Never, Sometimes or Always. The symposium involves local artists, poets, scholars, mental health professionals and cultural experts to address historical and contemporary challenges to Black self-concepts and the manifestations of internalized oppression.
2003
BMX-NYC organizes and hosts the first annual community forum A dialogue Between SGL and Hetero Brothers. The forum makes progress towards conflict resolution as well as creating educational and community-building dialogue with diverse Black men. The forums continues meet annually to this day.
2005
BMX-National sponsors the media campaign and community mobilization action Moratorium On Premature Black Male Death to illuminate disproportionate numbers of premature deaths among Black males. The mobilization was inspired by the murder and beheading of 19 year old Rashawn Brazell. Articles appeared throughout Black media and town hall meetings were held. The event forged relationships with local law enforcement and government officials who also began to attend or support BMX.
BMX invited to address SGL issues at the NOI’s Millions More March held in Washington D.C. on the mall. A speech given by Cleo Manago was broadcast nationwide.
2006
BMX-Atlanta founded.
2007
BMX-Miami founded.
2008
BMX-Baltimore founded.
BMX-NYC organizes and sponsors a Unity Breakfast with Al Sharpton. This event focuses on addressing Black community views on same-sex marriage and engaging anti-homosexual attitudes.
BMX-NYC organizes and sponsors the community conference Sexuality in the Black Community. The event brings together diverse people of African descent engaged in transformative dialogue around ingrained anti-Black, anti-sexuality and anti-homosexual attitudes.
BMX-Baltimore organizes with local press a community forum: An Evening with Cleo Manago. The forum emphasized skill building and resolving local concerns regarding visibility, community building, affirmation and human rights for Black SGL, bisexual and transgendered people in the Baltimore area.
2009
BMX-NYC convene a community forum: The Gatekeepers Symposium. Malidoma Somé initiated elder and diviner in the Dagara tradition and author, from Burkina Faso, West Africa, was key the note presenter. The program convened a cross-section of the Black community, including activists, artists, writers, scholars, psychologists, educators and others to create a space for the development of leadership among Same Gender Loving (SGL) and bisexual African descended men.
BMX Chicago founded
BMX Detroit founded.
2010
Center for Disease Control and Prevention awards BMX-National with a 5 year grant, to work collaboratively with 14 of the nation’s other historically Black organizations (i.e. NAACP, NAN, SCLC, 100 Black Men, etc.) The project goal is to build community across Black diversity, and collaborate on developing innovative ways to reduce stigma and the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
BMX-National convenes it first National Leadership Retreat and Summit at Honor’s Haven in Ellenville, NY. Theme: “Transforming Our Community through Collaboration, Authenticity and Strategic Intelligence.”
2011
BMX-National convenes it second National Leadership Retreat and Summit at West Sonoma Inn & Spa in Guerneville, California. Theme: “Healing, Strategic Intelligence, Self-Love & Discovery.”
BMX-NYC organizes and hosts the community symposium NIGGER/NIGGA: Never, Sometimes or Always. The symposium involves local artists, poets, scholars, mental health professionals and cultural experts to address historical and contemporary challenges to Black self-concepts and the manifestations of internalized oppression.
BMX-LA organizes and hosts the community symposium Love on Top.
July, 2012
Black Men’s Xchange National joined forces with the National Action Network and the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement to present the community forum I AM A MAN: Black Manhood & Sexual Diversity in the Black Community. The panel was helmed by Rev. Al Sharpton (host of MSNBC’s PoliticsNation); “Our World with Black Enterprise” television host, Dr. Marc Lamont Hill; R. L’Heureux Lewis; WBAI’s Esther Armah; Bishop John L. Selders Jr. and Cleo Manago.
