The Reverend Irene Monroe

The n-word is firmly embedded in the lexicon of racist language that was and still is used to disparage African Americans. The word does not eradicate its historical baggage and its existing troubling racial relations among Blacks and between Whites and Blacks.

The GOP tactics to dissuade people of color from going to the polls during the midterm elections also impacted and posed challenges for many transgender voters who transitioned. Many did not have government-issued photo IDs reflecting their gender. According to the Williams Institute data, of the 137,000 transgender people who transitioned and were eligible to vote, approximately 57 percent (78,000) may not have had the appropriate ID.

Many states, Massachusetts included, have placed inmates in prison facilities according to their anatomy at birth. This insensitive act has put many transgender inmates in harm's way.

There are very few safe places for GBTQ brothers of African descent to safely acknowledging their sexuality as well as to openly engage the subject of their sexualities. Black GBTQ sexualities within African American culture are perceived to further threaten not only black male heterosexuality, but also the ontology of blackness itself.

Although Hart’s now a crossover phenom, he still plays largely to a black audience. And, sadly, in 2018 this audience is a demographic group - young, old, church or unchurched - still unevolved and not completely woke to the deleterious effects of homophobia on its community.

Michelle conveyed a universal message of hope. However, her message of self - empowerment to women - young and old - spoke a truth across generations, centering it as the theme for the evening.

The Peoples Temple marched in Gay Pride and embraced a social gospel of radical inclusion. Jones had a sizeable LGBTQ following that kept growing as did his African American audience.