For Black gay men, living in the light isn’t just a metaphor — it’s survival. That’s the message behind the upcoming Ujima Men’s Collective Conference.
“Living in the light refers to living one's life openly, honestly, and authentically,” said Executive Director Lorenzo Robertson. “Living in the light is the cornerstone of Ujima. We want all people to be able to feel free to live their lives on their own terms and never fear that the way they live their life can cause them harm.”
The biennial event will take place at Gallery One – a DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Oct. 24–26.
One of the keynote speakers will be Florida State Senator Shevrin Jones. Jones is the first gay person and first LGBTQ Black person elected to the Florida Senate. Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, who is also gay, will present a greeting and a proclamation. Special guests include comedian Sampson, neo-soul artist Nhojj, and actor Arrington Foster.
The conference is organized around five core tenets: Leadership, Advocacy, Spirituality, Relationships, and Health & Wellness. Speakers and workshop facilitators will incorporate those tenets into their presentations.
Robertson said the relationship tenet is the most important one at this point.
“We are living in some perilous times, and we need to build relationships to counter the evil and corrupt actions against us. We cannot do this alone, and we need to encourage everyone to understand that we are all under attack,” he said. “Our relationships will help all of us to stand tall and strong against the enemy. We are living in such racially divided times. We are bombarded with those who do not understand the gravity of being a Black man living in a racist America.”
Robertson pointed out that even routine experiences like driving while Black can carry deadly risks.
The Ujima Men’s Collective, rooted in the Kwanzaa principle of Ujima (collective work and responsibility), unites Black same-gender-loving men and their allies to promote education, empowerment, and community.
“Our mission is for attendees to return to their areas and start to have some of the difficult conversations; how can Black people work more cohesively and stop stigmatizing people about their HIV status, build community wealth, and normalize LGBTQ in our community,” Robertson said. “We are a small and growing agency. We are continuing to expand our reach into other areas. We want to be the premier agency working to create a better world for all people, but especially for Black same-gender-loving men.”
For registration and more information, visit www.ujimamen.net.
