United Lesbians of African Heritage Is Founded
United Lesbians of African Heritage (ULOAH) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1990 in Los Angeles to address the unique challenges faced by black lesbians. The organization emerged from a series of meetings aimed at planning a black lesbian conference due to the absence of relevant programming at existing LGBTQ+ events. ULOAH serves as a vital support network for a largely underserved community, aiming to combat discrimination stemming from the intersecting identities of race, gender, and sexual orientation. Its mission includes fostering self-esteem and challenging heterosexism while promoting visibility and social change through various educational initiatives.
Key programs offered by ULOAH include "ULOAH University," which provides workshops and training to enhance black lesbian activism, and the "Young, Empowered Sistahs" initiative, focused on leadership development for young black lesbians. The organization also addresses health issues among its community through programs aimed at reducing obesity and promoting physical activity. Additionally, ULOAH organizes events like Sistahfest, an educational and cultural festival, and the Family Reunion program, which seeks to bridge understanding between black LGBTQ+ individuals and their broader communities. Overall, ULOAH plays an essential role in advocating for the rights and well-being of black lesbians in Southern California and beyond.
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United Lesbians of African Heritage Is Founded
United Lesbians of African Heritage formed in response to a need for an organization dedicated to the visibility, unity, and empowerment of black lesbians.
Date 1990
Locale Los Angeles, California
Key Figures
Lisa Powell Saundra Tignor andYolanda Whittington cofounders of United Lesbians of African Heritage
Summary of Event
In March of 1989, a group in Los Angeles began to meet regularly with the goal of planning a black lesbian conference. The impetus for the meetings was the lack of women’s programming at the National Black Gay & Lesbian Leadership Forum Conference. The early seeds were planted at these meetings for the formation of United Lesbians of African Heritage (ULOAH). Through the following several months, and after many community meetings, it became clear that the black lesbian community needed an organization that could address effectively the broad range of issues that affected the lives of women who were black and lesbian. The early issues and concerns were wide-ranging, from activism to building coalitions to health and wellness, to name just a few. Even in a large metropolitan area such as Los Angeles, there had been no organization dedicated to serving black lesbians.
ULOAH was founded as a nonprofit organization in 1990 by Lisa Powell, Saundra Tignor, and Yolanda Whittington. It is the only organization of its type in Southern California and one of only a few in the United States. ULOAH has a staff of four, including a full-time executive director.
Significance
ULOAH serves a growing, yet vastly underserved, community of black lesbians and is committed to combating discrimination and prejudice against black lesbians, prejudice and discrimination that comes from stigmas against the intersecting identities of race, gender, and sexual orientation.
The primary goals of ULOAH, whose slogan is “Making the world safe for black lesbians,” have been to build self-esteem, to challenge heterosexism and other forms of oppression, and to work for lasting social change through visibility, education, and advocacy. Some of the organization’s programs have included “ULOAH University,” workshops, speakers, panel discussions, and training sessions designed to increase black lesbian activism and leadership. ULOAH/YES (Young, Empowered Sistahs) is a program that foster leadership among young black lesbians (ages sixteen to twenty-six). Strong Sistahs/Sweet Success is a ULOAH program that aims to decrease obesity and increase physical activity among black lesbians, and ULOAH provides social support to black lesbians ages fifty and older. Furthermore, ULOAH organizes Sistahfest, an annual four-day educational and cultural festival. In keeping with ULOAH’s mission, the Family Reunion program focuses on increasing understanding of black LGBT persons within non-LGBT communities and institutions such as churches and schools.
Bibliography
Asanti, Ta’Shia. “The New ULOAH: Black Lesbian Organization Expands Its Vision in 2003.” Lesbian News, February, 2003, 16.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗. “ULOAH’s Black Lesbian Vagina Dialogues.” Lesbian News, August, 2001, 30.
Douglas, Kelly Brown. Sexuality and the Black Church: A Womanist Perspective. Maryknoll, N.Y.: Orbis Books, 1999.
Johnson, E. Patrick, and Mae G. Henderson, eds. Black Queer Studies: A Critical Anthology. Durham, N.C.: Duke University Press, 2005.
Lorde, Audre. I Am Your Sister: Black Women Organizing Across Sexualities. Freedom Organizing Pamphlet Series 3. Latham, N.Y.: Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press, 1985.
Mason-John, Valerie, ed. Talking Black: Lesbians of African and Asian Descent Speak Out. New York: Cassell, 1995.
Smith, Rhonda. “To the Front Line.” Washington Blade, April 20, 2001, 1.