In a wide-ranging interview, Victoria Kirby York—the recently appointed Deputy Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition— discusses how she first got involved with the organization that is focused on eradicating racism and promoting Black LGBTQ equality, her goals for the organization, how the Civil Rights Act was not as inclusive as people believe, and the significance of Black LGBTQ political representation. York also speaks about being a Black, lesbian, Christian woman and why other Black Christians who are intolerant of her lifestyle need to remember Jesus' own words.  

As a Howard University graduate student studying for her Master of Public Administration, York presented a research paper on LGBTQ equality at HBCUs [Historically Black colleges and universities.] That work got the attention of other academic institutions and the National Black Justice Coalition.

“I authored a report that the Kennedy School of Government published looking at that particular research.  So, they [NBJC] used my research to really start a more robust engagement with HBCU administrators, particularly as they were some hate crimes and deaths on HBCU campuses. The NBJC used the research that came out my thesis to really hold HBCU administrators accountable. So that began my relationship with the organization as a reporter,” she said.

After that accomplishment, York went on to build an impressive resume in politics. She worked as the Florida Director for Organizing for Action which supported President Barack Obama’s legislative agenda; a Deputy Field Director for Charlie Crist’s 2014 campaign for Governor of Florida and most recently the Deputy Director for the Advocacy & Action Department at the National LGBTQ+ Task Force. Still, York felt something was missing in her career. 

“I realized I wanted to go back to where my advocacy began which was in Black LGBTQ spaces. I found that even with more of us being at racial justice organizations like the NAACP and being in more leadership roles at LGBTQ organizations, we were still falling through the gaps. Because of funding deliverables [and] the need for those organizations to not really cater to particular communities but everyone.”

So, when the opportunity came up to be the Deputy Executive Director, York quickly threw her hat in the ring and she got what she was looking for.  Serving in her role since November 2020, one of York’s main objectives is to not repeat the mistakes of the 1960s pertaining to the Black LGBTQ movement and the Civil Rights Acts of 1964.

“I wanted to take my last decade of management experience in non-profit and electoral policy to really help take NBJC to the next level.  As we expand our staff and scope and really take advantage of the racial equity moment [we have now] to make sure we don’t repeat the same mistake of the 1960s. Where you had black queer folks who were in leadership roles but who were also silenced, [for example] Bayard Rustin who planned the March on Washington. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 still excluded him and [and other Black gay people],” she said.

Another goal of York while serving as Deputy Executive Director is to ensure that gender expansive language is included in all legislation that affects African Americans. For instance, if the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020 passed in the Senate, York argues that Tony McDade, a Black transgender who was killed by police in May 2020 would have been excluded.

Inclusive legislation for LGBTQ folks is important as well as LGBTQ legislators. While most of the nation’s voters were eager to welcome President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, the first Black vice-president, another milestone happened for African American politicians.

Ritchie Torres (NY-15) and Mondaire Jones (NY-17) became the first openly gay Black members of Congress when they started their terms in January 2021. York said it is a needed step forward when LGBTQ legislators can be at table and create laws that reflect their reality.

“It’s huge. Having people as the decision makers and law-making people who bring a breadth of lived experience with them means that we have government funded programs and policies and services that can reach all taxpayers. Right now, the programs we have are created unfortunately with only the people at the table in mind. So, if your community isn’t at the table. Then you are going to run the risk of being continuously left out and not being able to access some of the programs,” she explained.

For example, legislation that addresses youth homelessness. York said that a third of youth in this nation who are homeless are LGBTQ people of color. In some regions like the Bay Area of California, the rate is even higher. There, 80% of the homeless youth population are persons of color and nearly half identify as LGBTQ according to Larkin Street Youth Services.

“And were like three percent of the population. So, to represent a full third, thirty percent of folks who are living on the streets sadly because many of them were kicked out of their homes when they came out,” York continued.

Speaking of indifference in the Black community toward LGBTQ individuals, York reminds other African Americans especially those who are Christian like herself to follow Jesus’ greatest commandment.

“My Christian identity is my master identity. It’s the values that I lead from, the values in which I lead my life and the things that I say particularly for Black people of faith is a reminder that the greatest commandment in Jesus’s own words is to love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus didn’t say anything about being gay or anything like that…Jesus did say love your neighbor as yourself and what that means is you should love others as God made you, radically and fully,” York believes.

The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) is a civil rights organization dedicated to the empowerment of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and same gender loving (LGBTQ/SGL) people, including people living with HIV/AIDS. To find out more about this group, visit their website.