The Frantz Fanon Lab, in collaboration with grassroots LGBT BIPOC mental health organization DBGM, launched a qualitative study to examine how Same-Gender Loving and Gay Black Men navigate family and community in the aftermath of COVID 19. We interviewed participants who identified as cis-gender African-American, Afro-Latinx, Afro-Caribbean, and African immigrant Same-Gender Loving and/or gay men, using a protocol developed jointly with DBGM members and leadership. We are currently in the process of coding our data and examining our preliminary findings.

We plan to present our findings at the 2024 In My Mind conference this coming October 11-12th. Given that In My Mind brings together service providers, researchers, and members from the community, we will be delivering a traditional presentation of findings alongside a team of artists who are currently working with us in analyzing and reflecting on the data. These artists will “translate” the data into an artistic performance which will then lead into small group community discussions to explore the implications of the study, and generate ideas, resources, and policies that include the insights of our participants and are tailored to the needs of Black Gay and/or Same-Gender Loving Men.

This way, the study can receive community feedback on how to best understand and interpret its findings, while helping inform how scholars, practitioners, and community organizers adapt and “make use” of it.