Ten years ago, Jeffrey King and a small group of Black gay men got together to discuss what was not being discussed: their real lives. The group created a safe space, met regularly at the legendary Jewel’s Catch One and, focusing on health and wellness, grew into In the Meantime Men, a grassroots non-profit that now speaks out and stands up for Black gay men in Los Angeles and California.
Last Saturday they celebrated their 10th anniversary at the Vintage Hollywood Private Club on West Washington Boulevard.
In an earlier interview with me for Frontiers, In The Meantime’s Executive Director Jeffrey King, who has a Bachelor of Science in psychology from California State LA, explained the group’s mission:
“In The Meantime stands for the place in between the past and where you’re evolving to, where healing and nurturing happens, where you’re preparing yourself for actualization. It’s an incubator space where you can work through things so you can enter into the mainstream as healthy people—it’s a progression. If you look at the Unity Fellowship Church and Minority AIDS Project, many people who started there we now see in other places, active and contributing to the larger community.”
In The Meantime provides a safe space to talk truthfully – and mentor youth – about the nuances of racism, homophobia, HIV/AIDS, HEP C, crystal meth, and how Black gay men fit into the larger Black, LGBT and social/economic justice communities. (See King’s essay on the first round of proposed cuts to HIV/AIDS services by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger here). In his interview with me, King said:
“No matter if we are Oprah, Bill Cosby or one of the people who was devastated [by Hurricane Katrina] from the Ninth Ward in New Orleans, we are all the same. Racism is real—it is a part of American culture. One of the things we see living in Southern California versus South Alabama is the way it’s executed—the subtleties that we experience here. But it still has the same impact, ultimately making it difficult for people to be successful, for people to be emotionally healthy and well.
[snip]
Our culture, as Black folks, is really about, ‘Hush, don’t tell—what happens in this house doesn’t go beyond these doors or these walls. We don’t talk about what happens here, so we don’t talk about sex. The way that we learn what we learn is from some of the older kids in many cases. Maybe this is even American culture, but some of that has influenced the way we go about living our lives. We call it ‘being private.’ So that becomes our way of justifying that we live our lives in secrecy and fear of being found out. Black gay men are on the DL, in general.
I call it the ultimate sacrifice. There’s a sense of loyalty to our community and to our heritage that says we won’t bring shame to it. Many of us have risen above that. But there are far too many of us who are still closeted. One of the images I remember growing up was of Black men with picket signs in their hands [during civil rights protests] saying, ‘I am a man.’ I also remember the older men talking about what qualified [as] being ‘a man.’ And a lot of that had to do with how the predominate or white culture had influenced them, so I think we still live with a lot of that pressure as Black men—not just our sexuality—because we hold those stereotypes against each other.”
But In The Meantime also hosts social functions from book readings to their gala “PERFECT 10, Reaching Higher” 10th anniversary celebration at Vintage Hollywood Private Club. At the event they honored:
The amazing Rev. Eric Lee, President of the LA chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with the King- Rustin Award.
The legendary and heroic Jewel Thais- Williams, who has been “mom” and mentor to three generations of Black LGBTs, received the Life Time Achievement Award; Jeffrey King, on the left, applauds.
Rose Veniegas, UCLA CHIPS, surrounded by friends, and coworkers
Ardriono Aldridge, ITMT senior staff person and Wayne Moody, Volunteer of the Year Award,
Shaymus Yarborough, ITMT research staff, Xandre Tovar, Volunteer of the Year Award, Cornelius Wilson , ITMT Project assistant staff.
Patrik Polk, writer/director, producer of Logo’s “Noah’s Arc,” received ITMT’s “Image Award”
In The Meantime’s next social event is “Kwanzaa at Home” – which is free and open to the public. Here’s their press release:
In The Meantime is staying home for the holidays. This year our Tuesday night group falls on the 4th Day of Kwanzaa, Tuesday, December 29, 2009, 7:00p.m.- 9:00p.m.
In The Meantime is located at 4067 W. Pico Blvd., LA CA 90019 (East of Crenshaw), Secured parking at the Catch One.
Join us for the lighting of the candles and presentation of the 7 principles, Drumming, Food, and fellowship. The principle of the day is: Ujamaa (oo-JAH-mah) Cooperative economics emphasizes our collective economic strength and encourages us to meet common needs through mutual support.
This is a united community event where The Village comes together. We want to celebrate with our brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents, children, and friends and supporters of the African American Community.
5 Community tables are available at $100.00 per table. Tables will be provided by In The Meantime. If you or your organization would like to be listed as a community collaborator (at no cost) and have your contact information listed on a community contact sheet that will be distributed during the event please contact and or e-mail your information to inthemeantimemen@aol.com by December 20th. List your organization, 2 lines on what services you provide, and website, e-mail address, and phone number.
Free and open to the general public
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