The Executive Board of Lambda PTO strongly believes that BLACK LIVES MATTER.  Black and African American members of the LGBT community suffer extraordinary amounts of economic inequality (https://www.hrc.org/resources/being-african-american-lgbtq-an-introduction), have the highest rate of HIV infection in the US, despite using the same or better safer sex standards as their White counterparts, (https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/msm/bmsm.html), and an increased risk for youth suicide (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3093285/).  And these are just a few of the challenges LGBTQIA+ Blacks, African-Americans, and POC face.  Lambda PTO stands with our members, allies and all people of color.  Our rights and liberties as LGBTQ+ individuals are inextricably tied with the rights and liberties of ALL marginalized people.  We encourage attendance at the Listening Sessions with Bismarck Myrick currently being planned by the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity in order to allow oft-silenced or forgotten voices to discuss these very important issues that are facing our society and our everyday lives.  We also encourage reaching out, and letting us know if there is a way we can support you now, or when you find yourself in need.