FIERCE

Fierce’s National Program and Some History

Fierce’s National Program was launched in 2007 after The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force released a report which stated that 20 – 40% of the 1.6 million homeless youth nationally are LGBTQ identified. From this staggering statistics FIERCE as an organization birthed the National Program as a response to the dire need to support LGBTQ youth organizing and LGBTQ youth leadership in broader social justice movement-building efforts. 

Currently out National Programs Intern Chery along with Morgan FIERCE’S National Program Director have identified organization around the country that do work with LGBTQ youth that may have a need to include leadership development or include a structure that would allow for the members or served population to have decision making power. They are now currently working on assessing the needs of individual organizations and see how FIERCE’s National Program could help build the capacity of these organizations. 

 

Facts: Many organizations in history have done national work such as the Black Panther Party which were key players in the Black Liberation Movement. They were formed in October 1966 in Oakland California by Hewey P. Newton and Bobby Seale the original name was “The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense” the name was then shorten to the formerly known name The Black Panther Party. Shortly after their formation they began to expand eastward having chapters in New York,Chicago,Philadelphia,Newark,Omaha, Denver along with plenty others. The party was one of the first organizations in U.S. history to militantly struggle for ethnic minority and working class emancipation — a party whose agenda was the revolutionary establishment of real economic, social, and political equality across gender and color lines. Movements such as the Gay Liberation Front, Young Lords Party were heavily influenced by the BBP in fact even working in alliance with each other in order to insure equality for all.

 

If you would like to know more about FIERCE’S National Program or would like to take part in administering the Technical Assistant Surveys contact Chery through email at: national@fiercenyc.org .

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