Black Gay Men’s Wellness Month was created to bring attention to the importance of health and wellness and to empower Black Gay Men to take charge of their own well-being through sustained healthy lifestyle choices. This month-long focus calls for individuals, organizations, and policy makers to direct their collective attention and resources to the overall wellness of Black gay men’s disease prevention while encouraging early detection and treatment of health-related issues.
Black Gay Men’s Wellness Month was created by In The Meantime Men’s Group, Inc. and was first observed in August 2014. Today we are working to establish this grassroots wellness initiative to a national observance. We are grateful for our community partners who have joined forces and are representing at the highest levels for the month of August and beyond. In The Meantime Men’s Group, Inc. is purposed to enrich, empower, and extend the lives of intergenerational black men, respectful of sexual orientation, through social, educational, health and wellness programs and services.
Jamil Fletcher and Marcus Smith will both receive the coveted In The Meantime Medal of Honor.
Jamil Fletcher is publisher of SWERV Magazine, a national lifestyle periodical, celebrating the culture and community of African American Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender people throughout the USA. Launched in the winter of 2008 as a quarterly publication, SWERV began publishing on a bimonthly basis in 2012.
Marcus Smith is an Emmy award-winning executive producer at KTLA. He was also a correspondent for the youth newsmagazine, Making the Grade. In addition, he’s a supporter of foster care/adoption advocacy and placement organizations Extraordinary Families and Raise A Child. He serves on the Board of the Inner City Youth Orchestra of LA.
Dancing, Hors d’oeurves, Open Bar
Sunday, August 4, 2024, 2-6 p.m.
Doors open at 2 p.m. | Awards Presentation at 3 p.m.
KISO DTLA
107 W. 4th St., Los Angeles, California 90013
Free Community Event
In The Meantime will honor Jack Mizrahi (Gorgeous Gucci) with the coveted In The Meantime Medal of Honor. Jack Mizrahi (Gorgeous Gucci), an icon in the international Ballroom scene, is known for Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son (2011), American Reunion (2012) and Pose (2018).
He is also a credited consultant for season one of Pose and a staff writer for season three. Jack Mizrahi is a ballroom MC and a member of the Masters of Ceremony Council.
Jack Mizrahi is the iconic voice and creative force of the last three generations of ballroom magic. He is by far the most sought-after Ballroom commentator in the world. Jack has been instrumental in merging social activism and holistic wellness at the intersection of creative expression.
Tuesday, August 6, 2024, 6-9 p.m.
Doors open at 6 p.m. | Awards Presentation at 7 p.m.
In The Meantime Men’s Group, 2146 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90018
Dinner Served | Free and Open to the Public
Leo Moore, MD, MSHPM, AAHIVE, DipIBLM is the Medical Director for Clinic Services at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. In this role, he oversees three public health centers throughout the county that specialize in HIV prevention, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Tuberculosis, and Refugee Health. He is a practicing internal medicine physician who provides STD screening and treatment, HIV prevention, and Tuberculosis care.
He is a medical graduate of Morehouse School of Medicine, completed Primary Care Internal Medicine residency at Yale University School of Medicine. He is also board certified in HIV medicine and lifestyle medicine. Dr. Moore is a thought leader who is committed to ending the HIV epidemic in the United States, with a focus on Black and Latinx communities. Dr. Moore currently serves as a member of the United States Presidential Advisory Council for HIV/AIDS and co-chair of the Stigma and Disparities subcommittee.
Tuesday, August 13, 2024, 6-9 p.m.
Doors open at 6 p.m. | Wellness Presentation at 7 p.m.
In The Meantime Men’s Group, 2146 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90018
Dinner Served | Free and Open to the Public
It’s Jeffrey King’s 66th Birthday Celebration. During a brief presentation and interview Jeffrey will open up about his incredible journey working in the Los Angeles public health sector, and becoming one of the nation’s leading Social Architect and nationally respected HIV/AIDS interventionist and community-based researcher of his time.
Jeffrey will explore navigating a personal life, racism, homophobia, stigma, while creating In The Meantime the most revered Black gay men’s holistic organization of the 21st century. Stay for party and birthday Cake
Dancing and Birthday Cake. Happy 66th Birthday Old Man!
Tuesday, August 20, 2024, 6-9 p.m.
Doors open at 6 p.m. | Interview at 7 p.m.
In The Meantime Men’s Group, 2146 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90018
Dinner Served | Free and Open to the Public
Moonlight is a 2016 American coming-of-age drama film written and directed by Barry Jenkins, based on Tarell Alvin McCraney’s unpublished semi-autobiographical play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue. It stars Trevante Rhodes, Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Ashton Sanders, Jharrel Jerome, Janelle Monáe, and André Holland.
The film presents three stages in the life of the main character: his childhood, adolescence, and early adult life. It explores the difficulties he faces with his sexuality and identity, including the physical and emotional abuse he endures growing up. Filmed in Miami, Florida, beginning in 2015, Moonlight premiered at the Telluride Film Festivali on September 2, 2016. It was released in the U.S. on October 21, 2016. Moonlight has been cited as one of the best films of the 21st century. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture, along with Best Supporting Actor for Ali and Best Adapted Screenplay for Jenkins and McCraney from a total of eight nominations, at the 89th Academy Awards.
Tuesday, August 27, 2024, 6-9 p.m.
Doors open at 6 p.m. | Film Screening at 7 p.m.
In The Meantime Men’s Group, 2146 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90018
Dinner Served | Free and Open to the Public