About BWMT Atlanta

BWMT Atlanta is a gay multiracial, multicultural organization committed to fostering supportive environments wherein racial and cultural barriers can be overcome and the goal of human equality realized. To these ends we engage in educational, political, cultural, and social activities as a means of dealing with racism, sexism, homophobia, HIV/AIDS discrimination and other inequities in our community and in our lives. All who share our goals are welcome.

FAQ's

What do the initials BWMT stand for?
Black and White Men Together

Oh, so this organization is ONLY for black and white guys?
No, ANYONE can join!

I'm Asian, can I still come to the BWMT Events and become a member?
Of course!

I'm a female, can I join?
Of course!

Is this a sex club?
No, this is not a sex club. If that's what you're looking for you're not in the right place.

Will I meet the man of my dreams at BWMT pot luck's, dine-out's and bowling night's or are all the guys in relationships?
Some of the guys are single and some are in relationships. You just might meet the man of your dreams here!

Can I come to the steering committee meetings or are they closed to the public?
All steering committee meetings are open to anyone who would like to attend. Most meetings are scheduled 2 hours before every potluck at the potluck site, but may be announced at a different location and time when the pot-luck location can not provide an adequate meeting environment.

What is the age range of the members?
Members are all ages, from 21 to 80.

Does BWMT have a facebook page I can see and join?
Yes. You can see the page by clicking this link. http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=235989495219 Our Facebook group page is a CLOSED group so you will have to request to join.

What are some of the activities of BWMT?
We have pot-lucks, bowling nights, dine-outs, social events such as trips to the High Museum, The Georgia Aquarium, Whitewater Rafting, movie nights and brunch. If you have something you'd like to suggest, we're always open to new idea's!

How many members are there in the Atlanta chapter?
The Atlanta chapter of BWMT was the largest in the world in 2008 with over 115 paid members and many more guys who come to our events throughout the year!

What does it cost to join?
$20 per year for a single, $30 per year for a couple. Current college students who are under 25 years old can join for $10 per year with a valid college ID.

I'm black, and I'm in a relationship with another black guy. Can we still join?
Of course! ANYONE can join! We have black couples, white couples, black and white couples and other mixed race couples. We do not limit ourselves with just black and white.

History

In 1981, four men who wanted to improve race relationships in Atlanta's gay community came together at what was Crazy Ray's Restaurant (same location as the present Burkhart's in Ansley Square) to talk about founding a local BWMT chapter modeled after the San Francisco group founded by Mike Smith. One of the four of us is still alive and living in Atlanta. Our first and successive meetings were at the Atlanta Gay Center which was then in an old house on Ponce de Leon Avenue. The atmosphere in Atlanta in 1981 was hardly open in the sense that it is now, and racial discrimination in many of the bars was blatant. People of color were frequently carded (sometimes requiring as many as 4 or 5 i.d.'s), so the need for political action was primary in our minds.

Our first meeting was on a cold November evening, and was well attended since we had run ads in the ETC magazine. We soon evolved into a political AND social group. I well remember the rap groups as being very lively with a stimulating and group therapy kind of format. We also started the tradition of potlucks in individual members' homes, and we even published a newsletter (for which I was the movie critic). I am proud to say that we were the main catalysts for the passage of a city ordnance banning discriminatory carding in the bars. We did that with the help of a young future mayor Bill Campbell, who attended a large benefit with us at the Fox Egyptian Ballroom. Then came the AIDS pandemic in the late 1980's and early 90's. As with many other groups, we were hit hard and lost many beloved original founders. We persevered and steadily added new members throughout the 1990's and 2000's, even though at times membership waivered. BWMT Atlanta continues to be a thriving institution in Atlanta's LGBT community and is the nation's largest chapter of the National Association of Black and White Men Together.

Willis Bivins July 22, 2009

National Association

What makes up the National Association of Black and White Men Together (NABMWT)?
The NABWMT is a collective nationwide network of affiliated and developing chapters in over 30 cities that identify themselves as Black and White Men Together (BWMT), Men of All Colors Together (MACT), or People of All Colors Together (PACT) in keeping with the cultural dynamics of their respective areas.

What is NABWMT about?
We are committed to fostering respect, honesty, and communication among people of different races and cultural backgrounds. We are a gay, multi-racial, multi-cultural organization for all people. We welcome people of all racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and all gender identities and sexual orientations. We operate the Bush-Mallon Institute for Social Justice conducts day-long workshops which have been developed to achieve specific anti-racism objectives. (Occasionally, shorter workshops are conducted to fit specific needs.) Regardless of length, the content of every Institute workshop has been carefully developed by a team of experienced anti-racism trainers with the overriding goal of empowering the workshop audience to effectively deal with the effects of racism in our communities and in our lives. Resisting Racism: An Action Guide Edited by Gerald L. Mallon, Ed.D. This 157 page manual is filled with Workshop Outlines, Resource Materials, and Essays. For further information visit: http://nabwmt.org