D. Rashaan Gilmore, CEO of BlaqOut Inc., Discusses the Importance of Healthcare for the LGBTQ Community

D. Rashaan Gilmore is the founder and CEO of BlaqOut Inc., a social organizing movement of, by, and for the Black LGBTQ community and host of the live broadcast public affairs radio show, “Unbossed and Unbothered with D. Rashaan.”   BlaqOut is an organization and a movement that was born as a response to a call for change. We are a united community of individual advocates, community activists, and healthcare professionals who work to address the psychosocial and environmental challenges faced by Black queer people living in the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area. We believe that to turn the tide against the HIV/AIDS epidemic and improve overall health outcomes, grassroots and indigenously-led efforts originating from those most affected must be given the opportunity to succeed. Our approach aims to look at all aspects of the lives of Black queer people and a conscious effort is made not to problematize Black queer people by having a singular focus on HIV/AIDS. At BlaqOut, we create new pathways for our core membership to enjoy a sense of community, experience healing, and feel celebrated, nurtured, heard, and seen.