Title
Honoring the life and achievements of Michael Hinson, Jr., whose art, leadership, and activism established community strongholds for Black and brown LGBTQ youth and led to critical civil rights advancements for LGBTQ people in Philadelphia.
Body
WHEREAS, Michael Hinson was born in Hemingway, South Carolina, the eldest of six children. Michael moved to Philadelphia after graduating high school in the mid 1980's and quickly became an active member of various organizations to support Philadelphians of color living with HIV/AIDS; and
WHEREAS, Michael founded Colours Magazine, a community resource in the early 1990's that provided news about health, technology, music, fashion, and entertainment aimed at intergenerational people of color in the LGBTQ community. The magazine later transformed into the Colours Organization which provided direct services and continued to share information on issues relevant to communities of color through virtual platforms; and
WHEREAS, Hinson was hired by former Mayor John Street to serve as a liaison to LGBTQ communities in 2000 - a position that would lay the foundation for the creation of the Mayor's Office of LGBT Affairs. By 2002, Mike would work with Councilman Frank DiCicco to ensure that gender identity became protected under the City's Fair Practices Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, During his years of steadfast work on behalf of the LGBQT community, Michael co-founded Philadelphia Black Gay Pride, secured funding to launch the LGBT health clinic at the Mazzoni Center, and advised Department of Human Services administrators on local policy changes that led to the establishment of Bethel House, the city's first LGBT housing facility for queer youth; and
WHEREAS, Michael earned a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies from Peirce College, where he was a W.W. Smith Academic Scholar, a Peirce College Legal Studies Scholar, the Peirce College Academic Leadership Award recipient, and graduated Summa Cum Laude. Additionally, Mike hol...
Click here for full text