Pride and the Bible Belt

<p>Selma, Alabama was at the heart of the Civil Rights Movement. It was here in 1965 that Black protesters were chased and beaten during a march that would become known as <a href="https://www.history.com/news/selma-bloody-sunday-attack-civil-rights-movement" target="_blank">Bloody Sunday</a>. And today, that fight for Black liberation continues in Selma with Quentin Bell, the executive director of the <a href="https://tkosociety.com/about-us/" target="_blank">Knights and Orchids Society</a>, a nonprofit group that supports Black queer people who are facing housing insecurity, healthcare needs, and <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/alabama-criminalizes-gender-affirming-care-for-transgender-youth-137624133550" target="_blank">discrimination</a>.</p><p>Quentin has been an <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/transgender-people-survival-mode-violence-rises-anti-trans-bills-becom-rcna6053" target="_blank">LGBTQ+ advocate for more than a decade</a>. And as he told Trymaine Lee, “Black liberation means the liberation of all Black people, regardless of gender, regardless of orientation, regardless of spirituality.” </p><p>On this episode of Into America, Trymaine visits Selma to learn about Quentin’s work. And he speaks with <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/239582/lynda-blackmon-lowery/" target="_blank">Lynda Blackmon Lowery</a>, one of the foot soldiers of the Civil Rights Movement, about how the fight for queer rights today is carrying on the legacy of the activists of her generation.</p><p>For a transcript, please visit <a href="https://www.msnbc.com/intoamerica" target="_blank">msnbc.com/intoamerica</a>. </p><p>Follow and share the show on <a href="https://twitter.com/intoamericapod" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/intoamericapod" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/intoamericapod" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, using the handle <strong>@intoamericapod</strong>.</p><p>Thoughts? Feedback? Story ideas? Write to us