Black, Out, and Proud to host Melanated Health Forum centering Black LGBTQ+ health and wellness

After postponing its Melanated Health Forum in 2025, Black, Out, and Proud, a Columbus-based nonprofit, is back to keeping the city’s Black LGBTQ+ community engaged and informed about their wellness. 

The organization’s board secretary, William Stinchcomb, said the event provides an open, unfiltered space for Black LGBTQ+ folks to engage in necessary conversations about their health.

“It’s already tough times trying to get people to understand our voices as Black folks, let alone as queer folks,” Stinchcomb said. “One of the things that we do know, especially as Black folks, is that oftentimes our health concerns aren’t taken as seriously.”

“We already have a distrust of the medical system because America has historically just not been kind to us, and so it’s important for us to be able to have conversations that are still centering our health – and talking about not just our health but also the factors that impact our health.”

Melanated Health Forum provides conversations “led by us”

The 2026 Melanated Health Forum kicks off Saturday, Oct. 10, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Stonewall Columbus, 1160 N. High Street.

Attendees must be 18 or older to register; as Stinchcomb explained, the conversations center on Black LGBTQ+ adults.

During the event, attendees will hear from a panel of health professionals who will share their expertise and experiences to help attendees manage their overall health and better understand current healthcare topics and systems. Speakers will include Sally D. Ross, environmental social scientist and urban forestry practitioner, and Tynita White, policy director at Columbus Public Health.

Stinchcomb, a licensed professional counselor who runs a mental health practice, Pure Honey Counseling and Wellness Services, shared that Black, Out, and Proud intentionally chose Black healthcare professionals to lead the conversations happening during the forum.

“We need to be able to have spaces that are led by us who are also in the field, who are the professionals and can speak to not just what’s in a textbook and theorize, but also talk about it from a lived experience place,” Stinchcomb said. “Maybe the purpose behind why they’re doing the work that has to do with some level of the social determinants of health.” 

The social determinants of health (SDOH) are the non-medical factors that can affect someone’s health and well-being. According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, SDOH fall into five domains: economic stability; education access and quality; healthcare access and quality; neighborhood and built environment; and social and community context. Stinchcomb said the medical professionals that Black, Out and Proud partners with bridge gaps that are often overlooked.

“One of my favorite conversations we had was year one; we had a speaker who was able to speak to dentistry and how understanding what your benefits are and being able to get in is just as impactful to your health.”

“Let’s talk about why you need to utilize [your dental benefit], and here’s how to be able to access it and be able to speak to it, so that way you can know what you need to get done when you’re walking into your dentist’s office,” he recalled. “Very impactful conversation, but that’s just one of many conversations we’ve had over the last two forums.” 

The Melanated Health Forum offers a space to “come get loved on”

Like many nonprofit organizations affected by the Trump Administration and the dismantling of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), Black, Out, and Proud’s third Melanated Health Forum is happening with little sponsor support. Stinchcomb stepped in to contribute funding this year through his practice, as did the ADAMH (Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health) Board of Franklin County.

“We do hope that organizations see what the goodness of investing in organizations like ours means for the communities that it serves,” he said. “I don’t think you’re seeing a lot of companies say outright, but a lot of them are divesting from things that they consider DEI initiatives, and so it just means it hurts our community that much more.” 

Stinchcomb is optimistic that Black, Out, and Proud’s financial challenges are “temporary.” In the meantime, the organization is moving forward with providing love and visibility to the community through the event. 

“Come out, get conversation, have the community time, and come be loved on,” Stinchcomb offered. “I want people to see that Black joy exists. It’s not all doom and gloom. For all the things that I can tell y’all about how things have been bad for me — and I’m sure other Black queer folks can say what’s been bad for them — there’s been a lot of joy in this living, and I know that to somebody, somewhere, seeing a Black doctor is going to mean something.” 

Black, Out, and Proud’s Melanated Health Forum is free and open to Black LGBTQIA adults. 🔥

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• To learn more about the Melanated Health Forum, click here.
• To make a donation to Black, Out and Proud, click here.