BlackOut Productions, founded in 1997 by Larry Webb and Derek Barnett, was an African American LGBTQ+ entertainment, consulting, production, and social justice organization. BlackOut described itself as “Cleveland’s premier organization serving the African American same-gender loving community.” BlackOut’s primary mission was to “raise the level of consciousness in and about the African American lesbian and gay community” in Cleveland through education, entertainment, and community-based programs and initiatives.
Webb and Barnett initially formed BlackOut Productions to organize BlackOut ’97, a weekend-long LGBTQ+ pride celebration and event series geared towards Cleveland’s African American LGBTQ+ and same gender loving communities. Following the success of BlackOut ’97, Webb and Barnett recognized BlackOut’s ability to address many of the unmet organizational and social needs of Cleveland’s African American LGBTQ+ and same-gender loving communities. In 1999, BlackOut Productions reorganized into the nonprofit organization BlackOut Unlimited. That same year, BlackOut Unlimited established an office at 2800 Euclid Avenue.
BlackOut Unlimited’s many programming initiatives were intended to “foster a sense of community” among Cleveland’s underserved African American LGBTQ+ and same-gender loving communities. BlackOut regularly sponsored recurring events, conversation and entertainment series, workshops, conferences, and conventions, and educational programming geared towards members of Cleveland’s African American LGBTQ+ and same-gender loving communities. BlackOut’s core programs included The Brother Circle, Zami Womyn’s Circle, and the Club 1722 Youth Project.
Gay People’s Chronicle. June 7, 2002. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. Pride Guide 1998. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. August 8, 2003. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. Pride Guide 2004. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. August 13, 2004. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. January 2, 2004. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. March 26, 2004. 
Gay People’s Chronicle. March 4, 2005.
Additional information coming soon.
Resources
- “About Us.” BlackOut Unlimited. 2003.
- Barnett, Derek. “African American Lesbians, Gays Begin to Build Community.” Gay People’s Chronicle. July 23, 1999. Page 8.
- “BlackOut ‘98 is Set for Independence Day Weekend.” Gay People’s Chronicle. Pride Guide 1997. Page B-29.
- “BlackOut Expands Brother Circle, Adds Women’s Group.” Gay People’s Chronicle. Pride Guide 2002. Page B-7.
- “Building Community is the Goal of BlackOut ‘99.” Gay People’s Chronicle. Pride Guide 1999. Page B-14.
- Cudnik, Doreen. “Two Events Will Celebrate Black Gay-Lesbian Culture.” Gay People’s Chronicle. Pride Guide 1997. Page A-11.
- Cudnik, Doreen. “Black Out Grows in its 2nd Year.” Gay People’s Chronicle. July 10, 1998. Pages 1, 8.
- Gipson, Michael. “Against the Odds.” Gay People’s Chronicle. November 25, 2005.
- Glassman, Anthony. “Directing the Festivities.” Gay People’s Chronicle. January 2, 2004. Page 1.
- Glassman, Anthony. “Put the Flawless In.” Gay People’s Chronicle. April 25, 2003. Page 3.
- Negron, Sidney. “Black Gay Pride.” Encyclopedia of Cleveland History.
- Oatman, Michael. “BlackOut is Ohio’s African American SGL Connection.” Gay People’s Chronicle. Pride Guide 2004. Page A-33.