As part of its Pride Month initiatives, Black dating app BLK has introduced a new campaign titled Solidarity is for the Homies, aimed at fostering deeper, more inclusive relationships between straight and queer Black men.
The campaign centers on the often-overlooked dynamics within Black male friendships, particularly how queerness intersects with cultural perceptions of masculinity. It combines storytelling, community data, and in-app features to spark conversation and challenge long-standing norms around Black male solidarity.
According to BLK, nearly 3,000 Black men participated in a survey designed to explore attitudes toward queer friendship. While nearly half of those surveyed identified as allies, and 61% said they had never intentionally avoided friendships with queer men, the findings also pointed to lingering barriers. Over 30% admitted to making or laughing at hurtful jokes, and more than half said they might not intervene if a queer friend was being disrespected in public.
The campaign includes a three-part video series created with content creator Ziggy Mack Johnson, as well as interactive app features like a profile sticker and a solidarity pledge. These tools are meant to encourage users to openly affirm their support for inclusive friendships and rethink what it means to be a supportive friend.
BLK’s initiative underscores the complexities of community-building among Black men and calls for a redefinition of brotherhood – one that acknowledges and affirms all identities. Rather than a critique, the campaign positions itself as an invitation to evolve shared spaces into ones where all Black men, regardless of sexuality, feel respected and represented.
