When California’s Prop 8 passed in 2008, many disappointed supporters of marriage equality immediately blamed the state’s African American church leaders for failing to embrace same-sex marriage as a civil rights issue. The finger-pointing drove a wedge between Black and LGBT communities, and over-simplified the complex history of African American attitudes toward gay rights, particularly in the Black church.

The New Black is a much-needed fresh take on how those attitudes might be changing. It gives us an inside look at efforts within African American communities and churches across the country to address — and then do something about — same-sex equality.

Taking us to backyard barbecues, church meetings, and campaign offices, the film introduces us to a surprisingly diverse cast of citizen activists. We meet gospel singer Tonéx, whose coming out made him an outcast, and Rev. Delman Coates, a Baptist minister who champions same-sex marriage rights. Most memorably, we follow the indefatigable and inspiring Sharon Lettman-Hicks, the straight leader of the National Black Justice Coalition, as she helps lead Maryland’s 2012 campaign to secure LGBT marriage equality — part of what she terms “the unfinished business of Black people being free.” Showing respect for opposing perspectives, The New Black charts a new map of the disputed territory where church teachings, long-held traditions, civil rights, and social conscience intersect and often clash.