ABilly S. Jones-Hennin

ABilly S. Jones-Hennin (March 21, 1942 – January 19, 2024) was an American LGBT rights activist based in Washington, D.C.

Beginning in the late 1970s, Jones-Hennin was active in African-American LGBTQ organizing, helping to found a number of groups, and acted as the logistics coordinator for the first March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights in 1979. In the 1980s, he was involved with HIV/AIDS education and helped to develop healthcare programs with the Whitman-Walker Clinic.

From the 1990s until his death, Jones-Hennin became involved with disability activism, speaking specifically about homophobia in healthcare settings.

Early life and career Jones was born Lannie Bess in St. John's, Antigua. He was adopted at age 3 by American civil rights activists

In college, he protested against the Vietnam War.

Activism In 1978, Jones cofounded the National Coalition of Black Gays (NCBG) in Columbia, Maryland; the organization was the first national advocacy group of its kind for gay and lesbian African Americans. and helped organize the National Third World LGBT Conference at Howard University that same weekend.

Jones also founded the Gay Married Men's Association (GAMMA), co-founded the D.C. chapter of Black and White Men Together, In the 1980s, Jones was a founding member of the Langston Hughes-Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club, an alternative to the Gertrude Stein Club.

In the 1990s, Jones pivoted towards disability activism as he faced his own heath problems of spinal stenosis. and spoke out about homophobia in healthcare in his later years.