AS THE NATION PREPARES to celebrate Black History Month in February, the complex historical spectrum of what it means to be black and gay resonates clearly to Atlantans like Imani Evans, an author and licensed psychotherapist who facilitates a Feb. 12 women’s empowerment workshop at Charis Books & More.

"Ultimately I think that African-American history is really about American history, and American history is really human history," says Evans, an African-American lesbian. "I’m a global citizen and all of those things begin and end with that concept."

Evans’ workshop, "Living More Authentically," teaches skills to surmount obstacles through interactive discussions — skills that can be particularly important for those who are both black and gay, she says.

"I think we have a long way to go," Evans says. "I think it is still one of the taboos. … It’s difficult because when the party starts to take sides, where do you go and still be all of yourself? We’re still struggling with that."

Black gays also struggle with having fewer role models than other ethnic groups, Evans says.

"I can look at someone like Ellen DeGeneres and I can relate to it on one level," she says. "But there’s still a piece missing for me in terms of being African-American."

The importance of observances like Black History Month, as well as annual events like Black Gay Pride that highlight the contributions of African-American gays throughout history, should not be understated, Evans stresses.

"When it rolls around it reminds me there’s a bigger pool of strength for me to rely on," she says. "It also reminds me I can include that as part of who I am and be proud of that."

Charis also presents several other events in honor of Black History Month. The women’s book group discusses Tayari Jones’ novel "Leaving Atlanta" and travel writer Grace Lynis discusses heritage travel that celebrates the African Diaspora.

ATLANTA MEN FOR ALL CULTURES, a gay men’s social and educational organization, also recognizes Black History Month with several events. The group’s membership is primarily African-American and white, but all ethnicities are welcome.

The first AMFAC event is a Feb. 5 dinner at Paschal’s Restaurant on Northside Drive. The original Paschal’s, owned since 1996 by Clark Atlanta University and closed in August 2003, was a central meeting place in the 1960s where Martin Luther King Jr. and his contemporaries discussed their plans.

"Our main reasoning for going to Paschal’s is its historical significance and what it meant to blacks during the civil rights movement," says Dorjan Williams, outreach director for AMFAC. "Even though the restaurant has been relocated, we still wanted to recognize the significance of its history."

Later in the month, the group will meet at the Ansley Mall Starbucks to caravan to Alabama, where it will tour prominent sites from the black civil rights era. The itinerary includes stops in Tuskegee, Selma, Montgomery and Tuscaloosa.

"As a black gay man myself, I think it’s extremely important for us to understand our history," Williams says. "Because it can be encouraging for us to then push forward and make advances in the gay community."

AMFAC has two other related events on tap for the month. Its Feb. 18 monthly discussion group topic is "the Civil Rights Struggle"; the Feb. 28 meeting features a screening of Spike Lee’s civil rights documentary "4 Little Girls."

AUTHOR E. PATRICK JOHNSON’S NEW BOOK "Appropriating Blackness" examines how blacks are portrayed in the media. Several chapters directly address gay issues.

Johnson, an associate professor of performance studies and African-American studies at Northwestern University, will read a chapter from the book on Feb. 5 at Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeehouse.

The selection focuses on black gay men’s use of terms associated with family life — including "family," "mother" and "the children" — as a way of recreating a sense of home because "so many black gay men have been displaced from their homes because of their sexuality and their culture," Johnson says.

Many black gay men in the South were also raised in religious homes, which created inner turmoil over reconciling their spirituality and their sexual orientation, says Johnson, a North Carolina native.

"I dealt with it by being around positive gay people who weren’t always necessarily black, but were self-affirming about themselves and about me. It gave me enough strength to accept who I am," he says. "More and more folks are finding ways to do that."

The event at Outwrite is co-sponsored by In the Life Atlanta, producers of the city’s annual Black Gay Pride celebration.