WASHINGTON - This weekend at the American Black Film Festival in Miami, Dirty Laundry continued to receive critical acclaim by picking up two of the most coveted honors at the festival's awards ceremony. Winning both awards for which it was nominated, this new Maurice Jamal-directed film took home honors including the Blockbuster Award for Best U.S. Feature and a Best Actor Award for one of the show's stars, Loretta Divine.

"We are so honored to be a national sponsor of a film that not only continues to defy expectations but also blazes a trail for the honesty and integrity of the story it is telling," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese, who introduced Dirty Laundry at the American Black Film Festival screening on Saturday. "From the beginning, everyone involved with this film knew it chronicles one man's story but is emblematic of thousands of conversations happening in homes across the country."

"The film presents a view of an African-American family that we've never seen before. It's about sexuality, family, faith and redemption. It's great that the Human Rights Campaign recognized how universal this story and those themes are. From my work with their Historically Black Colleges and Universities program to Dirty Laundry they are making wonderful strides in our community," said Maurice Jamal, writer/director of Dirty Laundry and The Ski Trip.

"Dirty Laundry is a film that tells a story that needs to be told. Maurice Jamal's storytelling and dialogue will make you laugh and cry all at the same time. Winning those two awards has set a precedent and this film will help define the future of how our stories are told. This film is the tip of the iceberg for Jamal," said Adrienne Lopez, executive producer of Dirty Laundry. "This kind of overwhelming response to our film could not have happened without 100 percent support from the Human Rights Campaign. Their contribution and their tireless effort and support is unsurpassed."

Dirty Laundry is currently set for previews in the following cities and festivals: Boston (June 16) New York City - Urban World Film Festival (June 22) San Francisco - International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (June 23) Los Angeles - 24th Annual L.A. Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (July 15) Chicago - Gay Games (July 18) Miami - American Black Film Festival (July 20 - 23) New York City - Ebony's Hollywood in Harlem Film Festival Dallas - Black Academy of Arts and Letters (Aug. 26) Atlanta - In the Life Atlanta Film Festival (Sept. 2) New Orleans (Sept. 23).

Press interested in additional information on the Human Rights Campaign's three-year involvement with Dirty Laundry, please visit www.hrc.org/dirtylaundry or contact Brad Luna at (202) 216-1514.

The Human Rights Campaign is the largest national gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender political organization with members throughout the country. It effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support and educates the public to ensure that GLBT Americans can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.