When My Brother Fell

By Keith Boykin, in pop culture·sexuality·theater
Tuesday, May 6 2003, 11:05AM

Last week, the black LGBT community lost two of its living legends: Eric Gupton, co-founder of Pomo Afro Homos, and Duane Bremond, founder of the Los Angeles Black Gay Pride Weekend, "At The Beach." Today I remember them for the lasting impact they made on the community.

In his poetic tribute to Joseph Beam in 1989, Essex Hemphill wrote, "When my brother fell I picked up his weapons." After Beam passed away December 27, 1988, Hemphill went on to complete Beam's dream of an anthology of black gay men's writing. The finished product, Brother To Brother, helped inspire legions of black gay men to build their communities.

The late 80s and early 90s were a time when the idea of black gay community seemed so fresh and real. It was a time when two very different black gay men — Duane Bremond and Eric Gupton — helped to build new institutions in the community.

Duane Bremond

I first met Duane Bremond almost 10 years ago, when he had only recently begun a brand new business-community venture. He was handsome, self-assured and friendly and he worked tirelessly to promote something called "ATB."

New to Los Angeles in 1995 as the executive director of the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum, I had confused the phrase "ATB" with another phrase, "APT," which stood for the LA-based AIDS Prevention Team. The black gay community in LA quickly informed me of the difference. They were proud of their local institutions, but none generated as much pride as the annual Fourth of July black gay pride weekend, affectionately known as "the beach party."

Following in the footsteps of his father, community activist Walter Bremond, and his mother, retired educator Bertha Bremond, "Duane saw a need for a strong social base" in the black LGBT community and co-founded At The Beach, according to a press release issued yesterday.

Duane Bremond died Thursday, May 1, 2003 in Los Angeles. He is survived by his daughter Diandra Simone Bremond, life partner Will Harris, mother Bertha Bremond, brothers Phillip Bremond, Michael Bremond and wife Aleta Gardner-Bremond, sister Charisse Bremond, special cousin Marian Watts, surrogate mother Florine Hill, and a host of family, friends and loved ones.

Eric Gupton

When Djola Branner, Brian Freeman and Eric Gupton teamed up in 1990 to create a performance piece called "Fierce Love," they called themselves Pomo Afro Homos, an abbreviation for "postmodern African American homosexuals." They lit up the stage with their finger snapping, church preaching, storytelling and hilariously perfect comic timing. A simple arch of the eyebrow or a sling of the neck could communicate so much through them.

It was also the time when I came out. In April of 1991, while a student in Cambridge, Massachusetts, I learned about black gay life from the writers, thinkers, performers, activists and leaders of the time. I took the red line subway train to M.I.T. to see Essex Hemphill read from his new book. I went to Boston to watch Assotto Saint perform his poetry. And I returned to see Eric Gupton and his two cohorts perform as Pomo Afro Homos.

I would become a loyal fan from that day on. I went back to see them perform at Josie's Juice Joint and Cabaret in San Francisco and I wrote about the group in my first book. I have seen many black gay performances over the years, but none so moved me as Branner, Freeman and Gupton did in "Fierce Love."

Eric Gupton died on Wednesday, April 30, 2003, of complications from AIDS. He was 43 years old and lived in San Francisco. He is survived by his partner of 16 years, Graham Cowley, his parents and three brothers.

Everything Must Change

More than anyone else, the black gay leaders of 1991 helped shape my early identity of self as an out black gay man. Unfortunately, too many of them have since passed away. I owe it to them to remember.

I owe my life and sense of pride to men like Duane Bremond and Eric Gupton.

For More Information

Services will be held for Duane Bremond in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 8th at 11 a.m. at Ward A.M.E. Church located at 1177 West 25th Street. For more information regarding the services, please call (213) 748-7314. Please send all flowers and cards to the family of Duane Bremond @ 6002 Ladera Park Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90056, (323) 293-4282.

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