Monthly archive of October 2003

Who's Gonna Take The Weight? by Kevin Powell

Kevin Powell is a violent, sexist, ghetto thug. That's the first impression you'll get from reading Powell's new book, Who's Gonna Take The Weight? But it's not the last impression. Powell, the angry black man from the first season of MTV's "The Real World," is also a thoughtful, gifted writer who is struggling with his own issues and trying to educate the community in the process. Only a book with this much honesty could offer so much wisdom.

Posted in books on October 1 2003, 10:33AM | Read More | Comments (11)

Winning the Election for Gays

With just a few months before the presidential primaries begin and 10 candidates in the crowded Democratic field, what’s an LGBT voter to do? I haven’t decided which candidate to support, although I have been leaning toward Howard Dean or Wesley Clark. My indecision reflects the two competing visions of presidential politics. Do you vote your conscience or do you vote for who can win?

Posted in politics on October 2 2003, 1:04AM | Read More | Comments (9)

Rush To Judgment

Palm Beach, FL -- So Rush is a racist hypocrite, Arnold is a groping sexist and George is a pathological liar. Tell me something I don't already know. With the news of the last week, three of the big stars in the Republican Party don't shine as brightly as they once did. Should we be surprised?

Posted in politics on October 3 2003, 10:13AM | Read More | Comments (6)

The Sun Also Rises

After a speech in West Palm Beach last Thursday, I spent the weekend in sunny Florida. It was good to get away, but it was hard not to notice the real world creeping in all around me.

Posted in pop culture on October 6 2003, 1:22AM | Read More | Comments (7)

Decision Day

As Californians go to the polls today, the rest of the nation will be watching closely. What happens in California affects the other 49 states too, and it could be a sign of things to come. That's one more reason why California voters should vote no on the recall and no on Proposition 54.

Posted in politics on October 7 2003, 9:31AM | Read More

Nine Silver Linings Over Sacramento

Well, at least it wasn't a complete waste. California voters ousted Governor Gray Davis and replaced him with Arnold Schwarzenegger. But if there's a silver lining in the election of a Republican governor in the nation's largest Democratic state, it's that voters rejected Gray Davis and not the Democratic Party.

Posted in politics on October 8 2003, 7:35AM | Read More | Comments (7)

P.S. I Like Arnold

Syracuse, NY -- I thought it would be easy to update my site from the road today, but it's not. I will be back tomorrow instead. Meanwhile, someone wrote in to say that Arnold actually won more votes than Davis in the recall election. That appears to be the case now, but it wasn't so at 7:35 yesterday morning when I wrote my article. With 95 percent of precincts reporting, Davis was leading. I was on a plane yesterday so I didn't have time to update the site with the latest election results. By the way, I like Arnold -- as an actor. I just don't want to see Arnold give Bush a win in California.

Posted on October 9 2003, 9:33AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

The Day I Came Out

It's hard to remember what my life was like before I came out of the closet, but there was a time when everyone did not know I'm gay. This weekend, for National Coming Out Day, I remember what it was like that fateful few weeks in March and April of 1991.

Posted in sexuality on October 10 2003, 8:18AM | Read More | Comments (21)

Ghettopoly

It was bound to happen. Some young entrepreneur finally came up with a ghetto version of Monopoly. It's called Ghettopoly, and it's got black folks up in arms for the demeaning image it perpetuates. The NAACP and others are already protesting, but don't expect to find me on the picket line anytime soon. As long as we tolerate the demeaning images in rap videos, we have no reason to complain about this game.

Posted in pop culture on October 14 2003, 10:23AM | Read More | Comments (39)

A Day In The Life

It took me five years but I've finally done it. Yesterday I finally sent off my new book proposal to my agent. It's the first new proposal I've submitted since 1998, and I'm really excited about it.

Posted in pop culture on October 15 2003, 10:20AM | Read More | Comments (14)

Think Again

Think you know everything you need to know about AIDS? Think you've heard it all before? Think there's nothing new to say? Think Again. That's the title of a new book edited by Steven G. Fullwood and Colin Robinson.

Posted in books on October 16 2003, 11:28AM | Read More | Comments (4)

A Tale Of Two Countries

I've never been to Cuba. Although I would love to visit that country, the U.S. government forbids Americans to travel to Cuba. I've also never visited Bolivia, but I'm not sure I want to go right now because the Bolivian government has killed more than 50 civilians in the past week. But the U.S. supports Bolivia's government unconditionally. Why is Cuba so dangerous if Bolivia isn't?

Posted in politics on October 17 2003, 12:03PM | Read More | Comments (12)

It Rhymes With "Witch"

Barbara Bush knows how to hold a grudge. In her new book Reflections: Life After the White House and in interviews to promote the book, she makes it clear she hasn't lost her acid tongue. Last night on "Dateline NBC," she and her husband, the former president, lashed out at the Democratic candidates for president and at critics of their son. Make no mistake about it. Beneath Barbara's white-haired veneer is a mean-spirited attack dog.

Posted in politics on October 20 2003, 1:42AM | Read More | Comments (12)

A Kiss Is Still A Kiss

Mark Twain once said, “a lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” In the age of the Internet, that cliché is more true than ever. Urban legends have spread like wildfire across the world wide web, but many of them just aren't true. Tommy Hilfiger did not go on Oprah's show and diss black people. African Americans are not going to lose their right to vote in 2007. And Beyonce Knowles is not a rabid hypocritical homophobe. With so many rumors out there, it's worth asking one important question. Why do we believe them?

Posted in sexuality on October 22 2003, 9:55AM | Read More | Comments (17)

If Nana And Papa Could Be Here

They say that youth is wasted on the young. I'm not sure if that's right, but I find myself celebrating the joys of youth with the wisdom of age. Getting old doesn't have to mean losing touch with all that we did when we were young. My great grandparents taught me that.

Posted in pop culture on October 23 2003, 11:16AM | Read More | Comments (4)

On Break

I'm on break until Monday, November 3, 2003. It's always helpful to take some time off, regroup and recharge our batteries. I hope you take the time to treat yourself to a break every now and then as well. While I'm gone, please check out the message board, join the mailing list or catch up on the hundreds of articles already on the site. See you soon!

Posted on October 24 2003, 8:59AM | Permalink | Comments (4)