Monthly archive of October 2005

Damian Marley's Redemption Song

Damien Marley has a lot on his mind. The 27-year-old love child from father Bob Marley's extra-marital affair with Jamaican beauty queen Cindy Breakspeare, has a new album and a new MOBO award under his belt. And he's got plenty to say in a new interview published in the Evening Standard of London.

Marley, the youngest son of Bob Marley, has made a name for himself in the reggae music world. But he's also stirred up a little controversy with recent remarks about homophobia in reggae and dancehall music. Jamaican reggae star Bounty Killer, who has been criticized for his own violent homophobic lyrics, appears on Marley's new album, Welcome to Jamrock, but Marley's own album is free of homophobic lyrics, according to the Standard.

Posted in music on October 1 2005, 7:13PM | Read More | Comments (13)

Still Crazy After All These Tears

The season premiere of Saturday Night Live was almost all about Hurricane Katrina and, as usual, almost funny. The show began with a depiction of the overly satirized Tim Russert and then segued into a presidential press conference about Katrina. They may not always be funny, but SNL consistently and courageously mines the fields of current events and tragedy to create its comedy. And in keeping with the emphasis on controversy, host Steve Carell seemed almost invisible compared to the overshadowing presence of musical guest Kanye West.

Before West's first musical appearance, producer Lorne Michaels stood outside the rapper's dressing room with SNL actor Finesse Mitchell as they talked about the possibility that West might go off script as he did in NBC's live hurricane relief telethon last month. Michaels sent Mitchell to talk to West, who quickly bolted from the room to confront the producer outside his door. Michaels then ran down the hall and Kanye West made his way to the studio.

Posted in pop culture on October 2 2005, 1:33AM | Read More | Comments (12)

August Wilson (1945-2005)

Tonight the theater world mourns the loss of one of the greats. August Wilson, a legend on Broadway and in the theater community, passed away of liver cancer today. He was 60.

Wilson, a Pulitzer Prize-winner, was perhaps the greatest living African American playwright, and he was certainly the most famous. Decades ago, he set to do what no other playwright had ever done before -- to chronicle the history of blacks in the 20th century through a series of plays that took place in each of the decades of the 1900s.

I saw three of those plays -- "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" (1984), "King Hedley II" (2001) and "Gem of the Ocean" (2004) -- and I was always impressed by Wilson's ability to capture the youthful angst of black ambition measured against the aged wisdom of black experience.

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Wilson died at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, where he has lived since leaving Minnesota in 1990. Fortunately, Wilson was able to complete his series before his death. "Radio Golf," the last of the 10 plays of the series, premiered at the Yale Repertory Theatre in April.

Posted in theater on October 2 2005, 10:46PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Gay Teens Are Coming Out

If you think it's easier to be young and gay today then it was in your day, think again. Time magazine explores the issue of gay teens in the cover story of its current issue. Time travels from the gay-positive Point Foundation to the anti-gay Exodus group to see what life is like for gay teens today.

In some ways, it must be easier for some gay teens to be open about their sexuality than it was 20 years ago when I was in high school. But in other ways, it must be harder for gay teens today because they are bombarded with more anti-gay messages than ever before. Yes, gays are more visible than ever before, but that's also generated a strong backlash that's drawn the anti-gay crowd out of the woodwork.

Posted in sexuality on October 3 2005, 12:56AM | Read More | Comments (12)

Stop This Woman!

President Bush today nominated his longtime ally and White House counsel Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court to replace Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. She should not be confirmed.

The selection of Miers, a former Texas lottery official who has never been a judge, reflects everything that is wrong with the Bush Administration: incompetence, cronyism and the placement of loyalty above all other virtues. Miers has no judicial experience and has never served a day on the People's Court, much less a federal court. The choice of such an obviously unqualified candidate to serve on the nation's highest court is a transparent ploy to select someone with no judicial record but with close and undisclosed ties to the president's agenda. It's an effort to undermine the Senate's role of "advise and consent" by picking someone with no paper trail. It is an outrage.

But don't just take my word for it. Even conservatives think she's unqualified. "The reaction of many conservatives today will be that the president has made possibly the most unqualified choice since Abe Fortas, who had been the president's lawyer," said conservative strategist Manuel Miranda. "The nomination of a nominee with no judicial record is a significant failure for the advisers that the White House gathered around it."

Posted in politics on October 3 2005, 11:46AM | Read More | Comments (21)

Hip Hop Homos on TV

Congratulations to the Logo network for airing a documentary on hip hop homos. Thanks for recognizing that gays and lesbians are a part of hip hop and including them in the "Real Momentum" documentary series. That's great.

Now that I've got that out of the way, I have a bit of an issue. I've seen the preview for the documentary, and I'm a little surprised. It seems that none of the hip hop artists profiled in the documentary (God-des, Tina G and Deadlee) are black. Two appear to be white and one appears to be Hispanic. Thank God that they at least have one Hispanic (Deadlee), but why are the majority of the artists white? I understand the importance of diversity in hip hop, and I do understand that white boys in the suburbs are among the biggest supporters of rap music, but shouldn't there be at least one black person on the show?

Posted in pop culture on October 3 2005, 12:43PM | Read More | Comments (15)

Nipsey Russell (1924 c. -2005)

Nipsey Russell, reported to be the first black man to host a TV game show, passed away yesterday in New York. Russell, known as "the poet laureate of television," appeared frequently on television. Best known for his role as the Tin Man in the 1978 film "The Wiz," Russell was also a frequent contestant on the "Match Game" television series and on "The Tonight Show."

Official bios indicated Russell was born in Atlanta on October 13, 1924, but Russell's manager said the actor was actually born in 1923. There is no indication from bios on the Internet that Russell was ever married. Russell died of cancer. He was in his early 80s.

Posted in pop culture on October 3 2005, 10:52PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Harriet Miers: Before & After

This just in. Harriet Miers is the most qualified person in the country to join the Supreme Court. So says President Bush.

In a press conference this morning, the president defended his choice of Miers to the High Court and claimed, "I picked the best person I could find." That may be true, if he only looked in the West Wing of the White House. Had he looked beyond 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, he might have found a plethora of more qualified candidates, male and female, to appoint to the Supreme Court.

Posted in politics on October 4 2005, 12:37PM | Read More | Comments (9)

The Big Gay Outing Debate

First the religious right outed Tinky Winky, the popular television teletubby. Next they outed Spongebob Squarepants, the favorite kids' cartoon character. But the same ridiculous right-wingers got upset when those on the left outed gay penguins. And let's not even talk about humans.

When is it okay to out someone who is closeted and gay? That's a question I've been answering a lot lately. Last week, Jasmyne Cannick and I launched a controversial series on outing homophobic black pastors. Over the course of the week, we profiled 9 homophobic ministers from all across the country, and in the process we received hundreds of comments posted on our sites and even more emails sent through the Internet.

Now that debate has reached the mainstream press with dozens of articles appearing in newspapers and media outlets all throughout the country today. Yes, there is a raging debate about outing in the gay community.

I've never been a fan of outing just for the sake of outing. Private citizens have the right to remain in the closet if they choose to do so. So too do public figures. But when public figures use their platform to champion causes against the civil rights of minorities, those minorities have the right to question them. And when closeted public figures use their notoriety to promote vicious homophobia, I believe we have the right to expose their hypocrisy.

It doesn't matter if you're a preacher, a performer or a politician. Your right to privacy ends when you violate my right to liberty.

Posted in sexuality on October 4 2005, 4:17PM | Permalink | Comments (45)

Reverend, Thou Art Loosed!

Every now and then, a conservative moralist says something so reprehensible that even the Bush Administration condemns them. That's what happened with Bill Bennett, who said "if you wanted to reduce crime, you could, if that were your sole purpose, you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down." The White House condemned his remarks. So if the White House is already repudiating those racist remarks, why would a black minister defend those same remarks?

Enter Rev. Jesse Peterson. In an interview on Fox News last Friday, Peterson defended Bennett. But he didn't stop there. He also attacked black people for lacking moral character and he repeated false information about the African American victims of Hurricane Katrina who were forced to live in the Superdome. "Most of them lack moral character," he said. "Look what they did to the Dome. In three days they turned the Dome into a ghetto." (See the video.)

Dear Mr. Peterson, are you really a minister? Are you really black?

Posted in spirituality on October 4 2005, 10:33PM | Permalink | Comments (18)

At the Corner of Church and State

While American politicians debate evolution, wild gorillas in The Congo have shown us just how much (and how little) we have evolved. A new report has found gorillas able to use tools on their own, much like humans. Two female gorillas were photographed using sticks as tools to get through swampy areas, the first time the apes had been seen doing so in the wild, according to researchers.

But while the gorillas are evolving, humans are still fighting over old issues. Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts writes, "I would argue that faith and science are in some ways more complementary than contradictory. But it's telling that where they do conflict, as in the question of human origin, it's always people of faith who beg for validation. I mean, when has any scientist ever sued for equal time in the pulpit? There is an unbecoming neediness about these constant schemes to dress religion up as science. Why are some people of faith so desperate for approval from a discipline they reject?"

Posted in spirituality on October 5 2005, 12:02PM | Read More | Comments (10)

George Will on George Bush

It is rare that I agree with George Will on anything. The right-wing commentator is usually far too conservative for my taste. But Will's column yesterday on Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers should be read by everyone who cares about the nation's highest court. Don't take my word for it. Read what Will says.

Will lists several reasons why President Bush should not be trusted and Miers should not be confirmed. See my synopsis below.

Posted in politics on October 6 2005, 12:48AM | Read More | Comments (13)

Is This The Solution to AIDS?

Columnist Jacquie Bishop has some provocative things to say about the AIDS epidemic in the black community. In a column published in today's Bay Windows newspaper, the Boston-based writer takes on the AIDS industry and the enabling behavior of the black gay male community.

According to Bishop, "Bare backing parties, 2 a.m. booty calls or 'hit it and quit it' adventures that do not include condom use or other means of not spreading the virus are also to blame. Plain and simple, an 'I like it raw' mentality combined with 'all of my friends are positive so why not me?' are also to blame. At some point you choose to do it real or not. When do we as a community say, 'stop your b.s.?' When do we hold people responsible for their behavior? We can talk about tough love for drug addicts. When do we get tough with the black man who won't use a condom when having sex?"

Bishop says AIDS could be eradicated within a generation "if those who are positive and those at risk took a moral stand and chose not to engage in high risk sexual behavior." So what's the solution? "Don't engage in penetration, or ejaculate inside of someone's body without wearing a condom. I think it is that simple."

Is she right? Is that all it takes to stop the AIDS epidemic?

Posted in sexuality on October 6 2005, 5:31PM | Permalink | Comments (27)

Subway Terror Alert

So I'm sitting at home getting ready to take the subway downtown when I get a phone call to turn on the news. There I see New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg along with Police Commissioner Ray Kelly holding a press conference to announce a "credible security threat" to the New York City subway system.

Despite the threat, the mayor reassured us that he would be riding the subway himself tonight. I'm sure he will, but I bet he has a slightly larger protective force than I do. So I think I'll take a car downtown instead. Does that mean the terrorists have already won? In my case it means "why take any chances?"

Posted in politics on October 6 2005, 5:58PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

SGL Speaker Approved for March?

The Washington Blade reported today that Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan has agreed to allow a black gay speaker at the Oct. 15 Millions More Movement rally in Washington. Minister Akbar Muhammad, described as an "assistant" to Farrakhan, disclosed the plans following a press conference earlier this week.

Carlene Cheatam, co-chair of the D.C. Coalition of Black Lesbians & Gay Men, said Muhammad told her after the news conference that Nation of Islam officials met a representative of Black Men’s Xchange (BMX) at a recent organizing conference for the Millions More Movement march in New York City, the Blade reported. Farrakhan apparently plans to invite a member from BMX to speak at the March, according to the Blade.

Posted in sexuality on October 7 2005, 2:01AM | Permalink | Comments (21)

New News on Millions More March

There are new developments with the Millions More March. The Washington Post reported today that Minister Louis Farrakhan has said that gay leaders will be among the speakers at the October 15 march next week. "A list of speakers has been compiled and, like before, includes representatives from national groups such as the Congressional Black Caucus, entertainers such as Russell Simmons and academics including Cornel West," the Post reported.

In addition, the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) issued a statement last night on recent developments with the Millions More March. NBJC did not confirm that gay and lesbian speakers had been chosen, but did state that "the inclusion of openly lesbian and gay speakers at the Millions More Movement March would be a courageous and important step for Minister Louis Farrakhan to take." (See the full statement below.)

Posted in sexuality on October 8 2005, 10:44AM | Read More | Comments (33)

Remembering LeRoy Whitfield

Just days after he published an article about his experience with AIDS in HIV Plus magazine, my longtime friend and journalist LeRoy Whitfield passed away this morning.

A native of Chicago, LeRoy moved to New York in 2000, where he became one of the nation’s leading journalists reporting on AIDS among African-Americans. A frequent contributor to Vibe magazine, he formerly served as associate editor at Positively Aware and later served as senior editor of POZ magazine before becoming a freelance journalist.

Posted in pop culture on October 9 2005, 3:05PM | Read More | Comments (44)

N. Orleans Police Beating Caught On Tape

Chalk up another setback to the embattled New Orleans police department. Three white police officers were arrested late Sunday and charged with battery after a videotape showed them repeatedly punching a 64-year-old black man accused of public intoxication, and another city officer was shown assaulting an Associated Press Television News producer as a cameraman taped the confrontations. (See the video.)

The AP tape shows at least one officer hitting the man at least four times in the head Saturday night as he stood outside a bar near the recently re-opened Bourbon Street. An officer on a nearby horse obstructed part of the beating from the camera. The suspect, Robert Davis, was wrestled to the ground by four officers. One of the four officers kneed Davis and punched him twice. Davis was face-down on the sidewalk with blood streaming down his arm and into the gutter.

Posted in politics on October 10 2005, 12:45AM | Read More | Comments (9)

"My Favorite Things" Series

Welcome to the series on my site called "My Favorite Things." This series is used to profile distinguished people in the community. But rather than simple interviews, I started asking them to pick their five favorite web sites. That worked for awhile, but then we moved on beyond the web sites. Now I ask those who are profiled to pick five of their favorite things. It could be their favorite foods, favorite restaurants, favorite movies, favoriet books, or anything. It's a way to get to know the people, to step inside their worlds, and to explore what makes them tick.

Over the course of the series, I profile activists, authors, dancers, fashion experts, filmmakers, lawyers, musicians, politicians, publishers and numerous others. I try to make the interviews as comfortable and conversational as possible. Hope you enjoy.

2006 Profiles

• Jasmyne Cannick, journalist and activist
  
• Malia Lazu, political activist
  
• Aubrey Lynch, dancer, choreographer, producer
  
• Vernard Gilmore, dancer
  
• Rod McCollum, television writer, producer, web author
  
• Lee Daniels, film producer and director
  
• Jermaine Taylor, actor and TV show host
  
• Erica Watson, comedienne and actress
  
• Ramon Johnson, About.com gay life guide

Posted in pop culture on October 10 2005, 8:00AM | Read More

Nathan Hale Williams: My Favorite Things

Today I begin a new series on my site called "My Favorite Things." The series will profile distinguished people in the community. But rather than interview the people who are profiled, I'm asking them each to pick their five favorite websites and tell me why they like them. It's a way to get to know the people, to step inside their worlds, and to explore the sites they like as well.

Over the course of the series, I will profile activists, authors, dancers, fashion experts, filmmakers, lawyers, musicians, politicians, publishers and numerous others. Every week, I will profile a different person. Today I begin the series with my very own partner, Nathan Williams.

Posted in pop culture on October 10 2005, 9:00AM | Read More | Comments (12)

NBJC Presents March Speakers

The National Black Justice Coalition, the country’s only national black lesbian and gay civil rights organization, today hailed the decision by Minister Louis Farrakhan to include gay speakers at the 10th anniversary observance of the Million Man March. At the same time, the group also put forward a list of 10 Black lesbian, gay and bisexual speakers, including activist and teacher Angela Davis and bestselling author E. Lynn Harris.

Responding to a Washington Post report on Saturday that Farrakhan had agreed to include “gay speakers” at the march, NBJC President Keith Boykin said he was “very pleased that eight months of discussions with Minister Louis Farrakhan and March organizers have begun to pay off.”

Posted in pop culture on October 10 2005, 1:50PM | Read More | Comments (15)

Mehcad Brooks Is Desperate

I have previously reported on the beautiful Mehcad Brooks, the former athlete turned actor who plays Matthew Applewhite on the ABC hit dramedy Desperate Housewives. If you're looking for a Sunday night hunk to watch on DH, say goodbye to Jesse Metcalfe and hello to Mehcad Brooks. The muscular 24-year-old, 6'3, 228-pound Brooks hasn't yet taken off his shirt, as Metcalfe does on almost every episode, but I'm betting we'll see his flesh by the end of the month.

In real life, as on the television series, Brooks is single. That's a good sign. In last week's episode, he was seen fawning over neighbor Gabrielle Solis's new Aston Martin. That's another sign. I'm predicting young Matthew will shack up with Gabrielle (Eva Longoria) soon. That will be hot. Almost as hot as watching him last Sunday as he wrestled with the mysterious man who exploded out of captivity in the basement.

Posted in pop culture on October 11 2005, 12:31AM | Read More | Comments (34)

NBJC Launches Campaign To Get 100,000 Black Gays to Come Out

Washington -- The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) and The International Federation of Black Gay Prides (IFBGP) today announced a new campaign to get 100,000 black lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people to come out and be more visible in the next year. "Black Out 2006," a year-long effort to enlist at least 2,006 Black LGBT people in every state to come out, was announced at the National Press Club in Washington this morning. The national campaign will have two major components:

Coming Out for Life Initiative is a national mobilization campaign designed to enroll at least 2,006 Black LGBT people per state to sign a pledge that they will "come out" to at least one person in their life who does not know about their sexual orientation or their same-sex partner and family. This multi-faceted effort will be designed to encourage personal fulfillment and spark community engagement.

Leadership and Legacy Initiative will present depictions of openly homosexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and same gender loving African Americans in history and leaders of today. Through print and electronic media campaigns, NBJC and IFBGP will publicize the stories and accomplishment of Black Americans who have lived and are living openly as LGBT and same gender loving individuals. This initiative will feature accomplished professionals, community activist, religious and spiritual leaders and exemplary members of communities.

Posted in sexuality on October 11 2005, 11:38AM | Read More | Comments (16)

Checking In

The past few days have been very busy for me. I got up at 4:30 Tuesday morning to catch a train from New York to Washington for a press conference with the National Black Justice Coalition. After the 9 o'clock press conference, I spent the rest of the day juggling two entirely different tasks. On the one hand, I was pushing the media to write stories on the death of my friend LeRoy Whitfield. On the other hand, I was making plans with the Coalition to deal with the Millions More March.

The funny thing is that I don't get paid for any of these things. I make almost all my income from lecturing at college campuses (which I do during the school year) and writing books (which I do every few years). The 2004-05 school year ended in May, so I haven't made any money from lecturing in five months. And royalty checks only come in twice a year, so the last one came in May. Plus, I don't have a 9-to-5 job and I don't make any money from producing this website or from writing my daily columns.

Posted in pop culture on October 12 2005, 11:57AM | Read More | Comments (30)

Farrakhan Meets Black Gay Leaders

Washington -- Minister Louis Farrakhan met with black gay and lesbian leaders yesterday in an historic meeting in Washington, D.C. to discuss gay and lesbian participation in the Millions More Movement March. In a meeting that lasted well over an hour, the Nation of Islam leader met with National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) President Keith Boykin, NBJC Vice President Donna Payne and NBJC Executive Director H. Alexander Robinson.

The meeting was the fourth time NBJC members have met Farrakhan. Boykin met with Farrakhan in Atlanta in February, Payne met with Farrakhan in Washington in September, and all three met with Farrakhan by phone just last month. Also present at the most recent meeting on Wednesday were Rev. Willie Wilson, the executive director of the Millions More March, and members of Minister Farrakhan's immediate family.

Posted in sexuality on October 13 2005, 12:36AM | Read More | Comments (19)

George Bush's 2 Percent Solution

It seems George Bush just can't get a break these days. Violence continues in Iraq just one day before voters go to the polls to approve a new constitution. Conservatives in his own party are in open revolt against his Supreme Court nominee. And more than a month after Hurricane Katrina, the president's approval rating among blacks has plummeted to the lowest level ever recorded for any president. Just 2 percent of African Americans approve of Bush's job performance.

With blood in the water, the media have sensed an opportunity to challenge the president. The latest news is the outrage by some in the news industry that Bush's Defense Department staged a photo op with soldiers in Iraq. Cameras caught an aide rehearsing a video conference shortly before the president arrived to do the real thing. Having worked in the White House, I know this type of thing happens all the time and nobody in the media pays attention to it. But with the president bleeding from a thousand self-inflicted wounds, everything he does wrong from now until the next crisis or next inauguration (whichever comes first) will be subject to higher scrutiny.

Posted in politics on October 14 2005, 11:02AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Which One Would You Send To Jail?

We already know that Martha Stewart is controversial. But so too is Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. The Tennessee senator was recently subpoenaed over a suspicious stock sale he made earlier this year. Shortly after Frist sold all his stock in his family company, the nation's largest for-profit hospital chain, the stock took a 9 percent nosedive. The Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating the Republican presidential aspirant, but don't expect to find Frist behind bars anytime soon.

In contrast, last year Martha Stewart was found guilty not of insider trading, but of lying to the government about her sale of ImClone Systems stock in December 2001. The day after she sold her 3,928 shares of ImClone stock, regulators rejected an application for a cancer drug made by ImClone and the value of the stock plummeted. The sale saved the billionare Stewart a whopping total of $45,673.

What's the difference? Stewart is a woman Democrat. Frist is a male Republican. Personally I don't think either one of them should go to jail, but if you're going to play the "tough on crime" game, then you ought to play it fairly.

Posted in politics on October 14 2005, 11:49AM | Permalink | Comments (5)

The Speech That Didn't Happen

After eight months of discussion, four productive conversations with Minister Farrakhan and a heated exchange with Rev. Willie Wilson, the Millions More Movement March took place today and I was not allowed to speak. Although I believe we have opened the door for historic and positive dialogue with Minister Farrakhan, Rev. Wilson does not appear to be ready for such dialogue.

This is what happened today. After I arrived at the VIP tent shortly after 8 in the morning, my colleague Donna Payne spoke directly to Rev. Willie Wilson backstage, and he informed her that no one from the National Black Justice Coalition would be speaking today. Donna told Rev. Wilson that he was violating our agreement, and Wilson replied that the agreement was void because the Coalition had not responded by Friday. That was not true.

Posted in sexuality on October 15 2005, 4:18PM | Read More

Clikque Pulls It Off

The new issue of Clikque magazine arrived in the mail last week and I have to say I'm impressed. In my humble opinion, this is the best black gay magazine I've ever seen. It's not perfect, but they've corrected some of the early mistakes. For example, the non word "Revampted" on the original Internet version of the cover has been replaced with the correctly spelled "Revamped."

The layout is beautiful, just as I expected from publisher Dwight Powell, but the content is also refreshingly interesting. Except for a two-page spread on Hurricane Katrina which the magazine lifted from my website without acknowledgment, I was very impressed by the breadth and diversity of topics covered in the magazine. (I assume that little acknowledgment error will be corrected in the next issue.) I've seen a lot of black LGBT publications come and go over the years, but this one definitely needs to stay.

Posted in sexuality on October 16 2005, 11:12PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Patrik-Ian Polk: My Favorite Things

I first met Patrik-Ian Polk at the New York premiere of his 2001 film "Punks." Although I was mostly mesmerized that night by the stunning presence of Rockmond Dunbar and Boris Kodjoe (who sat in front of me), Patrik cast a noticeable visage with his height, hat, and haute couture fashion. He was more than just the director, he was the tallest guy in the room.

A few years ago, I sat with Patrik at New York's midtown Vynl restaurant when he shared an idea he had for a new television series centered around the lives of four black gay men in Los Angeles. This Wednesday, that idea will finally become a reality when "Noah's Arc" becomes the first black gay series on television.

Posted in pop culture on October 17 2005, 12:07PM | Read More | Comments (16)

The Most Powerful Woman In The World

Just in case you had any doubt, here's a reminder that Oprah Winfrey is the most powerful woman in the world. At the same time she graces the cover of Newsweek magazine's issue on powerful women, today she runs an episode of her own show about 8 amazing women. Just moments after I get the news about Newsweek, in comes a flood of email messages about Oprah's episodes this week.

This is why Oprah is so amazing. Just look at this week's schedule of shows. Today she profiles "Commander In Chief" Geena Davis, Anna Deavere Smith and several other amazing women, including the police chief and fire chief in San Francisco. Tomorrow, she features Laveranues Coles, an All-Pro wide receiver with the New York Jets, who recently revealed that he was molested by his stepfather when he was a child. Then Thursday she features model Tyson Beckford and a special show called "Gay for 30 Days," which I take it is a program about straight men who try to learn what it's like to be gay. I will be watching closely.

Posted in pop culture on October 17 2005, 8:08PM | Permalink | Comments (18)

Earning The Right to Complain

This month, the National Black Justice Coalition launches a year-long campaign to get 100,000 black lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people to come out. It’s about time.

For a long time, there’s been a rift in the gay community between those who are out and those who are not. I’ve straddled the fence on this issue for many years. Yes, people should be encouraged to come out, I’ve said, but no, they shouldn’t be criticized if they don’t.

Posted in sexuality on October 18 2005, 12:02PM | Read More | Comments (68)

Many Men, Many Voices

Quick. What are you doing this weekend? How would you like to help save the lives of black men and get a free trip in the process? You can. It's not too late to sign up for the "Many Men, Many Voices" retreat hosted by People of Color in Crisis (POCC) and Nathan Williams this weekend. This important retreat will help educators and prevention workers to create HIV prevention strategies specifically tailored to men of color.

Although there will be other retreats over the next 6 months, the first one takes place this weekend, October 21-23. Those who sign up will get an all-expense paid trip to the Nevele Grande Resort & Country Club in the Catskills. During the weekend, you can help researchers understand more about our community and take advantage of this rare but important opportunity to make a difference.

Posted in sexuality on October 18 2005, 7:00PM | Read More | Comments (8)

Memorial Set for LeRoy Whitfield

The New York City Memorial Service for AIDS journalist LeRoy Whitfield has been scheduled for Thursday, October 20 at 7 p.m. at the National Black Theater in Harlem. The National Black Theater is located at 2031-33 National Black Theatre Way (at Fifth Avenue between 125th and 126th Streets.).

Fellow journalist Kai Wright reports that this past weekend, just one week after his death, the National Association of Black Journalists honored LeRoy with one of its 2005 Salute to Excellence Awards for magazine writing.

Flowers and condolences may be sent to LaRonya Whitfield, 8947 So. Jeffery, Chicago IL 60617. The Whitfield family has asked that any memorial gifts be directed to the organization Gay Men of African Descent in his name.

Posted in sexuality on October 19 2005, 8:54AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The Trial of Saddam Hussein

Let me get this straight. Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is on trial for war crimes because he killed 140 people back in 1982 after some of the same people allegedly tried to assassinate him? Hmmm. I'm not saying that Hussein is a good person. He's not and he deserves to be on trial. But couldn't they pick a better test case? Isn't there just a hint of irony in this charge?

Back in 1982, Saddam Hussein was practically an ally of the United States. The Reagan Administration's strategy of containing Ayatollah Khomeni gave Iran's next door neighbor and enemy Iraq plenty of discretion to put down rebellion in its own country. But there's another irony too. Didn't George Bush just start a war that killed thousands of innocent Iraqis? Since there were no weapons of mass destruction, no ties to al Qaeda and no direct threat from the Iraqi military, why did Bush lead us to war? Perhaps because Saddam Hussein tried to assassinate Bush's father. If so, maybe we should put George Bush on trial for war crimes as well.

Posted in politics on October 19 2005, 9:27AM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Noah's Arc Sets Sail

After several years, numerous film festivals, dozens of audiences, and lots of controversy, America's first black gay television series sets sail tonight on Logo. The show, "Noah's Arc," centers around four black gay men in Los Angeles and their love, lives and relationships. It's groundbreaking television, even if only because it's never been done before. But it also provides an entertaining introduction to black gay men.

Much like the original Noah's Ark from biblical accounts, "Noah's Arc" the television series is larger than life. It's bigger than the director, the actors, or even the television network. It's about the community of black gays, bisexuals, and lesbians finally being recognized as something other than a comedic caricature for the entertainment of heterosexual audiences.

Posted in pop culture on October 19 2005, 9:36AM | Read More | Comments (134)

Does the NBA Dress Code Go Too Far?

The National Basketball Association has issued a new dress code for players that will take effect November 1. Before, during and after NBA team events, all players will now have to dress "business casual." That includes players who attend games but aren’t in uniform. They don't have to wear suits and ties, but they can't wear shorts, sleeveless shirts, sneakers, headphones, chains or sunglasses (while indoors).

Indiana Pacers guard Stephen Jackson sees race as a factor in the decision. "I just think that's attacking young, black males," said Jackson, who wore four chains to the Pacers’ exhibition game on Tuesday. "I think we should dress up," he said. "A lot of guys have gotten sloppy with the way they dress, and I have no problem with that. But the chains, that's going a little too far."

Posted in sports on October 20 2005, 9:49AM | Read More | Comments (35)

Promises To Keep

After two funerals in two days, I'm tired. Last night I attended and participated in the memorial service for my friend LeRoy Whitfield in Harlem. Today I spent the entire day at a funeral and burial service for a different person out in Brooklyn. That's a lot to handle in one week.

I promised last week that I would be slowing down after the Millions More March and LeRoy's memorial service. Now it's time to keep that promise. Today was my deadline to finish the edits for the paperback version of Beyond The Down Low (which should be out in December). I missed the deadline because I was away in Brooklyn. I guess I will have to turn it in on Monday, which is also the deadline to complete the new introduction for the book. And I still haven't finished the proposal for the next book, which is due October 31. That means it's time to slow down.

Posted in pop culture on October 21 2005, 7:11PM | Read More | Comments (16)

The White House Leaker Revealed

If the Bush White House wants to know how to deal with an investigation into the leak of classified government information, they should have been watching "The West Wing" last night. At the beginning of the episode, White House aide Toby Ziegler (Richard Schiff) reveals to White House Chief of Staff C.J. Cregg (Allison Janney) that he was the source who leaked information about a classified military space shuttle to a New York Times reporter. C.J. immediately calls the White House counsel and a lawyer appears at the door a few moments later.

When Toby reveals his secret to the associate White House counsel, the lawyer demands the key to his office and refuses to allow Toby to get the key from his own desk. "I'll have to ask you to accompany me directly to the Roosevelt Room," the lawyer says. "You'll need to wait there quietly while I retrieve your key, lock your office and post a uniformed Secret Service agent at the door. That needs to happen right now." Shortly thereafter, the President personally fires Toby from his job as White House communications director.

Now that's how you handle a leak. If the real White House had acted as efficiently in handling its leak investigation, we might have avoided much of the drama around White House political adviser Karl Rove and Vice President Cheney's Chief of Staff Scooter Libby. Instead, we may see Rove and Libby indicted this very week. If nothing else, "The West Wing" deserves credit for amazing timing.

Posted in politics on October 24 2005, 12:17AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Shirley Horn (1934-2005)

Jazz singer Shirley Horn has left us. She was Washington's most famous jazz singer, and she was best known for her slow theme song "Here's To Life." The one and only time I met Shirley Horn was at a performance at Howard University's Andrew Rankin Chapel back in the late 1990s. She strolled in almost as slowly as if she was incapacitated, but when she sat down at the piano and played, her voice was still quite beautiful.

Horn was very familiar with Howard University and began to study there at the tender age of 12. In the 1950s, she was singing with a small band at Bohemian Caverns and other night clubs along the District's legendary U Street jazz corridor.

Posted in music on October 24 2005, 10:55AM | Read More | Comments (17)

Rosa Parks (1913-2005)

Today we mourn the loss of the woman known as the mother of the civil rights movement, Rosa Parks. On December 1, 1955, Parks, a 42-year-old seamstress, made history simply by refusing to give up her seat to a white man on a segregated city bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Parks was arrested and sent to jail, but in the process, she helped to launch the modern civil rights movement.

A year and a half after the U.S. Supreme Court issued its famous Brown v. Board of Education decision that outlawed segregation in public schools, segregation was still alive and well in public transportation. But with the help of Martin Luther King Jr. and Bayard Rustin and others, the blacks in Montgomery led a yearlong boycott of the city's bus system. On November 13, 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court finally ruled in Gayle v. Browder that segregated bus service was unconstitutional.

Rosa Parks was not the first black woman to refuse to give up her seat. But hers became the test case to challenge the system, and she became an iconic figure of the civil rights movement. Rosa Parks was 92 years old.

Posted in politics on October 24 2005, 10:49PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

Karen Williams: My Favorite Things

This week we continue our new web series profiling community celebrities with a look behind the computer of Karen Williams. If laughter is really the best medicine, then Karen Williams should be called Dr. Williams instead. Karen is an internationally acclaimed and nationally-known comedienne and humorist. With more than 20 years of theatrical training, improvisational comedy experience, dance and movement training, parenting experience, metaphysical studies, and Buddhist practice, Karen is definitely not your average comedian.

I first met Karen years ago when she performed at a dinner event for a gay and lesbian organization I've since forgotten. She was the first black lesbian humorist I'd ever seen on stage, and yet she wowed the mixed-race audience. Since that time, I've seen her perform all across America, and I have always been impressed by her spirit, her candor, and most importantly, her humor. She talks about things that most of us think about but never mention in mixed company, taking on the taboo topics involving age, race, gender, sexuality and everyday life. Her cutting edge humor and her instinctive sense of comic timing make her topical and funny.

Posted in pop culture on October 25 2005, 11:33AM | Read More | Comments (4)

WNBA's Sheryl Swoopes Comes Out

Houston Comets forward Sheryl Swoopes is coming out as a lesbian. The 34-year-old Swoopes is a five-time all-star and three-time Olympic gold medalist and the WNBA's only three-time MVP. That's great news, but before you get all excited, you should read what she has to say in a new magazine interview.

"Do I think I was born this way? No," Swoopes said. "And that's probably confusing to some, because I know a lot of people believe that you are." Unfortunately, the news story doesn't tell us how Swoopes feels she became a lesbian. Her comments have already caused some concern that her coming out may spark a backlash against those who feel they were born gay or lesbian. Swoopes was married and has an eight-year-old son, but she said that her 1999 divorce "wasn't because I'm gay."

Posted in sexuality on October 26 2005, 10:11AM | Read More | Comments (41)

Noah's Arc "Queens Out"

It's as if the writers of Noah's Arc had been watching the conversation on this web site. Rather than avoiding the issue of feminine versus masculine guys, they took it head on in last night's episode. Ricky (shown here) gets jealous when his new store clerk, Rafael, appears more interested in a "queeny" fashion designer named Romeo than in Ricky. Thus begins a welcome dialogue about the role of effeminate men in gay culture.

Ricky can't understand why another hot gay man would be more interested in a "flamboyant" man than a "masculine" one like himself. Meanwhile, "masculine" Trey affirms his interest in "feminine" Alex and "straight" Wade still seems smitten by "queeny" Noah. But Ricky still can't grasp the concept. It's an excellent story line that needs to be seen by a lot of gay men who have a problem with the less masculine men in the community.

Posted in sexuality on October 27 2005, 1:24AM | Read More | Comments (55)

Bush Withdraws Harriet Miers Nomination

In a stunning political setback for President George Bush, White House counsel Harriet Miers today withdrew her nomination to be a Supreme Court justice in the face of stiff opposition and mounting criticism about her qualifications.

President Bush said he reluctantly accepted her decision to withdraw and blamed the decision on calls for the release of internal White House documents that the administration has insisted were protected by executive privilege. "It is clear that senators would not be satisfied until they gained access to internal documents concerning advice provided during her tenure at the White House — disclosures that would undermine a president's ability to receive candid counsel," Bush said. But the real issue was the public outrage from Bush's own conservative base.

Posted in politics on October 27 2005, 9:27AM | Read More | Comments (6)

The End of the Curse

Looks like someone was a little happy about the White Sox victory in the World Series last night. Might we have two out gays in pro sports in one week? Here's the way the Associated Press ran the caption:

"Chicago White Sox manger [sic] Ozzie Guillen, left, gets a kiss from a well-wisher after the White Sox defeated the Houston Astros 1-0 in Game 4 to win the World Series for the first time since 1917, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2005, in Houston." (Thanks to cmoney for the tip.)

Posted in sports on October 27 2005, 5:43PM | Permalink | Comments (13)

And Now Back To The Down Low

They call it Invisible. It's a new film by well-known Hollywood actor/director Bill Duke (Car Wash, Sister Act 2) and it's getting lots of attention on the old email chain. The trailer is cool, the production is slick, and the story line seems a bit familiar. A married black man suddenly finds himself involved with another man. The married man is on the low. The down low, that is.

Okay, everyone already knows I'm over the hype and hysteria around the down low, but I'm willing to give this film a chance. I'm watching the trailer with interest, grooving to the Angie Stone soundtrack, feeling good as it comes to a close.

At the end of the trailer, the shocking statistics appear on the black screen. "70% of these women have contracted HIV or are dying from AIDS." Well, actually, no. That's not true. First of all, the statistic doesn't clearly tell you who "these women" are that it's referring to, but there's no statistic out there that shows 70% of women involved with down low men have contracted HIV or are dying of AIDS.

Posted in movies on October 28 2005, 10:36AM | Read More | Comments (27)

The Kiss Seen Around The World

Several people wrote in to tell me that Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was actually kissing his son in the AP photo taken after his team's World Series victory. Turns out that Guillen really likes to kiss. And hug. And all kinds of friendly loving displays of emotion that "real men" or "straight men" don't do in public.

More than a week before the famous celebratory kiss (shown here), Chicago Tribune columnist Dawn Turner Trice observed what she called a "kissing phenomenon" in professional baseball. "At the end of Saturday's (Oct. 15) win against the Los Angeles Angels, I watched White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen in the dugout, congratulating his players. He hugged one after another, while giving several a nice little peck on the cheek," she wrote.

Posted in sports on October 28 2005, 11:12AM | Read More | Comments (14)

Worst Week Ever

After the fallout from the Bush Administration's handling of Hurricane Katrina, I didn't think it could get much worse so quickly. But it has with today's White House indictment. It's been a rough two months for the Bush Administration, but this week really takes the cake.

First, the U.S. military reported that 2,000 American soldiers had been killed in Iraq, a stern rebuke to the Administration that had predicted American troops would be greeted as liberators. Next, the President had to face angry victims of Hurricane Wilma in Florida who were frustrated by the slow pace of federal relief efforts. Then President Bush was forced to dump his nominee to the Supreme Court, Harriet Miers, after a storm of controversy from conservatives in his own party. And now comes word that Vice President Cheney's chief of staff Scooter Libby has been indicted in the ongoing CIA leak investigation case.

With President Bush's poll numbers already in the toilet, one wonders how much worse can it get. Will Bush nominate a hardcore conservative Supreme Court justice to mollify the right-wing and win back his base? Will the Democrats grow a backbone in time to fight back against the radical right? Tune in next week for what could be another edition of "Worst Week Ever."

Posted in politics on October 28 2005, 12:52PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Now The Real Fight Begins

It has been decades in the making. No nominee for the Supreme Court in many years has threatened to change the balance of power on the nation's most divisive issues. But Judge Samuel A. Alito Jr., who now sits on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, may be the man to re-ignite the smoldering flames of the culture war. That's because Alito, who has been nicknamed "Scalito" because of his ideological similarity with conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, would replace moderate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the bench. And O'Connor has been the swing vote that has kept abortion legal in the United States.

Conservatives immediately hailed the nomination, while leading Democrats and liberals predicted a long hard fight against the nominee. In 1991, Alito cast the sole vote in favor of upholding a restrictive Pennsylvania law that required women to tell their husbands before having an abortion. Now the real question is whether the Democrats will "walk the walk" and fight back or just continue to "talk the talk."

Posted in politics on October 31 2005, 9:41AM | Permalink | Comments (29)

E. Lynn Harris: My Favorite Things

I've known E. Lynn Harris for at least a dozen years. We met when I was in Washington and he was a newly published author. Today, however, he is more than just a published author. He is perhaps the top selling living black male author in the country.

By now, many of us know his story, how he quit his job, started selling books out of the trunk of his car, and went to beauty salons and other nontraditional venues to market his work. His trailblazing example created a template for legions of contemporary authors to follow over the past decade. So today, as he prepares for a visit to New York to present at the Hurston-Wright Legacy Awards, I thought it would be fitting to profile him in the "My Favorite Things" series.

Posted in pop culture on October 31 2005, 10:27AM | Read More