Monthly archive of June 2006

Musical Chairs, Vietnam & Star Jones

What do George Bush, Katie Couric and Star Jones-Reynolds have to do with each other?

It all started during the Vietnam War. That's when George Bush suspiciously escaped to the Alabama Air National Guard and allegedly used his father's connections to avoid the draft. More than a decade later in 1988, George's father was president and got into a heated nationally televised altercation with CBS News Anchorman Dan Rather. That left some bad blood in the Bush family. It all came full circle in September 2004, when CBS Anchor Dan Rather carried and defended a controversial story that alleged that young George W. Bush, now the president, had dodged the draft. With a president and a former president against him, that was the beginning of the end for Dan Rather at CBS News.

But as one door closes, another opens. Rather's departure from CBS created a golden opportunity for a major shakeup. ABC's Peter Jennings had passed away from lung cancer and NBC's Tom Brokaw was already scheduled to step down from the anchor chair to make way for the specially groomed Brian Williams. That left CBS holding onto the past with Dan Rather. What's all this got to do with Star Jones? The plot thickens.

Posted in pop culture on June 1 2006, 10:32AM | Read More | Comments (9)

Details Takes On Al Reynolds?

Details Magazine is already notorious for exploring the gay elements behind controversial public figures and personalities. The magazine got into a lot of trouble for its "Gay or Asian?" feature two years ago and sparked a lot of discussion with its "Gay or Rapper?" feature last year. But now Details is exploring another topic. This month's back page feature is titled "Gay or Talk-Show Diva's Husband?" It's not hard to guess who they're talking about.

Here's what the piece says: "One is red-carpet arm candy, and the other needs a little sugar, Daddy. Whether you're hitching your wagon to a star or lying back while someone else brings home the bacon, the key is to keep your million-dollar baby happy. So bow down and prepare to primp, pluck, and deny, deny, deny."

Posted in pop culture on June 1 2006, 4:28PM | Read More | Comments (3)

Black Gay Group Joins Black Leadership Forum

For the first time ever, a gay and lesbian organization has been selected for inclusion in a major national coalition of black civil rights groups. The National Black Justice Coalition has been selected for inclusion in the Black Leadership Forum. The Leadership Forum was founded in 1977 as a "confederation of civil rights and service organizations," with a nucleus of 11 leaders of major black organizations, including the National Urban League, National Urban Coalition, NAACP, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, National Council of Negro Women, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Martin Luther King Center for Non Violent Social Change, Congressional Black Caucus, National Conference of Black Mayors and the National Business League.

The group serves as a clearinghouse for national African American leaders to come together and strategize on issues of significance to black Americans, particularly civil rights and major public policy issues. I asked NBJC Executive Director H. Alexander Robinson to tell me the significance of his group's involvement in the Leadership Forum. Robinson was already taking part in a Leadership Forum event and he replied by email.

Posted in politics on June 2 2006, 12:57PM | Read More | Comments (1)

The Week In Review

The hardest part about doing this Week In Review is figuring out what to say here to tie in all the disparate news stories that made news the past week. First we've got Victoria Rowell and Rockmond Dunbar (pictured on the right) making news for the new season of Noah's Arc. Then we've got yet another story of yet another homophobic black pastor. And then there are the household names.

The boldface names this week include Katie Couric, Meredith Vieira, Rosie O'Donnell, Star Jones-Reynolds, E. Lynn Harris, the Dixie Chicks, Ice Cube, Oprah Winfrey and George Bush. Keep on reading to find out more.

Posted on June 2 2006, 1:33PM | Read More | Comments (1)

An Open Letter To George W. Bush

Today marks the 25th anniversary of the AIDS epidemic. I had planned to use this occasion to write about the status of the AIDS epidemic, and I still plan to do that. But before I can write those words, I have to write something else instead.

On Saturday, President Bush announced his support for a new anti-gay amendment to the U.S. Constitution. That amendment is scheduled for a vote as early as today in the U.S. Senate. When I heard the news, I thought about writing an article to criticize the President, but I changed my mind after watching a deeply moving music video called "Dear Mr. President" by Pink. After seeing the video, I decided to take a different approach. I decided to ask you to do something and to do something myself. First, I ask you to call you senator now at 202-224-3121. Second, I want to share with you an open letter I wrote to the President.

Posted in politics on June 5 2006, 12:18AM | Read More | Comments (20)

Black Leaders Mark 25 Years of AIDS

This morning I took part in a press conference to mark 25 years of the AIDS epidemic in America. The press conference was convened by Phill Wilson, the director of the Black AIDS Institute, who said that AIDS has become a black disease in America. The event, which included representatives from leading black institutions, was significant in part because clergy members who attended vowed to redouble their efforts to fight AIDS and said many churches were re-thinking their philosophies. Dr. Gregory Robenson Smith of Mother AME Zion Church even said that we should redefine family. A family could be two men, two women or a man and a woman, he said.

Other participants at the press conference included NAACP President Bruce Gordon, Actor and activist Danny Glover, Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY), Del. Donna M. Christensen (D-VI), National Newspaper Publishers Association Editor-In-Chief George Curry, American Urban Radio Networks President Jerry Lopes, Balm in Gilead founder Pernessa C. Seele, and Kelly Lawson, Executive Vice President of BET Networks.

Posted in sexuality on June 5 2006, 12:22PM | Read More | Comments (3)

Is It Too Late For A Divorce?

Let's see. It's the day after President Bush held a press conference to re-announce his support for an anti-gay constitutional amendment. So what was the reaction? Not good. Apparently a lot of people saw right through it for the cheap political trick that it was. Rod watched the press conference, thus sparing the rest of us the chore of listening to the presidential nonsense, and posted pictures like the one here.

Not surprisingly, the LGBT bloggers were disappointed and upset with the president. A bit more surprising was the reaction from rational thinking Republicans. Many of them too were upset. And let's not mention the gay Republicans. They're just about ready to file for divorce from the President. Here's how some of the people in the community reacted:

Posted on June 6 2006, 3:56AM | Read More | Comments (2)

It's The End of the World As We Know It ... And I Feel Fine

Leave it to Hollywood to find a way to exploit the end of the world. If you believe in numerology or in the Book of Revelations, you may fear that today is the day of the final conflict. The number "666" after all is the sign of the beast. I first heard those numbers not from the Bible but from a scary old 1976 horror classic called "The Omen." So it seems somewhat fitting that the story of young Damien should be resurrected today for a rare Tuesday film release to capitalize on the fear associated with the date. Hell, if the world's gonna come to an end, somebody might as well make a buck off of it.

I've seen these 6+06+06 billboards and posters all over the place and for awhile I had no idea what they were selling. I knew they weren't selling the end of time, however. Why spend money to advertise that? I should have guessed it was a movie, and I would have been right. Still, I think a better title for this movie would have been the headline used by USA Today to review the film. The headline reads: "The Omen: Hell to Replay." The Omen (2006) opens in theaters today. But hurry, it could be the last day.

Posted in movies on June 6 2006, 6:06AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Miami or DC?

So what really happened during Memorial Day Weekend? A lot of people went down to Miami, many still went to Washington, and a few went to San Juan as well. So today I'm linking to some sample pictures from the two big Memorial Day weekend events.

First, Miami. My friend Steven Claiborne posts a slide show on his site of pictures he took with his friends in Miami. All he wrote was, "Miami was a blast...lol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Hmmm. Not very detailed, but never worry because the pictures do all the talking.

Second, DC. A friend in Washington sent me a couple of pics he took during DC's annual Black Lesbian and Gay Pride Weekend. The photo above is a snapshot of the familiar City Gym Boys. They're a professional bodybuilding and modeling group, who, as far as I could tell, go around to various events and pose for pictures and sign autographs. Not a bad job, I suppose.

Posted in sexuality on June 6 2006, 10:30AM | Read More | Comments (5)

AIDS at 25: The Media Coverage

One of the messages that doesn't get communicated often enough is that AIDS has increasingly become a disease of people of color. More specifically, it's become a disease of black people. Unfortunately, as the disease has gotten blacker and browner, serious national media attention has all but disappeared. It's been replaced by episodic coverage of key events but not by sustained attention to the problem.

As expected, there were quite a few stories published yesterday and today about the 25th anniversary of the AIDS epidemic. As one who participated in an AIDS press conference yesterday, I was pleased to see the media showed up to cover that specific event. On the other hand, I have to say I am still disappointed by the overall lack of AIDS media coverage, especially as it relates to black communities. It's all too easy to cover the sensationalistic issues like the down low and AIDS conspiracy theories, but it's much more important to report the real stories of real people who are dealing with the epidemic.

Posted in sexuality on June 6 2006, 3:00PM | Read More | Comments (3)

"Gay Marriage Is Coming"

With the vote by the U.S. Senate today to kill the anti-gay "Marriage Protection Amendment," the handwriting is becoming clearer on the wall. Ultra conservative commentator Bill Bennett, who opposes marriage equality, all but conceded defeat last night in an unusual interview with "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart. "This debate is over," Bennett told Stewart. "Gay marriage is coming."

Although Bennett attributed the change to a few courts, Stewart was smart enough to contextualize the struggle for gay equality into the long history of oppression practiced by majorities against minorities in America. We went through this with slavery, with women's suffrage, and with so many other groups before, Stewart said. Each time conservatives complain that extending rights to another group of people who are locked out of the American dream will somehow ruin America, and each time the conservatives fail. At what point do they get tired of being on the wrong side of history?

Posted in sexuality on June 7 2006, 10:51AM | Read More | Comments (4)

Lou Dobbs on Gay Marriage

I know it seems like this site has become "Gay Marriage Central" the past few days, but this issue is just so ridiculous that I have to talk about it. Yesterday I mentioned that an increasing number of Republicans are coming out against President Bush's so-called Marriage Protection Amendment (by the way, how do you protect marriage by stopping people from getting married?). Earlier today I mentioned that even conservatives like Bill Bennett, who support this dumb constitutional amendment, admit that they're losing the culture war on this one. "Gay marriage is coming," he acknowledged last night.

Then today CNN anchor Lou Dobbs weighed in on the issue, calling a constitutional amendment sheer nonsense. (Thanks Rod.) "It's clear that cynical, patronizing White House political strategists are trying to rally a conservative base that they believe is more base than conservative. They're wrong on all counts," writes Dobbs. "No matter how you feel about the issue, and many of us feel deeply, a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage is utter and complete nonsense. It's an insult to the intelligence of every voter, Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative."

Posted in politics on June 7 2006, 2:01PM | Read More | Comments (8)

Blacks and Gays Are Not The Same ... So What?

They're at it again. In a new article in the Weekly Standard, Rev. Eugene Rivers of Boston and writing partner Kenneth D. Johnson pull out the old red herring that gays are exploiting the black civil rights movement. "Not since the "poverty pimps of 35 years ago, who leveraged the guilt and sense of fair play of the American public to hustle affirmative action set-asides, have we witnessed so brazen a misuse of African-American history for partisan purposes," they write.

They're dead wrong. This old "hierarchy of oppressions" argument is tired and bothersome. Of course blacks and gays are not the same and the two movements are not the same. But that red herring is not the point. It doesn't matter which group is first oppressed or most oppressed or whether they are identically oppressed. What matters is that no group of people should be oppressed.

Posted in sexuality on June 8 2006, 12:10AM | Read More | Comments (15)

Are They Covering the Same Election?

More evidence that reporters, editors and headline writers help frame and shape the way we see the news. The California election on Tuesday of Republican Brian P. Bilbray (49 percent) over Democrat Francine Busby (45 percent) was either a good thing for Democrats or for Republicans, depending on which morning paper you read today.

Victory in California Calms GOP
Democrats Still Look to November

By Dan Balz and Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, June 8, 2006; Page A01

"A special election for a House district in California left Republicans with control of the seat, while offering scant evidence of the highly energized Democratic electorate that analysts say would be needed to dislodge the GOP from power on Capitol Hill in November."

Meanwhile, over at the Times...

Narrow Victory by G.O.P. Signals Fall Problems
By Adam Nagourney
New York Times
Published: June 8, 2006

The victory that Republicans squeezed out in a high-profile race to fill a Congressional vacancy here eased party anxieties Wednesday but signaled future difficulties as they confront tougher Democratic challenges in increasingly contested districts this fall.

Posted in politics on June 8 2006, 7:00AM | Read More | Comments (1)

Commander In Chief Returns

I have no idea what ABC is doing nowdays, but the way it has handled "Commander In Chief" is abysmal. The TV drama series debuted last fall to positive ratings, dropped dramatically after schedule changes and competition with American Idol, was put on hiatus, brought back, and then canceled, only to be brought back yet again in the past two weeks with no real explanation.

Next week is supposed to mark the final episode of the one-season long series. But Geena Davis, who plays President Mackenzie Allen, refuses to give up. Davis told reporters, "I refuse to step down," adding that a TV movie is possible.

Posted in pop culture on June 8 2006, 10:00AM | Read More | Comments (7)

Black Clergy For Prejudice

This little gem comes from the San Francisco Chronicle, by way of Pam's House Blend. Aside from the fact that it's funny, it's also a reflection of just how far right too many black clergy have strayed in recent years. The text reads:

"Sick of gay black people talking too loudly during black movies? Sick of gay black people speaking only in gaybonics? You're not the only one. Right now, liberal activist judges are trying to compare our civil rights battles of the '50s and '60s to today's gay marriage battle...But it's not the same. Gay blacks don't talk like us. They don't look like us. A recent study even showed that extremely gay black people aren't as smart as slightly gay black people!"

Posted in spirituality on June 8 2006, 12:23PM | Read More | Comments (11)

Donna Brazile Discusses Al Gore

I first met Donna Brazile back in 1988. We were both working for the Mike Dukakis for President campaign and she was already a rising star in the Democratic Party. Two things impressed me most about Donna. First that she knew black history like the back of her hand. She could tell you who marched with whom across the bridge at Selma and the dates when it happened. Second, she was a straight shooter who was unafraid to speak her mind. She was criticized for speaking up against the first President George Bush, but she raised questions that the media were too timid to raise on their own.

Given her reputation for candor, I suppose I should not have been surprised to receive an email this week from Donna, sent out to her mailing list, in which she encourages her former boss, Al Gore, not to run for president right now. In her column in Roll Call magazine, Donna observes something that the media always forget when trumpeting this candidate or another to run for office. "Throughout our history," Donna writes, "Americans have been known to fall deeply in love with non-candidates for president."

Posted in politics on June 8 2006, 3:00PM | Read More | Comments (2)

A Novel Way To Guard The Borders

The state of Texas has come up with a novel idea to fight illegal immigration -- cameras. Instead of drowning the border with vigilantes and border guards, the state has figured out what may be a clever way to get the professionals and the anti-immigration activists to work together peacefully. The plan is to get Internet web users to monitor live surveillance footage of the Texas-Mexican border. The plan will allow web users to phone the authorities if they spot any apparently illegal crossings. Presumably, the authorities would then confirm the intrusion before dispatching border patrol agents to the area.

Texas Governor Rick Perry (R) said the cameras would focus on "hot-spots and common routes" used to enter the country. I usually don't agree with Governor Perry on much of anything these days, but this idea actually seems to have some merit. The cameras will cost $5 million to install and will be trained on sections of the 1,000-mile border known to be used for illegal crossings. If it works, I think it could be a constructive way to get citizens involved in protecting their own borders without encouraging them to take up arms and create private militias like the so-called Minutemen. But critics disagree.

Posted in politics on June 9 2006, 10:46AM | Read More | Comments (6)

The Week In Review

Summer is here, the fall TV lineup has ended, the pools are open, the beaches are crowded, and the schools are closing. It's a time when there's not usually a lot of news, but this week the news was big.

President Bush, reeling in public opinion surveys and losing support in his own party, finally got what he would consider some good news. The top terrorist in Iraq was killed by U.S. forces. Unfortunately for Bush, that was the only "good news" he got all week. Meanwhile, the Senate considered a constitutional amendment against gay people. The richest people in America almost got a little richer. Capital punishment became an issue again in the south. R&B lost a legend. And the world paused to recognize 25 years of a deadly disease. It was that kind of week.

Posted on June 9 2006, 2:30PM | Read More

Kevin Aviance Attacked in New York

Four people have been arrested in the late night homophobic attack on popular black gay singer Kevin Aviance. Aviance, whose songs have topped the Billboard dance chart, underwent surgery for a broken jaw at Beth Israel Medical Center after the attack Saturday. A group of six or seven teenagers and young men reportedly beat him and threw objects at Aviance, 38, as they yelled anti-gay epithets at him. Those arrested were charged with first-degree assault as a hate crime. They were identified as Jarell Sears and Akino George, both 20; Gregory Archie, 18; and Gerard Johnson, 16, according to published reports.

Although the attack took place in Manhattan, bystanders did not stop to help as the attackers threw objects at him, according to Aviance's publicist Len Evans. Aviance performs in drag but was "dressed like a boy" when he was attacked, Evans said. He had planned to take part in next week's Gay Pride parade and festivities, but will now be unable to perform, the publicist said.

Posted in sexuality on June 11 2006, 12:06PM | Read More | Comments (10)

LaChanze Wins Tony for Color Purple

Despite 11 Tony nominations including best musical, the hit Broadway musical "The Color Purple" picked up just one award at last night's Tony Awards presentation. Lead actress LaChanze surprised some insiders by winning the award for best actress in a musical. "Oh, my God, I won it, I really won it!" LaChanze said. "I didn't rehearse the speech clearly." The New York Times even described the actress as "looking genuinely shocked."

LaChanze beat out the favorite, Patti LuPone of "Sweeney Todd," and also won over Sutton Foster of "Drowsy," Kelli O'Hara of "The Pajama Game" and Chita Rivera of "Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life." In her acceptance speech, she thanked the show's most famous producer. "I want to thank Oprah Winfrey for bringing this story not only to the country but to the world," she said.

Posted in theater on June 12 2006, 11:24AM | Read More | Comments (7)

The Rise of Black Gay Sex Parties

Thumbing through HX magazine over the weekend, I made an unusual discovery about sex in the black gay community. It's not what you would expect. We've all heard the complaint that black gay men are underrepresented in the pages of the LGBT press. That rule has also applied to the weekly gay party guides like HX and Next in New York City, Metro Weekly in Washington and other magazines in other cities. But in some other ways, black gay men may actually be overrepresented, especially in terms of sex parties.

My inquiry began when I came across an article (p. 74) about a new porn video called "Black Cocks In White Jocks." Despite my initial inclination to dismiss the story as yet another example of the fetishization of black men, I was intrigued by the photo of two apparently naked black men embracing. I read on. The author observes, "I'm getting a bit tired of, 'Oh yeah, suck my big black dick,' 'Oh yeah, I love that big black cock'" lines. The writer continues, "Can't it just be, 'Suck my dick'? Even the title of the film shows that black men are still a 'fetish' in the porn world." That critique piqued my interest and got me thinking about the ways in which black men are represented in other ways in gay culture.

Posted in sexuality on June 12 2006, 4:17PM | Read More | Comments (35)

It's Time To Legalize Marijuana

Last night I attended the annual awards gala for the Marijuana Policy Project, and I came away more convinced than ever that marijuana should be legalized. I sat at the table next to Montel Williams, who delivered a very personal keynote address in which he roamed the room with a wireless microphone and talked about his own need for medical marijuana to deal with the pain associated with multiple sclerosis. I've known Montel for two years now, and I've never seen him more emotional. He told us how he had lost a friend in the past few days and he even cried as he shared his own ordeal of taking nearly a hundred pills a day to treat his condition.

After 22 years of serving the country in the military, he said, he should not be made to feel like a criminal just because he needs a drug to keep him healthy and out of pain. And that, of course, is what this debate is all about. It's not really about science or health. It's about politics. And once again, as is the case with needle exchange programs and safe sex education, the conservative forces in our government are all too willing to put irrational political concerns above the legitimate public health needs of our country.

Posted in politics on June 13 2006, 9:00AM | Read More | Comments (4)

City On Guard After Subway Stabbings

I normally avoid writing about these kinds of violent crime stories. In fact, I couldn't even decide which category to put it in because I don't have a crime section on my web site. But there was something about this story that just pulled me in. In the past 24 hours, we've seen four stabbings in Manhattan, two of them on the subways. For a city that prides itself on its relatively low crime rate and its newly cleaned and safe subway system, the attacks will surely come as a shock to many commuters who use the trains as their personal automobiles. But as always, there seems to be something deeper going on here.

I don't know whether the stabbings were random and unrelated or if they were part of some coordinated crime spree. I'm not sure which one would be scarier to the people of the city, but I was a little surprised by the news coverage in the city's three major newspapers. How do you cover a dramatic story like this without sensationalizing it? I also noticed a subtle hint of race used to stigmatize the black community of Harlem, where one stabbing took place, but not to harm the white midtown community where the other stabbings occurred.

Posted in politics on June 14 2006, 11:19AM | Read More | Comments (1)

Yes, Pastor, Condoms Do Work

Last weekend I had the opportunity to take part in a special live radio interview on the Audrey Chapman Show in Washington, D.C. I've done the show many times before, so I thought I knew what to expect. But this show was different. Instead of broadcasting from the studio, we sat down in the Reeves Center where the Howard University Hospital was hosting a community health fair. And I wasn't the only guest. I was joined by Carolyn Goode from the Howard University Hospital and by author LaJoyce Brookshire, whose new book Faith Under Fire, talks about her experience being married to a man who hid his AIDS diagnosis from her.

I've met LaJoyce before and I've always liked her energy. We first met at a Philadelphia book fair back in the 1990s and we've seen each other at various functions from time to time. The last time I had seen her was at E. Lynn Harris's New York book launch party in May. Given that history, I thought I knew what to expect. I was wrong. Although I admire and respect LaJoyce for her writing and her commitment, on this particular day she spread fear and misinformation to the listening audience. She gave the impression that condoms don't work, and in this day of AIDS, that's a grave mistake.

Posted in sexuality on June 14 2006, 5:54PM | Read More | Comments (9)

Bush To Blind Reporter: Take Off Your Shades

Wonkette got a big scoop on the president's latest screwup. Speaking at a Rose Garden press conference today, the nation's chief executive apparently didn't know the reporter he was talking to was legally blind. It's odd that the President apparently knew or was told the reporter's name but didn't know or wasn't told that the reporter was blind. Here's what they said to each other.

THE PRESIDENT: Yes, Peter. Are you going to ask that question with shades on?

REPORTER: I can take them off.

THE PRESIDENT: I’m interested in the shade look, seriously.

REPORTER: All right, I’ll keep it, then.

THE PRESIDENT: For the viewers, there’s no sun. (Laughter.)

REPORTER: I guess it depends on your perspective. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: Touche. (Laughter.)

REPORTER: Following up on the other Peter’s question about Karl Rove…

Posted in politics on June 14 2006, 6:44PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Now Everybody's A Director

The New York Times ran a fascinating story this morning about new technology that allows consumers to make their own movies on the Internet. I decided to give it a spin. Without reading the directions and with no instructions, no training, no experience and no equipment, I made up this quick 2 minute video from still photos and music that was already on my computer.

I used a web site called Jumpcut, but there are several others out there that provide similar services. I was amazed. If I can do this with no direction and no resources, imagine what you can do when you really put your mind to it.

Posted in movies on June 15 2006, 6:40AM | Read More | Comments (8)

Anything To Sell A Book

I'm getting a little tired of the trend of people saying outrageous things just to sell the book. The latest example, of course, is Ann Coulter, whose new book Godless: The Church of Liberalism attempts to skewer liberals and progressives and 9-11 widows for their lack of faith. Never mind the fact that some reports indicate that Ann herself hasn't been a faithful participant in her own church, the truth is she's probably not concerned about whether people go to church. She's concerned about saying the most outrageous things possible to hawk her books.

Sadly, she's not the only one, and she's certainly not the first to sell her soul to make a buck in the literary world. It was only a few months ago when Oprah Winfrey was hosting a show with now disgraced memoirist James Frey, who acknowledged to Oprah and the world that he fibbed a bit in recounting his heroic struggle to overcome drug addiction. And let's not forget the young Harvard student who plagiarized her manuscript and fooled her publisher into giving her a fat royalty advance before her slight of hand was discovered.

Posted in books on June 15 2006, 6:34PM | Read More | Comments (10)

The Week In Review

Fresh from the U.S. military operation against Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, President Bush tried to shore up public support for the Iraq War last week by making a surprise visit to meet with that country's prime minister and with American troops in Baghdad. Despite reports that showed Bush's poll numbers failed to rise after the Zarqawi killing, Bush is determined to get some mileage out of the issue and seize the opportunity to make some headway in his failed foreign policy. That was the big national news.

In other news, the World Cup international soccer tournament got underway in Germany, bringing some early excitement and disappointment. Back in the U.S., a popular black gay singer, Kevin Aviance, was gay bashed by a group of 4 young men and teenagers in Manhattan. Noah's Arc director Patrik-Ian Polk reported more news about the second season of the series he's filming in Vancouver. And in Los Angeles, black gay activists took their words to the street by placing a prominent billboard in the heart of the community. Keep reading to find out more.

Posted on June 16 2006, 10:00AM | Read More | Comments (1)

Noah's Arc Covers The Advocate

The new issue of The Advocate will feature Noah's Arc actor Doug Spearman on the cover. Spearman plays the role of Chance, the slightly uncool college professor, on the Logo television series. And although the new season is filming in Vancouver right now, he found time to sit down and talk to The Advocate about the show, his character, his real life sexual orientation, and his decision to become an actor.

In the interview, he reveals that his parents weren't exactly excited about his idea to become an actor. "We love you, honey; we know you're talented, and we know this is what you want to do, but you're not going to do it," they told him. The openly gay actor also responds to a few West Hollywood fans who complain about the absence of white characters and white love interests in the show. "Not every black man is gay-white-man shopping," he says.

Posted in pop culture on June 16 2006, 12:18PM | Read More | Comments (28)

PETA Confronts Beyonce on Fur

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, better known as PETA, is always making news for its tactics. Last year the group ran a controversial ad campaign comparing slavery to the mistreatment of animals. Now they've made news again after a dinner with superstar singer Beyonce Knowles. TMZ reports that Beyonce was ambushed Thursday night at the swanky New York restaurant Nobu by two members of PETA who had won an eBay auction, benefiting VH1's Save the Music Foundation, to dine with the star. Beyonce reportedly did not know they were PETA members.

Using a hidden camera, PETA shot amateur video inside the restaurant as they confronted Beyonce, who has a fashion line with her mother that uses fur. On the video, the PETA members are shown talking to Beyonce trying to convince her not to use fur. They then pulled out a portable DVD player and began playing a tape that highlights graphic footage of the process of killing animals for their fur.

Posted in pop culture on June 16 2006, 2:11PM | Read More | Comments (31)

Saturday Wake Up Call

· Poor Dan Rather. The former CBS News anchor ponders his future in an interview with my former Dartmouth classmate and now NY Times reporter Jacques Steinberg. When he's not trolling the theaters watching "Good Night, and Good Luck" by himself, the 74-year-old newsman is busy preparing to start his own blog and giving basketball advice to Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. Despite being shoved aside by network execs, Rather is not switching teams. "I'm always pulling for CBS News," he said.

· Where's Charlton Heston when you need him? Before you go preaching about the Ten Commandments, you ought to know the Ten Commandments. Tell that to Republican Congressman Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia. See the video here.

Posted on June 17 2006, 7:32AM | Read More | Comments (4)

Sunday Gospel

· The new Janet Jackson single "Call On Me" featuring Nelly is coming out this week. I just listened to it and it's a nice mellow tune where Nelly not only raps but he also helps Janet sing part of the hook. Should be a hot item when it's released this week.

· The new film "Dirty Laundry" (directed by Maurice Jamal and produced by Nathan Hale Williams, Crystal McCrary Anthony and Adrienne Lopez) is the talk of the town. The New York Post talks about the film in today's Page Six column. The film is scheduled to hit theaters in the holiday season.

Posted on June 18 2006, 11:05AM | Read More | Comments (9)

E. Lynn Goes To The Bible Belt

· Into The Bible Belt: E. Lynn Harris may be popular everywhere in America, but next week he goes to the one city that actually tried to ban his books. That would be Louisville. In 1998, religious conservatives at a high school in the Kentucky city tried but failed to ban three of his books -- "Invisible Life," "Just As I Am" and "This Too Shall Pass." The school council voted that students could read the books with a parent's permission. Next Monday, Harris takes his 35-city book tour back to the Kentucky city with a new book that challenges religious-based homophobia, I Say A Little Prayer. Should be interesting.

· North Korea On The Brink:North Korea is moving closer toward developing a long-range ballistic missile and a possible first important test launching in eight years. The move is seen as a threat to U.S. security because it would be North Korea's "first flight test of a long-range missile that might eventually have the capacity to strike the United States."

Posted on June 19 2006, 3:32AM | Read More | Comments (3)

Exclusive: 'Dirty Laundry' Trailer

The new film "Dirty Laundry" hasn't been released yet, but it is already creating quite a buzz in Hollywood. A few weeks ago, TV host (and Oprah's best friend) Gayle King moderated a special screening of the film. And on Sunday the New York Post ran an article about the film on its famous "Page Six" column. Now today, the first trailer for the film makes its world premiere here on this site.

The film stars Loretta Devine, Rockmond Dunbar, Jenifer Lewis, Terri J. Vaughn, Sommore and many others in a comedy about family drama. You can also get a view of the film in select cities this summer during a special "Sneak Preview Tour." Dirty Laundry will be shown at the UrbanWorld Film Festival in New York this Thursday and at the Frameline Film Festival in San Francisco on Friday.

The film is beautifully shot and looks amazing on the screen. However, the quality of the videotape here is a little off because of the technology of uploading and downloading. The film was written and directed by Maurice Jamal (Chappelle’s Show, The Ski Trip, Make My Day) and executive produced by Nathan Hale Williams, Crystal McCrary Anthony and Adrienne Lopez. To see the trailer, click on the play button above.

Posted in movies on June 19 2006, 12:41PM | Read More | Comments (11)

Noah's Arc Now On DVD

Look closely at these two photos. The one on the left is a newly released picture of the cast of Noah's Arc. So what's the one on the right? Could they be the understudies for the cast members? Or maybe they're the body doubles for the physical comedy stunt scenes? Actually it's neither of these things. These pictures just happen to share the same look and feel -- a group of handsome black men dressed in casual whites. That's about where the similarities end.

The Noah's Arc crew is based in Los Angeles and filming in Vancouver. The crew on the right is based in Washington, D.C. The picture on the left was taken to mark the occasion of the new season of Noah's Arc and the release of the first season DVD. The picture on the right was taken to advertise DC's Annual White Attire Affair put on by the Ummah Endowment Fund. The new season of Noah's Arc begins on August 9 nationwide. The White Attire affair is held on July 15 at the Ronald Reagan Building in DC.

Posted in pop culture on June 20 2006, 1:55AM | Read More | Comments (10)

Spend the Night With Erica Watson

I first met Erica Watson a few years ago when she moved to New York from Chicago. At that time she was a school teacher, and I kept asking myself how does she keep her students from cracking up from all her humorous anecdotes and life stories. Clearly I wasn't the only one who thought Erica was funny. She heard it so many times from so many people that she decided to take a spin at comedy. One night she walked on stage at a comedy club, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Described as "big, bold and beautiful," Erica is an opinionated and outspoken woman on the rise in entertainment. A woman of many talents, the Chicago native is not only a hilarious comedienne, she's also a social commentator, producer, writer and director. She hosts a set called Wicked Laughter and she has become a favorite at Caroline's on Broadway, Comic Strip Live and Gotham Comedy Club. Tonight, Erica will be performing her big GAY PRIDE SHOW at Carolines on Broadway, so I decided to sit down and talk to her. I learned a lot about her in our raw, uncensored and politically incorrect interview.

Posted in theater on June 20 2006, 1:19PM | Read More | Comments (14)

Abolish The HIV Penalty Laws

The new issue of POZ magazine is out and I am delighted to see a cover story by my friend Kai Wright. Kai is a prolific New York-based writer who serves as publications editor for the Black AIDS Institute and just published an op-ed in the Atlanta Journal Constitution this week. Kai's writings often plunge head first into difficult issues and his new article in POZ is no exception to the rule.

In this month's POZ, Kai writes about one of the most sensitive topics in the gay community: HIV transmission laws. Those are the laws that criminalize HIV positive people who have unprotected sex without disclosing their status to their partners. Actually, they're not really "transmission" laws because the laws don't care whether you transmit the virus or not. Instead, the laws are more accurately called "HIV disclosure laws" because they put people in jail for failing to tell the truth. I've said it many times before, and I'll say it again today, those laws are wrong, misguided and counterproductive, and the LGBT community should not support them.

Posted in sexuality on June 21 2006, 12:05AM | Read More | Comments (21)

Football Wife Alleges Down Low Relationship

The New York Daily News today printed an explosive allegation against New York Giants player Michael Strahan. The News reported that Strahan's wife, in the course of much publicized divorce hearings, accused her husband of having an extramarital affair with another man. The man she cited is no stranger to the media. She mentioned television's own Dr. Ian Smith. Smith is best-known as a regular contributor on ABC's "The View" and VH1's "Celebrity Fit Club." He also writes a medical column for Men's Health.

"Michael moved into Ian's one-bedroom apartment," Jean Strahan said, according to the News. "And you can say an alternative lifestyle sprouted." Her lawyer then stopped her before she could elaborate, the paper reported. Strahan, through his attorney, denied the allegation, and Dr. Smith also denied the charge. "This is laughable," said Smith. "I am a very happily married man."

Posted in sports on June 21 2006, 5:32PM | Read More | Comments (25)

Michael Strahan Is Cool With Gays

As expected, the New York tabloids had a field day with the Michael Strahan divorce story this morning. The New York Post reported that Strahan says he'll never marry again. During a brief phone call to WBLS/107.5 FM radio personality Wendy Williams yesterday, Strahan denied allegations made by his wife that he is gay, but he did indicate he is gay friendly. "I have plenty of friends that are bi or homosexual. It's fine with me. This is New York City. If you can't accept people for being people, then you have no business being here." Strahan added, "I don't frown on anybody for that lifestyle, it's not my lifestyle."

The Post reported that Strahan is now dating "America's Next Top Model" winner Eva Pigford. Meanwhile, the New York Daily News snapped a photo of the Giants' defensive end jogging with Dr. Ian Smith's twin brother Dana yesterday. The News ran a front page story in which Strahan's wife now says her husband is not gay.

Posted in sports on June 22 2006, 3:19AM | Permalink | Comments (18)

Say It Ain't So, Ozzie

Remember last fall when Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen was seen planting his lips on this handsome young man? He was actually kissing his son in the AP photo taken after his team's historic World Series victory. But it turned out that Guillen really liked to kiss men. And hug. And show 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 above), Chicago Tribune columnist Dawn Turner Trice observed what she called a "kissing phenomenon" on the White Sox team. "At the end of one game in the series, she noticed Guillen in the dugout hugging and kissing several of his players. She even called him a "metroSOXual manager." So imagine my surprise when I read today that Guillen has been accused of using derogatory and homophobic language in a dispute with Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti.

Posted in sports on June 22 2006, 12:59PM | Read More | Comments (4)

Amend This!

I’m getting tired of all the back-and-forth battles gay people have to fight just to secure our basic human rights. I’m tired of all the ballot initiatives on adoption and parenting. And I’m tired of all the state and federal constitutional amendments on marriage. It’s time for us to fight back.

But before we throw in the towel on our current efforts, we have to remember that the proliferation of anti-gay legislation is an indication of our own success. The backlash is a clear sign that we’re winning the so-called “culture wars” and the conservatives are running scared. It’s also a reminder that our legislative and judicial victories are only temporary unless and until we change the hearts and minds of the American people.

Posted in sexuality on June 23 2006, 12:05AM | Read More | Comments (12)

And They're All Black?

Something about this image really struck me today when I first saw it on CNN. The U.S. Justice Department released these photos of the seven "terror suspects" accused of a plot to destroy the Sears Tower in Chicago. My first reaction was shock because I hadn't suspected any, much less all, of the suspects to be black. The reaction reminded me of the way I felt when I learned the accused highway snipers were black a few years ago. But there was still something off-putting about seeing 7 black men depicted as terrorists.

As I watched the CNN Headline News story, the network aired an artist's illustration of the suspects appearing in court today. "Officials described the men as al Qaeda wannabes who really posed no credible threat," the CNN reporter said. But if these men really posed no credible threat, then why was this front-page news? Why was it the lead story on CNN? Why did the U.S. Attorney General hold a special press conference to praise this "victory" in the war on terror? Was this a victory in the war on terror or just another photo op in the Bush Administration's war on reality?

Posted in politics on June 23 2006, 4:22PM | Read More | Comments (33)

What Made Denice Denton Kill Herself?

Many questions are unanswered following the death of Denice Dee Denton, the chancellor at the University of California Santa Cruz. Denton reportedly committed suicide on Saturday when she jumped from the 44th floor of a San Francisco building she shared with her partner.

Denton had been both an inspirational and a controversial figure on campus. She sparked excitement when she was hired as the first openly lesbian chancellor at the school last year. But she also provoked controversy when she hired her partner, Gretchen Kalonji, for a job at the university. Students and workers have protested outside her home because of decisions she has made. And Denton waded into controversy last year when she challenged Harvard University President Lawrence Summers over sexist comments he made about the role of women in academia. She had a distinguished resume and had risen to the top of academia. So why would she kill herself?

Posted in sexuality on June 26 2006, 12:11AM | Read More | Comments (14)

Finally, A Real Democrat!

I've not been very optimistic about Russ Feingold's chances for the Democratic presidential nomination. With heavy hitters like Senator Hillary Clinton and others standing in his way, it seemed unlikely that the Wisconsin Democrat had a chance to win the party's top spot, much less the presidency itself. But after watching Sen. Feingold Sunday on "Meet the Press," I'm willing to backtrack a little bit. I still don't know if Feingold has a chance to win, but I'm more convinced than ever that he should run.

Feingold came across Sunday as an intelligent, articulate, forceful voice for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. In an era when most Democrats are busy taking polls and trying to sound like Republicans, Feingold is the rare straight shooter who comes out and says what he really believes. (1) It's time to withdraw the troops from Iraq. (2) The Congress is out of touch with the American public on Iraq. (3) President Bush should be censured. (4) We need real campaign finance reform. Despite tough questioning from Tim Russert, Feingold did not back down on any of those positions and did not attempt to hedge his views. That was refreshing. Of all the potential candidates for president, Feingold is now my favorite.

Posted in politics on June 26 2006, 11:13AM | Read More | Comments (3)

More of Busta's Homophobic Nonsense

Busta Rhymes is not my favorite rapper. He's already on my shit list after attacking a gay man in Miami earlier this year, and for homophobic comments he's made. I think it's time that black gays and lesbians boycott Busta for his gay-bashing nonsense. But someone else has now joined the fray.

Rhymes has recently been criticizing his former girlfriend, Joanne Wood, who is the mother of his three children, while he's been promoting his new album. Wood says the rapper hates her not because she is a bad mother, but because she is a lesbian. The former couple recently ended a bitter custody battle and Wood says the real reason Trevor Smith (Busta's real name) is angry with her is because she chose a woman over him.

Posted in music on June 27 2006, 11:46AM | Read More | Comments (37)

Wash. Post Profiles Black Gay Men

For the past few weeks now, the Washington Post has been running a provocative series on being a black man in America. This week, the Post turns its attention to a specific subset of the black male population: black gay men. On Tuesday, June 13, a group of black gay men gathered for a dinner party at the home of Raymond Boney of Northeast Washington. The men were following the "Being a Black Man" series, and wanted to share their perspectives on being gay and black in America.

Today the Post publishes a video from the black gay men's gathering and posts a transcript of an online conversation with reporters Sholnn Z. Freeman, washingtonpost.com video journalists Ben de la Cruz and Pierre Kattar. For those who are black and gay, it may not be news. But for millions of people who don't have exposure to black gay men, it's a fascinating look at our lives.

Posted in sexuality on June 27 2006, 3:00PM | Read More | Comments (11)

I Don't Care If You Burn The Flag

The proposal to amend the U.S. Constitution to outlaw flag burning almost passed Congress yesterday when the Senate fell just one vote shy of the 67 votes needed to approve the amendment and send it to the states. That raises an important question. Do we really need a constitutional amendment to ban the burning of the flag? Absolutely not.

Shame on all those Senators, Democrats as well as Republicans, who voted for this insulting offense to free speech. America is not stronger because of our flag. It is stronger because of our values. Here in America, we are supposed to allow people to disagree and differ with us. But lately we have been becoming a country that values a cult of pseudo Christianity and a blind allegiance to shallow patriotic symbolism over real debate and tolerance. That is not America.

Posted in politics on June 28 2006, 12:05PM | Read More | Comments (5)

I Guess We All Look Alike

This article from the Spokesman Review newspaper in Spokane, Washington caught my eye today. Look closely at the picture and the caption. That's not Beyonce and her boyfriend Jay-Z. It looks like Fantasia and Jamie Foxx. Maybe we all do look alike in Spokane.

By the way, did anyone see Damon Wayans last night as the host of the BET Awards? I turned it on late and noticed him resurrecting his (in)famous role as gay film critic Blaine Edwards from the "Men on Film" series on "In Living Color." But was it funny?

Posted in pop culture on June 28 2006, 12:42PM | Permalink | Comments (9)

Star Jones v. Barbara Walters

I'm not sure who would win a battle between Star Jones-Reynolds and Barbara Walters, but don't count out Star just yet. After Jones-Reynolds quit on air yesterday, Walters said she took offense to the move. Then today, Walters countered by saying that Jones-Reynolds knew all along that her contract had not been renewed. If that's the case, then Barbara Walters lied in April when she told the media that Star was free to stay on the show.

Gay columnist Andrew Sullivan calls Barbara on her lack of truthfulness on his blog today. In a piece titled "Barbara Walters Is a Liar, " Sullivan writes, "When Barbara Walters asks politicians to be straightforward in future, remember she is holding them to a standard she doesn't apply to herself.

Posted in pop culture on June 28 2006, 12:56PM | Read More | Comments (37)

"Lie and Die"

The Democrats may have finally developed an easily repeatable response to the GOP charges of "cut-and-run" in Iraq. It's not the catchiest slogan but it's just crass enough to get your attention. Massachusetts Senator John Kerry actually coined the phrase. He said if you want a slogan to respond to "cut-and-run," then the Bush Administration's strategy amounts to "lie and die."

No sense pussyfooting our way around it. George Bush and his crew have lied to us for 5 years now, and 2,500 American soldiers and 30,000 Iraqi civilians are dead because of it. All those lives were taken because George W. Bush lied to the world that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and was connected to September 11. Now that's an inconvenient truth.

Posted in politics on June 29 2006, 10:01AM | Read More | Comments (13)

Michael Strahan Update

The New York Post just can't get enough of Michael Strahan. Photos of the New York Giants defensive end have been plastered over the tabloids the past week because of the nasty child custody proceeding with his wife. But when his wife accused him of leading an "alternative lifestyle," Strahan didn't pull a Kordell Stewart and try to prove his masculinity to his teammates.

When rumors spread about Stewart in 1999, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback went to the locker room and gave his teammates graphic descriptions of heterosexual sex acts he enjoys. "You'd better not leave your girlfriends around me, because I'm out to prove a point," Stewart said. In contrast, Strahan simply said the story was not true, expressed his support for the gay community, and went on about his business. That was the right way to handle it.

Posted in sports on June 29 2006, 3:53PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Star Wins Round 3

Star Jones-Reynolds will not be denied. The former co-host of "The View" did the media rounds in the past 24 hours, shuttling from the "Larry King Live" Show on CNN last night to "The Today Show" on NBC this morning. In a rare, multi-segment 20 minute interview, "Today" co-host Al Roker sat down with Jones-Reynolds this morning to clear the air on Star's departure from her ABC show.

But it was the hour long interview last night that has the Internet buzzing. Appearing on Larry King Live, Star Jones-Reynolds finally told her side of the story. She spoke calmly, clearly and convincingly when she explained her decision to announce her departure on Tuesday. "I was told 'You'll be able to leave on your own terms,'" she said. "The terms I chose was to tell the truth. I mean I'm not used to being blasted for telling the truth."

Posted in pop culture on June 30 2006, 11:26AM | Read More | Comments (53)

The Devil Wears Wrestling Tights

I've profiled professional wrestler Orlando Jordan on this site before. Back in January, I reported that Jordan was coming out of the closet because the WWE had decided to make his character into a bisexual wrestler. He was supposed to be connected to former TNA female star Trinity and a new gay male character named Erik in a love triangle.

Now it turns out that story may have been closer to the truth than I realized. Late last month, the WWE quietly announced that Jordan had been released from his contract. Rumors quickly started swirling on the Internet that Jordan, in real life, had been involved with a male lover and tried to bring the lover with him to various wrestling events. That's where the story gets interesting.

Posted in sports on June 30 2006, 8:44PM | Read More | Comments (20)