Monthly archive of December 2006

World AIDS Day

Today is World AIDS Day. That's the one day each year when we are all supposed to come together and appreciate the impact of the AIDS epidemic and rededicate ourselves to stopping it. Been there, done that. It's still a good idea, but it's not enough.

We can't stop the AIDS epidemic until we stop the lies that fuel the epidemic. That's why today I'm featuring the video (above) about black men. (Just click on the image to see the video.) It deconstructs some of the most popular myths about black men in America. One of those myths -- that there are more black men in prison than in college -- was actually repeated last year by the President of Harvard University. Is it any wonder, then, that so many others buy into the myths?

Another popular myth is that black men on the down low are responsible for the AIDS epidemic. The video discounts that assumption, and now new research by the CDC's Dr. Greg Millett helps to disprove this theory. The research, reported in this week's Gay City News, indicates that men on the down low are not the cause of the AIDS epidemic in black America.

Posted in sexuality on December 1 2006, 8:55AM | Read More | Comments (30)

Can They Save Us?

This week, the Iraq Study Group is expected to report to President Bush and the nation on options to help the United States in Iraq. Three years into the war, with nearly 3,000 American soldiers dead and no end in sight, the public is demanding answers. That was the message voters sent to Washington last month in the midterm elections. The Democrats won control of Congress for the first time since 1994, and all indications suggest they heard the public's message loud and clear. Now the question is: Did President Bush hear them?

This week's issues of TIME and NEWSWEEK raise the same question. The cover of TIME predicts "Bush will listen" while the cover of NEWSWEEK questions that assumption with the blunt headline, "Will Bush Listen?" I don't claim to have any special insight into George Bush's mind, but I do know this. If Bush listens to the Iraq Study Group and takes their advice, it may be the only thing that can save his presidency.

Posted in politics on December 4 2006, 12:04AM | Read More | Comments (3)

Good News For Black Gay TV Fans

It looks like there will be a new season of a popular black gay television series next year. Although there's no official word yet on Noah's Arc from the people at LOGO, the nation's other gay TV network has moved into the market with its own new show. The here! TV network, which describes itself as "America’s premium gay television network," has announced that it has acquired the rights to the award-winning television series The DL Chronicles, from creators Quincy Le Near and Deondray Gossett. The network plans to debut the first three episodes in the spring of 2007 and will be producing up to 9 additional episodes next year as well.

"We are of course excited and ready for the challenge," co-creator Quincy Le Near said in an e-mail message this morning. He and his producing partner Deondray Gossett made the announcement at a near sold out screening of The DL Chronicles at the Egyptian Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, as part of the Outfest Fusion people of color film festival.

Posted in pop culture on December 5 2006, 9:57AM | Read More | Comments (53)

Even Barney Gets It

We are not winning the war in Iraq. That's the conclusion of the Iraq Study Group report released today. "The current approach is not working," said commission co-chairman Lee Hamilton. Of course, the American people already knew that. Polls show most Americans have been skeptical about the war for months. And now, thanks to the election, almost everyone in official Washington has acknowledged our failure in Iraq. Even President Bush's own nominee to be Secretary of Defense said so on Monday in his Senate confirmation hearing.

But White House press secretary Tony Snow quickly rebutted that charge of failure. This is a White House in serious denial of reality. But it is no surprise. President Bush once famously said that he would stick with his failed policy in Iraq even if his wife Laura and his dog Barney were the only ones supporting him. Unless he wakes up from Wonderland, he may soon get his wish.

Posted in politics on December 6 2006, 12:02PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

The Great 'Gay Rapper' Hoax

The news, whether it was true or not, was not a surprise to many. Jason Herndon, a local hair stylist, was supposedly busted by police and scheduled for a court appearance today in New York. That alone did not appear newsworthy. But this was no ordinary hair stylist.

Herndon's improbable rise from a simple beautician to celebrity consort had already struck some as suspicious. After all, it was just a few years ago when the young black gay man, born in Brooklyn in 1977 or 1978. suddenly found himself hobnobbing with the likes of Russell and Kimora Lee Simmons and Sean "Diddy" Combs. But beneath the surface, there was a hidden truth about the man who came to be identified as "the gay rapper."

This is not just a story about the rise and fall of "the gay rapper," commonly known as Caushun (pronounced "caution"). This is also a story about a vocal but largely anonymous enemy attempting to seize on Herndon's misfortune in his weakest moment. It is, pardon the pun, a cautionary tale about today's culture of instant celebrity.

Posted in sexuality on December 7 2006, 1:30PM | Read More | Comments (36)

NBJC Celebrates Third Birthday

It all started three years ago today. That's when a new group calling itself the National Black Justice Coalition held a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. to announce a "national campaign to generate support for the civil rights of LGBT people, and to call upon African American civil rights organizations and political leaders to take a strong position against the proposed discriminatory Federal Marriage Amendment." The leaders announced a major fundraising drive and a targeted ad campaign to generate African American support for marriage equality.

In the beginning, NBJC was just a post office box in New York and a loosely connected group of activists spread across the country. But in three short years, it has become a national advocacy organization with a small full-time staff and an office in Washington. Today, as NBJC celebrates its third birthday, I thought it would be a good time to ask a few questions to the man in charge. So here now is my interview with NBJC CEO H. Alexander Robinson.

Posted in sexuality on December 8 2006, 12:05AM | Read More | Comments (9)

Steelers Player Calls Opponent A Fag

My, my, my. Haven't we learned anything this year? In the past few weeks, everybody from pop divas to gospel singers to football players seems to be stumbling over their words about gays. The latest foul is from Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey Porter, who accused opponent Kellen Winslow Jr. of being a "fag." (Click on the image above to see the video.)

In the same week in which rumors swirled across the Internet that a major NBA player was coming out, Porter's words showed just why so few pro athletes have ventured outside the closet. "He's a fag," said Porter, refering to Winslow. "He tried to dap me up before the game. He's soft though. I don't pay attention to him."

When asked about a supposedly late hit that took place in the game, Porter said, "It was late. That's what fags do. He's soft. He wanna be tough but he's really soft. He tried to give me a handshake before the game. He's not my friend, he don't know me. What you trying to shake my hand for?...He talk too much and he hadn't done nothing...He threw a cheap shot. He's weak. He's for real weak. He's soft. He might want to play receiver because he don't want to play tight end...He's not gonna block nobody."

Posted in sports on December 9 2006, 11:20AM | Read More | Comments (45)

Kiss & Tell With Wilson Cruz

If you watched LOGO TV this weekend, there's a good chance you saw Wilson Cruz. That's because he's one of the cast members on Logo's annual Queer Year special, which started airing over the weekend. Wilson joins Bruce Daniels, Amanda Bearse, Neil Giuliano, Jenny Shimizu and Sarah Warn on the month-long special. But of course that's not the first time we've seen him on the new network.

Just a couple of months ago, Wilson was playing the role of Junito, the hot and sexy HIV positive doctor who was dating Ricky (Christian Vincent) on Noah's Arc. And just a few weeks ago, he was hosting LOGO's coverage of The Out 100 Awards from New York. A few days after that, he was down in Atlanta to receive his own Clik Award. The man is everywhere, and this month he's going to be even more ubiquitous. So what better time to sit down with him for a one-on-one interview?

Posted in pop culture on December 11 2006, 12:21AM | Read More | Comments (24)

Seasons Greetings from New Mexico

Kenneth Winfrey Reports

Let me be honest, I am not big on Christmas. I mean, think about it, we all know that Jesus wasn't born on December 25th. We also know that the holiday has become more about spending more money than we have and--for those of us who have escaped the homophobic heritage of our origins--spending time with people we fled for the other 364 days of the year. Maybe I'm the AfroScrooge, but I don't want you to celebrate any less.

All things considered, the holiday does bring out the charitable spirit in most of us. It also lets us show our creativity in lit decoration as well our thoughtfulness in the gifts we choose, and it gives us a chance to reconnect with the people we do actually want to see, but do not during other times of the year. But who says we can't do those things all year around? We certainly don't wait until a holiday to throw a ball, as Fratman discusses here.

Posted on December 12 2006, 9:56AM | Read More | Comments (7)

The Case of the Snooping Landlord

Twenty-eight-year-old Cheriko Boone was living in a brownstone in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn when his landlord began making "sexually offensive comments and gestures." His landlord was spying on him while he was having sex and snooping around his bedroom when he wasn't at home, according to court papers. The harassment reportedly began in 2001 when a male roommate moved into Boone's two-bedroom apartment, and his landlord, Nelson Stoute, 54, began making sexual advances toward Boone. The landlord reportedly became abusive when he was rebuffed by Boone.

When the landlord started taking photographs of Boone and his friends, Boone moved out and took his case to the state Human Rights Division, which investigated the claim. "I felt like I was in prison," said Boone, who is pursuing a master's degree in public health and social work at Columbia University. "I couldn't do anything without Mr. Stoute monitoring what I was doing," he testified. The landlord even told Boone's friend that he felt like "beating (Boone's)... head in," according to court papers.

The Human Rights Division awarded Boone $10,000 for his suffering, which the landlord refused to pay, alleging that Boone was a "flagrant exhibitionist" who had sex in his bedroom without drawing the curtains and that he was upsetting the neighbors. But on November 28, the state appellate court sided with Boone, in a ruling that ordered the landlord to pay the $10,000 judgment.

After I heard about the decision, I contacted Boone and asked him to tell me his side of the story, in his own words. What follows is Boone's perspective on the case.

Posted in sexuality on December 13 2006, 10:49AM | Read More | Comments (6)

Every Vote Counts

Washington was thrown into a tizzy yesterday when news spread that South Dakota's Democratic Senator Tim Johnson had been hospitalized after suffering a stroke. Democrats and Republicans immediately began speculating what effect Johnson's health problems would have on the control of the U.S. Senate, which Democrats are scheduled to take over next month with a slim 51-49 majority. If Johnson were not able to fulfill his term, his replacement would be selected by Mike Rounds, the Republican governor of South Dakota, which would inevitably lead to a 50-50 split in the Senate, giving Vice President Cheney the deciding vote on control of the body.

Perhaps it was genuine friendship that led incoming Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to rush to the hospital to see about his colleague, but everyone in Washington knows that both parties are quietly monitoring Johnson's health to see what effect it has on their own power. Shortly after the news was reported that Johnson had suffered a stroke, other stories were released to deny that Johnson had suffered a stroke. By early Thursday morning, the news media were reporting that Johnson was in critical condition after undergoing surgery to repair a brain hemorrhage.

Posted in politics on December 14 2006, 12:07PM | Read More | Comments (3)

The Year In Review

As 2006 draws to a close, it's time to sit back and reflect on the high points and low points of the year. It was a year of dramatic change and a year of amazing news stories. So today I'm seeking your help. Help me to determine the top 10 stories of the year. Tell me which items you think were the top news stories of the year in each category.

Posted on December 15 2006, 12:43PM | Read More | Comments (9)

Should Athletes Be Role Models?

We've been down this road before. Every time there's a controversy in professional sports, critics jump up and complain that athletes are sending the wrong signals to today's youth. December has shown plenty of reasons for concern. Just a couple of weeks ago, Pittsburgh Steelers player Joey Porter got into trouble in the locker room for calling an opponent, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Kellen Winslow, a "fag." Not long after that, the New York Knicks and the Denver Nuggets squared off in Madison Square Garden for a bench-clearing brawl that left 10 players ejected and 7 suspended. Then came word that Terrell Owens, already the most controversial player in the NFL, was fined for spitting on an opponent last weekend.

All of this raises a couple of questions. First, who took the "professional" out of professional sports? And second, should we even bother to hold up athletes as role models anymore?

Posted in sports on December 19 2006, 12:30PM | Read More | Comments (24)

Milk and Cereal

It's getting close to the end of the year and Christmas is just around the corner. So unless some big news happens in the next few days, I'm going to chill out on the serious stuff and bring you some holiday fluff instead. For starters, remember that whole "Milk and Cereal" craze not long ago? If not, don't feel bad, I missed it too.

Well, anyway, I was cruising through Myspace one day, which led me to YouTube, which led me to the video above. It's the most adorable version of the "Milk and Cereal" song. Click on the image above to check it out yourself. A nice little holiday treat. A lot of sugar but not much substance. Enjoy!

Posted on December 21 2006, 12:45AM | Permalink | Comments (11)

Happy Holidays

It's that time again. It's the time when many of us go home to see our families, or catch up on all the things we left behind for the year, and look forward to the promise of the new year ahead. It's also a time when not a lot of work gets done, especially during the awkward week between Christmas and New Year's.

So today we're going on our holiday schedule. From now until January 15, we will be posting updates from time to time, but we will not post as often as we normally do. I'm going to be on the road during much of this time and I don't know what kind of access I will have to the Internet. But I will be posting periodically, and I will be back on January 15 with live, day-to-day coverage as before.

In the meantime, it's time to celebrate. Whether you observe Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or all or none of the above, best wishes to you for a joyful season.

Posted on December 22 2006, 2:04PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

James Brown Is Dead

He was the godfather of soul. For much of his 73 years on the planet, he had his own style of music, dress, and life. He electrified audiences with his tight pants and cape, his dance moves, and his voice. He gave us legendary music for all times, and he was perhaps the last of a generation of recording artists from a now bygone era of American music. James Brown, the bridge between the past and the present, was a legend himself in his own time. He died around 1:45 on Christmas morning at Emory Crawford Long Hospital in Atlanta.

His career spanned six decades, and James Brown left a huge imprint on the ever changing sands of our music. He inspired everyone from Mick Jagger to Michael Jackson. Popularly known as "the hardest working man in show business," James Brown performed until late in his life, even after being diagnosed with prostate cancer. And though he ran into some troubles in his life, he will be remembered mostly for the showman, entertainer and vocalist he was. He was a rare breed, now almost gone. He will be missed by many.

Posted in music on December 25 2006, 9:20AM | Permalink | Comments (10)

James Brown On The Screen

I don't know how long these will be up on YouTube, but I thought I'd take this opportunity to replay some of James Brown's classic moments in film. The first clip (above) shows James Brown as Rev. Cleophus James in The Blues Brothers movie.

Posted on December 26 2006, 2:18AM | Read More | Comments (7)

2006 Comes To An End

Wow. What a year! It started with the excitement of the Winter Olympics and ended with the drama of the Iraq War. In between, we saw the Democrats win control of Congress, the first black governor elected in Massachusetts, and the prospect of a popular black senator running for president. We lost Coretta Scott King, James Brown, Gordon Parks, Ed Bradley, and two Geralds -- Levert and Ford.

On a personal note, 2006 brought many blessings and changes. I participated in my first Carnival in Brazil, started hosting a new TV show on BET, attended the Black AIDS Institute retreat in Puerto Rico, wrote an online fitness journal, spoke at the opening ceremony of the Gay Games, won a gold medal in wrestling at the Games, discontinued my monthly syndicated column, completed my term on the board of the National Black Justice Coalition, and retired from my leadership role in black gay activism.

Posted on December 28 2006, 5:51PM | Read More | Comments (9)