World AIDS Day 2007

Billy
November 30 2007, 1:25PM

I will look him up-love to see those that never get the attention and not looking for it-get it. He sounds like an extraordinary human being. Another soldier gone home...

I also like the rest of that prose, "When my brother fell I picked up his weapons. I didn't question whether I could aim or be as precise." I would run out of fingers and toes counting the times I've compared myself and other leaders to past leaders (Martin Luther King, Harriet Tubman-you get the drift)and let that stop me from doing my part and contributing peace to this world.

Thanks Keith-a good reminder for us all.

loi wade
November 30 2007, 1:34PM

I became so emotional reading this. I so admired brother Hemphil. But he wasn't the only one though. Besides the beautiful people mentioned like Bayard Rustin (and we all know Martin Luther King was given the glory that belonged to him). There was Langston, Zora and the countless brothers and sisters of the Harlem Renaissance. And, Oh if I could just have ONE day with Audre' Lord. But, like they say, the best go young. Great story Keith. Please do more like it.

Luther
November 30 2007, 1:58PM

Powerful post today, thanks. And, let us nveer forget those who we have lost to this epidemic.

Derrick from PhIlly
November 30 2007, 2:03PM

The last time I saw Essex Hemphill, it must have been at a showing of Rigg's"Black Is, Black Aint", but I could have sworn it was "I Shall Not Be Removed". When I look at the date of his death, I'm not sure. Hemphill, Marlon Riggs & Joseph Beam defined for me what it was to be Black and Gay. There were others (Issac Julien, Stephen Winter, and other writers, filmmakers) but those three left THE LEGACY for me because they taught acceptance of the diversity within the Black Gay World. From homothug to drag queen and everthing in between--if you're Black and Gay then that's what you are. They knew that Black "children" helped invent "GAY" so what's point in calling yourself something else, and handing "Gay" over to someone else? Gay is as Black as it is White.

I met Joseph Beam, Essex's friend & collaborator in 1982. He was working at Giovanni's Room Bookstore. He told me he needed writings from Black Gay men--that project became "In the Life".

I'll always be grateful to Hemphill, Riggs & Beam

Ron Lee
November 30 2007, 2:30PM

Thats a great tribute Keith, Essex,Beam and many others of their generation has indeed layed the ground work for this Black SGL Renaisance which has been going on since the mid 90s. Boykins,Wilson,Manago,Cannick and all who are well known and are soldiers in the fight for social justice should come together and strategize on building a healthy SGL Community with all the resources at our disposal we could be a very cohesive group,If we strategicly fulfil the agendas of all within the group. We could organize our SGL leadership,once that were to occur we could actually make our circuit party events both political & fun. Even if we disagree on gaymarriage we should encourage SGL LOVE & STR8 Black males to marry our woman. When we have an event it should be either in the Black or SGL Community and all monies should be spent in that community that weekend. Basicly we should come together and be selfish loving each other and building an indomidible force.P.S. Keith keep your site up...PLEASE. LOVE U GUYS.

loi wade
November 30 2007, 2:47PM

You are right Luther. So here goes...Fennard b.1968 p.1991, Reggie b.1965 p.1998 and Marcus b.1964 p.1987. R.I.P.

Ostend Street
November 30 2007, 4:22PM

How absolutely beautiful are the words of Essex Hemphill and like so many works of greatness we don't appreciate them enough when they are in our midst. Those of us who came through the 80's know the devastation and the lost that this epidemic created in large numbers in a short period of time. I can count and name at least 50 plus friends and acquaintances who left out of here like someone pulled up in a bus and said "let's go"! This is my concern now: Did we learn anything?? When you hear about the new cases that exist in the African American Community, it really makes you wonder -- "Did we learn anything?".

LaSmartOne
November 30 2007, 5:03PM

I know I'm going to get so much flack for saying this BUT...

I encourage you guys to go check out the discussions on aidsmythexposed.com and also check out the websites aliveandwell.org and helpforhiv.com .

For such a deadly disease, don't you think we owe it to ourselves to understand the issue of "HIV" in its entirety?

Isn't it time we really looked into this and not just buy into the propaganda. "HIV" isn't killing us, the AIDS establishment is.

Liquid Fonts
November 30 2007, 6:32PM

I don't do sterotypes. I know many black gay ppl who despite being Hiv positive, are happy, healthy, well educated, own businesses, have presence and influence in the gay community, have access to quality healthcare and supportive friends and family. But I can also find MORE black gay folks who aren't Positive who come out and struggle to get an education, suffer lonliness, live pay check to pay check, worry about elderly parents, can't find a decent black gay man due to their socio economic status, have no access to healthcare and feel no real presence/voice in their own community. Am I envious of or lack empathy for those who are positive? Hell no, a generation was lost to me as well. I’m just concerned about the gay community's lopsided focus with the Aids epidemic... ignoring the social ills known to lead to that positive blood test. Poverty, depression, drug abuse and unsafe sex.

Dare2Dream
November 30 2007, 6:32PM

Now with that said, let all of us, as Beam and Hemphill would wish cherish, "Dare to Dream."

Ramsueno
November 30 2007, 9:54PM

I will always remember my brothers who have passed through before me...with klove, guidance and understanding, friendship and drama, love and blessings, and oh so much humankindness that washes over me like these tears do now...Did we learn anything? I learned to love just a bit harder, to be kinder, to not blindly accept what others have told me, and to be true to myself. Friends all and those who have touched me..thanks...

Sandy
December 1 2007, 1:08AM

Thank you again Mr. Boykin for a thoughtful post. I am lesbian; I learned so much about love and devotion from Mr. Hemphill.

elg
December 1 2007, 2:48AM

Liquid Fonts: Who and where are these "many HIV positive black gay [men] who are happy, healthy, well educated, own businesses, have presence and influence in the gay community, have access to quality healthcare and supportive friends and family"? Not in my midwestern city. I know a number of black gay men who are HIV positive and most of them struggle to survive. Many receive Social Security Disability/SSI benefits. Their medical insurance is a Medicaid card (welfare) and they look forward to their Food Stamps every month. They often live in poor, blighted neighborhoods, surrounded by poor black people who shun them. Many are not on close terms with their "families". What "lopsided focus with the AIDS epidemic"? There's not enough focus on the AIDS epidemic in black communities. When blacks do "focus" on the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the focus is almost always on HIV infections in straight black women, not HIV infections in BLACK GAY MEN.

Jeff Hobbs
December 1 2007, 5:26AM

Beautiful post today Keith. What a legacy to have inspired Keith Boykin. :) The poem is incredible to say the least. Thank you for really making World Aids Day so personal.

Ostend Street
December 1 2007, 9:13AM

Thanks elg and Ramsueno for your thoughtful positive overall responses.

elg
December 1 2007, 11:59AM

Interesting thought: Black gay bloggers do not discuss their HIV status on their websites unless it is to say they are HIV-negative. I am familiar with only one black gay blogger (jonathan perry of "justbethat.com") who is openly HIV-positive.

Trey
December 1 2007, 2:42PM

elg, I don' think that anyone has to share their status, negative or positive unless they want to, its all a personal choice, just like coming out is. and, its not just black gay bloggers who don't tell, others do as well, and, why does it matter?

Today is a day to pray for those we have lost, and for those who are still with us and dealing with the epidemic, and, I think this post was great.

Liquid Fonts
December 1 2007, 3:39PM

Elg you’ve just described the same socio-political factors that challenge HIV Negative brothas. Remember that even BEFORE they become positive, black gay men already are living in poor neighborhoods surrounded by poor black people and are often already shunned by family/community for being gay but don’t qualify for SSI or Medicaid should they lose a job due to harassment. Young black gays shouldn’t be Coming Out to a death sentence and yet even the gay community is at fault by creating the perception that you’re the exception to the rule if you Come Out and stay negative. The “lopsided focus” I mentioned refers to society’s inability to adequately distribute energy/resources towards stabilizing the lives of black gay men who Come Out BEFORE the “slippery slope” of poverty, stress, depression drugs etc backs them into HIV and includes the lopsided focus black women and HIV.

elg
December 1 2007, 6:26PM

Trey: I don't disagree with you exactly, however, I was thinking of Andrew Sullivan, the white, openly gay/ openly HIV positive writer (and popular), blogger and commentator. Andrew Sullivan is, among other things, a respected voice for HIV positive white gay men and for white gay men in general. My point was that there is no black openly gay/openly HIV positive equivalent to Andrew Sullivan and there needs to be.

And, yes, this is a great post. I admired Essex Hemphill and have several of his books, including Brother to Brother.

Trey
December 1 2007, 6:44PM

Thanks for clarifying your stand elg. But, Andrew Sullivan? YUCK, he maybe be a spokesman for whites living with HIV, but, he is too nasty a racist for me to ever think of as doing good. I think that within our community, and, it depends on where you live, there are local, out black activist speaking out on HIV and its impact, even though most can't get two nickels to spread the word online or elsewhere about safer sex, prevention, and,the fact that one can still live a long, productive life these days. I guess that the main hurdle is that many still consider it to be a white man's disease, even though, just about anyone who can read knows better.

The thing about black gay bloggers, is too few ever deal with any of the real issues that affect us on any level as black gays, other than eye candy, gossip and, every now and again news, which is why this blog will be missed.

Keith Boykin
December 1 2007, 8:16PM

Black gay men who are openly HIV positive and in the media:

• Cornelius Baker
• Kwame Banks
• Keith Green
• David Lee
• Rodney Lofton
• Jonathan Perry
• Ron Simmons
• Craig Washington
• Phill Wilson
• Kenneth Winfrey

J
December 1 2007, 8:24PM

I'll probably never be able to see AIDS/HIV and those with it in the way that some of you do. I don't think of it as some kind of gay man's cancer or gay cause. The real victims of this aren't the ones people in the gay community and friends of the community want to talk about, but I agree with those that say it's a symptom. That seems to be our biggest problem. Everything is basically the result of one problem and we all see it, but won't talk about it or organize to address it and of course the people that actually do are some of the most hated.

nhlanhla - S.A.
December 2 2007, 9:29AM

Number of times I'v tried to get my head around the spread of HIV/AIDS, especially among LGBTiq people, Iv gotten more confussed. Recently read a book aimed at psycho/socio analysing the barebacking prevelance, and other unsafe practices, in various contexts including the practices within and outside of romantic relations in home and sex club/party environments. Many proposed social explanations seem somehow external to the actual sexual acts.

J: I'm interested in your symptomic labelling behind the real problem/s, which we dont openly discuss, and if we do, are most hated for it? What do you mean?

Otherwise: tribute to all (especially effective) efforts against the pandemic.

J
December 2 2007, 3:39PM

The same thing that drives a person to commit crime is the same thing that drives them to have unprotected sex with multiple partners or to attack women and homosexuals. I'm sorry, but it's a bit offensive that some people seem to suggest people with HIV/AIDS are some oppressed group and that they deserve a pat on the back for being openly positive. I'm not suggesting they should kill themselves, but stop listening to white folk, REALLY. I realize many black SGLs feel some sort of connection to white gays because they sort of see them as creating life for homosexuals, but that just isn't true and you're black first. We only need to look back to understand all of this and how to address it.

LaFontaye
December 2 2007, 4:18PM

Oh hell no, what SGL black person in their right mind who has lived even a little bit could ever feel any kind of genuine connection with the white gay community at large???? I sooo weep for the gay brotha who gets life from ...the others.

cmoney
December 2 2007, 5:56PM

On World AIDS Day, I stopped to think of all the people I have known since the 80's who have passed away from AIDS. That list is way too long and I can't help but think of all that talent and beauty that was lost while so young. In the past few years, fewer people I know of have died, but many more are positive. That is good and bad news. Treatment is really working to keep people alive. On the otherhand, more people are still being infected. Early on in the epidemic, when people died within months of diagnosis, the severe illness of AIDS literally stopped them from passing on their infection to others. Now, people who 10 years ago would have been long dead, are still around and many are practicing unsafe sex. Many more don't even know they are infected and that is the biggest crime. We need to change attitudes and access to care. But if I could really have one wish granted, it would be to have all my friends back.

MLee
December 2 2007, 6:31PM

J, I realize that my Black gay brothers who become HIV/ AIDS positive are at fault for not using protection. Still, I don’t put the blame in their laps. I blame society for not allocating enough resources to find a cure and/or vaccine for AIDS. In early 1980s no one knew why gay men were dying, so there was no way for them to protect themselves. Later in the 1980s, AIDS were considered a white gay plague. So, Black gays were not concerned. Then, in my area it was considered a West coast thing. In the meantime, more and more Black gays became infected each step of the way. Now in order to survive, infected Black gays need more love not hate.

J
December 2 2007, 11:38PM

Lafontaye, in order for someone to spout the same bullshit that white gays do they must have thoroughly convinced themselves that white gays have brought SGLs to this point and that they're a part of that community and gay first. It's unfortunate that some don't realize that all white gays are fighting for is their status. They don't want their orientation, identity, HIV/AIDS status, or mannerisms to keep them from being just another white person. All of these ridiculous attitudes some people have towards HIV/AIDS are WHITE. The idea that certain positive people are victims is WHITE. The idea that HIV/AIDS should at all be linked with SGLs or is an SGL cause or concern is WHITE.

Liquid Fonts
December 3 2007, 3:16AM

J you should establish a support group for people like you. Call it the "DSCoBSM" for Dick Sucking Chapter of the Black Separatist Movement.

Since those black separatists will beat the bones out of a black homosexual well before they see us as equal, You know you won't ever be officially accepted but you can demonstrate your allegiance by selling “SGL" Promise Ribbons to members of the Black lgbt & Questioning community who have fallen prey to The BIGGEST LIE: That it's possible to have your Blackness Revoked.

The only thing BSM folks do is attempt to blame the presence of homosexuality in the black community no matter what the label, (gay/bi/les etc) on "The White Man" and duck n buck the blame for not taking proper care of black homosexuals during the Height of the AIDS crisis where they'd be forced to work with the mainstream gay community for resources.

Given it's loose association with such shameful determined ignorance and neglect, I'll have to pass on the "SGL" identity label. Clean it up

elg
December 3 2007, 6:59AM

J: HIV/AIDS introduced itelf into our conscious world in 1981. When it became clear that the U.S. government/establishment didn't care (let the homos die), white gay men and a few white lesbian allies formed groups like ACT-UP in the 1980s. ACT-UP (and other more behind-the-scenes groups) forced the U.S. government into being much more agressive about developing medications to treat HIV/AIDS. I was acquainted with the white gay man that ran the ACT-UP chapter in my city. In the late 1980s, I went to one or two of their meetings. There were all these white gay men (some so young looking but filled with this crusading fire, some sick with AIDS), one sweet white lesbian and me. I stopped going. They continued their work. In 1996 or 1997, the first drugs that make HIV/AIDS a "manageable" disease became available and new drugs for HIV are still being developed. Those white gay men did, in some sense, "create life for homosexuals" along with a gay movement/gay community concept (and all of its flaws).

Derrick from Philly
December 3 2007, 10:18AM

Funny, how on different issues some us end up agreeing with different commenters at different times.

Thank you, Liquid Fonts & elg: I couldn't find the words to express what I was feeling--y'all did.

Other than on the blogs (and my administrator at worki), I don't know or socialize with any white gays. As a child, I showed "classic stereotypical gay" traits long before I ever came into contact with a white gay--and even then I never socialized with them. But I don't dislike ALL white gays--many are very decent folks. the One thing I've learned in fifty years is that all white people aren't evil racists, and all black people aren't your loving allies. You got to pick and choose who are your friends.

(And please be patient with me on when to capitalize black, white, gay, etc. I'm 'bout to loose my mind proof reading, making corrections that are incorrect--grammar books aint helping.)

Luther
December 3 2007, 11:03AM

Derrick, you speak the truth, as my Grandmother use to say, not all white folks are evil, if they were they would have got rid of every black person during the civil war, or something along that since she was kind of dingy, but wise at the same time.

I am acquainted with white gays, mainly via work, but, can't relate to them on any level other than work. But, I have to admit, they are for the most part willing to stand up and speak up on issues that ware wrong, and made this government admit that HIV was an issue, Larry Kramer to me even as uncouth as he can be, is one of the great leaders of this epidemic.

But, one of the things nowadays is that you don't see the disease like we did 25 years ago, people sick on the trains with facial lesions, all the issues that they couldn't control, blindness, wasting to the point they were in wheelchairs and just a myriad of scary things that medicine has ben able to slow down. I think that to those of us over 40 who lived in major cities and saw the devastation.

J
December 3 2007, 11:08AM

LiquidF, white gays will NEVER accept you as an equal and the three black men you knew that beat your ass daily as a child don't represent every living black person. Sandy wasn't chased into traffic by Raheem and them. Again, stop listening to white people. You sound like a typical racist white fag or conservative. "All those niggers are violent and homophobic. They always blame white people for everything." To think that as a gay black man or woman you're a fucking alien in the community and should not be working with black heteros is so damn WHITE. That's that "I'm white and I want a struggle and attention" bullshit. Those white fags have seriously warped some people. It's yet another way they poison our community.

Elg, shit happened like that according to THEM and your casual observation. Don't give them too much credit.

Derrick from Philly
December 3 2007, 1:04PM

J,

I'm curious. Have you ever seen the documentary "Paris Is Burning"? What do you think of the black gay people presented in that film? Even though they were greatly influenced by the materialism of American society, they had very little contact with white gay people. To me, they were about the most un-white black gay people I'd ever seen (except for some black "in the life" folks I met way down in Georgia in the early '70s).
I'm interested because even though proponents of the SGL "movement" don't like the hyporcisy and racism of white gays, I believe there is a segment of the black gay /"in the Life" world y'all have problems with also.

You said, "you're black first". That's if you're "passable", J. If you're not, too many black folks don't say,"that's a black man" or "a brotha'" when they see you coming down the street. They say, "that's a faggot." As I said, it doesn't mean you go runnin' to white folks for comfort, but don't think blacks will provide it- you may be on your own, baby.

MLee
December 3 2007, 6:14PM

You can say what you want about white gays, but there is one white gay person and his partner for which I will forever be grateful. I always knew I wasn’t straight, but I also knew that I was not like those perverts and sinners I read about. In college, I had a campus job. I had to work closely with an openly gay Polish guy. I never knew any gay person. It took me 8 months to build up enough courage to tell him I was gay. He said he knew it. He took me under his wings. He and his partner invited me to dinner at their house. I sat back and observed everything. Before the night was over, I realized that they were normal which also made me normal. From that time on, I have been at peace with myself. I don’t know what would have happened to me if it wasn’t for that dinner invitation, maybe insane, in jail or dead.

nhlanhla -S.A.
December 4 2007, 2:07AM

Seems to me that my world of AIDS is slightly different. Southern Africa has become the most affected part of the world, access to medicine is only for a very few. And AIDS is not LGBTi predominated. Mostly it's black women who die of AIDS. Maybe there aren't useful figures on its prevalence among LGBTi yet, since most wouldn't disclose. But I know quite a number of dead gay men
J: Without a shadow of a doubt everyone knows of racial power issues in HIV/AIDS activism. But am not sure how that's most important & translates into higher risk behaviours, not only among blk gay men, but men in general. The crime-bit is probably true when malicious infections occur to 'unsuspecting' victims. Since I hear too that most infections occur in long-term relations, gay or straight. However, those which reportedly occur with (Negligence Or Willingness Or thrill factor) from parties involved would still baffle me. Raising: how do you care, should you even care, if anyone purposefully self-infected.

Nhlanhla - S.A.
December 4 2007, 2:26AM

Contn:
Is there an uncomfortable agenda mostly from the non-infected, where some would want to dictate on how ‘others’ choose to live or die, regard to HIV. Not sure how many in numbers the ‘others’ are, and still if sexual orientation has anything to do with ‘them’. Could we see a possible willingness to self infection as a social crime, as non-fascists? I think this is a deracialised question.
On race itself, I can see a source for desiring blk gay men’s autonomy. For J’s sake I hope that’s possible without ‘othering’.

nhlanhla -S.A.
December 4 2007, 3:50AM

Seems to me that my world of AIDS is slightly different Southern Africa has become the most affected part of the world, access to medicine is only for a very few. And AIDS is not LGBTi predominated. Mostly it's black women who die of AIDS. Maybe there are useful figures on its prevalence among LGBTi yet, since most wouldn't disclose. But I know quite a number of dead gay men
J: Without a shadow of a doubt everyone knows of racial power issues in HIV/AIDS activism. But am not sure how that's most important & translates into higher risk behaviours, not only among blk gay men, but men in general. The crime-bit is probably true when malicious infections occur to 'unsuspecting' victims. Since I hear too that most infections occur in long-term relations, gay or straight. However, those which reportedly occur with (Negligence Or Willingness Or thrill factor) from parties involved would still baffle me. Plus how do you care, should you even care, if anyone purposefully self-infected.

nhlanhla
December 4 2007, 4:18AM

sorry. for repeat - not sure what happened there.

elg
December 4 2007, 7:49AM

If black gay men (and women) are considered "fucking aliens in the [black] community" it is because of the homo-hatred directed at us by black heteros. Wanting to get away from that sexual abuse is not WHITE, it's called self-perservation. In that context, it is entirely appropriate for black gay men to have autonomous black gay-identified/friendly HIV/AIDS testing and counseling sites that can nurture the black gay spirit. We need gay (or at least gay friendly) doctors.

These kinds of services are especially needed for black gay men who are openly gay and/or unable to "pass" (based on looks and physical presentation) for straight. There is presently no place for them in the "black community" - unless he likes being blamed for the HIV/AIDS crisis in black communities today, called a punk, freak, fag, etc., and maybe worse. Maybe the situation will change for the better in the future (if we make it happen) but it looks pretty bleak now.

Derrick from Philly
December 4 2007, 12:51PM

I just read the piece in the New York Times about young black gay people in Newark. Well, if white gay people are our enemies, then black straight people want to be our executioners. And please don't tell me about "most black folks could care less if you're gay" Obviously, those "could care less" black folks don't matter, they do nothing to stop the savage element within the commnunity who kill gay children as well as adults. The violence those young gay folks in Newark suffer is horrifying. They can't even go to the corrupt police department for help.

Let me understand this: if we convince straight black folk that we are separate from white gay people, we don't want to be like white gay people, we don't even like white gay people; then, black straight people will accept us?

No. No, I don't think so. GAY is not the problem, Niggertry is.

nhlanhla-S. A.
December 4 2007, 2:37PM

First I hope a discussion on AIDS doesn't degenerate into another 'Randy Boyd mud-slugfest' on race

An interesting idea is one about how so often nation-building comes from an identification then discrimination & eventually lynching of 'others'-a common enemy-Just the way Hitler showed us how it's properly done

It's one sad thing to see a community only forming in response to an identified 'enemy' (i.e. hatred) instead of collective acts for shared love values. Of course one would know this is hardly racial when one remembers a type of tribalism that brought us the Rwuanda genocide

I think it's silly to allow 'our urgent needs for protection in a visible blk gay community' to vilify a whole tribe/race of people even when a majority section of them has performed the same silly acts. It is true that not all blk community members are gay executors-much as it is true that not all whites want to lynch blks. Most extreme dogmatic positions in life are false

My Q. is still on thrill of death by HIV

loi wade
December 4 2007, 2:45PM

You're right Derrick. They might be accepting, but when it comes to speaking up where it counts they become blind ,deaf and dumb. That shit infuriates me. I don't give a flying f--- what white faggots think about us. It is when our own people feed us to the wolves that it cuts. I know this has been said before, but it can't be said enough: Aids cases will continue to rise in the black community if we keep forcing our people into the closet.

Derrick from Philly
December 4 2007, 3:05PM

nhlanhla-S.A.

Of course, you're right.

The Times article was so depressing and infuriating--unfortunately, it seemed to fit right into one area of discussion brought up on this particular thread. The issue of World AIDs Awareness Day was the main topic, but the toll it took on very talented black gay figures/leaders/artists was also highlighted here. The issue of "sgl" & black separatism from white gays can pop up at any time on any topic, nhlanhla, you've witnessed that.

Yes, nhlanhla, to concentrate on those who commit the violence is of no value. In one's outrage & vindictiveness, we're so busy returning the hate, we often make the victims a second thought.

It's just that those young black gay folks who survive the hatred can become so bitter at such an early age...maybe not in Africa, but I've seen it happen too many times here. Oh, darlin, what am I saying? I'm an example of it!

nhlanhla -S.A.
December 4 2007, 5:40PM

Yeah I never even knew about SGL. Still dont know what the acronym is for. The strangest thing about some places in sub saharan Africa is that, for some reason it may be o.k. to be homosexual, but not to be gay. And as long as one is not an activist in the modern political sense for individual rights. You can be homosexual, but do also get married and have children, if you're not barren. I think it's bizarre, depending on where you coming from. It also seems that over time some communities had found a way to accomodate homosexuals, long as homosexuals return/perform-the favour/communal duty. Atypical of your negative liberties. But now in a modernising world the pressures on political LGBTi are mounting. And the types of victimisation similar to those in Newark/Philly are growing. Though I hope if historical trajectories are similar, a place like 'Amsterdam' and better would be reached evrywhere. Im sure SGL would see that as white aspiration, while I see it as historical evolution. Abuse is so fertile.

elg
December 4 2007, 9:43PM

nhlanhla: I was in Amsterdam several years ago and it is truly a beautiful city. To see gay male couples walking around holding hands, as if it was the most natural thing in the world (which it is), was a great thing to see. I was sad to return to my midwestern American city.

nhlanhla - S.A.
December 5 2007, 5:31AM

Elg: A visit to Amsterdam is like a walk into fiction novel. But like all spots, it has its political challenges. And un/fortunately I've visited Amsterdam as a journalist. And had to dig up the dirt. But still she's had an attractiveness I couldn't overlook. Would be nice to have a black Amsterdam state of mind. Black which would still emphasise a collaborative effort. Sorry about the midwestern experience. Sounds like middle earth. And you got to leave.

alicia banks
December 6 2007, 5:30AM

wonderful eulogy and poem keith!

i adore all of essex's work too...

ie

tongues untied etc

i have been exiled in little rock since 1998...i cannot even imagine you here..

peace
ab

Cornelius M.
December 6 2007, 10:11AM

All comments have revelence and distinct viewpoints to be considered. I found them all thought provoking including the quipp from "AB" who cited as being "exiled in Little Rock since 1998." For the record, I'm a native to the city and take issue that somehow this city is a wasteland. It's no secret that this state capital is not a coast mecca or noted hot spot, but it has opportunites and offerings that are welcoming. Believe it or not, I too have had the chance to meet Mr. Hemphill on several occassions and I am familiar with his works. The bio film about Bayard Rustin (who I met before his 1987 death) has been presented in various forums in Little Rock and Phil Wilson was keynote speaker at a HIV/AIDS conference earlier this year. I also devote many of my daily blog post to the conditions of the BSGL community within this city and state. As far as I'm concerned perhaps being "exiled" could be a state of mind and not necessarily a place. We welcome the world to visit or make Little Rock your home anytime!

Mad Professah
December 6 2007, 6:48PM

Great post, Keith! I also remember Essex Hemphill. He, along with Marlon Riggs, shaped my identity as a black gay man also. I met him and interviewed him for my college radio show "Homo Radio" on WRPI 91.5 FM Troy, NY in the early 1990s.

I always remember he used to say "Celebrate your blessings."

Louis Alemayehu
December 7 2007, 11:31PM

Yeah, we need to say their names over and over and remember so many. I met Essex, Marlon Riggs and Garth Tate all about the same time back in late 80's in Minneapolis, MN... Good brothers, good teachers, brave artists! They were generous and strong Black men with a vision. They believed in us, that we would carry it on after them as artist, lovers, brothers, fathers, warriors. Make it so yall. Don't give up the fight! Speak the truth!!