SGL Café

Is Pro-White Anti-Black?

There's been a dust up over this post on ka-os Theory -- You Only Count if you're Black, which bristled at this post on Darian Aaron's blog praising Black Gay Bloggers, suggesting reverse exclusion. The ensuing dialogue ripped old battle scars like an East Coast/West Coast rap beef that won't die when Darian responded using the method all beefs employ these days -- Facebook. As one responder on Darian's facebook page asserted, "Pro-black isn't anti-white". Okay. But does the opposite hold true? Does America's racial history preclude the mainstream rise of Pro-White groups without them being nefarious like the one above? Great questions; tough answers though. In such cases, I try to look at things from the other guys perspective. If you haven't checked out the link above and the connecting links do so now and then come back. I must admit there are valid points all around. Ka-os was on point with his observation, though, possibly, he was unaware that he was stepping into a minefield littered with the corpses of many who just wanted to do the right thing. Fair is fair, correct? Using that simple formula I butted heads with Jasmyne Cannick over the right of Shirley Q. Liquor (below) to exist in a world where the Wayans brothers make millions by putting on white-face and portraying 'White Chicks'. Naturally, I gathered a host of enemies who to this day still grumble at the mention of my name and use Charles Knipp's character as a retort for everything. **Oh, of course, somebody who defends Shirley Q would say that!!** Whatever. Fair is fair. And that will never change. Using that same formula, I've also decried the rise of Black Gay Prides (and added a few more to the list of those who don't like me). Now, I truly understand why we have needed them, and why, possibly, in certain areas of our nation we may still need them. But I think the ultimate goal for a rainbow flag waving community is to be all-inclusive -- like a resort. Isn't it? Branching off into individual prides will only lead to further division. Having said that, NYC should not have a 'regular' Pride and a Black Pride and a Latino Pride and an Asian Pride -- what's next, Special Pride, Little People Pride, Big-Boned People Pride, yada yada muthfukin' yada. With all the opposition against us, is it 'historically' wise to willingly divide ourselves? Wouldn't working with these entrenched organizations so that they live up to the dream and vision of the rainbow be much better? Tooting our horn is cool, Darian Aaron did nothing wrong in doing so. And yet, I agree with Ka-os wholeheartedly. See, there's that minefield, and why racial politics will always be so very complicated. So, is Pro White anti Black, and vice versa?

Newark Pride Week -- June 8 - 14th!

NewarkEssexPride.org

Post Prop 8: A call for UNITY & black gay activism

In response to this Washington Post column where the author laments about responding to a bus driver who shouted "sodomites" in reference to the Prop 8 debacle, I responded that in light of the cross country protests we were truly in the No More Mr. Nice Gay era, and that it's especially important for black gays. A friend added ... I used to think that the most politically active black gays were in D.C....they got stuff done, at least, on the surface, IMHO. I don't know if that is still the case...but black gays in Houston, ain't about nothing. Are they elsewhere? Where is the unity? Where is the conviction? I'm so over about "booty calls" and getting a nut...that is not going to advance gay rights or empower us. Aaron Yes. There was a time when 'activist' causes meant nothing to me; all I cared about was where da party at and there better be some phine boys when I got there. But in this age of internet hook-ups and the general loss of the old fashioned cruising and the delicate pick up dance, people leap-frog all that and just post a picture of their dick/ass online like an attractive lure and just reel in all takers. Don't get me wrong, that 'game' is interesting as well ... for a while. But easy sex is like crack, and bad easy sex is like finding out your crack is a soap chip. That's exactly what out of control cyber hook ups lead to, lots and lots of bad sex, which only leaves you emptier, and in need of more. I went through that cycle. From the time I discovered cyber hook up sites to the time I looked in the mirror and saw the proverbial clue-less crackhead staring back took about 6 months and two embarassing doctor visits. Not that black gay men are any more addicted to sex than anyone else, we are however hardest hit by the AIDS epidemic. I can't help but to make a connection. I don't know if I where still 19 and the hottest muthafuka in the room if I would even be writing this. Probably not. I have no idea what this ramble means as far as the future of OUR activism. Maybe the youth will always not give a shit. *sigh* But that just means the older generation has to step to the plate a little stronger, knowing the foibles of youth 'cause we've been there done that. Yeah, fucking is fun, but one day we're gonna be OLD ... then VERY OLD ... and we'd better damn well have some programs and institutions in place to take care of our old gay asses. The younger generation, for the most part, can't see that far ahead yet. I certainly can. In the Post Obama, post Prop 8 era, it's time to seriously step up our game. Because, and to paraphrase Obama, there is not a black gay community and a white gay community, there's just one gay community. And we all sink or swim together. ~~

Photo du jour -- Jamal Brown

Dartmouth runner talks about being Out & Black in Ivy League athletics From OutSports... "... Some lesbian women competed openly, and out all-American lacrosse goalie and a friend of mine, Andrew Goldstein, was a senior my freshman year. Still, as an African American, I had no gay person of color to look up to. That along with the fact that I have feminine mannerisms and don’t always exude a masculine persona made it difficult to be accepted by teammates. In the past, the track team had several out gay athletes on its roster, and some of them quit or were reluctant to embrace the gay athlete identity because of homophobic backlash...." We first heard about Jamal Brown from as Jeff Sheng photographed him for his Fearless Campus Tour . Brown is a recent graduate of Dartmouth College. He's presently working at Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) in Boston, putting actions behind his commitment to make the world better for gay people. Jamal will be a part of the upcoming Out magazine's Out 100.

Hancock: A word about self-loathing homos who laugh

We've become accustomed to being insulted.

Since school days when we wouldn't speak up for ourselves (at least on this issue), we learned to laugh along with our tormentors for fear of revealing who we really were. It was safe, even understandable back then. But we're grown ups now and many of us are still those same scared little teens, laughing at the fag jokes--'Hey, isn't the homo funny?'

I'm glad GLAAD is doing what its doing, and for that reason didn't add my little 8 dollars to the tsunami of cash this film brought in over the weekend. I'll eventually see it because, like most of you, I love Will Smith (and had been eagerly awaiting Hancock's arrival until I got that GLAAD release), but now I'll wait until I can put it in my NetFlix queue. Its a little thing, but it makes me feel better.

One more thing to think about, if Hancock had said --"Jew. Jew in red. Scandinavian Jew."-- there wouldn't be a Hancock. They would've come down on this movie like a 30-ton falling crane. Which proves some groups have balls. Some groups don't take any shit.

But, like I said, we've become accustomed to being insulted.

PRIDE in the CITY 2008 -- July 30 - Aug 3!

(click flyer for larger view) Also, click on the PITC link on the left for the full website. Although the site doesn't list Sunday, Aug. 3rd as the official beach party on Jacob RIIS beach, most of us will just be there anyway. ~~ FLASHBACK: Pride in the City '07 Beach Party Me & Eric Parker from NEXT magazine NYC Socialites Sunday's annual beach party at Jacob Riis Park was insane. In a good way. Sorta. I'm a beach bum by nature; I live for RIIS beach and the half-naked-bubble-butt boys who inhabit it. Yeah. I'm nasty like that. But so is everyone else, don't kid yourself. See the rest of the pics from last years beach party.

Photo du jour -- Masu Harka

From Wandering Caravan/Bronze Buckeroo. Roughly translated, masu harka is defined as men who sexually or emotionally prefer other men, or, "they do their business with other men." The words originate from Sudan, specifically the Muslim Hausa of Sudanic West Africa.

NYT Looking for Same-sex Couples in Harlem

(please circulate) ~~ thanx Big Rod In early June, the New York Times featured person-on-the-street interviews with Harlem residents about Governor Patterson's executive order for New York to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. The headline proclaimed a "mixed reaction" among Harlem residents; however none of those interviewed identified themselves as having same-sex partners or as being personally affected by the order. Full article here. In response to a letter about this omission, the writer (Cara Buckley) has contacted me with interest about learning what it's like to be in a same-sex partnership in Harlem. I will be talking with her this week on background: I would like to share contact information about other same sex couples living in Harlem who are willing to be interviewed by her. Interested? Email: MistinguetteS@gmail.com

Gina Fletcher bares her soul ....

... @ The 2008 Icon Awards Dinner, as part of Newark-Essex Pride Week. Full Flickr photo stream here.

A moment of PRIDE in Newark!

It was more of a march than a parade. There were no garish floats, just a brave contingent who gathered to cap off a week’s worth of activities for Newark-Essex Pride Coalition's first gay pride parade through the streets of downtown Newark. Mere blocks from where 15 year old Sakia Gunn met a violent end for being a proud lesbian, and also a stone’s throw from City Hall where for a second year in a row the rainbow flag waved for pride week, June Dowell-Burton (founder of NEPC) describes it as a “ ... Symbol of hope that our LGBTQQ sisters and brothers will be able to walk the streets of Newark safely, worship in affirming places and attend schools where their identity won’t be ignored.” You can read about Newark-Essex Pride Week in the next issue of Out IN Jersey magazine. But you can see the full photo stream right now on Flickr.