Living Out Loud with Darian

Hallelujah!!! Noah's Arc is finally on iTunes. Now I can catch up on all of the episodes I missed from the first season because my wack ass cable company doesn't provide Logo. The show is available for $1.99 per episode or $17.91 for the entire season. You better believe I have the entire season on my iPod video right now and I will be having a Noah's Arc party in my mind all night long! My goal is to land a spot on the show next season. I've already e-mailed Patrick, as of today he hasn't replied. So if any of you guys have a direct line to Mr. Polk please let him know I'm alive and I'm fabulous! LOL ! Go buy the show and enjoy all de ga-ga !

I came across this poster by Faith in America on one of my favorite blogs and was struck by the messsage that comes across in this ad campaign. This is a message that I think all fundamentalist believers need to hear. It was not too long ago that people used the bible to justify slavery and discrimination during the civil rights era amongst black people, and although the gay rights movement is different I think there are far more similiarities than differences. I definitely wanted to share this with the masses, hopefully it makes you take a moment and think.

I thought I had convinced myself that I wasn’t going to write about this topic after reading similar stories on this exact issue on other blogs, but I’ve changed my mind.For the record I am a huge hip hop fan, but lately certain artists in the community have for lack of a better word “pissed” me off.

I’m sure we’re all aware of Busta Rhymes’ recent homophobic remarks to a male fan in Miami when he was approached by a young man who simply wanted to congratulate him on his success.

We all know the public persona of rappers are that of hyper-masculine, survivors of multiple gun wounds, a “hoe” for every day of the week, weed smoking, beer drinking ,well oiled machines of masculine heterosexuality. But behind close doors we’ve all heard stories of the rapper and the boy in his entourage who serves up more than the extra boost to the ego of the famous artist who leads the camp.

These images have created a false expectation of how black men are supposed to behave, much like the popular beauty magazines for women who project the skinny, blonde, beauty as the ideal look to be achieved, usually leaving those who look differently to suffer from low self -esteem and attacks for not fitting into the mainstream expectation.

Gays are everywhere and hip-hop is no exception to that rule. Why these rappers feel the need to bash people I don’t know. Is it just another attempt to prove how much of a man they really are, and how less of a man I am for identifying as a SGL person?

DMX is another rapper who raps about violence against gays in the “Touch It” remix by Busta. This is a man who claims he’s going into ministry once he retires from the music business. Well, it looks like he’s getting an early start on his future homophobic sermons. I wonder if he has a direct line to Bishop Alfred Owens?

So far Kanye West has been the only person to denounce homophobia in hip-hop. I’m not the least bit surprised, his music and his courage surpasses anything Busta or DMX could ever produce.

Hopefully one day the hip-hop community will exert more energy on being inclusive, creating music that heals, and focus less on glamorizing negative stereotypes within the black community, and discriminating against their GLBT brothers and sisters.

Last night I paid my sister and her new husband a visit at their home to say goodbye before I left for my return home to LA. While I was there the 10 o'clock news came on and I swear my first thought was "wouldn't it just be my luck if they did a report on same sex marriage and I had to watch my sister cringe and act as if this isn't an important issue for me.

Well that's exactly what happened. If you remember a few weeks ago Alabamians overwhelmingly voted to bann same sex marriages in the state and this segment of the news gave those opposed to equal marriage rights another opportunity to say why.

The room became so quiet you could hear a pin drop. It was another akward moment of many that I've shared with my sister and other family members on an issue they would like to believe is non existent in the world, their community, their family, and specifically me.

This is a question that was answered by Glenn Dunehew a fundamentalist preacher from Kentucky. I actually came across this post on myspace and I have to say it got my blood boiling! Please take a moment to read the entire article and my response to it when you get a chance. I recommend that you sit down in a quiet place so that you can take it all in.

How many cities can I visit within 24 hours? 4 to be exact. Over the next 24 hours I will be in Montgomery, Atlanta, LA, and Chicago. I will be departing my hometown to drive to Atlanta to catch my flight to LA, and sleep for a few hours before my early morning flight to Chicago to attend the Campaign to End Aids Institute.

I can't begin to tell you how excited and nervous I am all at the same time. This is going to be a brand new experience for me and one that I'm sure will have a profound impact on my life.

All invited participants will hear speakers talk about their experiences living with HIV and AIDS in the U.S. and around the world; develop skills in grassroots organizing, public health, advocacy and direct action; connect with other young people from around the country; and work on concrete ways to fight together to end AIDS.

Tomorrow June 27th is National HIV Testing Day, know your status, go get tested.

I will be posting pics and stories of my experience at the institute later this week so look out for them.

Get this video and more at MySpace.com


Let me forewarn you that the picture quality isn't the best. I tried to upload this clip onto youtube but it didn't work out.
So I had to settle for myspace. I don't know why I allow people to capture me queening out on video, I really do have testosterone in my body ! LOL ! Enjoy !

The Apple Store at Lenox Mall
My sistas: Elton, Travis, and Bennie
Travis and the fabulous Elton
Me and my girl Tramaine, an import to Atlanta from LA
My two best friends looking like a fake couple

Watch for yourself and feel free to leave me comments. I'm still in shock !

My vacation will officially start in 8 hours when I board a flight from LA to Atlanta. I will be getting a much needed break from the west coast and I will also get a chance to visit my family in Montgomery, Alabama( if you haven't been you're not missing anything !) and attend the Campaign to End Aids Conference in Chicago.

If all goes as planned I will be a resident of Atlanta in the very near future, hopefully by the end of the year. I never thought I would end up moving back to the south and only 2 hours away from where I grew up. But I'm coming to find out the older I get the less important some of the things that were my focus 5 years ago are for me today. I'm definitely a different person now than I was when I was touring the world and moving from city to city. Stability is very attractive to me lately. Not to mention black people are running things in Atlanta and the black gay community is alive and well.

I'm sure I will be posting pics of my time spent with my two best friends Bennie and Travis and all the brothas we're sure to meet during my time in Atlanta and my thoughts and pics from the conference in Chicago. Stay tuned.

Today has been one of those days that I've realized people are still not as educated on the transmission of HIV/AIDS and how they can protect themselves as they should be, and unfortunately for those people who are living with this chronic manageable disease the stigma is still alive and well.

On myspace today there was a very heated discussion on Sarah Jane Porter a British woman who was infected by a black lover and went on a mission to spread the virus to others. Very similar to theNikko Briteramos case in South Dakota, when he had unprotected sex with his girlfriend despite being aware of his status.

These isolated incidents often paint a picture of positive people as dangerous criminals. While I believe a positive person owes it to their partner to disclose their status before engaging in sexual activity, both individuals involved have to take the steps to protect themselves not only from HIV but from other STD's as well.

Stigma is such an ugly thing and we wonder why the infection rates in the black community is soaring. Brothas and sistas don't want to get tested for fear of rejection, isolation, and the stupid idea that it's better if you just don't know.

No one wants to contract this disease, and the truth is although it's manageable and there's life saving medications available, it does take an emotional toll on the person infected and those who care about them.

The safest sex is no sex. But if you're sexually active talk to your partner, go get tested with your partner, take responsibility for your own health. We all owe it to ourselves 25 years into this plague to know the facts and to embrace life everyday whether you're HIV positive or not.

Last night I had the privilege of hanging out with my friend and fellow blogger the hilarious
Trent Jackson at The Abbey in West Hollywood. The Abbey has
become the unofficial hangout for SGL black men on Sunday nights. I swear it was like the beach party indoors!
I can't take it when it's so many gorgeous brothas in one place, my hormones go into overdrive !

The highlight of the night was seeing Ms. Trent show all the skinny boys in the bar how big boys can drop it like it's hot too!
I looked up and he was battling this tiny mexican boy in the middle of the bar ! Reading about it here does no justice to what it was like seeing it up close and personal. I ain't mad at cha Trent, let the boys have it!

Well kids Ms. Beyonce' has totally out done herself with this one ! DeJavu is sick and on constant repeat on my iPod!
I know what I'm about to say is not PC at all but I don't care. Beyonce is singing this song from her p**sy !!!!
The lyrics, production, and delivery is absolutely amazing! If this is a preview of what her album is going to sound like
she is going to need a truck to take all of her grammys home.

I just wish my girl Janet's people would have advised her to come out as strong as Beyonce'.

So today I logged onto my friend Keith Boykin's website and he had a beautiful new pic of Janet posted as well as a small review of her new single which he had already heard. Well you know I wasn't going to wait until tomorrow and I had to search the net until I found it, and I did just that. I came across the full single at
starsareblind.com and immediately got it as well as Beyonce's new single Dejavu onto my iPod. Let's just say I'm going to be smiling for the rest of the day.

The song is a really nice groove with Nelly. I kinda wanted her to come back full force with a bangin dance track, but remember when she introduced us to the Janet album with "That's the Way Love Goes" ? That song is definitely one of her best creations and then we got "IF", enough said!

I swear a new Janet song almost beats having good sex!

Over the past 24 hours I have been privileged to catch a glimpse into the lives and music of 3 of my favorite female artists.
I was able to watch Janet on The Insider last night as she discussed her best -selling US Weekly cover, and I got a first listen of Beyonce's new single DeJavu at Mickey's in West Hollywood, and last but not least the exclusive Britney Spears interview with Matt Lauer on Dateline NBC.

Janet is looking fabulous at 40 ! Unfortunately the haters are already expecting her album to fail, I just can't imagine that happening. She is and will always be an icon.

If you know me then you know I can only hang out in West Hollywood every now and then, but hearing Beyonce's new track last night made it worth the the trip to the "gay-borhood" ! This single is sure to have us on the dance floor all summer long!

Finally, my girl Britney. I don't care what anyone says about Brit, I love her! As a dancer I have respect for her as an entertainer. No, she doesn't have a voice like Christina but she's gifted in other ways. I just wish she would have taken that damn gum out of her mouth during the interview! She's paying such a high price for fame. Can you imagine being afraid to leave your house from fear of the paparazzi attacking you? Stay strong Brit!

I have to share a remix of Janet's "All Nite" that my myspace friend Kwame produced, it's sick!"All Nite"
Enjoy!

Shocked !? Scared into temporary abstinence? These images were created for a campaign by the Aids Healthcare Foundation and staynegative.org to send out a message that HIV is simply not a walk in the park.

These ads caused quite a bit of controversy in L.A. in the positive gay community and amongst their supporters. Last night I attended an open forum on the controversy in West Hollywood and the 2 hour conversation became intense and emotional at times.

Both sides agreed that it's extremely important that those who are negative remain that way, but what was not agreed upon was the way the foundation should command the attention of those at risk for infection through their marketing campaigns.

To say the images that you see above, and the images that were plastered all over buses and billboards in LA are graphic is an understatement. But isn't that what you have to look forward to if you become infected? Some would say yes, others would say that it's not the case for everyone, some healthcare professionals would even say with the new drugs that are on the market those side effects can be avoided with the selection of the correct regimen. So is becoming infected a big deal in 2006 or what?

There seems to be a disconnect between people over 35 who lived through the horror of the epidemic in the 80's when going to a funeral a week was the norm, and those in my age bracket who saw the invention of the drug "cocktails". Are we becoming complacent?

I think we would all agree that contracting HIV is not fabulous, but scare tactics do not work. It evokes an emotional response and a possible temporary change in behavior. Education, condom distribution, and routine testing is what's needed to curb the rise in new HIV infections.

This campaign only further stigmatizes a group of people who are already living life in the face of insurmountable odds.
Luckily, these ads are the first in a 3 tier marketing campaign. Hopefully, next time AHF will drive the stay negative message home without sensationalizing people who are living with(not dying from) HIV/AIDS.

I always try to have something meaningful to say when I decide to write a new post and i'm trying really hard to come up with something to say without allowing my flesh to take control ! lol! Damn these brothas are gorgeous ! Even the very straight model Daniel Woodwho is absolutely worshipped on myspace !

The brotha up top is Steven Claiborne from New York City, get into his blog. I'm sure you can appreciate these images after looking at the pics from the Not Fabulous campaign.

On June 19th the world will get a chance to hear what Janet along with Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, and Jermaine Dupree have been working on for the past year when "Call On Me", Janet's new single is released to radio. The track is actually a duet with rapper Nelly. I can't wait!

Those of you who know me understand what I'm going through right now ! A new Janet album is a huge event for me. Maybe I'll be inspired to get my butt back into the dance studio. Hopefully the single will be enough to tie me over until the album is released on September 26th. If I'm correct I believe Beyonce's album is coming out around the same time. I can't wait to see who will take the top spot.

Soulforce is a organization dedicated to the freedom of GLBT people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless non-violent resistance.

I stumbled upon their website by accident and was rather impressed by the work they're doing in the community and there plans to lead a march with over a thousand gay families to the front door of Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs on July 22.

Focus on the Family is headed up by the fundamentalist homophobe Dr. James Dobson. He has been instrumental in seeking the passage of the failed federal marriage amendment. I think this march is going to send a strong and clear message that the word family extends to gay and lesbian people too, and there are loving families that exists outside of the traditional family that should be acknowledge and treated equally.

Broadway star and recording artist Billy Porter will be sharing his amazing gift with a free concert on the Focus on the Family grounds. Billy's voice is so amazing! I'm trying to figure out how I can get some more time off work to get to Colorado!
This is just another example of how our community is increasing our visibility and breaking down stereotypes. I'm truly proud.

"It has become apparent that many factions of the very institution charged with building and healing our beloved community has become the barrier to our own development." This is the first line in a charge to the black GLBT community by
Monte Evans to simply walk out and leave the black church. This is easier said than done. I can speak to this first hand as I recently dealt with the decision whether or not to leave the black mega-church I attend here in L.A. .

The black church has been the foundation for black families dating as far back as the slavery era, when all we had as a people was our faith in God to see us through tumultuous times. But in recent years the one institution where we went to seek peace, solace, and refugee in God has turned it's back and made us feel unworthy of his love or the love of those around us.

It was not easy leaving my church home, but it wasn't easy or pleasant to sit there Sunday after Sunday and feel like an outcast and have my very existence reduced to nothing in the eyes of God.

While I agree with Monte that black SGL brothers and sisters should no longer sit in silence as we're being attacked by clergy, I'm not sure we all have the guts to walk away from an institution that is ingrained in our souls, families, and have become such a central part of the black experience.

I would see other gay brothers in church and bible study every week who were active in the auxillaries in the church but were leading others to believe they were heterosexual, and sometimes going out of their way not to be seen with other members who could possibly blow their cover.

It's a sad state of affairs if you ask me. The black church has become a 9 to 5 business. When did it become acceptable for an oppressed group of people to oppress another group? Sadly, it has and if we as a community continue to sit in silence and permeate the notion we don't exist in the black church, things will only get worse before they get any better.

The other day as I was visitingJasmyne Cannick's website and I came across a letter to Jasmyne from a black mother in Ohio whose son had just come out to her. You can read the letter in it's entirety on Jasmyne's page. I was compelled to write a response to her letter, this is what I would say to her and all mothers in this situation if I had the chance.

Dear Mother(s),

I know the information I shared with you may have come as a surprise and you're probably blaming yourself. I ask you not too point the finger at yourself or anyone else for the cause of my same gender feelings. They have always been apart of who I am, and although this side of me is news to you, I've always known and often times struggled with them myself. However I cannot continue living a lie and deceiving those who genuinely care about me.

Contrary to popular opinion, a persons sexual orientation is not learned, it's indigenous to who they are. I know you've stated that you believe I'm gay based upon the absence of a strong male figure, my lack of participation in sports, and other enviromental factors. These things couldn't be farther from the truth.

You did a wonderful job raising me to be a strong black man in the absence of a father, and my sexuality doesn't make me any less of a man, but my courage to live life in the face of possible rejection from you, the church, and society gives me the right to proclaim boldly "I AM A MAN".

Please remember I haven't changed. I'm still the same boy you birthed, the same boy you nursed back to health when I had the chicken pox in the fourth grade, the same boy that you showed off to all your girlfriends because you thought I was so handsome, and the same boy who brought tears of joy to your face when I graduated at the top of my class. Please don't treat me like a stranger, I need you.

I know you're hoping it's just a phase, and you will be praying for my deliverance from what you and many other people believe to be something evil. Well , it's not a phase and I don't believe it's something I should even ask God to deliver me from anymore. I was created in his image and he knew who I was before I even took my first breath. My life is not a mistake.

The one thing I ask of you is to love me unconditionally, and set aside all of the negative images and feelings you've been taught about gay people because they're not true. How should you know? Easy, you've known me all of my life.

Let's take this opportunity to talk to each other more about ourselves, don't shut me out. I'm still your son and you're the only mother I'll ever have. The days ahead may be rocky at times, but my love for you will never change. I hope the feeling is mutual.

Love,
Your Child

Ok ! Have you guys seen the new trailer that's on TV right now for the much anticipated film Dreamgirls? I caught a glimpse of it last night and it was enough to get me excited! Beyonce sounds great singing the title track, but I'm waiting to hear Jennifer Hudson kill "And I Am Telling You" ! I thought I would share this making of the movie clip I found on youtube.com. Enjoy!

The one name actress LaChanze walked away with the 2006 Tony award for best actress in a musical for her performance as Ceiley in the new broadway musical The Color Purple. She was in the company of such seasoned performers as Chita Rivera and the predicted shoe in for the award Sutton Foster from The Drowsy Chaperone.

She was just as shocked as I was when her name was announced ! But it was an amazing feeling to see this beautiful sista live out her dream for so many African-American theater performers who long to just receive a nomination.

I had the pleasure of seeing her in Ragtime back in 1999 when she replaced the multiple Tony winner Audra McDonald.
Her talent is to be admired. Now she finds herself in the company of other great black actress like Jennifer Holiday, Lilias
White, and Heather Headley. Congratulations sista you won one for us all !

The amazingly talented Cynthia Nixon(aka Miranda) took home the 2006 Tony award for best actress for her performance in the broadway play Rabbit Hole on Sunday night in New York. Although her win received a lot of attention, I was struck more by the affection she showed her obvious lesbian date for the evening by giving her a warm kiss once her name was announced.

Cynthia has dodged questions about her sexuality in the press for years. I guess she's choosing to go the Rosie O'Donnell route pre same -sex weddings in San Francisco, it seems to be an unspoken truth.

Gay or straight one thing is for sure, she is a brilliant actress.

It's sad to report that popular New York City dance icon Kevin Aviance was a victim of gay bashing by a group of men on Saturday night in Manhattan. It's been reported that while Kevin was being attacked the men yelled anti-gay slurs and left him with a broken jaw that caused him to undergo surgery. Of all the places for this to happen I thought New York City would be the last place where something this foul would take place. I guess it's just a reminder that homophobia exists even in one of the most liberal cities in America.

On Tuesday night at Eso Wan bookstore in Los Angeles, my wait to meet E. Lynn Harris came to an end as he greeted a small but eager group of fans to sign his new book “I Say a Little Prayer”. This was my first book signing so I didn’t really know what to expect. E. Lynn delivered above and beyond my expectations.

The signing began on time at 7 pm(see black people are capable of being on time) with questions from the audience. I was aware of his large female fan base but I was the youngest of a handful of men that turned out to meet him. I couldn’t help but wonder how these women reacted when they read the explicit love scenes involving the gay characters in his books. Their ages varied from early twenties to late seventies.

E. Lynn answered all questions surprisingly with openness and honesty. Although I was a little disappointed when the time came to discuss homophobia in the black church and why he’s chosen not to attend, he shied away from giving a meaty answer and gave us the politically correct one instead. I can’t really blame him for playing it safe, you don’t want to turn your fan base against you.

The evening was very intimate and one that I will always remember. It was a challenge containing my excitement from the first glimpse I got of him as he entered the building, to our photo opp together after he signed my book.
Look for the release of his new novel in January 07 and a compilation of unknown African-American authors competing for a book deal with Doubleday Publishing organized by E. Lynn himself.

After an essay submission and countless phone interviews, I am happy to announce that I’ve been chosen as the California State
Representative to attend the Campaign to End Aids Summer Youth Action Institute in Chicago. HIV/AIDS activists from all over the country will convene in Chicago for four days of advocacy and media training to be a force for change in the fight to end AIDS.

This will be my first event involving my new passion for GLBT/HIV/AIDS activism. I think it’s amazing how doors open for you once you let go and allow yourself to walk in your true purpose. And to think all it took for me to accept my calling was watching Oprah’s dvd collection, Keith Boykin’s influence and a lot of prayer!

When am I gonna learn that I can’t watch Fox news without getting upset, it happens every time. I don’t know who is more extreme of the three, Hannity, O’Reiley, or that dumb blonde Ann Coulter. I just want to shake them and say wake up ! We were led into war under false pretenses, the president you voted for is incompetent, and gay marriage in Massachusetts did not undermine traditional marriage and create a moral decline in our society !

The spin that these people put on issues are unbelievable ! Can Fox news become any more ultra conservative? I almost wonder if they’re fully funded by the Klan and the Southern Baptist Convention! Where are the liberal voices to counter this far right bs?

I know I’ve got to learn how to change the channel, but I guess it’s a good idea to know what the enemy is up to.

Dear Luna,

Its been a while since we last saw each other but Ive never forgotten about you and I hope you remember me. Over the past year Ive reflected on the day we first met as we both got off the train at 137th street in Harlem. Our eyes met and it was electric for me from the start.

I was only 19 and fresh out of Alabama and had never dated outside of my race before, nor had I ever experienced all of the things that I was exposed to during my time with you. I remember vividly telling my friends how fine you were and how I couldnt believe you were interested in me. Do you remember the first night we hung out at your apartment in the Bronx? You showed me all of the pictures from the Balls you had walked and brought to life people I only knew from watching Paris is Burning, people like Dorian Corey, Octavia St. Laurent, and Pepper Labeija among others. I can still hear Mary J. Blige singing Let No Man Put Asunder in the background. I was infatuated and wrapped up in you.

I remember walking with you in the village and being jealous of all of the attention you received from every man, girl, and transvestite! Or when your camera got more attention than me, and I wont ever forget how I felt when you told me you were HIV positive.

It had never hit home for me until that moment. Sitting on your bed receiving the news from you stirred up intense emotions for me. Immediately I didnt want to believe you because you didn’t look sick and you were fine as hell! The words just rolled off your tongue like it was nothing, Im HIV positive, you said. This was my first time really being affected by the virus but it certainly would not be my last.

I remember going back to my apartment and breaking down in tears in front of my roommates because I didnt understand why this had to happen to you, but you were a survivor then and you still are today.

Your life is one of courage and strength, and as the children would say, LEGENDARY ! I pray our paths will cross again one day, because I want to hug you again and thank you for teaching me how to live life in the face of whatever obstacles may come my way.

Love,
Darian

Photo Credit:Luna Luis Ortiz

Last night I had the great pleasure of attending a special screening of How Do
I Look at In the Meantime Mens Group here in Los Angeles, and what I saw gave me a look inside the fabulous balls that originated in NYC but are now taking place all over the country. If you remember the famed documentary Paris is Burning from the late eighties then How Do I Look could be considered the unofficial sequel.

Presented by founder Kevin Ultra Omni(Kevin Burrse) of the House of Ultra Omni, we are escorted into a world where winning grand prizes are a rite of passage for talented GLBT people who may not have had the opportunity beyond the walls of the ballroom to display their God given gifts.

Once the ball ends and reality sets in, the children are faced with real life issues, HIV/AIDS, homelessness, rejection from family, and low self esteem. But for one night they get to live the fantasy, right before our very eyes we get realness, butch queens, high fashion evening wear, butch mod face, and they bring it!

I have never been apart of the ball scene so this was educational for me and a reminder of how diverse and special our community really is. It was also sad to reflect on how many beautifully talented legends have been taken away from us due to AIDS.They’re gone but not forgotten. So this post is dedicated to those who are no longer with us and who got this little black boy all excited about New York City from watching you live life according to your own rules in Paris is Burning.

Rest in Peace

Dorian Corey
Avis Pendavis
Pepper Labeija
Hector Xtravaganza
Venus Xtravaganza
and hundreds of others who touched our lives.

Yesterday Alabamians overwhelmingly voted not to recognize same-sex marriage by adding a discriminatory law that would forbid same-sex couples from ever having their unions sanctioned by the state. Having grown up in Montgomery, Alabama and witnessed first hand the homophobia and racism that exists there I am not the least bit surprised. This just reminds me that I did the right thing by leaving Alabama at 18 and only returning to visit my family, and if they were not there I’m sure I would never go back.

Joseph Rembert Jr. told the Press- Register he didn't go to the polls solely because of the amendment, but he was glad it was on the ballot. I am all man, so I ain't got nothing to do with that, said Rembert, 32, of Montgomery. I go by what the Bible says—man and woman. (courtesy of Advocate.com) This statement is very typical where I am from and I think unapologetically shameful.

I am just curious to know how my parents voted on this issue. The bigger question is whether or not I will actually have the courage to ask them.

So to counter some of the more serious issues and images that are on my blog I decided to post some more of my favorite pics from my iPhoto library. Whoever said that "black is beautiful" sure didn't lie! These images take my breath away, enjoy !