Living Out Loud with Darian

It has been a minute since I watched a new episode of Nathan and Jared's popular youtube series The & Show, so yesterday I logged on to see what the fellas were discussing and the topic was H.I.V. . I was deeply moved by how honest the discussion was and my first thought was that I had to post it here so even more people had the chance to see it. My biggest concern was whether or not people would actually take the time to watch it, those three letters have a tendency to turn people off very quickly.

H.I.V. has been around for over 20 years and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. I've always said either you're infected with it or affected by it, this disease does not discriminate and that's why it's so important that we talk about it openly in an effort to create awareness, promote protection and testing, and encourage treatement for those living with HIV/AIDS.

In 2007 there are still people who are unaware of how the virus is transmitted and are putting themselves at risk. But an even bigger problem in the black community is the stigma attached to those living with HIV/AIDS that causes individuals not to seek treatment because of shame and the constant fear of rejection. It's amazing how we embrace those living with cancer and we shun those living with HIV as if anyone deserves to live with either disease. I applaud Nathan and Jared for tackling this sensitive topic and I hope that it serves as a tool to educate, uplift, and empower those who are HIV negative and those who are living a positive life with H.I.V. .

Labels: HIV/AIDS

The breaking news over the weekend that had journalists and bloggers going into a frenzy was the cancellation of R&B superstar Usher's wedding to fiancee/manager Tameka Foster. For months Tameka has been the target of personal attacks by the media and even from people within Usher's camp. Eyebrows were raised when Usher abruptly fired his mother and longtime manager Johnetta Patton and replaced her with "Maneka" as she is jokingly called, around the same time the pair also announced that they were expecting their first child together in the fall.

Usher's publicist failed to give a reason why the wedding was called off but pleaded with the public to respect their privacy. I love it when mega stars like Usher expect to have privacy, that's the first thing you're required to give up when you reach superstar status.

I'm sure people will be specualting for weeks as to why Usher decided to cancel his nuptials on the day of the ceremony . But as I thought about Usher and Tameka's situation my mind kept gravitating towards a few other celebrities that have found themselves in similar situations. Singer Brandy Norwood and ex-husband Robert Smith and Solange Knowles and ex-husband Daniel Smith. What's the one thing that all of these couples have in common? All of the brides were pregnant before they decided to walk down the aisle.

Who could forget the big fuss Brandy made about her pregnancy and secret marriage to producer Robert Smith on MTV in 2002 with the reality show "Special Delivery", only to reveal that the couple had never been married but lied to perserve Brandy's wholesome image. Solange Knowles, sister of overexposed singer Beyonce Knowles also marched down the aisle at 17, gave birth to a baby boy and saw her marriage end in divorce shortly thereafter. Why does it seem in 2007 people still buy into the idea that if you're pregnant you have to get married? As if that's the answer to lifelong happiness and stability for those involved. Marriages based on lies do not last and actually the same can be said for couples who genuinely love each other if you believe the statistics.

There is no doubt these couples received pressure from family to tie the knot and was most likely influenced by their religious beliefs. How many times have you heard that a child must be raised by a mother and a father or else he will be tramautized and become a threat to society? Ok, I may be stretching that just a little bit, but that's what some people would like for you to believe. There are plenty of kids that were raised by single parents and even gay parents that are outstanding law abiding individuals. I'm not knocking two parent households because I'm a product of one, but I refuse to believe that two people who get married for the children or to protect their image is doing what's best for anyone involved, nor do I think it should be encouraged by family. Are we so caught up in tradition that we will condemn or stop buying the music of any artist that engages in pre-marital sex? Please... R. Kelly still went platinum.

I swear it's so easy for straight folk to get married that they totally take it for granted, but that's another post. If anyone is walking down the aisle based on anything other than mutual love, respect, and compatibility then they might as well start looking for a good divorce lawyer along with the caterer because they'll eventually need one. Just ask Usher, Brandy, and Solange.

Last Saturday night I made a last minute decision to go and see Hairspray and let me tell you it was the best decision I made the entire day. For those of you who are not familiar with the storyline click here . Hairspay is filled with campy dialogue and musical numbers and I loved every minute of it! I've never seen the original movie starring Ricki Lake as Tracy Turnblad so I was able to enjoy every minute of the film without comparing the two.

Nikki Blonsky who plays the lead role of Tracy in the current film is a star in the making. She commands the screen from the first line of the opening song "Goodmorning Baltimore" and reels the audience in with her surprisingly "soulful" dancing ability. Rounding out the cast are stellar performances from Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, and Amanda Bynes. But besides Nikki'sperformance as Tracy the actors that really stood out for me were John Travolta as Edna Turnblad, Queen Latifah as Motormouth Maybelle, and newcomer Elijah Kelley as Seaweed.

Many people in the LGBT community have objected to Travolta playing the role of Edna Turnblad because of his affiliation with Scientology and the belief that he's homophobic despite having to dress in drag for this role. Well I was able to put the politics aside for two hours and enjoy his performance because he was actually quite convincing as the overweight homebody Edna. Queen Latifah turns in another great performance as Motormouth Maybelle and grabs the opportunity to show off her vocal skills in a gut wrenching gospel number that turns out to be one of the only serious moments in this light-hearted film.

But the person that almost steals the film is sexy newcomer Elijah Kelley as Seaweed. This man has a voice that will tear the roof off of any broadway theater and the charisma to make any woman or man swoon. In the few minutes that it takes him to sing his showstopping number "Run and Tell That" he manages to leave a lasting impression as someone to look out for. His role is also being played by Tevin Campbell in the broadway compan(pictured above).

Normally most reviews have at least one negative thing to say about the production but I honestly cannot find any fault in this movie, there was never a dull moment. Kudos to Adam Shankman for the direction and choreography, and also to my friend and Montgomery native Stephen Boss who appears as one of the dancers (pictured above on the left of Queen Latifah). Hairspray is definitely the feel good movie of the summer and one that I will own on dvd. Run and don't walk to see it!

Labels: Entertainment

Hands down one of the best modern dance companies I've ever seen next to the Alvin Ailey Company. Creative Outlet Dance of Brooklyn stopped through Atlanta last weekend for two special performances during the National Black Arts Festival. The comapny was founded by Jamel Gaines in 1992 and wasn't even on my radar until I was fortunate enough to see them perform live at the Rialto theater in downtown Atlanta. It was an evening that I will not forget for a long time. Many thanks to my dear friend Tramaine for inviting me and to the dancers for inspiring me to get back to utilizing my gift. Check out the pictures from the show, none of which I'm in, now that's a first. LOL !

The following poll was taken by BET following the controversial episode of Meet The Faith featuring Keith Boykin and Sheryl Lee Ralph on homophobia in the black church and the results are not surprising but rather sad given how far we've come as a society on this issue. It looks like we've still got a lot of work to do when it comes to educating our own about the lives of black gays and lesbians. 61% of those polled said they believed homosexuality is a choice. It baffles me that over half of the black folks questioned still believe sexual orientation is a choice. I could stand on my soapbox and rant and rave about the ignorance of some of my people when it comes to issues of sexuality and gender expression but I won't. I've written about it before here . I also find it extremely disturbing that most African-Americans identify as christians and only 29% of those polled believed that religion should be about love and tolerance. The last time I checked being a christian meant being Christ-like. Hmmm...what would Jesus really do? Show love or intolerance? The debate continues here.

The Poll

We asked you, "Should the Black church stop condemning and start accepting Black gays and lesbians?" And here's how you voted:

About 64 percent of you said, "No. Most Christians believe it's wrong, and if you see people going down the wrong path, you should try to save them."

About 29 percent of you said, "Yes. Religion should be about love and tolerance."

About 7 percent of you said, "I don't know."

We also asked you, "Is homosexuality a choice or natural preference?"

About 61 percent of you said, "It's a choice."

About 24 percent of you said, "It's a natural preference. You're born that way."

This Sunday BET's provocative and often controversial show Meet The Faith will welcome the amazing Oprah Winfrey. The upcoming episode titled "It's My Money" will address Oprah's decision to open a 40 million dollar school for girls in South Africa. Many Americans have criticized Ms. Winfrey for not being charitable at home when there's so many deserving American students who are being deprived of a solid education . In a early statement released from the show, Ms. Winfrey had this to say to her critics, ""To hell with your criticism, I don't care about what I did, because it's what I did". She also came under fire earlier this year for saying South African children appreciated the value of an education more than American kids, "most Americans ask for a new iPod" .

Say what you want about Oprah Winfrey but the woman can do no wrong in my book. She's a billionaire and she consistently gives back to the community and she does so from her heart. It seems that everyone who comes in contact with Oprah or is a recipient of her generosity is blessed in such a magnificent way. I've had the pleasure over the past couple of months to receive e-mails from a close friend who is working at Oprah's school in South Africa and I've been able to live vicariously through her life changing experience with the girls and Oprah herself. With all the good that Oprah's done for so many people she's still not above criticism. I don't even think she has to address the chorus of haters, but when Oprah speaks people listen, and I'll definitely be tuning into Meet The Faith this Sunday at 11 AM ET/10 PM PT.

Ok I'll admit it. I've never spent so much time on BET's website until today and I have to tell you I came across more than a fair share of great articles and blog postings on issues concerning the black LGBT community. In a new coulmn that I think I'm going to incorporate into my blog every week titled Hot Links, I'll l be bringing you some of the best articles for the black LGBT community.

First up is a great post by the well rounded activist/rapper/writer Tim'm West titled I am a man, and .

Second is one of the most well written and balanced pieces regarding homosexualty and religion by blogger Laura Green titled
Is Homosexuality A Sin? .

Get into them. Enjoy!

B. Scott on Shemar Moore


B. Scott vs. Next Door Neighbor


B. Scott on Beyonce's Fall


Will somebody at LOGO please give this man his own show!!! B. Scott gives me life! There is no need for commentary because his videos say it all. Get into it !

Labels: Video Blog

This has to be the most ridiculous thing that I've ever heard! Rapper Camron( yeah you know the rapper who was seen wearing the pink outfit) has received more attention lately for the ignorant nonsense that comes out of his mouth and less for his music. A while back he sat down with the dj's at HOT 97 to discuss the latest hip-hop fad, "No Homo". Basically this phrase gives any rapper or perceived masculine straight guy the right to sound "gay" when speaking to a member of the same sex as long as he ends the sentence with the phrase "No Homo".

It seems that these hyper-masculine "straight guys" are realizing the gay undertones in their daily communication with other men whether it's through body language(watch any basketball game and I'm sure you'll lose count on how many times they slap each other on the ass) or verbal exchanges. But what's sad is that this catch phrase is not only being used by rappers but by ordinary guys in an attempt to assert their manhood. I mean come on, is this really necessary? There's videos all over youtube, see for yourself here .

Some would argue that this is meant to be comical and should not be taken seriously, but what annoys me is the implication that if you are a homosexual then you're not a real man. I beg to differ. And after seeing Camron on 60 Minutes advocating "No Snitching" his ability to act like a man is definitely up for question. Check out the clip of Camron explaining "No Homo" here and tell me what you think.

Did you miss me? Judging by the e-mails and phone calls I received from people asking me why the site hadn't been updated I will go with a yes. I missed you guys too, but now I'm officially back. Over the past few days I had a chance to visit the city I once called home for four years, Los Angeles. Initially I was really excited about the trip but that soon wore off once I got there and realized I wasn't missing much by not being there everyday. Don't get me wrong L.A. is a wonderful place and I enjoyed most of the time I spent there and I made some really great friends, but it became so apparent to me that Atlanta is home now.


I did have a chance to go to some of my favorite spots like Roscoes, The Grove, Circus Disco, and Millennium Dance Complex. Going back to the two dance studios where I trained was such a weird experience for me. I remember the excitement that I once had when I entered the studio that has now faded, an uncomfortable reality for me but I'm growing to accept it.

The highlight of my trip was definitely having a chance to see my friends who I haven't seen in a year. I don't have a huge circle of friends because I truly believe it's all about the quality and not the quantity, so the people that I consider friends are extra special to me. A special shout out to Trent, Erica, Alesia, and my new friend Peter.

Labels: Travel

Yesterday I happened to be on a flight with a very famous musician and thanks to modern technology I was able to take two shots of him while he wasn't looking with my phone. The picture quality is terrible( yeah it's a cheap phone...lol! ) but my photographic memory is wonderful ! I swear I would hate to be a celebrity. Lil Kim said it best "paparazzi gonna get you one way or the other". Can you imagine having to look your best everytime you step out of the house because you know at any moment flash bulbs are gonna go off and you could end up in a magazine all over the world? Some days you just wanna roll out of bed and go to the grocery store in your pajamas and house shoes.

Well this guy didn't have on pajamas but I wish he did ! Can you guess who this multi- platinum recording artist is? Leave me your answer in the comment section. All of those people I either called or sent a text message yesterday don't even think about answering this question...lol!

Labels: Celebrity

by Lonnell Williams

Last Saturday I attended the 9th Annual White Attire Affair in Washington D.C. . What an amazing event! If you have not been previously, this is certainly one to add to your circuit calendar! Held in the beautiful Ronald Reagan Building (I'm sure he was spinning in his grave), this spectacular event was like no other! Upon arriving and walking the Red Carpet we were immediately greeted by the friendly staff as flash bulbs were going off everywhere...(it was very "pose for da camera now, click! click!)!

Themed after the James Bond 007 movies, we were treated to a phenomenal show featuring Sheryl Lee Ralph, Pam Ward and the X-Faction dance troupe. It was a battle between good and evil as the VIRUS (the dancer in Red) set out to destroy as many people as possible; but Jane and James Bond along with their secret agents weren't havin it! They pulled out their best can of whoop ass and stood victorious! Next came the biggest surprise for me; watching Doug E. Fresh's performance. When I heard he was headlining I thought, "who the hell is gonna remember him?"-- Well anyone who was in the house will not forget him anytime soon. All I can say is he turned it OUT! The true original Mr. Beat Box still has it after all these years!

Favorite rant of the evening: After a show stopping rendition of "Diamonds are Forever", the stunningly beautiful Sheryl Lee Ralph in her most fierce sista girl atti-ma-tude told us that "THE BAREBACKING MUST STOP!" The purpose of the White Attire Affair was to raise better awareness in our community and Ms. Ralph 'sho nuff' brought that point home!

The endless sea of beautiful brothas and sistas partied the night away on three different dance floors. Praise da Lawd there was a variety of music and we weren't subjected to hearing 73 Beyonce songs in a row! Hallelujah!

Its refreshing to see how far we've come in our celebration as a community! Furthermore the scale on which this gala was presented speaks to infinite possibility we have for success when we leave the shade, stunting and negativity behind!!!! Pull your head out of your ass people, the sgl colored girls are getting it together!!!!!! God Bless.

Thanks Darian for asking me to share.


Lonnell Williams
www.burnlounge.com/chocomel911

Rick Warren, author of the best selling novel The Purpose Driven Life was once asked what he wanted his tombstone to say when he died, his response was "At least I tried". I sat in church and pondered those words as my pastor told this story, and I came to the conclusion that after my death if I'm remembered for anything I would like to be remembered as a person who tried and who was not afraid to take risks. I've never been satisfied with the status quo or playing it safe by never stepping outside of my comfort zone. Coming out at 16 years old was a risk, leaving Alabama at 18 years old for New York City was a risk, packing up and moving to Los Angeles with $400.00 in my pocket without a job and barely a place to lay my head was a risk, but either I was going to choose to let fear lead me or my faith, I chose faith.

One of the biggest risks I've ever taken was writing this blog. With one google search of my name complete strangers have access to intimate details about my life, my views on social and political issues, and if there was ever any doubt about my sexual orientation they can find confirmation right here on this site. Don't be fooled, there are consequences to "living out loud". For every e-mail, letter, or phone call I receive from someone saying how I've been a positive example for them to follow or how I've given them the courage to walk in their truth, there's always a hater waiting to attack my character. But my objective from day one when I wrote my first post is still the same, "If I can just help one person as I travel along the way, then my living shall not be in vain". So no matter what's said about me or who rejects me for being honest about my life, knowing that some other LGBT person realized their life has a purpose and decided not to commit suicide as a result of something I've written makes all of the other stuff worth it.

I must say this because it's been on my heart for the past week and I've been trying to figure out exactly how I should say it without offending anyone, but it's impossible to please everyone so I'm not even going to try. I watched leaders within the black gay community at each other’s throat over the past week and it truly saddened me. This type of behavior does absolutely nothing but further divides us as a people. At what point did activism become all about the messengers "star status" increasing and less about the people you're supposed to be fighting for? If there is anything to be learned from the "great white gay" community is teamwork. If there is ever dissension in the ranks they don't air their dirty laundry in front of the opposition and they definitely don't allow it to take them off course.

Some people in the community even went so far as to call for new leadership. Personally, I don't think there's anything wrong with the select few that we identify as visible leaders in the community. The problem is the idea that they are the only ones who can and are willing to address our concerns. Two people cannot speak for an entire community. We all have the capability to address homophobia, hate crimes, HIV/AIDS, religious intolerance, discrimination, racism, and other issues that affect us as black LGBT people.

I know what my purpose is in life and although I may not be that activist who's been at the forefront of the struggle for over twenty years and can be seen everywhere in the media, I'm not afraid to use my voice. At the end of the day at least I can say I tried.

On December 20, 1981 at the Imperial Theater in New York City a star was born and her name was Jennifer Holliday. The show was Dreamgirls and it would become the catalyst for the careers of some of today's most respected and beloved performers. Sheryl Lee Ralph, Loretta Devine, and Jennifer Holliday were among hundreds of talented black performers in New York City, but they were the lucky ones to be cast in the new Michael Bennett musical that would change the sound of musical theater forever.

Those theatergoers in 1981 who witnessed Jennifer Holliday's heart wrenchng signature song "And I Am Telling You(I'm Not Going) all agree that they were not prepared for what they saw and count it as one of the most magical moments in musical theater history. After winning 6 Tony Awards, one for Jennifer's performance as Effie and a Grammy Award for "And I Am Telling You", 25 years later Ms. Holliday brings her star making role to the Fox Theater in Atlanta, Georgia.

I attended the opening night performance last night at the Fox Theater and I have to tell you seeing Jennifer perform Effie live was unlike anything I've ever experienced at the theater. 25 years later Jennifer Holliday still manages to perform the role as if it were her first time. It's clearly obvious that she's the star of the show and a huge reason why people are flocking to the theater to see Dreamgirls post the success of the film. But she is supported by some of the most talented performers in the business. I would be remiss not to mention the vocal prowess of broadway diva Brandi Chavonne Massey (Wicked, Aida, Hair), who plays Lorell, Cindy Herron (formerly a member of En Vogue) who plays Deena, Devon Watson who plays C.C. , and broadway veteran Eugene Fleming who plays James Thunder Early.

This is the second live production that I've seen of Dreamgirls, the first was the amazing cast from Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia. Although the Atlanta production was good it sometimes suffered from slow pacing and sound problems, all of which I'm sure will be resolved as the run continues. Rumor has it that this may be Jennifer's last time performing the role she created 25 years ago. I honestly don't even want to think about that, but if it's true she has definitely given us a performance that people will be talking about for another 25 years.

I also had the opportunity to speak with Jennifer backstage after the show, and although she was obviously worn out after her three hour performance she still took the time to speak with me and pose for photographs which you can view above.If you are in Atlanta between now and July 29th make sure you get a ticket to see Dreamgirls, you won't be dissapointed.But for those of you who can't make it I have something extra special for you, just click here .

Labels: Entertainment

Most people would be excited about a trip to Jamaica but I guess I'm not most people. Like other tourists I was attracted to the beautiful beaches, duty free shopping, and the exciting nightlife of the islands before I became aware of the hostile and often deadly environment for gays and lesbians in Jamaica.

As the plane I was on began to make it's final descent , I looked out of the window and all I could see for miles was the most beautiful crystal blue water that I've ever seen, I was definitely not in Atlanta anymore. I remember going to the movies to see Taye Diggs in How Stella Got Her Groove Back and vowing that I would one day make the journey to Jamaica to find my own "Winston", little did I know my chances of finding him on the island of Jamaica was slim to none and could actually cost me my life . It's so true that you appreciate being an American so much more when you travel outside of the country. We may have a President that promotes inequality for LGBT people and an overall homophobic climate in many parts of the country, but you can guarantee that an entire community would never hunt down and stone someone because of their sexual orientation.




As I stepped off the plane and began to take in the beauty of Kingston, it was almost hard to believe that the people who occupied such a beautiful place could be filled with so much hate. I rarely give a second thought about how I'm being perceived because I always make sure that I carry myself in a dignified and professional manner, unless I'm around friends and then I'm liable to queen out (I know that's hard to believe...lol !). But I found myself monitoring everything that I did, from the way I walked (and ya'll know I have a fierce walk...I can't help it!) to the way I talked, fearing that I would be "clocked" and possibly harrased or worse. My heart started to pound when the eyes of a handsome young man with the skin the color of a melted Hershey's bar met mine. I noticed a sly grin on his face and I honestly couldn't tell if he was flirting( I doubt it) or if he was thinking, "dat dere is a batty man" ! Regardless, I kept it pushing.

I promised myself that I would not contribute financially to a country that demeans, murders, and surpress the true identity of it's LGBT residents with threats of violence. Jamaica didn't get a dime of my tourist money and they never will. The rainbow flags of the "gayborhood" in midtown Atlanta never looked so good to me before. I pray for the strength and safety of all of my LGBT brothers and sisters living in Jamaica.

Alright kids! I don't usually do music reviews because much of what the music industry throws at us is garbage and if you're not Janet then I'm usually not impressed. I've played Rhianna's "Umbrella" and T-Pain's" Buy You A Drank" so many times over the past couple of months that I'm actually finally sick of them and I'm ready to move on.

My new music addictions are Ms. Kelly by Kelly Rowland, Between Friends by Tamia, and The Daily News by Donnie, let's start with Kelly first.

After waiting for a year for this album to be released it's finally here and it's on heavy rotation on my iPod. I have to say I'm in love with this album and the beautiful Kelly Rowland. I hate to compare her album to Beyonce's because everyone is doing that, but it's not Dangerously in Love or B'day( and thank God it's not B'day!) but it's still a slammin album! Here are my favorite tracks in order:

1) Love (co-written by Solange? and she sings her face off!!!)
2)Like This(duet with Eve...fire!)
3)Work (hot club track with a latin feel)
4)Ghetto(duet with Snoop Dogg...potential next single)
5)Still in Love with my Ex (you get all the T on her breakup)
6)All of the other tracks

Now let's talk about the underdog, the forgotten one, the talented Tamia. It's a damn shame her album was released late last year and I don't remember hearing any buzz about it at all. I actually just discovered the album a couple of weeks ago when a friend introduced it to me. Tamia has such a beautiful voice and the material on this album is top notch. This is an album you can play straight through. Rodney Jerkins is a producer on this project and provides his usual hot beats that actually compliment Tamia's voice rather than overpower it. My favorite tracks:

1) EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM...NO LIE!!!!!!

But "Too Grown For That" and "ME" are constantly on repeat on my iPod. People are sleeping on this album and thy need to wake up and get into Tamia. No, she doesn't give you a fierce dance number but the girl has some real chops.

Now on to Donnie. The man is cute, vocally gifted, and his lyrical content is socially and politically infused. And did I forget to mention he's an openly gay entertainer? Even if his music wasn't hot I'd probably buy his album just to support him for having the courage to be honest in an industry filled with closet cases. But this album is neo-soul at it's best. The sad thing is that this isn't Donnie's first album. He released The Colored Section a few years ago and it wasn't on my radar. But now that we've met I can't live without him. My favorite tracks are:

1) If I Were You (such a feel good song)
2)911 Emergency (the man says the word homophobia in a song...wow)
3) All of the other tracks...seriously



Finally, I would be listening to Mya if she ever decided to release her new album "Liberation" that's been pushed back at least ten times! Damn is Beyonce the only singer that gets to release an album on time nowadays? Mya worked me over in 2003 with Moodring so can I please get Liberation?

Hey guys ! So I had one of the worst cases of writer's block that I've ever experienced last night. So in an attempt not to become one of those bloggers who updates every other month I decide to create a special video blog for you. It's light hearted and downright silly! It was recorded after a really long and frustrating day, so it became a much needed release for me. I hope that it entertains and brings a smile to your face. Make sure you catch the special treat at the end inspired by fellow blogger ShawnQT . Enjoy and make sure to comment!

Labels: Video Blog

Two prominent bloggers are reporting that actor Shemar Moore has finally come out of the closet after making an appearnace at a gay nude beach. Photos of a completely nude Shemar are circulating all over the internet and black women everywhere are praying that they can hold on to their fantasy of one day romancing the sexy soap star.

I honestly don't know what to think about this one. I can't say that I'm surprised that Shemar Moore may possibly be gay, but I won't believe anything until I hear it from his mouth. If he's not I can't wait to hear his excuse for showing all of the kids his manhood at a gay beach.

Read more on this story at O1lt.com and I'm sure you'll want to check out the pictures here . Caution: Do not open these pics at work or around minors.

Rumor has it that Beyonce aka Beyonce Knowles (when she's acting) is in talks with Disney to play the title role in the film version of the Elton John and Tim Rice musical Aida. I'm going to attempt not to make this one of those Beyonce hater posts because I think Clay Cane does such a good job when it comes to reading Ms. Knowles, but when I heard this news I wanted to personally shake all of the Disney executives involved in this decision. I swear I love Beyonce on most days but it's too much to even think about her playing the role that won Heather Headley a Tony award for her performance as Aida on broadway.

I was fortunate enough to witness Heather Headley perform the role on stage every night on broadway when I sold t-shirts and mugs at the Palace Theater as a broke college student when I lived in New York, and not only must the actress playing Aida having an amazing voice but serious acting chops.

I have to say Beyonce has impressed me over the years with her vocal range but her acting is beyond questionable. It's obvious that this decision is not based on artistict merit but Disney's bottom line and although this is the nature of the business it makes me sick. Basically Beyonce is a pretty face with a big name that is sure to attract major consumer dollars. Nevermind there's hundreds of talented actors that may be more deserving of the role, has Disney forgotten about Heather Headley, Deborah Cox, and even the forgotten Destiny Child's member Michelle Wiliams who also played the role on broadway?

It seems Beyonce is determined to secure her Oscar nomination and win before she turns 30. If winning an Oscar will get this workaholic to take a much needed break then I say give it to her, just not for her performance in Aida ! I have an ill feeling that around this time next year we will be bombarded with Disney promos starring Ms. Knowles as Aida and all we will have left is the original cast album and youtube videos of Heather Headley executing what Ms. Knowles will surely fall short of.

Labels: Entertainment

from 365Gay.com

(Los Angeles, California) For the first time the leading candidates for the presidency will hold a televised debate devoted solely to LGBT issues.The one-hour event will be held on August 9 and broadcast on gay network LOGO at 9:00 pm ET (6:00pm ET) and through live streaming video at LOGOonline.com. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards have confirmed they will participate. Several other Democratic candidates also may join the debate.

The debate will be conducted with a live audience in Los Angeles. On the panel questioning the two Democrats will be Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese and singer Melissa Etheridge.The debate was put together by LOGO and HRC. "In the 2008 presidential election, issues of concern to the LGBT community have already been at the forefront of the national conversation," said Solmonese. "From the repeal of "Don't ask, Don't Tell" to the recent signing of a civil unions bill in New Hampshire, there is no doubt that voters will demand answers to important questions affecting our community."

The panelists in a statement said they plan to cover a range of issues including relationship recognition, marriage equality, workplace fairness, the military, hate crimes, HIV/AIDS and other important issues. The LGBT vote is considered a decisive electoral force and according to exit poll data make up approximately 4 percent of the voting population.

Los Angeles was chosen as the site for the event because of the state's early primary election, on February 5th, 2008. "We're honored to give the presidential candidates an historic opportunity to share their views directly with the LGBT audience," Brian Graden, President, Entertainment, MTV Networks Music Group, and President, LOGO said in a statement. "This forum continues MTV Networks' tradition of engaging vital niche audiences with voting and the electoral process." In addition to questioning by Solmonese and Etheridge people will be able to pose their own questions through LOGOonline.com and HRC.org.

Labels: Politics

The image and name of this person has been altered to protect their identity but the story is real and disturbing.

Ever since I've known Nicole (not her real name) she's always identified herself openly as a lesbian. I often joked that we were a lot alike because it would be a cold day in hell before either of us showed any interest in the opposite sex. I rarely ever saw Nicole without her girlfriend, although their relationship had it's share of problems it was obvious that they loved each other.

To my knowledge Nicole had never dated a man or even entertained the idea until recently. She met him...let's call him Roger, at work and surprisingly began to flirt with the idea of a romantic relationship. As expected her girlfiend's reaction was not a good one, she felt betrayed and deceived by a person she thought she knew.

Nicole tried to explain that she had not engaged in sexual intercourse with Roger but she could not deny the emotional attatchment she had developed towards him. She later confessed that she believed that Roger was sent into her life by God to lead her out of the homosexual "lifestyle".

This news baffled me and raised so many questions that I had to ask myself. Am I next? Have I just not met the right woman yet? Yeah right...that question doesn't even sound right as I'm typing it. Are some of us so drenched in internalized homophobia due to religion that we must trade the unnatural for the natural? And in this case the opposite sex for Nicole or myself would be the unnatural. It seems Nicole is following in the footsteps of ex-gay activist Charlene Cothran who now claims she's been "delivered" and is free from lesbianism. I have my doubts about Charlene as well as Nicole, a person can always choose to be celibate but that doesn't change their innate sexual orientation. Whatever Nicole is going through I hope it ends soon and she realizes God's love is for everyone.

A two year old foster child infected with HIV from birth was recently denied entrance to the Wales West RV Park in Spring Hill, Alabama during a family vacation. Dick and Silvia Glover stated during a national interview on ABC that park owner Ken Zadnichek gave them two options, either keep two year old Caleb out of the public showers and pool or leave.

Zadnichek stated he wasn't sure if Caleb could infect other park visitors if he "upchucked" on them and it was his job to ensure the safety of all patrons and not just Caleb. This situation truly saddens me. I think it's absolutely ridiculous that in 2007 people are still unaware of how HIV/AIDS is transmitted and I'm equally embarrased that this incident took place in my home state.

This story is living proof that the social stigma attached to HIV/AIDS is still alive and well. Education is the key to prevention and ultimately a major factor in the quality of life for those living with HIV/AIDS and how they are treated by those who are lucky enough not to carry such a huge burden.

I challenge everyone who's reading this post not to become a reflection of the park owner, but to become well informed of the facts about HIV/AIDS. For more information click here and here .

Labels: HIV/AIDS

Los Angeles was definitely the place to be over the weekend as thousands of black gays and lesbians came out for the 19th annual At The Beach Black Pride event in Malibu. It was my intention to attend the festivities for the first time this year but I found myself on the opposite side of the country working. But thanks to my good friend Steven over at pinkmafiaradio I'm able to bring you pictures from the main event.

The beach party may be the highlight of Pride but organizers hosted an array of events throughout the week to entertain the large number of people who traveled from all over to paticipate. There were panel discussions, poetry slams, performances by soul singer Donnie and hip hop artist Feloni, as well as a LGBT film screening sponsored by here! networks.

I'm going to make sure that in 2008 my post on L.A.'s Black Pride will be written from my personal experience after attending one of the hottest Pride events in the country. I'll be damned if I go six years without seeing what all the fuss is about for myself...lol! Check out LA locals Trent and Jasmyne's thoughts on Pride.

It took GLAAD two weeks to demand an apology from conservative talk show host Bill O'Reiley and on-air guest Rod Wheeler following their outrageous claims that lesbian gangs were taking over D.C. schools. They've issued a call to action asking members of the LGBT community and their supporters to contact Fox News and demand an apology for statements GLADD believes were not rooted in any statistical facts. I'm just wondering what took the folks over at GLAAD so long to respond to O'Reiley's claims. I was watching The Factor the night this story aired and I was outraged. I actually wrote about it here . GLADD has supplied the contact info of Rod Wheeler and the big wigs over at Fox News. I urge you to watch the video for yourself and determine whether or not you feel our community has been misrepresented and take action.

CALL TO ACTION !

On the June 21 edition of Fox News Channel’s The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News Crime Analyst Rod Wheeler detailed what he called a “national network” of so-called “lesbian gangs” that prey on young girls. Using exaggerated, sensational language, Wheeler claimed there are more than 150 such gangs in the Washington, D.C., area alone.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) contacted the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department to research the statistics Wheeler cited and found that the information he reported is highly suspect. Sgt. Brett Parson, a member and the former commander of the D.C. Metro Police Department’s Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit, says the numbers are grossly exaggerated.

Parson is quoted along with GLAAD in a Southern Poverty Law Center Intelligence Report article titled, “The Oh-Really Factor,” which debunks the June 21 report, pointing out its numerous flaws and highlighting its sensationalistic tone.

"We have 150 to 175 total gangs in the D.C. area, and out of those only nine where the predominance of members are female," Parson said. "You simply can't make the jump that they are lesbians. I think it is fair to talk about violence and female gangs. But to sensationalize or marginalize a community by making a statement like that seems irresponsible."

Gaithersburg, Md., Detective Patrick Word is President of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Gang Investigators Network, an intelligence-sharing organization of 400 criminal justice professionals in Maryland; Washington, D.C.; and Virginia. He told the Intelligence Report, "there is no evidence whatsoever of a lesbian gang epidemic in this region...our membership reports only one lesbian gang."

GLAAD is calling on The O'Reilly Factor, which touts itself as the "No Spin Zone," and Fox News Crime Analyst Rod Wheeler to provide background information and evidence to support the wild claims made in the "Lesbian Gang Epidemic" segment. GLAAD is also strongly urging The O'Reilly Factor host Bill O'Reilly and Wheeler to correct the information in a follow-up report and to issue a formal apology to the lesbian community.

"The O'Reilly Factor segment essentially reported a national epidemic of lesbian gangs preying on young girls without offering one solid statistic or credible source," said Rashad Robinson, GLAAD's Senior Director of Media Programs. "This type of inaccurate tabloid journalism perpetuates dangerous stereotypes about lesbians and feeds a climate of homophobia, anti-gay discrimination and violence. That's the real national epidemic, but not one you're likely to see reported with such zeal by Bill O'Reilly."

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Please contact John Moody, SVP news editorial at Fox News Channel, Amy Sohnen, executive producer, The O'Reilly Factor and Rod Wheeler, Fox News Channel crime analyst and ask them to provide facts and statistics to substantiate the bold assertions in "Lesbian Gang Epidemic" and to live up to the show's "No Spin Zone" motto. Demand an on-air apology for the sensationalistic report.

Contact:
Rod Wheeler
Capitol Investigations (He touts his company as "a full service criminal and civil investigations firm.")
(301) 390-8272
rod@rodwheeler.com
info@arod007.com

Contacts:
Mr. John Moody
Senior Vice President, News Editorial
Fox News Channel
212-301-8560
moody@foxnews.com

Amy Sohnen
Executive Producer, The O'Reilly Factor
Fox News Channel
(212) 301-3000
oreilly@foxnews.com

Labels: Activism

Happy Independence Day ! I hope that your holiday is filled with family, friends, fun, and all of the liquor your body can actually hold! Be safe and by all means don't drink and drive. Let's learn from Paris' mistakes...lol!

Last year I posted a youtube video of Whitney Houston's famous rendition of the national anthem at the Super Bowl as my Independence Day post, this year it's Jordin Sparks. Although I was rooting for Melinda Doolittle all season, Jordin is a beautiful young lady with a great voice and she sings the hell out of the anthem. Enjoy Jordin and your holiday. I'm off to Miami!

During my visit to New York City last week I picked up a copy of Next magazine and came across a great interview featuring 41 year old Brian Tann and his 5 year old son Kai. Brian is a merchandising director in New Jersey and he also happens to be gay and the father of a very active kindergartener. It's not everyday I see images of single black gay men who are fathers, so to know that Brian and Kai exist and are bringing so much joy to each others lives reassures me that my dream of having a family is definitely possible.

The obvious question that most people want to know is how little Kai was conceived, this was Brian's response; "He was adopted in New Jersey at the age of two from a young mother that couldn't take care of him. She wanted someone to love him forever and I knew I could do that."

Do you think he knows that you're gay? "He knows his daddy is not like other daddies."

So what's a typical day like? "6am Coco Pebbles and Spongebob. Bath and school by 8:30am. Work until 5pm. Pick him up by 6pm. Dinner and homework by 7:30pm . 8:30pm bedtime.

What do you say to naysayers against gay parents? "I'm trying to save the life of one of the children you made."

So do you consider yourself a role model? I'm not, but my son is. He is showing the world how love can change your life.


Well I must say that I'm in love with this family. If you're a black gay or lesbian parent I would love to hear your story. Leave me a comment or e-mail me at darianoutloud@mac.com .

I don't have much to say, but a picture is worth a thousand words. Give yourself a few minutes to take all of these billboards in.