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Friday, June 06, 2008
I'll be interviewing Terrance Dean on June 14th here in Atlanta during a stop on his promo tour for his memoir 'Hiding In Hip-Hop'. This will be Dean's first in depth interview about his controversial book in front of a camera. He's done numerous radio, print, and book club appearances but none of the previous interviews will even come close to what I have planned.
It's going to be real talk from one black gay brother to another. So here's the opportunity for you to leave questions that you'd like me to ask Terrance. Nothing is off limits.
Fasten your seat belts, it's gonna be a bumpy ride!
Check out the video below with Dean and SOHH.com Sr. Correspondent Danica Dow and the ever so talented and sexy Clay Cane.
Thanks Gyant!
8 Comments:
I understand that this book is a memoir of his journey coming to grips with his sexuality, and the sub culture of homosexuality in hip hop. He chooses not to name names because he didn't want to ruin anyone's career yet these DL men are still living double lives so which is more important some innocent person’s life, or some hip hop artist career? He wants to bring awareness to what we are already aware about. However, no one knows who he is talking about. It’s like knowing there is a car about to hit someone and you not saying move. I am just not feeling this and I really feel like he pimping homosexuality. It never the DL man that gets the negative backlash it’s the gay community that has to break through another wall of stereotypes and inaccuracies
June 06, 2008 2:55 PM
I had the misfortune of hearing Dean on a nationally syndicated radio show the other day, and my only question to him would be "what's the point." His interview, and maybe it was the fault of the inteviewer and not Dean, seemed very salacious, and seemed to pander to the homophobia that surronds the DL issue.
I don't know what Dean expects to accomplish with this book. Is it to show that there are gay men in hip hop? Because from the interview, it seemed like the point was to cement the idea that Black gay men will sleep with anyone, regardless if they know them, like them, or love them.
June 06, 2008 10:21 PM
When Terrance Dean was interviewed by Wendy Williams, he told her he thought his sexual molestation as a child was the cause of his being gay. I don't recall him saying this in his book. If he actually believes this, why didn't he say it in his book? Why does he think there has to be a "reason" for being gay - unless you think there is something wrong with being gay? Straights don't offer a reason for being straight. They just are.
Near the end of Dean's book he "outed" himself to several of his relatives. He wrote that their response was that they always "knew" he was gay. If his relatives saw that "sugar" in him during his earliest years, others must have seen it also. So how was he on the "down-low"?
June 07, 2008 11:45 AM
10/4 to the 1st comment! If anything, makes for great entertainment I guess. Saving my $30-$40, and getting some gas and a cocktail.
June 07, 2008 6:40 PM
From a couple of conversations I've had about this book, the interview on essence, the reviews posted on AOL BV and BET, I don't get the impression that the entire book is something I'd be amazed by, meaning impressed by.
I'd like to know if Terrance has sought healing for what experiences he did have? As a child, as a closeted black man in relationships that couldn't have done a great deal for his self esteem (being the master- male mistress- to stars who would deny any afecction for him) etc.?
I think the "I blame being molested for me being gay" thing on his part, is indoctrination. I've heard that all too often from black folks who don't get that saying things like that is only telling half a story.
For example: To date there have been nearly 200 comments on my Sakia piece posted on AOL BV, many of which invoke the same anti-gay and/or ignorant narrative :
1. sin against god and burn in hell
2. background of gay men and lesbians shows sexual abuse
3. choosing to be gay
I empathize with Dean as one black gay person to another, but think it irresponsible of him to fan the flames of the molestation myth because that is a part of his story.
Not all people who have been molested are gay, and not all people that are gay are molested. So that doesn't appear to be a logical deduction. Sounds more like a scapegoat.
June 08, 2008 6:06 PM
I have a problem with the third post on this topic, particularly the last sentence. There is no one way to be gay, or some trait that all gay/bi men have. I wish that was the point of Mr. Dean's book, instead he just seems like another gay man trying to make a buck off of the dl stereotype.
In fact, I think the blogger for BlackVoices has a point, btw, that was a nice article on Sakia Gunn, Dean needs to seek treatment so he can come to terms with his sexuality whether it is gay, straight, or somewhere in between. For some reasons I see Dean, in a few years, coming out as a spokesperson for an ex-gay organization. I think like a lot of Black men who have been molested, he was probably told that the molestation/raped took place because he was gay. He was made to feel like the criminal instead of being told that he was not responsible for what happened. He obviously has a lot of problems that he needs to work through, but unfortunately there are a lot of people who just want to dish the dirt on hip hop.
June 08, 2008 7:31 PM
Hello Darian, My question that I would like for you to ask Terrance Dean is...when he had all of his encounters, were any of them white?? There is a tremendous conversation concerning the DL especially as it is solely associated with the black community (men). I don't believe that it is only associated with the black community. All of the down low issues, whether, talk shows, books, movies, etc., we only see black men being portrayed. This is a deep question in my mind and would love for him to address it. It doesn't matter if he had encounters with them; I'm curious if he is aware that it "goes down" with them also. I have not had a chance to read the book; however, I do plan to purchase the book this weekend and read it. I am not surprise at all. This is life! There are a lot of people in the industry; being so you expect some are gay, bi etc. It is appropriate that he does not mention names, but if you read closely, you can determine whom that “might” be.
One last question… Ask TerranceDean who was his most enjoyable encounter and does he wish it could have develop into a relationship??????
Champ
Thanks Darian, I read your blog each day. You bring a wealth of information to all of us.
June 09, 2008 7:51 AM
hmmmmm
It stated in one of his interviews that he wrote the book before coming to grips with his sexual orientation. He wanted to make sure he was out to certain people before he came out with the information which was about hmmmmm 8 years ago. What was his motivate for writing this book if you had not come to grips with your sexuality, knowing that writing this material would out you, (which was 8 years ago)? (I will be listening while giving this the Dean Joke the sideeye of death.)
June 09, 2008 9:43 AM
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