Living Out Loud with Darian

I'm sure many of you have seen disgraced pastor Ted Haggard's media blitz this week in support of his new HBO Documentary "The Trials of Ted Haggard". From Oprah to Larry King Live, Haggard has made the rounds to explain his involvement with male prostitute Mike Jones while emphatically denying he's homosexual but" a heterosexual with homosexual attachments". Yeah right.


I spent most of yesterday contemplating whether or not to write any commentary on his media appearances, but I couldn't bring myself to get past the pity I feel for him to write anything. So I'm leaving it up to you guys to share your thoughts.


Get into the clip above of Haggard from his appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show earlier this week as well as a comment below left by an Loldarian.com reader on a related post that still gives me pause.


"I am a 43yr old black male who is gay and has always struggled between God and Gay. I have decided to try to stop living that life because I believe in the Bible and believe it to be the true inspired Word of God. NO, GOD HASN'T TAKEN THE FEELINGS AWAY FROM ME. So as you can imagine it is a lonely hurtful existence. But thats my decision and I will stick with it the best I can."

Allow me to share my newest addiction. It's safe, fun, and the biggest side effect is a potential overdose of laughter.


Drama Queenz is a new webseries by writer/director Dane Joseph. The show is centered around the personal and professional lives of three black gay men living in a cramped apartment in Queens, New York with one common goal;making it big on Broadway. Drama Queenz can currently be seen on YouTube.


Although the series is fictitious, the talented cast of professional New York theater performers undoubtedly have drawn upon their experiences dealing with rejection and success in the highly competitive entertainment industry that brings a unique authenticity to this production.


The show stars Dane Joseph (national tour of Aida), Kristen-Alexzander Griffith (national tours of Rent, Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat), and Troy Valjean Rucker (national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar).





Blogger and Loldarian.com affiliate Adam Irby has also become a fan of the show.


"It seems like everybody and their cross dressing gay mama is throwing together some YouTube something or other nowadays, unfortunately most of it isn't especially good, well usually it's kinda terrible. I stumbled upon a YouTube show that's actually good for a change, it's funny, it's written well and even the production quality is decent," Irby said in a post on his blog praising Drama Queenz.


Each ten-minute webisode focuses on Jeremiah (Joseph), a dreamer with ridiculously poor audition luck, Davis (Griffith), a perfectionist whose hard work produces uneven results, and Preston (Rucker), a realist whose inhibitions stir-up delightful “drama” for all to enjoy. There's five episodes to date and I'll definitely be on the lookout for more. Get into episodes 1&2 below and spread the word.

"Who has decided that my loving someone, who is a reflection of myself is a revolutionary act? What evidence do they have to prove it is, and if it's a revolutionary act, what is a black SGL man to do if he can't love another black man, and by extension love himself?"


- A quote from Staying Power! The Unofficial Guide To Maintaining Positive African American Male Relationships

The 37 Hottest Guys in Theater








Afterelton.com lists the 37 Hottest Guys on Broadway and 5 men of color made the list. The many hot black & gay male dancers who work it out 8 shows a week in the ensemble of numerous Broadway shows were not included. It's a bit sad that only 5 men of color out of 37 made the list, but it's even worse that black performers and shows with African-American themes are underrepresented on Broadway.


Gear Up For RuPaul’s Drag Race





February 2nd just can't seem to get here fast enough. RuPaul's Drag Race debuts on LOGO next week and the supermodel and drag diva dishes to HX Magazine about her nine fierce contestants, celebrity judges, the end of the Bush terror on gender conformity and brushing off haters.


Gay Director Lee Daniels''PUSH' Wins Prizes At Sundance





*The Sundance Film Festival's prizes for best U.S. drama on Saturday went to "Push," the Lee Daniels-directed film about a young woman, Precious Jones, finding her way out of horrific circumstances in 1980s Harlem. The film stars Mo'Nique, Mariah Carey and Paula Patton alongside newcomer Gabourey Sidibe, who plays pregnant 16-year-old Precious Jones.


"This is so important to me because this is speaking for every minority that's in Harlem, that's in Detroit, that's in Watts, that's being abused, that can't read, that's obese and that we turn our back on," Daniels said. "And this is for every gay little boy and girl that's being tortured. If I can do this ... ya'll can do this."


First there was Barebacking and now introducing "Saddlebacking".


Scottish Catholics claim gay relationships cause premature death


AXED DAD SLAUGHTERS FAMILY





Ted Haggard: "I'm a heterosexual with issues..."





Kelly Rowland Professionally Splits With Matthew Knowles





All I can say is it's about damn time! Music World has confirmed reports that singer Kelly Rowland has split with her manager Mathew Knowles. They both released statements.



'Tasia is stone cold soul!





Blogger Clay Cane says Fantasia "sang the billy-goat-gruff out of "Lady Marmalade" at the UNCF tribute to the legendary Patti LaBelle. Watch Fantasia steal the show in the clip up above.

Today marks the release of best-selling gay author E. Lynn Harris' eleventh novel, Basketball Jones. A novel centered around a closeted professional basketball player(Dray), his secret male lover(AJ) of seven years and an inconvenient case of blackmail.


E. Lynn took some time out of the beginning of what is sure to be a busy promotional blitz for his new book to give his first online interview for Basketball Jones exclusively to loldarian.com.


We chat about his creative process, the real life events that inspired Basketball Jones, sports and of course the beautiful men who occupy the uniforms.


LOLDARIAN: How did you come up with the concept for Basketball Jones?


E.Lynn: About three years ago I got a call from a representative of an NBA player who said his client was thinking about coming out because someone in his family was blackmailing him. I gave him my number and nothing ever happened after I that, I guess he changed his mind. I was never told who he was(the player) but I was told he would call me himself. I'm not sure why he thought I would be the person to talk to, but I felt God had given me a story.


LOLDARIAN:How long did it take you to write Basketball Jones?


E. Lynn: I wrote it in about four months. Some books take a lot longer. But when I'm in my groove and I'm really feeling the characters, and I really felt AJ & Dray, the story pours out of me relatively quickly. And I tend to date athletes so I know what the rules are.


LOLDARIAN: You have a huge African-American female audience. Were you at all apprehensive about writing a novel with a down-low theme given how women are so turned off by down-low men?


E. Lynn: You know the last book I wrote was basically a mother son book and I got more letters from women than I did from men asking when I was going to get back to the old E. Lynn. They really like these kind of stories.


LOLDARIAN: The character Dray was extremely concerned about his father finding out about his sexuality and subsequently being disowned. This is a real fear particularly for closeted gay black men. Do you think this fear has fueled the down low phenomenon?


E. Lynn: Yes I definitely think that has something to do with it. I think as men, gay or straight, we're always concerned about our father's love. And one of the reasons is because father's don't show love the way mother's do. Father's don't always show love and when they're hurt it's usually shown in negative ways.


LOLDARIAN:Do you think the world has changed enough for a professional athlete to come out and find acceptance?


E. Lynn: I don't think so yet, but we're getting there. I remember logging onto your site and seeing pictures of that handsome Braylon Edwards; a lot of athletes who are not gay become gay icons like Braylon and (Houston Texans safety)Will Demps, and now they're carrying it like a badge of honor, whereas before they'd run from it.


LOLDARIAN: So what's next for E. Lynn?


Well I'm working on two novels right now as well as getting ready to go on a book tour to promote Basketball Jones. I'll be at Outwrite Bookstore tonight at 7:30 PM in Atlanta reading and signing books and then I'm off to New Orleans, Texas, Arizona and all over the west coast through February.


LOLDARIAN: Awesome! Well thank you so much for taking the time chat with me and I'm sure I'll see you tonight.


E. Lynn: I appreciate you and your site Darian and I'll see you tonight.

It's no surprise when you come across a talented artist who happens to be apart of the LGBT community given the level of creativity that most of are born with, but every now and then you're fortunate to witness the work of an emerging talent. One particular artist that caught my attention a while ago before I even knew his name was New York photographer Ricky Day.


Fans of New York performance artist and Beyonce Knowles choreographer Jonte' have Ricky Day to thank for the eye-popping images and smooth transition of this fierce performers on stage persona to digital (as seen in the photo above).


Believing that "art has the power to enrich and transform our lives", in addition to showing his work in major art galleries in New York City, Day has created Urban Pop Life.net, a blog he uses not only to show his work but to share news of openings and exhibits in the fine art world.


"I don't really believe in this notion of "high" and low culture, it's all just culture and should be available to and shared with everyone", says Day.


As you can see from the images above Day has a flair for capturing the beauty of the African-American male body. I definitely think that's something we can all appreciate.


Check out the rest of Ricky Day's amazing work at UrbanPopLife.net.

This post was originally published in July 2007.






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 shoot me an e-mail.

The camera loves 23 year old model Jason Barmore. This beautiful specimen of a man comes to us from Los Angeles, California and is represented by Sirena Models. You may have seen him grace the pages of Urban Mainstream Magazine and Life Styles and Luxury Magazine. He has been an loldarian.com favorite for quite sometime and with his permission I'm sharing some of his work with you today.


Capturing Jason Barmore's beautifully chiseled face and abs are also another loldarian.com favorite photographer Jerris Madison. Jerris is the man behind the extremely hot Jensen Atwood calendar that was featured on this site last year.


Whether all dressed up in a suit or stripped down to nothing but his undies, Jason Barmore delivers the goods. Get into a behind the scenes photo shoot with Jerris Madison and Jason Barmore here. Be on the lookout for more from this talented supermodel in the making.

Prayers for Bobby this Saturday 9PM ET/PT on Lifetime
Video courtesy of justbthat.com

"If Paul Beatty and James Earl Hardy had a love child, he would be Lamar Ariel".


This statement from author Ferentz Lafargue in praise of New York based author Lamar Ariel speaks to the enormous passion, creativity, and fearlessness unleashed by this talented author in his literary debut of autobiographical fiction- Ready To Male: A Collection of Letters.


Last weekend I had the pleasure of speaking with Lamar about his book, his affinity for writing letters, and finding and maintaining healthy gay relationships. His infectious personality and humor that is woven throughout Ready To Male was also alive for our interview. Two key ingredients that won me over along with his unique ability to tell stories that are his own but resonate with many.


LOLDARIAN: How did you come up with the idea to write the book as a collection of letters?


Lamar Ariel: I started writing letters to people just to get stuff out of my head and would then e-mail them to my friends. The response was so overwhelmingly positive that I just decided to put it into a collection. I felt like there were other men who lived and loved like me who shared some of the same experiences and would appreciate seeing it on paper.


LOLDARIAN: So explain the title of the book and the obvious misspelling.


Lamar Ariel: I was fascinated with the word "ready'. And one day I sent a letter to a friend on his Blackberry and he said, "child you should definitely "male" it to him" and he spelled it m-a-l-e-(because he's a retard:). And a few days later it just stuck.





LOLDARIAN: There's a letter in the book written to "Dear Mr. Nice Guy" who happens to be what some would consider a real catch, but you're turned off by him, why?


Lamar Ariel: Dear Mr. Nice Guy is actually a letter that I wrote to myself a few years ago. The letter really speaks to being so jaded that you can't participate in love in the way that you should. When you've become so accustomed to being in dysfunctional relationships that you can't embrace a healthy one.


LOLDARIAN: There is a common myth in the black gay community that our relationships don't last and if one wants to be in a committed relationship you have to step outside of your race. Do you believe there's any truth to this myth?


Lamar Ariel: If you want a good job you find one. If you want a relationship that works you find somebody who wants the same things you do. I just think for some reason it's not always a priority in our community, maybe because of the shame that is still associated with being black and gay. Personally, when I wanted to be in a relationship and committed to one person we found each other.



LOLDARIAN: What has the response been from readers so far?


Lamar Ariel: People have been really warm and receptive. I've actually been very blessed to have a lot of young gay black men who have responded to it in a really nice way. They let me know that I'm making a difference and that was my intent.


LODARIAN: When should we expect Ready To Male 2?


Lamar Ariel: Late 2009 or early 2010. The plan is to grow my audience by introducing them to my writing style through the letters followed by short stories and a novel to conclude the Ready To Male series.


Lamar Ariel received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Master of Arts Management from Carnegie Mellon University. He currently lives in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan.


Order your copy of Ready To Male here and check out a special message from Lamar Ariel below.

I guess the old saying "better late than never" can definitely be applied to a new round of public service announcements created by gettoknowusfirst.org currently running in urban and rural markets in California in the wake of the passage of Proposition 8.


The ads ran on broadcast and cable channels during the Presidential Inauguration and will continue through the spring.


The No on 8 Campaign was heavily criticized during the aftermath of Prop 8 for not reaching out to communities of color and f particularly for not showing actual gay and lesbian couples in their television ads.


The black gay couple who also has a rather large family is shown playing basketball with their kids, praying before enjoying dinner, and helping their daughter with her homework. They also speak about meeting for the first time in church and realizing they were destined to be together.


Yesterday one of the ads ran in 42 of the state's 56 counties before, during and after the Inauguration telecast but KABC TV in Glendale, California refused to run the ad. According to a press release from the organization, KABC deemed it "too controversial" to run during the Inauguration, as "many families will be watching".


This family isn't any different than most families. And when are the powers that be going to realize that "family" in this country consists of more than the Leave It To Beaver ideal of the 50's?

"You homo niggas getting AIDS in the ass"-Lil Wayne from the track Go DJ


So this is what music consumers supported in 2008 and will most likely reward during the Grammy's next month? I don't listen to Lil Wayne's music so obviously I'm a little late hearing this new low in homophobic rap lyrics.


Fellow blogger Queer Kid of Color and his co-host Les discuss the Grammy nominated Lil Wayne's sick prescription of AIDS to "deserving homos" in his hit song that I'm sure kept the gays on the dance floor for hours at the club grinding to the beat but ignoring the lyrics. Discuss amongst yourselves.

"Sexual disposition parallels race. I was born black and had no choice. I couldn't and wouldn't change if I could. Like race, our sexuality isn't a preference. It is immutable, unchangeable and the constitution protects us against prejudices based on immutable differences."


-An excerpt from Julian Bond's opening plenary speech on Feb. 7 at the 2008 National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change, convened by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.

You may have noticed over the past couple of weeks a new addition to the site that I like to call Reflection that features inspirational quotes from notable black LGBT individuals and/or allies. I think it's important to honor and reflect on the words and lives of people within our community not only during black history month but throughout the year. So many contributions by black gays and lesbians during the civil rights movement have often been ignored throughout history. Loldarian.com will be a place where their contributions will be celebrated and hopefully used to inspire you to walk proudly in your truth.

From yesterday's annual King Day Celebration and peaceful demonstration against the divisive anti-gay rhetoric of Rev. Rick Warren in Atlanta to the historic inauguration of our 44th President Barack Obama, the people of our nation have much to be proud of.


Today the horror of the past 8 years under George W. Bush will become a distant memory as we look towards the future under the leadership of a man who has promised to create a place at the table for everyone.


While I think we've made significant progress towards achieving Dr. King's dream we still have much more work to do. King understood that an "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere". Sadly, when it comes to LGBT equality the struggle to gain access to basic civil rights continues to be an uphill battle.


But as the Atlanta Black LGBT Coalition and their allies showed yesterday that "we are all apart of the beloved community" the fight continues.


Enjoy the images and video from yesterday's demonstration as well as photos from inaugural events in D.C. .








Related Links:


Hundreds Gather for King Day Service in Atlanta


Gay protest greets Rick Warren at Atlanta MLK service


Atlanta Gays Protest Rick Warren at Ebenezer MLK Day Service


Complete text: Rev. Gene Robinson opens inauguration festivities with a prayer

So CNN political commentator and author Roland Martin thinks the good ole' electric shock or excessive prayer and bible study can do away with the gay? I want to believe that the progressive and intelligent individual he presents himself to be would know that reparative therapy doesn't work and is actually harmful.


In an interview from August of 2008 journalist Max Blumenthal asks Martin about a column he wrote a couple of years prior about a gay man from Martin's church who with the help of Martin's wife, a minister, was able to "walk away from his homosexual lifestyle".


Blumenthal recently discussed the Martin dust-up as a guest on The Michelangelo Signorile Show.


I'm holding out on passing judgement on this one, but you can feel free to weigh in with your thoughts.


Both clips can be viewed below:

As if I needed another reason to despise Rick Warren and the Martin Luther King Jr. Center's decision to invite him to deliver the keynote address next week during the annual service, Warren delivers anyway.


In a letter sent to dozens of black ministers Warren solicits help on his sermon scheduled to be delivered next Monday at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church.


"I’d like to know your thoughts. If you were preaching the annual Martin Luther King sermon at his church on his day – what would YOU say? I just felt led to write you. Please help me, your brother in Christ. I’m open to any ideas, texts, or suggestions you might have for me, and I’d deeply appreciate it", writes Warren.


Renowned minister and author Rev. Dr Renita J. Weems was one of the ministers to receive the letter and she describes her initial reaction as disbelief.


"I read it and became immediately suspicious. “You kidding, right?” Is this Warren’s way of getting to know African American preachers? Is this his way of making friends with us? Is this how he bones up on Black History? Evidently, Warren obviously doesn’t know that black preachers talk, that many of us are friends, and that a letter from Rick Warren would generate buzz enough for us to share and compare notes.


Warren further attempts to illustrate in his letter how important his "performance"...uhmm...sermon is to him, "more important to me personally, than praying the invocation for my friend President Obama’s Inauguration the next day", says Warren.


And to add to his ever increasing ego and embarrassing lack of research, Warren bestows upon himself the honor of being the first white pastor to preach during the M.L. King Commemorative Service despite the fact Father Michael Pfleger a white Catholic priest did so in 2003.


I'm sure many people who are opposed to Rick Warren's presence on a day reflecting the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are wondering what in the hell was The King Center thinking when they invited Rick Warren?!


Warren and his supporters may be asking what harm was done by him sending out the letter? Well Dr. Weems nails it and I couldn't agree more.


"If you have to ask, then you don’t get it. You don’t get the whole point of King’s ministry and that of others who suffered and sacrificed working for racial equality in this country. You don’t get that a mass email to black leaders can not substitute for real flesh-and-blood relationships with peers in the African American community. Can not substitute for doing your own reading and research on the history of the American slave trade and race relations in America. Can not substitute for asking God to open your eyes so you can see, really see, the race dynamics in your church and in your city. Can not substitute for asking how a man like yourself born in 1954 doesn’t know better. And doesn’t know more about race in America. Where have you been?"


Read Warren's letter in full here.

What: On January 19, 2009, the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday, The Atlanta Black LGBT Coalition along with GLBT|ATL will be protesting The King Center's choice of anti-gay Rick Warren as keynote speaker at the Annual Commemorative Service for Dr. King.


When and Where: The protest will be at the corner of Auburn Ave and Jackson St, the front entrance of Ebenezer Baptist Church, starting at 9:00 a.m. Staging and coordination will begin a half hour earlier, 8:30 a.m., one block south at Edgewood Ave and Jackson St.


End Time: There is no official end time, but the protest will gradually stop through the late morning hours to allow folks to attend the Rustin- Lorde Breakfast and the downtown March & Rally at 1:00 p.m.


Our Message: Note that we are NOT protesting Ebenezer Baptist Church. The church is the host of the Annual Commemorative Service, but they do not have a voice in how the speakers at the Service are chosen. We are protesting The King Center for inviting Rick Warren to take center stage during a commemoration of tolerance and unity. We are also protesting Rick Warren's own messages of intolerance and hate. (If you plan on bringing your own signs, keep points these in mind. Most importantly, keep it peaceful, in the tone of Dr. King's legacy of nonviolent protest.)


Getting There: Some streets will be closed, and parking in the area will be scarce to none. We don't have the official street closing information yet.


What to Wear: We will be wearing black shirts as a unifying color, but you are free to dress as you like.


The 2009 Bayard Rustin-Audre Lorde Breakfast


The 2009 Atlanta Bayard Rustin-Audre Lorde Breakfast will be held on Monday, January 19th at 10:30am at 139 Ralph McGill Blvd (between Piedmont Ave and Courtland St across from the Atlanta Civic Center) in the Bruce Allmond room downstairs. The breakfast was founded by community organizers Darlene Hudson and Craig Washington in 2002 to achieve the following goals:(1) to provide lgbtq people, people of color and progressive allies the opportunity to fellowship before participating in the Martin Luther King Jr March; (2) to educate communities about the life and contributions of Bayard Rustin, Audre Lorde and other activists; and (3) to enhance mutual support and continued learning among participants engaged in social justice work. Every year, a diverse assembly of attendees convene at this landmark to enjoy good food and friendly company in the spirit of building progressive community.


Breakfast sponsors include Radial Café, Positive Impact, Starbucks, and the Atlanta Black LGBT Coalition.

Obama Once Backed Full Marriage Equality?





During his run for Illinois state Senate in 1996, Barack Obama stated his unequivocal support for gay marriage, according to an exclusive story in the Jan. 14, 2009 Windy City Times newspaper.


President-elect Obama's answer to a 1996 Outlines newspaper question on marriage was: "I favor legalizing same-sex marriages, and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages." There was no use of the phrase "civil unions".





The rainbow flag is undoubtedly the universal symbol for the gay community, a symbol that reminds us that gay people originate from every culture, race and walk of life around the world; however, some of us within the community have forgotten that meaning. Yo Cisco.com examines racism in the gay community.


Sexually Transmitted Disease Rates Soar: CDC





U.S. syphilis rates rose for a seventh year in 2007, driven by gay and bisexual men, while chlamydia reached record numbers and gonorrhea remained at alarming levels -- especially among blacks, health officials said on Tuesday. Blacks make up 12 percent of the U.S. population, but account for about 70 percent of gonorrhea cases and almost half of chlamydia and syphilis cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.


TN: Man fired for being gay; owner dares him to sue since there's no ENDA





"They literally said to me that because of my orientation and my 'alternative lifestyle' that I was not a fit for the hotel," said David Hill, formerly the director of human resources for the former Brentwood Holiday Inn (currently doing business as ARTE' Hotel, with no connection to the Holiday Inn chain). "[Tarun Surti, the hotel's owner] said, 'I don't give a damn. They can sue me. I will not have any of 'the gay leadership role' in my hotel.' And that's a quote."


BART cop who executed Oscar Grant arrested in Nevada





The white police office who was caught on video tape shooting an unarmed, prone Black man in the back has been arrested in Nevada.


Johannes Mehserle, the San Francisco BART police officer who shot and killed an unarmed man at point blank range on an Oakland subway platform early on New Year's Day, has been arrested on a fugitive murder warrant.


Jermaine Dupri on Obama, Gays, & Rick Warren





Janet will you please tell your man to stick to creating beats! Read Dupri's post "Let President-Elect Obama Stay in His Own Lane" via The Huffington Post.


Jennifer Hudson To Sing National Anthem at Super Bowl





Jennifer Hudson is ready to get back in the spotlight and will do us all proud [again] by singing the National Anthem during the Super Bowl February 1 in Tampa, Florida.


People Who Think Ballet is For Sissies Obviously Have Never Taken A Class...And Nike Agrees



CMYK Magazine causes a homophobic PR nightmare for NIKE.


Kanye West:"Gays Really Be Knowing How To Dress"

"There is something immoral and sick about using all of that power to not end brutality and poverty, but to break into people's bedrooms and claim that God sent you."


"It amazes me when I looked at California and saw churches that had nothing to say about police brutality, nothing to say when a young black boy was shot while he was wearing police handcuffs, nothing to say when they overturned affirmative action, nothing to say when people were being [relegated] into poverty, yet they were organizing and mobilizing to stop consenting adults from choosing their life partners."


"I am tired," he went on, "of seeing ministers who will preach homophobia by day, and then after they're preaching, when the lights are off they go cruising for trade...We know you're not preaching the Bible, because if you were preaching the Bible we would have heard from you. We would have heard from you when people were starving in California--when they deregulated the economy and crashed Wall Street you had nothing to say. When Bush took us to war chasing weapons of mass destruction that weren't there you had nothing to say. But all of a sudden, when Proposition 8 came out, you had so much to say, but since you stepped in the rain, we're going to step in the rain with you."


- Rev Al Sharpton during a sermon at Tabernacle Church in Atlanta discussing anti-gay black ministers and their support for Proposition 8

Hey Guys! I'll be traveling for most of the day and will not be able to update the site until later this afternoon. Rest assured I'll be glued to my computer once my feet touches the ground because it'll be too cold to go outside where I'm going. Thanks for your patience.

The Atlanta LGBT Coalition and their allies stood in solidarity on the steps of the State Capitol this afternoon in opposition to Rev. Rick Warren's upcoming keynote address at the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Service scheduled for January 19th at Ebenezer Baptist Church.


Craig Washington, founding member of The Atlanta Black LGBT Coalition and Paris Hatcher, Co-Executive Director of Spark Reproductive Justice Now were among the speakers who called on the King Center to rescind their invitation to the controversial pastor.


"Now while we may agree to disagree, we cannot build bridges by rewarding those who build walls that lock certain groups out", said Washington during his address to reporters. "We stand together today because we're not going to stand for sexism or homophobia or discrimination or condemnation. Today we take a stand declaring our common humanity knowing that we are wonderfully created just as we are".


"Denying lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and queer folks our humanity is harmful. Preaching a message that shames and blames women's bodies is dangerous", says Hatcher who spoke out against Warren's views on reproductive choice. "We say that all communities are sacred and at times like these Atlanta needs to hear a message of love and liberation that affirms everyone, not an opinion that reinforces a dialgue of oppression and shame."






For more information on the peaceful demonstration scheduled for January 19th click here. View footage from the press conference in the video below.





Related News: Openly Gay Bishop to Deliver Inaugural Concert Invocation