“The love shared between eighteen black same-gender loving couples emerges out of the shadows and into the light. The time has come for black love to be recognized in its totality…and the time is now.”
I am thrilled to announce that the book that caused my long hiatus from the blog last year is now available for purchase. When Love Takes Over: A Celebration of SGL Couples of Color is based on the popular Coupled Up series from loldarian.com and exclusively profiles eighteen African-American gay couples who are in committed long-term relationships. The couples detail how they met, their journey towards self-acceptance, liberation and ultimately how they fell in love and maintain their relationships. All the while defying the myth that two black men are incapable of loving each other for a lifetime.
The arrival of this book is timely and necessary. The gay and mainstream media has largely ignored black same-gender loving men who have formed nurturing and long-term relationships, even worse; the love shared between these brave men have often been met with hostility from individuals within their own community. But finally, the diversity that exists within both the African-American and gay communities are laid out in the pages of “When Love Takes Over” for the entire world to see.
Early buzz for When Love Takes Over:
What is so powerful about black love is its strength, beauty, and power. Darian has done a superb job in showcasing this with his amazing images of black gay love in this fantastic and prolific book, When Love Takes Over. What a wonderful tribute in celebrating ‘us’ and showing ‘us’ what it looks like, and how it can be done! – Terrance Dean, best-selling author Hiding In Hip Hop; Straight FromYour Gay Best Friend; Reclaim Your Power; and Visible Lives
“When Love Takes Over: A Celebration of SGL Couples of Color is a first of its kind, celebrating an overlooked group in the LGBT community. However, its focus of love transcends race and sexuality, people from all backgrounds can appreciate the book’s sincerity and storytelling.”-Clay Cane Journalist, BET
"Because Black SGL men are often depicted as only being worthy of attention and affection if we are desired by or partnered with white gay men-not to mention demonized as Black America's sexual boogeymen-I was tickled to tears flipping through When Love Takes Over. I count some of the couples profiled as close friends and spiritual brothers, and have even witnessed them exchanging vows. No matter how ling they've been together, no matter how many years may separate them, and no matter what trials they've had to endure, the message is always the same and one we should never forget; loving each other is not only a natural thing, it's a beautiful thing."-James Earl Hardy, author of the bestselling B-Boy Blues series
Watch When Love Takes Over cover models Seanmichael and Damien Rodgers in their Coupled Up video below:
Order When Love Takes Over: A Celebration of SGL Couples of Color here:
iUniverse.com
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble.com
Borders.com
In Atlanta: Outwrite Bookstore & Coffeehouse (Available in-store and online)
Congratulations Brother Darian! I'm going to put the word out about this book ASAP. Check my blog, "The Whole World is a Single Flower" to see a post there soon about it. I'm also going to send emails to select friends about it who I know will in turn put the word out to their friends. Living in Oakland, CA from 1999-2010 as an out and proud same gender loving man has afforded me many contacts who I am positive will be excited about this publication. Keep up the good work Brother. And know...I've got your back!
ReplyDeletePeace,
sage
Thanks so much Sage! I really appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteBravo Darian! There are many authors who talk about writing a book and never get started writing it. Having authored a book I know the time, energy and level of commitment one has to have to follow through on such a project! (I thank you once again for your honest review of my book several years ago)Folk just don't know the sacrifices made with friends and family when you need 100% focus. Congratulations again. Of course I will purchase a couple of copies and promote "When Love Takes Over" in the on-line groups and blogs I'm associated with. I look forward to reading your contribution to the SGL culture!
ReplyDeleteShow You The Money!
Cleon
This is my first time visiting your blog and I was wonderfully surprised to find the information about your book. I intend to purchase a copy ASAP. Thank you for sharing with the world the way Romantic love looks when shared by two black men. Continued Success!! Carl
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Darian for continuing to bring visiblity to our community. I just placed my order with Amazon and I'm anxiously awaiting my copy. Congratulations on this tremendous accomplishment and please continue doing the terrific work you're doing.
ReplyDeleteBrother2Brother,
Jason
That is great. I just ordered it via www.amazon.com and I look forward to exploring it together with my partner Mack. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteOrdered and i'm waiting impatiently for it to arrive!!!
ReplyDeleteLOVING THIS!
ReplyDeleteDarien:
ReplyDeleteI had my local bookstore here in Philly (Giovanni's Room) order the book. Picked up up my copy a few days ago and finished reading the book last night. Its everything I hoped it would be. Thanks you for providing us with concrete examples of what we never see but need to. Our path to relationship success with our own people is paved with the examples of others that have gone before us. Seeing the stories of other successful Black SGL relationships is going to help so many of us do the same. Darian your the best!
KBR