Living Out Loud with Darian

Check out "SLOW" the latest short from filmmaker Darius Clark Monroe. SLOW is gaining quite a buzz on the independent film circuit and has been met with rave reviews and academic and moral critiques online. SLOW definitely has people talking.


The logline: 26yo, DDF, 5' 11", 185 fit. 7 cut. Vers. Looking to host now. 420 is cool. Send a face pic.


That pretty much sums up what the film is about. Or does it? Monroe leaves many unanswered questions at the end of the thirteen minute film and herein lies the beauty of it. Carlton Byrd and Harvey Gardner Moore star in this two person short film and also share writing credits with Monroe.


Get into the film below and be sure to let me know your thoughts. SLOW is NSFW and contains strong language and nudity.

SLOW from Darius Clark Monroe on Vimeo.

Centinio Kemp becomes the fifth accuser in the Bishop Eddie Long sexual coercion scandal. Fox Atlanta tracked down Kemp at a local recording studio and attempted to ask him about his relationship with Long to which he replied "no comment". Kemp is later seen running from the cameras to seek refuge in a stretch limousine.


Now normally I'd go into detail about the case against Bishop Long and his long history of homophobia but it's all becoming so redundant. I really wish Long and his "ministry" would just disappear, but the blind sheep of New Birth will never let that happen. The good Bishop is God on earth for those damn fools. Was that too harsh? Watch the two clips below and you'll see what I mean.

Photo credit: Kevin Thomas Garcia


The Broadway cast of HAIR celebrated New York's new marriage equality law by hosting the weddings of three couples onstage after Sunday's evening. performance.



Tony nominated actor Colman Domingo officiated the ceremonies of Finian's Rainbow and upcoming Follies actress Terri White, who wed jewelry designer Donna Barnett, actor Ryan Dietz and playwright Josh Levine, a staffer at the Theater Communications Group, and lastly, Broadway stage doorman John Raymond Barker and Jujamcyn usher and Jared Pike, according to broadwayworld.com.





You may recall reading about Terri White's remarkable story of going from homeless to Broadway on loldarian.com back in 2009. See all of the photos from the wedding on broadwayworld.com. Congrats to the happy couples!





Watch the ceremony in the video below:

Openly gay artist Tim'm West brings us his latest video for the first single off his new album Fly Brotha. "A Real Man" deals with complexity of dating as a gay man of color and whether or not to display public affection.





The video tackles this issue head on as West is clearly more comfortable with his sexuality than his co-star/partner as the dialogue in the beginning shows. What does it take to be a real man? Should a non-heterosexual man who is unafraid to display public affection towards his same gender partner be considered a "real man"?





These are all questions West's co-star grapples with and undoubtedly many black gay men who haven't fully embraced their total humanity. A consummate artist, West delivers an infectious and smooth song as the soundtrack to a slice of life that because of homophobia many of us are sadly still acquainted with.


Get into A Real Man by Tim'm West featuring Quentin Adams in the video below. You can purchase Fly Brotha here.

Joe Pressley & Steven Williams are making it official after twenty years together thanks to New York's new marriage equality law that went into effect on yesterday. The Grio has a moving piece on their two decade relationship complete with video.


From The Grio:


The Williams-Pressley marriage festivities will start when the men pick up their licenses on Monday and will conclude during a private ceremony, on Saturday, at a Italian restaurant in Harlem. The non-traditional African-American couple will host a non-traditional ceremony, witnessed by more than a hundred family and friends.


"It is not a formal affair, we want folks to be comfortable, we want them to come and have fun, its about fun and its about celebration," said Williams. "I think I am going to wear a blue blazer, a shirt and some slacks, and call it a day. It's a really simple ceremony."


Although the couple have won the fight for equality with the state, they have not been as successful at winning recognition from their entire family. Pressley's mother will not attend the nuptials because she refuses to accept a marriage between two men. Although he is hurt by his mother's disapproval, Pressley understands her decision to miss what will be the most important day in her son's life.


"As much as it hurts my mom not being there it is also just a joy to look at the family that I have been able to construct, my family of origin and my family of friends who will be there to celebrate with me," he said.





Watch The Grio's video report on Pressley & Williams below. The comment section on The Grio's website is filled with disgustingly anti-gay remarks about the couple. Feel free to counter the message of hate with love and well-wishes for the couple. Congrats guys!

Here's your first look at images and the trailer for Patrik-Ian Polk's new film "The Skinny." Polk is the award winning director and creator of the groundbreaking black gay TV series Noah's Arc as well as the feature film Noah's Arc: Jumping The Broom.


THE SKINNY tells the story of five Brown University classmates who reunite one year after graduation for Gay Pride weekend in New York City. Magnus has just completed his first year of medical school and is excited to see his friends & introduce them to his new man, Ryan. Angelic Sebastian has recently returned from a year in Paris and looks forward to finally losing his virginity. Devilish trustafarian playboy Kyle is up to his old tricks, bagging as many hot bodied men as possible. Atlanta native Joey is hiding a few secrets, not including the obvious pounds he's packed on since graduating. And acid-tongued black British lesbian Langston tries to hold her own with the boys in the Big Apple. Through three action-packed days of sex, drama, secrets, lies & laughter- these five college pals discover just how much can change in one short year. And you won't believe what goes down at the Gay Pride Parade!


The cast includes Anthony Burrell, Jussie Smollett, Blake Young-Fountain, and British actress Shanika Warren-Markland.


Fans of Polk's work will be delighted to see some familiar faces in The Skinny. Noah's Arc alums Darryl Stephens, Jennia Fredrique, and Wilson Cruz all make appearances. The fabulous B. Scott as well as poet Bassey Ikpi, Derrick L. Briggs, and Ricky Day can also be seen in the trailer.


The Skinny is scheduled to hit theaters Labor Day weekend 2011. LEGGO!!!














Watch the trailer below:

As a part of it's month long look into the lives of black LGBT professionals, Black Enterprise Magazine explores what it means to be both black and transgender in America through eyes of Tiq Milan. Milan was biologically born female but later transitioned to male.


From Black Enterprise Magazine:


Some may recognize Tiq Milan from MTV’s 2007 reality series, I’m From Rolling Stone, where several aspiring writers competed for a chance to win a full-time position with the entertainment magazine. Back then, he still went by his birth name, Tika, and responded to “she.” Today, however, the education specialist/HIV prevention counselor and editor-in-chief of IKONS Magazine, a LGBT lifestyle publication, lives life as a transgendered man.


You may also remember Milan from the David Barclay Moore documentary "Realness", featured on loldarian.com in 2008. Transgender people are almost never understood by those outside of the LGBT community and are often marginalized, sadly there's still a lot of education that needs to be done even within the gay community about the lives of transgender people.


Watch Milan break it down in the Black Enterprise clip here.

Washington D.C.-based comedian and activist and friend to loldarian.com Sampson McCormick brings the beautiful nuptials of Rev. Aaron Wade and Job Jones to our attention. The couple were legally married last Saturday at The Community Church of Washington, DC after four years together in front of a packed church filled with family and friends.


McCormick went behind the scenes of their special day for his YouTube show Sampson TV and interviewed the two grooms who shared the keys to the success of their relationship.


"Communication is the key," says Rev. Wade. "If you're going to be with a person forever you've gotta be able to say, look this is how I feel, or hey I like it when you do this. Most folks don't even communicate what they like or don't like. Communication really is the key to a successful relationship, even when your partner is getting on your nerves. Communication is the key."


Rev. Wade's younger brother, who was a part of the wedding party and identifies as heterosexual was also on hand to share his thoughts on his older brother's coming out and marriage.





"Growing up it was difficult, but after he broke it down to me about how he felt and why it happened this way and why he feels this way, it was like...wow. How can you not accept it?" It feels amazing to watch my big brother coming down the aisle."


It was even more amazing to see a community of African-American folks show up to support the love of these two amazing same-gender loving people.


"For folks who are not necessarily in favor of same-gender loving people you have to give them time to come in to you coming out, says Rev. Wade.





This is another example of the diversity and acceptance of LGBT people within the black community that is rarely on display and a side of black love that often goes unreported, this blog being the exception. Congrats to the happy couple!


Watch Sampson McCormick's A Celebration of Black Men In Love: A Gay Wedding below:





You can also watch the full wedding ceremony via UStream here.

This is a perfect example of gay and bisexual men of color taking the initiative to create a platform to tell our stories and create visibility.


Loldarian.com is thrilled to introduce you to Brotherhood TV, a new web talk show set to debut on July 11 on bortherhoodtv.com. Brotherhood TV is hosted by 6 uniquely different young Black and Latino Gay and Bisexual men from the Boston area, who share their voices and give a face to the thousands of young Black and Latino Gay and Bisexual men who go un-heard.


Loldarian.com was granted an advanced screening of the debut episode and the incredibly talented, intelligent, and opinionated group of men did not disappoint. The 45 minute show tackled topics ranging from marriage equality, homophobia, societal expectations around gender identity & expression, to the dynamics of same-sex dating when there is an age difference between two partners.





Co-Creator and Co-Host of Brotherhood TV, Amir, tells loldarian.com why the show is so timely and necessary.“There are constantly studies released about us and it is time that we speak up and share our voices. As a young black gay man I am the epitome of all things society hates; I am a feminist who is the decedent of slaves and who is gay. I fearlessly celebrate who I am. My goal through this show is to let other young Black and Latino Gay and Bisexual men know that they are beautifully made, and that it is imperative that they stand in their truth. But above all it is important that they know they aren’t alone.”


Amen.


Brotherhood TV debuts online on July 11th with new episodes to follow every Monday. Follow the cast on Twitter and Facebook.


Meet the cast in the sneak peek video below:








UPDATE: The first episode of Brotherhood TV has been added below:

The latest campaign from New York- based Gay Men's Health Crisis urging gay men of color to be proactive about their sexual health as it relates to the increase in new HIV/AIDS infections among men who have sex with men.


"Kiss & Tell" encourages black and Latino young men who have sex with men (YMSM) to have open and loving discussions with partners (the people that they are kissing) about their sexual history and HIV status. The campaign was developed in partnership with young men, ages 13 to 19, who participate in GMHC's new youth leadership-development program, CLUB1319. The program provides HIV prevention education, social networking, skills training, and opportunities to participate in developing social marketing campaigns such as "Kiss & Tell."


The concept originated out of the former and homophobic "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy which prohibited gay or bisexual people from disclosing their sexual orientation or speaking about same-sex relationships, while serving in the U.S. armed forces. The youth wanted a campaign that spoke the opposite of this policy-while featuring intimacy and what is possible for young gay couples as they express trust, respect and commitment for one another.


Marjorie Hill, Executive Officer of GMHC tells loldarian.com that "the campaign directly challenges homophobia, and acknowledges the value of relationships in the lives of young gay men while encouraging dialogue."


"This campaign reinforces GMHC's ongoing commitment--since our earliest days--to addressing homophobia and reducing the spread of HIV among gay men,"adds Hill.


The "Kiss and Tell" campaign has been printed in various education materials and will appear in phone kiosks throughout Manhattan in July. You may recall seeing the LGBT affirming "I Love My Boo" campaign created by GMHC on loldarian.com in the past. We applaud GMHC for continuing the fight against HIV/AIDS in the community hardest hit and with messaging that resonates.

Here's your first look at the new cover for Black Enterprise magazine's Black & Gay In Corporate America issue. The professional African-American mag is heralding the cover as "historic." Writer Sonia Alleyne is forthright about the potential controversy looming over the article and the difficult time she and her staff had finding black gays and lesbians who were willing to be featured in the piece.


From Black Enterprise Magazine:


We’re not going to pretend this was an easy topic for Black Enterprise to consider. Let’s face it—the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community is one of which our society whispers, mocks, ignores, and, in extreme cases, vehemently rejects. For Black members of this community, the emotional backlash can be even more intense. Editor-at-Large Carolyn M. Brown and I spent months producing this feature. Due to the topic’s controversial nature, we had some difficulty finding subjects. Even some of those who agreed to participate in our cover story, “Black and Gay in Corporate America,” felt some trepidation about how revealing their sexual orientation would affect relationships with family, friends, and associates outside the workplace.


Kudos to Black Enterprise for taking on this story. Check out a preview of Black & Gay In Corporate America here.


It's ironic that this preview hit on the same day that a new study on African-Americans and religion was released that shows blacks are the most religious in the United States. It's an ugly tie that binds.

The promo continues for my new book When Love Takes Over: A Celebration of SGL Couples of Color. I recently had the opportunity to sit down with the amazing host and friend to loldarian.com Lonnell Williams of 3LWTV. Two years have passed since I was last a guest on 3LWTV so we had a lot of catching up to do. We talk in-depth about the book as well as current events (i.e Eddie Long and his "spiritual sons") and Lonnell makes a surprising confession.


This is definitely one you want to watch in it's entirety. Many thanks to my dear friend Lonnell for having me back on the show. I had a blast!


Get into the interview in the video below. Order your copy of When Love Takes Over: A Celebration of SGL Couples of Color here.