Clik Elite 25

On Saturday, November 25, 2006, Dwight Powell and Clik magazine will be honoring 25 individuals that have paved the way for the enhancement of the Black same-gender loving community through their everyday lives, talents, causes, and campaigns.

This celebration will be taking place here in Atlanta at the Fabulous Fox Theater. Nominations can be submitted via CLIK’s website up until October 31st. There are ten categories:

(1) Television — Actors, producers, directors, writers, etc.

(2) Performance Art — Dance, theatre, male/female illusionists, etc.

(3) Music — Singers, songwriters, composers, producers, etc.

(4) Film — Actors, producers, directors, writers, etc.

(5) Visual Arts — Photographers, painters, sculptors, designers, etc.

(6) Books — Fiction & non-fiction authors, etc.

(7) Media — Publishers, editors, journalists, reporters, etc.

(8) Community Service — Agency directors, HIV/AIDS CBOs, etc.

(9) Business — Outstanding businesses, promoters, promotions groups etc.

(10) Politics — Activists, politicians, etc.

“Gays and lesbians prove to the rest of the world that they are significant contributors to all of society and their accomplishments deserve recognition,” said CLIK publisher Dwight Powell. “This has been a long time in the making and we are looking forward to celebrating each other and recognizing those whose achievements would have been otherwise overlooked.”

Tired of Sensitive Men

Asshole... Arrogant... Pretentious... Uppity... Pompous... Jerk... Bourgeois...

All terms I have been called to compensate for other's lack of inner confidence and ability to handle my personality.

Real... Consistent... Honest... Frank... Direct... Forthright

I am tired of feeling sorry for bruising people's fragile egos... and swear some of your parent's did such a disservice to you as you were growing up. The world is not always nice... never will be. I never understood why everyone has this "fairy tell" perception of reality and think that everyone is supposed to be nice and sweet. Where was that ever written? Did I miss that class at birth, maybe I was too busy telling the doctor his breath was just a bit tart? But for me I would choose reality and truth over some sugarcoated bullshit any day!!

People are so used to having their egos stroked… and people walking on egg shells around them that when they finally hear someone be upfront and honest with them they can’t handle it.

Now with this being said, I rarely (note I did not say never, just rarely) attempt to be malicious to anyone. But sometimes you just really need to hear the truth as plain and simple as it can possibly be delivered. I am not a mean person... and probably one of the best friends you could possibly ever have... but I am me and I will always be me. And what you may see as a fault... I may see as rather positive character trait.

Random Thoughts this Monday morning...

1. Oprah is back!!! Am I the only one excited?

2. Just a few more days till the Janet media blitz begins... including appearances on Oprah and the Today show and at least 10 magazine covers... lets up this album does better than the last.

3. What the hell is with this Chicken Noodle Soup song? After many years of my mother, aunts, and uncles saying you don’t know what real music is… I finally agree. When some nonsense that should be banned only to be heard during a Campbell’s Soup commercial… was 1) ever recorded and 2) gets a video… there is something wrong with music today.

4. Why is it when people owe you something they come up with every excuse in the book (like your issues are my problem)... and then get quiet? Just be real and say fuck you, you ain't gonna get it!!

5. Whomever that is over at the Georgia Aquarium reading this blog... can a brother get 2 free tickets? (Don't worry about how I know you are reading just email me and let me know!!)

6. Will Michael Knight win Project Runway?

7. I'm definitely feeling that pale green color all over the Lacoste Spring 07 Fashion show.

8. I wonder if I start a fund to pay off my student loans how many people would contribute?

9. Why am I adding HBO back to my cable just because The Wire is back on.. and Def Comedy Jam.. and Bill Mahr.... and of course when their seasons end... BYE BYE HBO.

10. Why do people slow down to look at accidents or people getting tickets on the side of the highway? Like you have never seen this before??? Keep that shit moving I got places to go.

11. Why is it when people know they are in the wrong… they get quiet and scarce?

12. I am very proud of my undergraduate alma mater Auburn University for their brilliant start to the NCAA football season with a number 2 standing and a 3-0 record. WAR EAGLE!!

13. Why do I find myself watching Flavor of Love with my friend Damian every Sunday? The entire time criticizing anyone for degrading themselves in such a public way… but yet since I am watching hasn’t VH1 accomplished their goal??? Or maybe not since we actually TIVO it and fast forward through the commercials… we will call it a tie.

14. Why did I apply for a job in May… and they call me today asking if I am still interested????? I mean seriously. Shit how much you paying cause I am all about the dollar!!!

15. 4 more weeks to my return to DC for the Sexy Party… oooo yes!!!

To Read... or Not to Read

Sometimes my coffee table reminds me of Miranda Priestley’s desk in the morning. A neatly placed stack of magazines for me to peruse, read, and dissect. Well as of late my stack is getting a bit unmanageable. Labor Day weekend snuck up on me so my usual Saturday morning or evenings before bed… were taken up with other activities. So finally last night... I took an hour and finally finished Men’s Vogue… featurning an interesting cover story on Barack Obama. Now that leaves me Vibe, Peach, Details, Men’s Health, Complex, Black Enterprise, Vibe Vixen (I gotta know why Jill Marie Jones really left Girlfriends), O at Home… and now two new magazines Bleu and Krave.


Now I had seen Bleu’s website and seen other bloggers mention it but I had never really got into what the magazine was until Mr. Derrick L. Briggs handed me a copy at the Lion’s Den Pool Party. Well the Bleu website describes itself better than any words I could come up with by stating it is, "A quarterly magazine focused on delivering to the world a new representation of urban-gay culture." A deeper look into the premier issue of the magazine shows an array of articles from diversity on soap operas to an interview with Kelis to something called Dear Faggy. I must say this magazine has definitely suprised me. I thought it would be mostly fluff and the latest designer fashions but Bleu delivers on content that challenges the mind as well... definitely a recommendation.


Now I came across Krave, two months ago when I volunteered my special event knowledge to a neighbor who was planning a party at the W Hotel for the magazine. Now Krave like Bleu is also a lifestyle magazine however it is geared to all men… and by the look of the past cover mode I am sure there won't be any hurting for female readers either. Krave features fashion editorials, grooming articles, and tips on fitness. While the pint size magazine is small... it definitely packs a punch and I will definitely be adding it to my subscription list.

Bringing Sexy Back...

With 57% of the votes and his nearest and only competitor, Linda Cropp, only getting 31% of the votes. DC has secured a win on many accounts... Fenty is definitely going to be the neighborhood mayor unlike his predescessor, Anthony Williams who was definitely a downtown mayor. By no means knocking Anthony Williams becuase he totally revitalized the city... but now that the city is on an upswing it is time for someone to finally listen and look out for the poorer residents of the city. He also received an 8.5 (on a 10pt scale) on the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, DC questionnaire concerning many issues affecting gays in the District. The winners in the primary are virtually guaranteed to sweep the general election in the majority-Democrat city.

But enough of that... I just enjoy looking at him. Congrats to Adrian Fenty!!

Thanks for coming out... God Bless... Goodnight

Well another Black Pride has come and gone... and the Labor Day weekend that just seemed that it wouldn't end finally did. I will say in the few activities I did take part in, I definitely had a good time. I won't get into the entire weekend but I will go through a few highlights....

• Hmmmm Derrick L. Briggs..... hmmmm... I gotta come back to that one
  
  
• Remeeting Maurice Jamal for the second time was definitely cool. His infectious personality is quite contagious. Unfortunately I was unable to attend the invitation only screening of Dirty Laundry because somehow more invitations were given then seats were available... However congrats definitely go out to Maurice who announced that Dirty Laundry was picked up by a studio and will be in theaters next March. (Maurice you owe me a trip to the premiere next year!!)
  
  
• Comedian Sommore... she rocked the Hot Body contest, quickly advising those that shouldn't be on stage to back out now before she had to "Not tell a lie."
  
  
  
• Toccara Jones of America's Next Top Model Season 3 was absolutely gorgeous in person. A slimmer version (but still nice and thick) opened the Lion's Den Fashion Show on Sunday night where Atlanta's own Monica performed as well.
  
  
• Now back to Mr. Briggs.... I had seen him out once before in NYC but never really paid much attention... but after meeting him and Prodigal Sun out on Thursday night, I definitely paid serious attention. I will just say he is as attractive as he is in pictures, even more personable than one may think... and the smile is a heart stopper (especially when you catch a glimpse of him sweating up the dance floor at Fever with another fellow blogger, who shall remain nameless, and he catches you peeking)

Now of course no big event would be complete without me making a couple criticisms... but the only one that is worth mentioning is the fact that club promoters see pride weekend as the weekend to gouge patrons for every last dollar. If it wasn't paying $20 for one club then offering an after party at another nearby club for $10 (no discount if you came to their first function); or charging people to pay for parking in the convention center parking lot which should have been free, especially seeing most people drove clear across town to attend the event. I am all for capitalism and making money but there has to be some form of humanity in business.... And then to top that at the Unity Picnic in Piedmont they ask people to pick up trash (mind you no one should be throwing trash on the ground that is just careless and stupid) but when you been gouging people all weekend.. you better take a lil of that cash and hire some cleaning people.

With that said the offical gay pride circuit and the summer is coming to and end... see you all next January when ATL kicks it off again with MLK Weekend.

Welcome to Atlanta...

On behalf of Mayor Shirley Franklin and the residents of the Atlanta metropolitan area… we welcome you (and especially your tax dollars) to Atlanta and the Annual Gay Pride weekend. Whether you arrive by plane, train, bus (don’t front cause you know some of you will be on Greyhound), or driving… please pick up a map of Atlanta from the nearest rental car desk or gas station and stop asking folks to “chill and show me around”, gas costs too much and you are not hardly interested in seeing the sites.

On Saturday… as you are cruising Lenox Mall we ask that you purchase something besides a Chickfila sandwich from the food court. (please also leave the straight folks alone while at Lenox for some reason they seem to forget what weekend it is… and always walk around questioning why is this mall gayer than usual).

On Sunday… while hanging out at the 1st Annual Unity Picnic in Piedmont Park keep two things in mind: 1) the park closes at dark and 2) stay away from those bushes by the tennis courts. On Monday (Tuesday if you just must) we ask that you pack your bags and take only what you brought with you or have receipts for and go home… Atlanta is currently at its homo resident limit and currently over our traffic capacities, so no new residents at this time!! (one exception to this rule: tall, light, masculine, educated, attractive, over 25 but under 35, employed, single with a great sense of humor and beautiful thighs and smile… otherwise you gotta go)

On the serious tip while here make sure you check out the events hosted by In the Life Atlanta and the hottest parties of the weekend brought to you by the Lions Den.

Sincerely,

The Atlanta Welcoming Committee

Lions Den

In the Life Atlanta

If I would've known, that you had to go
But so suddenly, so bad
How could it be, not a straight memory worthy of
All that we had made
Now that you're gone, every day I go on
But life's just not the same
I'm so empty inside, and my tears I can't hide
But I'll try, I'll try to face the pain

Oh, there was so many things
That we could have shared, uh-huh
And time was on our side
Now that you're gone, I can still feel you near
So I'll smile, with every tear I cry

How sweet, were the losses to spare?
But I'll wait for the day
When I'll see you again, see you again, yeah


Nigel Alexander Baptiste-Williams
March 12, 1989 - August 30, 2005

You never know how good things are until its too late.

Sweet NOLA

Katrina... 3 days Later

To Tell or Not to Tell...

So for the past two weeks, my friend (for the sake of this story we will call him Mike) that recently moved from Ohio to New York has been talking about this sex party he was invited to. I had never been to one so I told him I wanted full details when he got home that early Sunday morning… regardless of what time just call me.

Well two days later I finally get the call and Mike goes on to tell me about how it was nothing he ever could have imagined. Just walking into a room and people everywhere groaping, moaning, and freaking. He said he was in the very dark apartment all of an hour, until he ran into a friend (we will call him Tony) that he knew from back home. (Momma always said… be on your best behavior you never know where you will run into someone) But that isn’t the point of this story… maybe a hour later he sees his friend Tony getting banged out by two dudes while several others stood around watching…

Before I finish this story, let me just say that I do not judge anyone’s sexual activities as long as you are not physically or emotionally harming anyone, and will say I have been quite curious and always wanted to be a fly on the wall at one of these things… back to the story

So of course he stood around and watched as a guy next to him that was watching began to feel him up. After watching for a few minutes he saw the guy pull out of his friend and noticed for the first time that evening that the dude wasn’t wearing a condom. I immediately asked was anyone using them and where they even there and he said yes everyone he saw had been. But that isn’t the point of this story…

The guy Tony from Ohio is HIV positive. And as another guy went to take his turn this time with a condom, nothing from Tony but moans. So my first question was are you sure he is HIV positive, and Mike says yes they were once good friends back in Ohio and he has heard it from the guys mouth.

So my question is even if you are having safe sex… is it the person’s responsibility to tell their partner or partners that they are HIV positive, even if they do not ask??

Dirty Laundry and more come to Atlanta

Well thanks to a couple of readers I have found out that Dirty Laundry is indeed coming to Atlanta and a few other select cities...


In The Life ATL, the official host of Atlanta's Black Pride, whose website predicts will be 40,000 people strong this year, are hosting a film festival with Dirty Laundry being the opening night feature.

Dirty Laundry, directed by Maurice Jamal, is a dramedy that follows a traditional small-town southern family, dealing with the secrets that are uncovered when the long-lost son (Rockmond Dunbar) suddenly returns home from a seemingly perfect life in New York. In the center of the conflict is the mother (Loretta Devine), who's own story holds as much drama and secrecy as her son's.

Dirty Laundry will premier at 7:00pm at the Rich Theatre Robert W. Woodruff Arts Center visit the ITLA film festival website for more info.

And for those who have become intrigued by the Ball life courtesy of the Frank Roberts and Clay Cane's ball blog entries.... ITLA will be featuring How Do I Look by Wolfgang Busch. As a follow up to the 1990 Miramax documentary film Paris is Burning on New York transgender and gay Ball culture, How Do I Look continues where Paris is Burning left off. Since 1997, director Wolfgang Busch and company has been documenting the "Balls", where the "Old School" and the "New School Legends" are competing in a safe and artistic environment at locations such as Harlem, the Bronx, Manhattan and Brooklyn. The "children", members of the "Houses", compete for trophies and cash prizes, representing their "House" to become a "Legend" one day. "Old School" meets "New School", and surprise?they all can get along! How Do I Look is a New York organization that serves as an artistic community empowerment project sending strong HIV/AIDS awareness messages through screenings, lectures, politicians, AIDS & community based organizations and the media.

How Do I Look will begin at 4:30pm. Just another thing to do while in Atlanta besides cruise Lenox mall... party with the Lions Den fellas... and ummm do whatever you do at your respective hotels, motels, and places of stay!!

oooo so Sticky

I must admit growing up I was never really into rap music... but there were a few groups that I had to cop every LP they put out... Salt-n-Peppa, Will Smith (shush), and ONYX. It wasn't until much later that I realized why ONYX stuck out so much for me . Frontman Kirk "Stickyfingaz" Jones just does it for me. The Brooklyn native began his career by performing with his cousin Fredro Starr. The pair were soon discovered by the late rap legend Jam Master Jay. They released a few albums and then he went solo and branched off into a film career.

The IMDb database lists over 40 acting credits to his name including 4 new films that are not out, of which he directed 2. We have seen him in very small roles on Moesha, Next Friday, and CSI Miami, but last night when reading up on some of the new fall shows I discovered that Sticky has a new leading role on SpikeTV's Blade: The Series. Now I have never seen any of Wesley Snipes version of Blade and know very little of what the show is about, but I will most definitely be checking out the new television series.

I also read somewhere that Onyx has a new CD coming out soon.

Maurice Jamal & Dirty Laundry featured on AOL Blackvoices

I don't know about you but I am eagerly anticipating Maurice Jamal's Dirty Laundry. While I have yet to find a release date or at least a preview date for Atlanta... I did hear that it would be coming out this holiday season. I came across these two interviews on AOL Blackvoices:

Maurice Jamal

Loretta Devine

10 Random Thoughts on this Monday afternoon...

1. Danity Kane? What the hell where the ladies of Making the Band 3 thinking with that name? Did the show just quickly come to an end because Diddy was bored? Now that the show is over will we hear from them again?

2. Why people always claim they want someone real but they are rarely real with themselves?

3. First Tiger Woods... now Barack Obama will grace the cover of the quarterly Men's Vogue.

4. First Barbara and the View now even Payless has dropped Star Jones... could it get any worse?

5. It may just be my aries but I hate passive men... and I think all of their mommas should be slapped.

6. Why is Tina Brown (the King of R&B's sister) claiming she sold her sister-in-law Whitney Houston out to the Enquirer for $200k... to encourage her sister to get clean? I know my girl Whitney may be a recovering crack head but I don't think she is that dumb.

7. Why does every lil gay boy think he is the next model just because he was in some church or local fashion show? I mean seriously they need some better aspirations.

8. Why do people hit you up and say I am visiting your city can you show me around? Can we stop bullshitting and just be real?

9. Why do I always want some Chickfila on Sundays?

10. Why am I so disappointed by Beyonce's second single off "B-Day" (and why was the DJ claiming he had an exclusive last night at the club... when they been playing it on the radio for a week.)???????

Noah Sails Again

Well Noah and crew are back and a few of the questions that we were left with at the end of Season 1, which seems like an eternity ago, were finally answered. If you don't want to know what happened I advise you to stop reading now..... well Tray is back from Africa and now the allegedly str8 friend, Guy, is sleeping on their couch since his girlfriend broke up with him and kicked him out while he was away, and Tray is back sleeping in bed with Alex.... Chance and Eddie are living the married life... the beginning scene twist with Noah in bed with the sex party dude who he has been dating since season 1 ended was quite unexpected but yet refreshing (I personally hate happily ever after stories... save that shit for Snow White). And the oh so sexy Wade now has a new ubersexy boi, Dre.

Ricky was back to him old self... however there was no mention of Junito (even though he is listed on the casting list on the Logo page)

I think season 2 has definitely started off as a better overall show than the first season and the story line already has me hooked and ready for next week's episode. Did you catch it? What did you think?

check out Keith Boykin's interview with actor Jensen Atwood who plays Wade.

The 2006 Black Weblog Awards

You have one week left to cast your nominations for the 2006 Black Weblog Awards.

for more information visit

http://www.blackweblogawards.com/

and there are prizes so ummm needless to say vote for me 2!!!

On August 16, the top three nominated sites from each of the categories will be posted and open voting for the finalists will be open from August 16 - August 31.

Some of my nominations have included:

http://hisstory1.blogspot.com
Best New Blog
Best Original Content
Best Personal Blog
Blog of the Year
Blog to Watch

http://justasktrent.blogspot.com
Best Podcast

http://brooklynboyblues.blogspot.com
Best LGBT Blog
Best Writing in a Blog

http://claycane.blogspot.com
Black Blogger Achievement Award
Best Pop Culture Blog

from Top to Bottom... a book review

When a friend in DC told me Michael-Christopher had written a book... I immediately assumed it was another in his comic book series Living the Life... until he mentioned the title... from Top to Bottom. My initial response was "what the hell is that bout?"... his response was just support him and read it. Well I finally got the opportunity to read the book and umm... well it was... what it is.

The premise behind the book and I do mean the entire book is... Bottom boy Virgil is in a relationship with top Rodney... Virgil comes to Atlanta for a conference and some country South Carolina boy jumps on top of him and is like I want that dick... well nothing happens (yawn) and Virgil goes back to DC beating himself up over an affair that never actually happened in Atlanta and now wants his total top boyfriend to be versatile after 2 years of dating. Fifteen drawn out chapters later... he finally tells Rodney he wants to hit it... which sends Rodney into a manic craze... running from the apartment say hell no my booty is off limits... and the story ends.

After chapter 3, I called my friend and demanded him to promise me that the entire book would not be about this wimpy boy not being able to talk to the man he has been in a relationship with for 2 years. I felt the characters were very transparent... and the story line was somewhat unbelievable... or at least I would hope it was. I feel Michael-Christopher was too detailed in his description of DC, that an average reader not being from the city would never quite understand.

One good thing about this book is that it has the ability to start discussions that should be addressed in the black LGBT community. The first being the stereotypes that surround gender roles and sexual preference. Bloggers like Valentino have deciphered it and Derrick Briggs has teased us with the beginning of a story about it. (Derrick's book club featured Michael-Christopher and his book this past Saturday)

As always I encourage you to pick the book up yourself... support the author... and make your own judgment... these are just my thoughts....

Must I Date Your Friend too??

Moving to Atlanta and entering the dating scene again has been quite an experience. Some of those I have shared in this blog. But something happened this week and it just struck a nerve and has been on my mind all week.

So I was sitting around the house minding my own business, not bothering anyone when I get a call from a guy that I dated for a few weeks earlier this summer. He was a nice guy that I had actually been communicated with before moving to Atlanta in an attempt to establish new friendships. So what was to be just hanging out turned into us spending a lot of time together and going on a few dates over the course of three weeks. And then came the oh this is moving to fast I need space nonsense (also known as I ain’t ready to settle down just yet I gotta see what else is out there, mind you a serious relationship was never on my mind but it is whatever). But that is not the point of this blog entry… so he calls me out of the blue and in the midst of the conversation keeps bringing up the Sugar Water Festival this weekend starring Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, and Queen Latifah… anyway so he asks me if I was planning to go because he had no one to go with and after agreeing to go, I get hit with… Let me ask my boy before I buy tickets to see if he wants to go too.

Did you not just say you had no one to go with?

Why are you asking me to go if you were going to ask your boy?

(FYI: The correct way to do that was to ask your boy first then ask me if I wanted to go along with you guys)

Back in June, I had been casually dating this one guy for several weeks. We often had to cancel or readjust our plans because he said, “My roommate is feeling left out.” Mind you the roommate went to Morehouse, and with all the homos at that school I am sure he had some friends somewhere in this damn city. Feeling left out? Am I dating him too? The last straw for me came, right after my cabin trip where I had been gone for like 5 days to get back to the city, anxious to spend some time with him. So I invite him out to eat… and on his way to my house he asks would I mind if his roommate joined us for dinner. So me being me I said yes I would but if that is what you want its fine. Long story short… just me and Dominican go to dinner but on the way home to chill and watch a movie, he says he wants to stop by Atlantic Station (outdoor shopping complex for you non Atlanta folks)… where what his roommate is…. only to come to find out that via text message while we were at dinner he had made plans with to go see a movie. As soon as I found out I bounced… I hope he enjoyed that movie.

I never expect anyone to distance themselves from their friends just because they are dating. But there has to be some sort of separation. And what kind of pressed friend would always want to be the third wheel… I mean every now and then its whatever, lets all go hang out but damn!!

Why do I keep running into people that expect me to date them and their friends?

Layonce Knowles feat. Gay ZZZZ - Deja Vu

Absolutely Hilarious

Recognizing my Chronic Disorder

When I was back in DC a few weeks ago I had the opportunity to go see my therapist to discuss some issues that had just began with a close friend. Near the end of our session she said something that has had me thinking since I returned, but it became very evident this weekend. A lot of times we fail to recognize chronic disorders in our own lives.

For several years now, me and a close friend have had a very cyclical friendship. One that was often more one sided than others, which is quite odd for two people that are supposed to be so close. The job I had that actually required me to relocate back to Atlanta and that whole catastrophe that came of it, sent me into a depression that I often hid from others… but when the new job came through, he was the second person I called (after my best friend Rey back in DC)… and I got “O great… busy at work will call you later to get details”. Hmmm ok… still haven’t gotten that call several weeks later.

Another call… “oh we are going out this Saturday to go welcome Damian to Atlanta and celebrate the new job.”… “Oh I can’t I have an out of town guest.” Ok like that bitch don’t have to eat too.

Anyway that list can go on but you get the point.

So in the session Dr. Taylor said to me if this person continuous to let you down… why do you continue to have expectations of them. (see number 4) She then said we often are the last to see the chronic disorders in our lives and always the last to make that change…

Anyway I say all this to say this weekend Kool and myself went to this house party (damn that boy’s house was hot) and my friend happened to be there with his crew, who had befriended me when I moved down. So as I spoke to everyone, less him but not in a really noticeable way (childish I know but I wasn’t thinking that at the time). Later his boyfriend comes up to me and ask me why am I being mean to my friends… my reply to him was… “the status of our friendship is his decision not mine.” Now I leave the party looking like the asshole. So in case he ever reads this… I apologize for my naivety.

I told him when I got back from DC, that I no longer had any expectations of him and that we were still cool. His reply to me was how can he fix this… I said that is up to you. And still no response… no action.

Weekend lesson: Recognize your chronic disorders… let it go… and always be the better person.