A Must!

Often times folks will hear me say a few words (out of the side of my mouth) at some of bk's house parties i frequent (Fort Greene Soul Summit Music Festival, BK Mecca, etc) that I'd wish there were more of us in the life doing it in those spontaneous dance circles. Givin the str8 folks a taste of our own circle jerk, if ya will. Of course this is said while I'm completely soaked with sweat and flaring about here and there - feelin n freein' the spirit. And not taking my own advice and just jump in thur! ...I can still say a few words of feedback tho!

But you know when you put something out in the universe you betta watch out cause BAM!

This past week at Soul Summit with Gordon Parks -oops correction! Gordon Chambers! but that wld've been something else, wouldn't tho? ;) - throwin down his voice on stage was the universe's first "Andre, open your eyes" message. Then I get this from BK Mecca's Santiago in my mailbox this morning...

Urban Roots Project
Abstract Urban Roots Dance Showcase
Monday, July 31st @ SOBs.

This looks like a promisingly intense and sweaty affair. Icon Willie Ninja? Come on now. I also *think* Dance Warrior is this hot dance troupe that I saw at BK Mecca back in Feburary and that I also see at the Soul Summit parties.

I'll be there.

check 'em out.

two friends of mine, fellow brooklynites, just joined the blogsphere

Kazembe Balagun's A Black man with a library

RJ Maccani's ZAPAGRINGO

*welcome*

Black Bloggers and Activists Speak Out at Press Conference

Bishop Zachary James of Unity Fellowship Church, me in the back with the khaki shirt :) (Andres Duque Photo )

Today, concerned members of the Black, Caribbean, Caribbean American, HIV and LGBT community - some of whom fit the whole bill! - held a press conference outside of LIFEbeat's midtown offices. Keith Boykin blogs about it here and so does John K. Andres Duque shares his pictures here. I thought all of the speakers nailed the msg in that there is no place in HIV/AIDS prevention for homophobia, let alone blatant homophobic violence. Folks like Stacey Ann Chin, herself a queer Jamaican national living in the United States, stepped up and declared that it was not the activists purpose to disparage Caribbean culture but on the contrary to push for positive vioces instead of negative violent ones. Bishop Zachary Jones of Unity Fellowship Church in Brooklyn gave a sermon declaring that to allow homophobia to exist with HIV/AIDS prevention was old news, but we were here today, he said to spread "the new news." His words got me all sorts of feverish. Yes, lawd, yes.

After it was all said in done, some hours later, LIFEbeat released this statement. It's a 180 from the one released yesterday and much more constructive. Hmmph. The dreamerz of dreamz said it best: "The Great Work Has Only Just Begun."

LIFEbeat Board Member Futterman Responds

As six-degrees of seperation would have it, turns out that one of the LIFEbeaet Board Members is a MD at my job. Yesterday after asking some other MDs around my office if they thought Futterman would be open, responsive to my email and getting a postive response, I sent this letter to her.

From her response back to me she - unlike LIFEbeat's PR missives - "gets it." Since then Futterman has come out strong as both a committed board member and one of the few ppl within LIFEbeat who is challenging the organziation's actions. In an article posted on Gay City News yesterday, Futterman "praised LIFEBeat as 'the only people who go to concerts with HIV awareness and prevention messages, reaching thousands of kids,' but disagreed with this latest attempt at 'dialogue.'" Obviously there is a strong internal dialogue going on inside LIFEbeat. But when LIFEbeat throws around phrases like "it was a collective decision" to cancel the concert at Webster Hall, has it been a collective process this whole time? Because it seems like from talking to Futterman and the Gay City News article, there were a number of Board members not down for this.

But I digress, still hungry, and need to get out of this piece very soon!

Latah.

* * * *

Hi,

I'm a Research Assistant that works with Drs. Cunningham, Sacajiu, and Kunins around the corner from your office. The reason though I'm writing you is... I'm also a black gay blogger who believes that there is no place in HIV/AIDS awareness for individuals who publicly call for the killing of anyone, gay or lesbian, black or white - which both Beenie Man and TOK have called for in their songs. I know that you've probably received some amount of correspondence about this, but something tells me that you're gonna dig what I have to say. :)

A broad group of Black, Carribbean, Carribbean American, Straight and LGBT people call on LIFEbeat to either disinvite these two artists or demand that they make a public apology. Many of us believe that any goodwill done by LIFEbeat to invite artists like Beenie Man and TOK who have broad urban youth appeal is lost by inviting these two artists who have extraordinary histories of calling for the burning and killing of gay and lesbian people. There are a number of dancehall artists who could reach the same audience but who do not call for such violence towards gays and lesbians - we ask that you invite these artists to your concert instead of Beenie Man and TOK.

At tomorrow's 10am press conference in front of LIFEbeat's Manhattan offices, a group of concerned Carribbeans will speak about how homopohbic stigma fuels the HIV epidemic in Caribbean communities - in NYC and the Caribbean and how Gay Caribbean men are disporportionaly affected by HIV and are the primary victims of HIV stigma. Other speakers include Keith Boykin (the author and former Gay and Lesbian Liaison to the Clinton White House), NYC City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and many more. You are most welcome to attend.

Thank you for time. As a LIFEbeat Board Member, I hope this email helps sway your opinion. I'd be happy to speak to you in person or via phone as well. I can be reached at (xxx) xxx- xxxx.

Sincerely,


Andre The ___


More resources

Human Rights Watch Report , Hated to Death: Homophobia, Violence, and Jamaicas HIV/AIDS Epidemic http://hrw.org/reports/2004/jamaica1104/ .


ACCESS HOLLYWOOD Video on Homophobic dancehall lyrics
http://andresist.googlepages.com/anti-gay.wmv

Full Press Release
http://nysbgn.org/blog/?p=32

Concert Cancelled, LIFEbeat throws shade!

Yesterday afternoon, LIFEbeat released a statement saying that "the possibility of violence at the concert from the firestorm incited by a select group of activists makes canceling the event the only responsible action." Then later shrewdly suggesting that folks haven't been and aren't going to continue doing HIV/AIDS work in the Caribbean community when stating that, "We hope in the wake of this decision that those who came forward and spoke out will now come forward again to do something positive for the Caribbean American community."

So yes, the press conference is still on for today at 10am in front of LIFEbeat's offices (630 9th Avenue). I'm trying to rush out the house now, eat breakfast, and get there myself.

latah.

Black Gay Community Demands Homophobic Reggae Artists Pulled From AIDS Benefit; Hold Press Conference in Front of LIFEBeat Offices

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 11, 2006

CONTACT: Kenyon Farrow, New York State Black Gay Network, 212.828.9393 ext 138, or cell 917.627.0853

What: Press Conference
When: Thursday, July 13, 2006 – 10:00am
Where: LIFEBeat Offices, 630 9th Avenue (bet 44th & 45th Sts), Manhattan, NY 10036
Who: Invited Speakers include: Keith Boykin, Black Gay Author & Board member, National Black Justice Coalition; Christine Quinn, NYC Council Speaker; Marjorie Hill, GMHC; Kenyon Farrow, New York State Black Gay Network; Tokes Osubu, Gay Men Of African Descent; Bishop Zachary Jones, Unity Fellowship Church; Soraya Elcock, Harlem United; Violet Tabor, Minority Task Force on AIDS/FACES and others.

Why: To demand that LIFEBeat cancel performances of homophobic artists Beenie Man and Tok at the upcoming Hearts and Voices Benefit Concert.

New York, NY – Responding with shock and outrage, Black gay and lesbian community leaders and allies will convene a press conference in front of the offices of AIDS awareness organization LIFEBeat on Thursday, July 13, for hiring homophobic dancehall artists Beenie Man and Tok for their July 18 benefit concert at Webster Hall.

The Black gay community began to mobilize when Black gay writer and activist Keith Boykin blogged about the concert on his site www.keithboykin.com. Boykin wrote he had phoned LIFEBeat Executive Director John Cannelli, and was told that LIFEBeat knew about the artists and their lyrics but booked them anyway. Boykin writes in his letter to Cannelli “to use Beenie Man and Tok at an AIDS benefit is a slap in the face to the hundreds of thousands of Black gay men, bisexuals and lesbians who have died of AIDS.”

Black LGBT community leaders and bloggers across the country are demanding that LIFEBeat either dis-invite the two artists, or demand the artists make public statements disavowing their homophobic remarks. LIFEBeat issued a public statement acknowledging the many phone calls, letters, and emails they have received about this issue, but still refuse to comply with the community’s demand for accountability.

“It saddens me to have to confront an organization I once considered a real ally in the fight against AIDS,” says Mark McLaurin, Executive Director of NYSBGN. “But hiring artists who sing about setting fire to gays and lesbians for an AIDS benefit is reckless and irresponsible.”

The New York State Black Gay Network will be launching The Campaign For Black Gay Men’s Lives later this summer, targeting NYC Black Communities to help curb violence against Black gay men in NYC. To learn more, visit www.nysbgn.org.

To read the Human Rights Watch Report, Hated to Death: Homophobia, Violence, and Jamaica’s HIV/AIDS Epidemic, visit http://hrw.org/reports/2004/jamaica1104/.

-30-

AP Story which includes ridiculous quote of the day:

Rob Kenner, editor-at-large at Vibe magazine, said dancehall lyrics suffer from "quick and sloppy translations" by detractors. The lyrics, Kenner said, go beyond homosexuality and address issues of spirituality, empowerment and family unity.

"When you become versed in the music form that they practice then you start to understand what the words they're saying really mean," Kenner said. "If Beenie Man and T.O.K. were really the monsters the protesters portray them to be, their music careers would've ended long ago and they would've been locked up long ago."

Note to Mr. Kenner: Human Rights Watch, read up on this carefully researched and cited report. But then again, you sound like more like a National Review type guy. Still waiting for those WMDs, eh?

Video link to Jasmyne Cannick's ACCESS HOLLYWOOD interview re homophobic dancehall lyrics.

Chat Postcards from Barbados

Earlier today I had a chat conversation with my good friend Rudy who lives in and is from Barbados (some of you might recall that it was Rudy and Lorenz who hosted me at their lovely Christ Church abode last summer). Of course I could not help but babble with him about the topic du jour - Black Gay Bloggers Unite Against Anti-Gay Concert! I thought our conversation and his perspective as a Black Gay Bajan would add incite. Here ya goes:

Andre The ___
...have you been following his whole drama with beenie man and TOK being invited to perform at an AIDS benefit in new york on july 18th?
reimbursable
Are you kidding me, that is whack.

Andre The ___
well apparently whack is back

http://keithboykin.com

reimbursable
Your people need to do like the Brits man

Andre The ___
yeah

well read up on it on keith's blog

we're giving it our best shot

the problem is that - at least from my view - is that the organization throwing this is super connected and probably funded by beenie man's and TOK U.S. record labels

reimbursable
Fabulous, I see NY Supreme Court responded negatively to your request to allow gay marriages.

Andre The ___
lol.

yes well you know this hasn't necessarily been our week

reimbursable
No it has not been

I keep saying that despite our advances the world is still not ready for us.

Andre The ___
tru that

i wish you were here to tell him what it really is like for a gay bajan.

reimbursable
Tell who?

Andre The ___
LIFEbeat, beenie man, TOK!

reimbursable
Those people ae fully aware of the Caribbean experience and I doubt he would even entertain me.

Andre The ___
lifebeat has invited him to reach out to an urban youth population here in nyc

reimbursable
I am sorry but I think that he is driven only by money and nothing more. He would do it only if he felt it would keep his show on and his coins flowing.

Andre The ___
thats sad man, but the way of the world...

LIFEbeat invites homophobes Beenie Man and TOK

LIFEbeat, an organization committed to promoting HIV/AIDS awareness in the music industry, has booked Beenie Man and TOK for their upcoming "Hearts and Voices Concert Series." I found this outrageous news via Keith Boykin's blog. Sooo basically for those just tuning in Beenie Man and TOK, two well known reggae artists who use their celebrity and music to call for the *killing* of gay people - are invited to a softer moment here in New York City on July 18th where Hearts and Voices will be shared and HIV/AIDS will be awared. Yeah, I'm gonna miss Rich Medina at Fort Greene Park for this! Who wouldn't!?

Sarcasm aside, this is f'ed up, messed up and got me and a lot of ppl fired up. Check my letter to LIFEbeat below. Follow links on Keith's blog to find out to where you can send your own letter.

* * *

Dear LIFEbeat,

As an HIV+ Black Gay man, I'm appalled that your organization is moving forward with Beenie Man and TOK's scheduled performances. You know that these music artists espouse violent homophobic lyrics. You know that there is an international movement against these artists and their extremely hateful music. But what you apparently do not get is the connection between homophobic violence and HIV.

Your organization's response that it was a "tough decision" to make is irresponsible and uninspiring. How about this for toughness: growing up taunted, verbally besieged as a "faggot," beaten up, having every media outlet and government entity telling you that you are not moral that you don't deserve rights, THEN being told that though we told you your life is worthless (Beenie Man) though we tell you to strap on a condom (LIFEbeat), we want an end to the HIV/AIDS pandemic that has raged your community for over twenty years.

There are a number of reggae artists who do not use their celebrity platform to promote the *killing* of gay people and who have broad appeal among youth (apparently gay youth don't fall into your equation, but that's neither here or there). For your organization to host ones that do, is extremely telling.

I think it's ironic that it took Ronald Reagan 4 years to address HIV/AIDS (after his gay friend Rock Hudson passed away due to AIDS), but it's taking the world much longer to make the connection between homophobia and HIV/AIDS.

Andre The ___
Brooklyn, NY

UPDATE
LIFEbeat refuses to back down.

Keith Boykin speaks to openly gay LIFEbeat Board Member

from ATL's togetherinlove.com

Jumpin' the Broom Black gay and lesbian couples
Saturday · July 08, 2006
9:00 PM – 10:00 PM LOGO
Stories of four black gay and lesbian couples.

Jumpin’ the Broom: The New Covenant is a documentary sharing the stories of four black gay and lesbian couples-two male, two female-and analyzes their views on love, commitment, relationships, marriage and religion. Jumpin’ the Broom delivers engaging characters, poignant images and, above all, it conveys hope.