Are These Pastors Gay?

Sometimes to put out a forest fire ... you have to start smaller fires ahead of it. Outing individuals is not the nicest thing to do. But our community is on fire ... fueled by the hateful rhetoric of these men who purport to follow Jesus. We can no longer be doormats, or expect anyone to come riding to our rescue. The time for silence is over. I support Jasmyne and Keith in this endeavor one hundred percent. ~~ tS

(LOS ANGELES / NEW YORK) Black lesbian and gay leaders Jasmyne Cannick and Keith Boykin kicked off a five part series entitled "Outing Black Pastors" on Monday, September 25. The campaign, geared at exposing the hypocrisy preached by Black pastors as it relates to lesbians and gays, featured a profile on two Black pastors each day this week including Atlanta's Bishop Eddie Long, Dallas' T.D. Jakes, Los Angeles' Bishop Noel Jones and Washington's Reverend Willie Wilson. The series can be viewed at http://www.jasmynecannick.com/ and http://www.keithboykin.com/. People from all over the country have logged on and shared information regarding the lives of the pastors profiled. "For far too long, homophobic black ministers have been able to spew their hateful venom from the pulpit without accountability," commented Jasmyne Cannick. "We're tired of the hypocrisy and divisive 'Christian' rhetoric that too many black pastors are spreading, and we're tired of these same ministers selling out their pulpits to the highest bidder." "From New York to Los Angeles, Black gay people have been the backbone of the Black church," states Keith Boykin. "Through this network, we've discovered that many homophobic black pastors lead secret lives outside the church. We're not naming any names, yet, but by doing this, we hope to confirm information from our sources and empower the Black lesbian and gay community to speak out." In a joint statement, both Keith and Jasmyne added the following. "Our experiences has shown that the people who are the most homophobic also tend to be dealing with their own issues about their sexuality. People who are comfortable with their sexuality usually don't care as much about other people's sexuality. Which leads us to an obvious question, are these pastors gay?"

Stuck In Traffic A driver is stuck in a traffic jam on the highway. Nothing is moving. Suddenly a man knocks on the window. The driver rolls down his window and asks, "What happened?"

"Terrorists kidnapped President Bush and are asking for a $10 million ransom. Otherwise they are going to douse him with gasoline and set him on fire. We are going from car to car to take up a collection."

The driver asks, "How much is everyone giving on average?"

"About a gallon."

The music. The thump.

The bounce.

Just came from seeing Bow Wow in Roll Bounce. (All pics are camera-phone captures taken in the theater.) I expected a flashback to the glory days of the roller-skating venues that were more like thumpin’ clubs on wheels … and I was not disappointed.

The movie itself has been done to death though … along the lines of Bring It On and that ilk. Nothing new here. Same ol’ same ol’.

But it was the feeling that I expected and got … reliving the experience of the Friday’s at Twin City Roller Rink in Newark that I used to frequent in the very early eighties. It all came back to me. God I miss those days. You could just take off your skates and dance on the side lines if you wanted to, the music was that good, and no one ever got shot. There is nothing that compares to that today. Nothing. I guess, maybe, rollerblading at night with your favorite jams pumping through your iPod at max volume … while tripping on mushrooms would be pretty close.

Yeah. It was like that. Twin City Roller Rink, I mean … the movie, not so much.

I did have a flashback though. But maybe it was from all those eighties drugs I took.

The movie did have some redeeming features: 18 year old Bow Wow (he ain’t so little no more) as leading man, clad in tight seventies gear and who’ll probably make fans forgive the clichéd plot, and Nick Cannon for his surprisingly corn-ball and forgettable cameo.

Chi McBride’s strong performance as his father was a treat … and Boston Public (he played the principal) fans would expect no less. And lastly, Wesley Jonathan (City Guys, What I Like About You) as the aptly-named antagonist, Sweetness … gave the film the necessary eye-candy, proudly displaying his well-chiseled torso while battling Bow Wow in the rink.

I was most pleased.

Overall, if you’re a Bow Wow fan (like me), or an eighties head who lived for the rink (like me), a Wesley Jonathan fan (like me) or just starved for seventies nostalgia … you won’t be disappointed.

Choppin' Locks & Buggin' Out ... Rashid Darden (author of Lazarus) was lamenting whether to cut his locks off. I had to reply:

Rashid ... ... can you say, Strummin' my pain? You seriously did, more than you could ever know. And let me get this out of the way first ... i saw the Touré pic and thought he was the friend you were talking to for a second. God ... I have this lust/loath relationship for him. He bashed Michael Jackson in an interview once (i don't cotton to MJ bashing, mind you, I don't care how crazy he is), and in spite of the fact that I wanna lick him from head to toe endlessly (Touré pictured left, not Michael) ... he still annoys the hell outta me. My fortieth birthday is looming like the end of summer and I'm going on a cruise to mark the event. I'd also planned to cut my hair completely off and start this next phase of my life completely anew ... and cue-ball bald. It's made me face the reasons why I've had the hair for over a decade, and why its admittedly become my trusty security blanket ... to dangle in my face when I'm feeling insecure or just can't stand people ... which is most of the time. A Jamaican guy at my gym told me that anyone who cuts his dreads after having them a long time will go crazy. I've given this some thought and certainly believe it has some truth. Will I continue to sweep the phantom locks out of my face? Will I crave their scratchy presense in moments of anxiety like a cocktail and a Newport? Not having the smooth Michael Jordan type dome, will I feel even more insecure than I did before when people see my large head shining in the sunlight? And lastly, will I look down at all that hair on the floor ... hair that's been with me through countless boyfriends and lovers and high and lows ... and suddenly regret cutting it? Regardless of the answers, this January before I leave I plan to do it. Whatever emotional changes I go through, however traumatic, whatever emotional shit gets stirred will be what I need to go through to get to my next level. I'll have a week of sailing around the Caribbean to tan my dome and get used to the feeling of no-hair amongst strangers, before coming home and facing familiar circles, and no doubt, critics. I think as an artist I need to be naked before the world, come what may. I can't hide in my hair cocoon forever. It's time to grow. I just hope I don't wuss out. Good luck with your decision.

Bow Wow ... is fine as hell.

Damn, I can say it now 'cause he's legal (I think). Though he's had a guilty sex appeal for awhile now, which it wasn't exactly PC to vocalize. But now I can admit it.

I wanna roll and bounce with that big-time. Whew ... it felt good to get that off my chest. And hell, why is it wrong to wanna screw the barely-legal of the male variety? Barely Legal is just what it sounds like ... LEGAL ... so why should I feel bad about saying it? If straight men can foam at the mouth over the Olsen twins, then I can beat my meat over Bow Wow damnit. I'm tired of that tired double standard. Ain't you? Anyway, Roll Bounce opens this weekend. Check out the soundtrack below, which I'm sure is gonna be bangin'. My girl Keyshia Cole is representin' ... so its gotta be good. Plus, I can't wait to here Michele Williams rendition of Al Green's 'Let's Stay Together'. I love her voice ... it's unique, and my favorite of the Destiny trio. I plan to be in a theater real soon, leering at ol' boy from sixth-row center with a barrel of popcorn, a box of Raisinettes ... and a smile. I just hope he can act as good as he looks. But no matter. I'll still be there.

TRACK LISTING of Roll Bounce 1. Boogie Oogie Oogie - Fabolous/Keyshia Cole 2. Bounce Skate Rock Roll - Vaughn Mason & Crew 3. Pure Gold - Earth, Wind & Fire 4. Wishing On A Star - Beyonce 5. Quit Actin' - Ray J 6. Superman Lover - Johnny "Guitar" Watson 7. Hollywood Swingin' - Kool & The Gang 8. Let's Stay Together - Michelle Williams 9. Lovely Day - Bill Withers 10. I Wanna Know Your Name - Keith Sweat 11. Get Off - Foxy 12. Le Freak - Chic

A Big White Bizaare Lie ... Dave Myers poses with sisters Kathy (left) and Sandra around 1965. His mother told everyone his complexion was caused by a skin disease.

For 26 years ...he thought he was white. Learning the truth, that his father was black, sent him on a quest for his identity and leaves him estranged from his family. This is more than bizaare ... its sad too. Check out his story here.

I've come to believe ... over and over again, what is most important to me must be spoken, made verbal and shared even at risk of having it bruised or misunderstood. The speaking itself profits me beyond any other effect. The weight of our silence will choke us. So, I speak ..as an attempt to break that silence and bridge some of those differences between us ... for it is not difference which immobilizes us, but silence. And there are so many silences to be broken. ~~ Audre Lorde

The self-described "Black lesbian, mother, warrior, poet".

Audre Geraldine Lorde was a critically acclaimed novelist, poet and essayist. She was born on February 18, 1924 in Harlem and died on November 17, 1992.