HartStrings 16
“Billy Wright: Prince of the Blues” Guest Writer: Bishop Hartsel Clifton Shirley In nature, we often hear the thunder before the lightning strikes, yet both can be powerful--and even frightening. Such was the case with Little Richard, the iconic and influential figure in popular music and culture for seven decades. The forerunner to that very well-known entertainer [...]
It’s “Pride Time,” Baybee!
Over the years, I’ve queried LGBTQ folks of various ages and stripes about criticisms they may have of Pride Month in general and their particular Pride celebrations. Frequent comments include “Pride Month is way too commercial.” “ It doesn’t adequately reflect its true meaning.” “Prides are not serious enough; you know, too much glam and glitter and [...]
Old School New Kid 33
“To Thine Own Self: It’s in His Kiss” Hey, Pride Month is here. Darrell Edwards and Cesare Morelli-Montgomery, the main characters in my upcoming male/male romance novel, To Thine Own Self, have been nudging me to share a little more spice in their story before the book is released. For those of us of a [...]
MOE: Open for Bizness!
“As I said before, and I’ll say it again: love can be so, so…well, over-rated.” As you’re aware, I present a continuing series about a Man of the Evening (MOE). It’s a raw and revealing portrait of “Jase,” an exclusive and highly in-demand NYC gay/SGL escort. I first interviewed Jase nearly six years [...]
Scandalous Seduction!
Ah sookie sookie now! Breaking news! On Saturday, May 14, the WYATT! podcast goes visual. And Y’all, it’s all gonna be bigger, bolder…and much mo’ bettah! WYATT! does a deep dive into those timely and critical issues that are critical to gay/SGL (same-gender-loving) men with a diverse set of LGBTQ movers and Shakers. The podcast [...]
Old School New Kid 32
“School Daze” Recently, a group of my classmates was in a meeting, planning for our 50th high school class reunion. As we reminisced, the subject turned to high school crushes. For the first time, without naming names, I shared my own crush. To a certain extent, times have changed due to the greater [...]
HartStrings 15
“Piano in the Background” Guest Writer: Bishop Hartsel Clifton Shirley Aaron Bridgers was once called one of the “last remaining links with the sophisticated, elegant musical world of Duke Ellington and his collaborator Billy Strayhorn.” Sophisticated and elegant he was. Born January 10, 1918, in Winston-Salem, Bridgers grew up studying classical piano, having an affinity [...]
That Black Force of Nature
Essex Hemphill. That groundbreaking, uber-talented, and openly and unabashedly gay/SGL (same gender loving) African-American poet and author—truly was a force of nature. Ahead of his time, Mr. Hemphill blazed the way for talents including James Earl Hardy, E. Lynn Harris… …And myself. Today is the birthday of this sensational scrivener. Therefore, I pay homage to this [...]