“No Confetti Required” Guest Writer: LaToya Hankins Greetings and salutations, Hot Tea and Ice Sippers! Happy belated Mother’s Day and early Father’s Day to those who fall in those categories. Also, we observe a moment of silence and loads of respect for those who served our country and made the ultimate sacrifice. We honor you all on Memorial Day. Along [...]
It’s an unfortunate fact that Black men—vastly over represented within our prison system—make up a high percentage of HIV-positive inmates. And according to the study, “Incarcerated Black Men Report Sex in Prison, Posing Challenges for HIV Prevention and Treatment,” these males pose an infection risk not only to other inmates—but to members of their communities once they are released. The study was [...]
What does the word phenom mean? Well, as the shortened form of phenomenon, it refers to “a person or thing of outstanding abilities or qualities.” However, when applied to HIV criminalization, it takes on an entirely different understanding or subtext, which is ominous…and dangerous. You see, a new report by the HIV Justice Network and the Global Network of People [...]
"Remembering a Musical Genius: Prince Rocks Us with ‘Pop Life’ to Pop Culture" Guest Writer: Carlton R. Smith Greetings! First, I want to give a shout out to Wyatt O' Brian Evans for such an amazing opportunity to write this column for his extensive fan base. My nickname is "Duchess," which was given to me by one of my lifelong friends who, unfortunately, [...]
Get a load of this encouraging new development: recent research has indicated that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may have overstated the size of the U.S. HIV population, while significantly underestimating the share that has a fully suppressed viral load (undetectable). Researchers utilized HIV lab reporting to estimate prevalence of the disease in New York City and 19 [...]
So finally, you’ve managed to make your “Great Escape” from your abuser. (Great Escape is the term I’ve coined for my LGBTQ Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse workshops and seminars.) And after he/she fully absorbs that you’ve indeed found or reclaimed your backbone and guts, the counteroffensive begins in earnest with “plastic” pleas that include, “I really didn’t mean it,” “I was [...]
“It’s Not How You Got Them, It’s How You Keep Them” Guest Writer: LaToya Hankins Greetings and salutations, Hot Tea Sippers. Hopefully, temperatures are warming up in your neck of the woods, and you are getting ready for short sleeves, shorts, and sundresses. Maybe it’s just me, but it’s just something about shedding layers that leads people to consider adding a “plus one” to their [...]
Meet Reginald A. Flemming! He’s the emerging writer, director and producer of gay-themed short feature films. His current and popular series, A First Time For Everything (AFTFE), is a provocative and thought-provoking work. I’ve had an extended sit-down with Mr. Flemming, exclusively for the Huffington Post Queer Voices. In Part Two of this series, Reginald discusses what drives him, the continuing [...]
“Honey I Should Have Told” Guest Writer: R. L. Norman I remember that day as if it were yesterday. I was stumbling down the street to meet my blind date whom I had met on-line. It was about 9 o'clock p.m. on a Saturday night in the middle of winter. There were about 10 inches of snow on the ground, as the whole [...]
Today, April 16, is the birthday of Mr. Essex Hemphill--the groundbreaking and iconic openly gay African-American author, poet and performance artist. He would’ve been 59. I was fortunate to call Essex a dear friend. So, in celebration of his extraordinary life and awesome talent, I’m re-running one of my tributes to him. Visit: death-claims-a-phenom-way-too-soon-a-tribute-to-essex-hemphill
Meet Reginald A. Flemming, the emerging writer, director and producer of gay-themed short feature films. His current and popular series, A First Time For Everything (AFTFE), is a provocative and thought-provoking work. Just recently, I interviewed Mr. Flemming exclusively for the Huffington Post Queer Voices. In Part One, he describes his fascinating journey as a filmmaker, his creative process…and more. For [...]
As a journalist and public/motivational speaker, one of my signature issues is Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse (IPV/A)--the term used for domestic violence and abuse within the LGBTQ community. Sadly and too often, this demoralizing, heinous and horrific behavior is “swept under the rug”--particularly when it involves gay/SGL (same-gender loving) men. The misguided belief that “Oh, you know…boys will be boys!” [...]
