“Reunion and Remembrance” Over this past weekend, my high school class celebrated our 50th reunion, which was delayed due to COVID. Yep, 50. At the time we graduated, turning 70 was such a foreign concept. But now that we’re here, well… I missed so many of my reunions, mainly because I moved out of state. [...]
Even with PrEP and the growing number of antiretrovirals, the HIV/AIDS crisis hasn’t gone anywhere. Instead, the epidemic continues to loom over us. And here’s alarming news to take note of: researchers at the University of California (UCLA) report in the news source iScience that within the first few years of becoming infected with HIV, the virus significantly speeds [...]
“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 was the [...]
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 too many [...]
“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 certain age, [...]
“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 ago. [...]
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 is informative, [...]
“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 visibility of [...]
“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 for French [...]
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 phenom, who [...]
I’ve made it my ongoing–and fervent–mission to continue to shine a bright light on a certain demoralizing, insidious and horrific cycle of behavior that continues to be a growing concern within the LGBTQ Community. This dysfunctional and potentially life-threatening syndrome is Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse (IPV/A), which is domestic violence and abuse within the LGBTQ community. Often, Sexual Assault [...]
“To Thine Own Self: Darrell Lives His Truth” For all of you who have been following my column, you have seen both the book cover and read an excerpt of To Thine Own Self, to be released later this year. As we LGBT/SGL brothas know, coming out isn’t a finite event. It is an ongoing process, as [...]
