Guest columists
“Age Is Just a Number” Guest Writer: LaToya Hankins Greeting and Salutations, Hot Tea and Ice Sippers. I hope this month finds you all in good spirits--and staying cool. As for me, I’m coping with the heat by drinking plenty of cool beverages--some of them adult--and trying not to exert myself too much. I believe that a true lady shouldn't appear slick from sweat by simply walking [...]
“I Will, I Won't, I Do” Guest Writer: R. L. Norman "I object!" the man shouted as he stood up in the back of the church.I can’t believe this is happening! How dare someone object to my marriage?I know that some people in my position would not get married; but I am doing what my heart feels.You see, I remember it like it was [...]
"PRIDE: A Celebration of Liberation" Guest Writer: Carlton R. Smith President Barack Obama has just designated the area around the Stonewall Inn in New York City as the nation’s first national monument to LGBTQ rights. As you know, The Stonewall Uprising is largely regarded as the catalyst for the modern LGBTQ movement for civil rights. And our PRIDE celebrations grew out of that [...]
“The Power Of Pride” Guest Writer: LaToya Hankins Greetings Hot Tea and Ice Sippers! Hope you are staying cool in this summer heat. Although I consider myself a proud daughter of the South, even I sometimes find the rising temperature a little bit too much to take. Days of ninety plus weather leaves me praising the person who invented air conditioning—and mastering the art [...]
“Writer, You Say What?” Guest Writer: R. L. Norman He stood across the room from me not saying a word. I was slowly becoming nervous as he just stared at me, looking all seductive. As he walked slowly towards me, I backed up until I could go nowhere. I bumped into the desk that was behind me and stumbled for a brief moment. [...]
"I Am a Survivor!" Guest Writer: Carlton R. Smith For my second column, I was trying to think of a theme that would be of compelling interest to my new readership. Then, I had an epiphany: how about sharing my story, my journey of being a longtime HIV survivor. As of March of this year, I quietly celebrate 30 years of living [...]
“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 [...]
"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, [...]
“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 [...]
“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 [...]
“It’s All About March-amorphosis” Guest Writer: LaToya Hankins Greetings and Salutations, Hot Tea and Ice sippers near and far! I hope your spring sprung in the best way possible; and, if you plan to partake in Easter festivities, your basket will overflow with good things. This month marks a transition into a new season. Time to put away the coats and [...]
“Kiss Me You Fool” Guest Writer: R. L. Norman “Oh, my gosh! Oh, my gosh! My parents will be home soon, and this boy peed on my mama's new couch! I’ll bet that when she finds out--besides giving me a whooping—she’ll wish she had put plastic on the furniture. She wanted plastic on it when we first got it, but my father said [...]
