Hello my name is Justin B Smith, from Justin's HIV Journal.. I first decided to record my life with HIV using live video feeds because of the lack of representation that we as African American men have when it comes to documentation of this disease. With all the recent strides the United States has been going through such as the first Black President and Gay Marriage being legalized in Connecticut, I felt it only right for me to take my watchers and readers to the Protest on Proposition 8 held in Washington DC in response to the constitutional vote in California banning same sex marriage.


 

This recent vote is but one example of when a majority has institutionalized discrimination. People have to know that banning anyone from having a legal marriage is discrimination. Let's look at it from both a Civil Rights and Religious stand point. In the case of Loving vs. the Commonwealth of Virginia, two people who loved and were devoted to each other decided to get married. Mildred Loving a woman of African and Native American descent and Richard Perry Loving, a Caucasian man. Both were residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia. They were arrested and charged with miscegenation, which in this instance banned inter-racial marriages. On January 6, 1959, the both pleaded guilty and were sentenced to one year in prison, with the sentence suspended for 25 years on condition that they leave the state of Virginia. The trial judge in the case, Leon Bazile, repeated Johann Friedrich Blumenbach's 18th-century interpretation of race, proclaiming that

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People that are infected with HIV are more apt to suffer from depression than people who are HIV negative. What better way to get out of depression than to take a vacation. I myself am not depressed but I figured that this vacation that I take might remind people that a vacation is a must for everyone, whether their HIV positive or negative.


 

My partner went to San Francisco to see our two friends get married, which I heard the ceremony was very nice. Sadly I wasn’t able to go to the wedding.
Justin B Smith (L) and partner Dr. Philip Terry (R)
So my story begins here in the Baltimore/Washington Area where I had to take a plane to JFK in NY. I was so tired; it was 5:00PM when I landed in New York. The only thing that I like about this part of the trip was the men at the JFK Airport.
Justin B. Smith at Hoover Dam

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On the morning of November 4th 2008, I, Justin B Smith, decided to go out and vote on Election Day. It’s one of the most important Elections I might ever see in my lifetime. I decided to record it. It was about 7:00AM I believe when the polls in Maryland opened. It was very cloudy and a little breezy.

I walked to the school and saw there was already a line forming to go vote. It was about 15 people in line when I got in line.

The best thing about my trip was not in the first part of my HIV vacation. The best part is when one Saturday night when snuggling up with my partner Philip, watching TV the news came on and we noticed the headline, “Senator Barack Obama in Las Vegas at Bonanza High School”.

When the show premiered something else excited me as well. The characters of this show are at a caliber I have never seen before. But one character to me stands out on his own, and that is the character of “Lafayette”.

Lafayette is character that is openly gay to most of his friends on the show. The character of Lafayette is played by actor Nelsan Ellis. 

Nelsan Ellis as Lafayette - Nelsan Ellis as himself

The character of Lafayette is a short-order cook who works in eye make up and club wear. He also works as a drug dealer and novice internet porn star. Oh yes, he is most definitely a big flirt. Living in the backwoods vampire-infested town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, Lafayette struggles with discrimination as well. His smooth charisma is poised with a masculinity that cannot be denied. His character has most definitely stolen just about ever scene that he is in. He is a force to be reckoned with.

Watch below as Lafayette stands in the face of adversity

Lafayette is interviewed about Vampires in America

True Blood comes on every Sunday 9pm EST.  When the first opening credits come on I’m glued to the television as I’m sure you will be too. Check Lafayette out on HBO True Blood

Many people of this country had no idea who President Barack Obama was when he was the Senator of Illinois, until that day we gave a speech. President Obama gave a speech that would get EVERYONE'S attention, whether they are Black, White, Asian, Hispanic etc. He gave the keynote address at the 2004 DNC (Democratic National Convention). I remember it well. After that speech a lot of the population knew that he would be bound for greatness that he would be our "Black hope". 

BARACK OBAMA: On behalf of the great state of Illinois, crossroads of a nation, land of Lincoln, let me express my deep gratitude for the privilege of addressing this convention. Tonight is a particular honor for me because, let's face it, my presence on this stage is pretty unlikely. My father was a foreign student, born and raised in a small village in Kenya. He grew up herding goats, went to school in a tin-roof shack. His father, my grandfather, was a cook, a domestic servant. But my grandfather had larger dreams for his son. Through hard work and perseverance my father got a scholarship to study in a magical place; America which stood as a beacon of freedom and opportunity to so many who had come before. While studying here, my father met my mother. She was born in a town on the other side of the world, in Kansas. Her father worked on oil rigs and farms through most of the Depression. The day after Pearl Harbor he signed up for duty, joined Patton's army and marched across Europe. Back home, my grandmother raised their baby and went to work on a bomber assembly line. After the war, they studied on the G.I. Bill, bought a house through FHA, and moved west in search of opportunity.

Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention

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It seems Noah and Wade, from Noah's ARC, aren't the only ones jumping the broom this year. National Black Justice Coalition's Mr. H. Alexander Robinson just "got hitched" to partner Gregory M. Satorie. 

Both gentlemen live together in the beautiful blue collar city of Baltimore Maryland. They have been together for about 7 years and both know what it takes to stay together in a strong binding and blessed relationship.
It is a pleasure knowing both of these strong men of our community and to celebrate with them.
	Gregory M. Satorie(L)   H. Alexander Robinson
Alexander wore a three-piece black Hugo Boss tuxedo and Greg wore a black Cignal suit. The grooms wore matching gold with burgundy accents neckwear from Brooks Brothers. The rose and orchid boutonnières and Ms. Sojourner's bouquet were created by Church Street Florist. The ceremony was followed by toast and dinner at 2223 Restaurant in San Francisco's historic Castro District. The happy couple plan to host a hometown celebration in Baltimore, Maryland and honeymoon later in the year.

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"The new foundation promotes HIV/AIDS awareness across African-American communities through social marketing events. The White Attire Affair will be one of several planned social marketing events across the mid-Atlantic region" explains Briggs who originated the fundraiser in his backyard 10 years ago. The 10th Annual White Attire Affair is scheduled for Saturday, July 18, 2009 in downtown Washington, DC featuring live entertainment and food. The 2009 theme is "A Family Reunion."

Leading up to the event, the Al Sura Foundation has scheduled a fall fundraiser donor reception on Saturday, October 11, 2008 to raise funds and to recruit additional Board and Board Advisory Committee Members.  Al Sura has also scheduled "A Call To Service" on Saturday October 25, 2008 for men, women and youth who would like to dedicate their time, talent and resources over the next 10 months in planning, staffing and executing the event.

The name Al Sura inspired from the Holy Quran, simply means, "New Chapter or New Era." According to Briggs "We must Renew, Reconnect and Recommit our efforts in raising awareness and to successfully partner with various organizations in the areas of finance, marketing, fundraising, and outreach. There is a leadership void within the community; Allah has provided me another opportunity to lead the effort."

About the Al Sura Foundation
Al Sura's mission is to improve communication, education, and promotional awareness in the fight against HIV/AIDS within the African-American community. This is done through social marketing and fundraising opportunities while providing leadership training to individuals and organizations providing HIV/AIDS support targeted to people of color.

Al Sura Foundation
Rahim Briggs
Founder & Board Chairman Al Sura Foundation

Herndon Davis Media/Communications
whiteattireaffairdc@yahoo.com