Black LGBT celebrates on the beach

By Sr. Correspondent, Antoine Craigwell

(New York, NY) - During the weekend of Aug 7 to 9, Black gay men and women from all walks of life set up tents and spread their blankets on the beach in Cherry Grove for the 7th Annual Fire Island Black Out.

Over three days, members of the Black gay community, from New York City and farther afield, became recognizable faces on the playground of New York City's more affluent gay community at Fire Island.



 

According to James Wellons, CEO of Fire Island Black Out, LLC (FIBO), a corporation based in Philadelphia, PA, this year's event, which featured beach sports and parties at the Crystal Palace hotel, and attracted close to 3,200 people, was a success.

FIBO, since being co-founded in 2003 by John Goodman, II, and eventual sale to Wellons, who established a corporation and a board; as an annual summer event has become a staple in the calendar of the Black gay community and a part of the overall celebrations of Black Pride.

Beginning with a fund raising reception on Friday evening at the Hilton Garden Inn, in Islip, Wellons and the FIBO Advisory Board greeted close to 125 people who had gathered to support the Ali Forney Center, a homeless shelter for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth in the City, raising an estimated $2,000 for the Center, and $500 to the Cherry Grove Doctor's Fund. Also at the reception, Steven Gordon, spoke of the work Ali Forney Center does and services it provides to the LGBT community, Wellons introduced a new board, and made a special presentation to Goodman.

 

Beginning early Saturday morning, the Fire Island ferries worked double time plying the Long Island Sound transporting the numbers of people hoping to meet up with others, party, and enjoy the effects of the three "Ss," sun, sand and sea. On the beach, arrivals who registered received at the FIBO hospitality tent unique temporary FIBO tattoos, which identified the wearers as eligible for discounts from Cherry Grove merchants and which granted access to the Ice Palace pool and shower facilities.

FIBO weekend event sponsors included Nubian Dreams Cruise 2, Circle of Voices, Inc., The Hilton Garden Inn, SWERVE Magazine, the 7th Annual White Party Moonlight Cruise, the Winter Explosion 2010, Hair Chalet, Elegant Eyes, NEXT Magazine, and Jubilation - A New Era of Pride.
Activities on the beach included people playing volleyball, where the winners earned the title of FIBO 2009 Volleyball Champ; the Best Tent contest, with Byron Barnes, who won with his themed evening spread; and Dani, a FIBO board member, who hosted the first FIBO Poetry Slam, where winners received gift bags filled with DVDs, CDs and other prizes.

 

 
But as in everything, the Bump & Dip Dance Party at the Ice Palace on Saturday night had a late start because DJ Fred Pierce, the featured DJ for the party, was behind schedule. When he arrived, accompanied by fellow DJs Missy B and Trini, the DJs spun reggae, hip hop, R&B, the party got into full swing, and continued until the early hours of the next morning, when many were transported by a specially provided ferry back to the Sayreville pier.

The next day, Sunday, FIBO hosted its first Sunset Party at Tides, which was attended by more than 50 people. On Monday, FIBO hosted its second annual pool party in the Pines section of the island, where more than 70 people gathered and dined on pasta, barbecue chicken, and a variety of salads and deserts.
Wellons said that this year, unlike other years, the FIBO planning team realized that they needed to prepare more storage space, because as the numbers of people increases, finding places to store materials on the island had become a premium.

"Next year we plan we plan to add more storage options, a swim suit fashion show with hot male and female models, and we are planning some sort of live entertainment," he said.

Wellons said that while there are no vendors at the beach event, the organization is looking into encouraging some people to sell their wares at next year's event.