Published on 06/23/2007

On Friday June 15, 2007 in a performance space at the Jon Sims Center a question was asked, "*Is Gay Male Culture Dead?*" The presentation was part of the National Queer Arts Festival sponsored by the Queer Cultural Center www.queerculturalcenter.org	Artwork by Jim Coughenour www.bitternessoflife.com
The evening was a showcase of "New Words, New Music, and New Art" by members and special guests of GuyWriters www.guywritersonline.org, A collective for gay male writers in the Bay Area.

Is Gay Male Culture Dead?

On Friday June 15, 2007 in a performance space at the Jon Sims Center a question was asked, "*Is Gay Male Culture Dead?*" The presentation was part of the National Queer Arts Festival sponsored by the Queer Cultural Center www.queerculturalcenter.org	Artwork by Jim Coughenour www.bitternessoflife.com
The evening was a showcase of "New Words, New Music, and New Art" by members and special guests of GuyWriters www.guywritersonline.org, A collective for gay male writers in the Bay Area.
Highlighting the evening were the offerings by special guest Cedric Brown, and group members Derek Lassiter, Anthony Williams, and myself.
Cedric Brown, co-founder of B/Glam the Black Gay Letters and Arts Movement brought down the house with his quasi-church "theme speech" titled, "Is Gay Male Culture Dead by Cedric Brown in Five Minutes or Less". Regaling the crowd with his bilingual skills, "Es posible que la cultura gai este muerto? La cultura gai esta muerto porque siempre esta cambiando". Which to my very basic translation abilities means, "Is it possible that gay culture is dead, or is the culture dead because it continues to change?"

Cedric Brown Poet-Singer S/Glam Co-Founder
Injected with humor, meaning, and keen observations he entertained and "edu-tained" the gathering with his insightful oratory.

Derek Lassiter Vocalist - Songwriter - Poet
Derek Lassiter performed double duty as in the first half of the show he sang, "Down Here Below" written and originally performed by Abbey Lincoln. Accompanied by the gifted Tammy Hall who made the upright piano come alive, he moved us with his smooth vocal approach. His recently released album, "Witness" has received favorable reviews. After the intermission in the second set he shared his poetry which is featured in a chapbook given to audience members as a memento of the evening.
Event organizer and host Anthony Williams appeared arrayed in Burning Man "Playa Wear" as his altar ego "Eshu"

Anthony William Eshu Poet/DJ/Arts Organizer
Eshu is one of the Orishas in the Yoruba tradition of West Africa. A childlike trickster god who rules the crossroads (or one's choices in life), is the guardian of ache' (the power to make things happen), the master of language, and ruler of destiny. Eshu guided the evening along by having spectators choose the performers' names out of a bowl. None of us knew when or what order we'd go on, which gave the evening a wonderful spontaneity. In addition to his words Anthony shared a music CD he created titled, "Infinite Depths" www.djESHU.com which showed off his talents as a DJ.
The encouraging audience made me feel welcome as this was one of my first performances in the city of San Francisco as a new resident of the Bay Area. My performing partner and friend vocalist, Regi Perry made a trip north so we could do one of our signature pieces "Idle Worship" for the crowd. We perform as the spoken word/vocal duo, "BettaWayz".

Jair, The Literary Masturbator™ Poet/Writer/Spoken Word Artist/Activist
The evening proved to be one of great diversity in terms of gatherings' ethnicity, background, and literary styles offered by all the artists. For me this kind of assembly truly represents community. Even amongst the four of us highlighted here there is a different voice in what we present and how we present it.
Also in attendance showing support were poet/writer and Cave Canem Fellow Stewart Shaw and the other Co-Founder of B/Glam Marvin K. White author of the poetry collections, "Last Rights", "Nothing Ugly Fly", and the upcoming "My Name Be Witness".
Be on the look out for more from these Griots and Gatekeepers in the Bay Area who continue the tradition of James Baldwin, Richard Bruce Nugent, Wallace Thurmond, Assato Saint, Essex Hemphill, Joe Beam, Marlon Riggs, and those we don't know by name who speak through us.