Below you will find an article written by Bishop Harry R. Jackson, Jr. The subject matter is one which could affect each and every one of us. Please read the article and voice your comments in the GBMNews Forum. Tell us what you think?


Liberty or Death: An Open Letter to the African-American Community

By Harry R. Jackson, Jr.
Townhall.com


Patrick Henry is quoted as saying, “Give me liberty or give me death!” It is difficult for the average American of our day to identify with the perspective and passion presented in this declaration. As an African-American citizen and pastor, I totally relate to this quote. Approximately 50 years ago, my father was threatened at gunpoint by a misguided state trooper for his involvement in civil rights activities. This death threat and the lynching and torture of several young black men in his state led to my family’s migration to the north.

My father engaged in political activism until his death by natural causes over twenty years later. He instilled in me a love for America – her vision and her promise. He also alerted me to the fact the American liberty is a prize for which blacks must continue to fight.

Today we are engaged in yet another battle, one that I believe threatens our religious expression. I encourage all African Americans to voice our fervent opposition to the “Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007” (HR1592 in the Congress and S1105 in the Senate). This bill could greatly affect our religious liberty.

Terry Snipes sits patiently in front of his computer screen, mind tinkering away as he thinks up a topic for his blog, Trew Life Advice. He’s been trying to build up his credentials in order to publish his non-fiction book, Trew Life: Straight, No Chaser. And as he sighs, clearly struggling from writer’s block, he smiles, and says, “How do you condense, as well as stretch 23 years onto a blog? It’s been done, but it’s hard as hell.”

 

Terry Snipes, AKA Trew Life says everyone is acquiring a PhD in Life. The only difference, he says, between other individuals and him is he’s found a way to teach it (life).

Recently many of us have seen the genius of Stan Lee, founder of Marvel Comics, displayed on the giant screen. The successful film releases of Spiderman, the X-Men, the Fantastic 4 and the Hulk are testaments to the cross generational appeal of his characters.

However, are you aware of Marvel's black superheroes?

A new prison boss took over the maximum security prison in the heart of the Philippines. The prison was rife with violence, drugs and controlled by gangs. The new manager fired the corrupt guard staff, got rid of the weight room (sorry David) and instituted a mandatory program of marching drills and dance… yes, that’s right, dance!

Videos of Philippine prisoners dancing to disco and show tunes have been circulating on the Internet for several months. They are now Internet stars.

The most amazing thing is that this prison, full of rapist, murders and the most extreme criminals in the Philippines has had NO incidents of violence for over one year!

Maybe the United States can learn from the Philippines?

CNN News Brief



Thriller

Jamaica displays to the world a friendly, happy-go-lucky face. Yet Jamaica disavows, and attempts to deflect world condemnation for, its barbaric polices and publicly-condoned egregious societal treatment of gay people. Jamaica's behavour is an embarassment to people of African decent.

GBMNews supports the growing campaign to boycott Jamaica.

The protest movement against Jamaica's policies is gaining steam. Condemnations have come from various World Human Rights organizations, the Metropolitan Community Church, and other religious groups in the United States. Great Britain has been in the forefront of the protest movement for years. The Canadian government has vowed to agrresively enforce its laws against hate speech in music, and is providing sanctuary for many gay Jamaicans.

A boycott is very unfortunate, but it is patently obvious that Jamaica refuses to address its own bigotry. Therefore, outside measures are required to save LGBT Jamaicans from injury and even death.

At this time, we advise our readers to avoid Jamaican products, music, concerts and above all avoid all travel to the island. We ask you to be proactive and tell others to do the same. Ask stores to stop carrying Jamaican products. Ask radio staions and clubs to stop playing Jamaican music. Ask travel agents to steer clients to friendly desitinations.

Please post this article to all Internet social networking groups in which you belong.

The Jamaican boycott will start slowly but soon more effective measures will come to pass. GBMNews will keep you abreast.

Change will come to Jamaica!

TORONTO: In response to calls from Egale Canada and Stop Murder Music

(Canada), iTunes has removed controversial murder music from its North American markets. 

 

Anti-gay tracks by popular dancehall artists Buju Banton, Elephant Man and T.O.K are no longer available on the iTunes site. “This is an historic victory for the LGBT community here in Canada and in the Caribbean,” says Akim Larcher founder of SMM (Canada), “iTunes is exercising its corporate responsibility by pulling this murder music and raising the bar for other retailers and distributors to do the same.” The decision comes as a result of calls from Egale Canada and SMM requesting the removal of lyrical content which openly calls for the violence and murder of gays and lesbians. “We are extremely pleased with this decision,” said Helen Kennedy, Executive Director of Egale Canada, “we have also contacted HMV, Archambault Inc, and Amazon.ca and we are optimistic that they will follow iTunes lead.” iTunes has removed entire albums including compilation albums which contain the artists in question. Apple’s iTunes is the leading on line distributor of music in North America. Egale Canada advances equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-identified people and their families across Canada. Stop Murder Music (Canada) advocates against anti-gay lyrics targeting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-identified communities.

Gay Canada draws a line in Jamaican sand.

Outraged by the contiuning in-action by Jamaica to seriously address its human rights violations towards its LGBT citizens; gay Canadian organizations have issued an ultimatum to the Jamaican government:  Act now or we will take action against you!

In March, a letter was deliverd to the Consulate General of Jamaica in Toronto demanding that Jamaica take specific steps to redress its serious violations of human rights. The letter also demands a response by May 12th. 

Egale Canada, and the Metropolitan Chuch of Canada are calling on the international gay community to boycott Jamaica if that government fails to respond positively to their letter by the deadline date. (see letter in Full Story)

In a conversation between Helen Kennedy, executive director of Egale Canada and GBMNews; Helen stated that support for strenuous protest action against Jamaica has been forthcoming from both gay people within Jamaica as well as without... "We have to do for gay Jamaicans what they can not do for themselves". "Jamaican gays are risking their very lives every time they speak out or even walk the streets, surely we should do what ever we can to support them." "Now is the time to act".

Helen appeals to gay organizations in America and Great Britain to follow Canada's lead. GBMNews has called for a boycott and has allied with the Canadian gay organizations in this effort.

Please continue to Full Story

TORONTO: In response to calls from Egale Canada and Stop Murder Music (Canada), Archambault Inc, one of Eastern Canada’s biggest record dealers, has removed controversial murder music from its Canadian markets. Anti-gay tracks by popular dancehall artists Buju Banton, Elephant Man and T.O.K are no longer available from its retail and on line stores.

The decision comes as a result of calls from Egale Canada and SMM requesting the removal of lyrical content which openly calls for the violence and murder of gays and lesbians. “Archambault Inc. is now the second prominent retailer in Canada to pull this murder music,” said Helen Kennedy, Executivye Director of Egale Canada, “earlier this month Apple’s iTunes removed the controversial songs from its North American markets.”

“This is another historic victory for the LGBT community here in Canada and in the Caribbean,” says Akim Larcher founder of SMM (Canada), “Archambault Inc., and iTunes are leading the way and exercising corporate responsibility by pulling this murder music.”

In a letter to Egale Canada, Archambault Inc., Senior Vice President of Retail stated that starting on May 5th, the albums will no longer be available in their stores or from the Website.

Egale Canada advances equality and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-identified people and their families across Canada.

Stop Murder Music (Canada) advocates against anti-gay lyrics targeting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-identified communities.

The British Are Coming... The British Are Coming!

GBMNews is proud to announce a new syndication partnership with the British gay magazine Men of Color - MOC.

Starting next month articles from MOC will appear on this website. Likewise, MOC will publish articles from GBMNews on their website and in their print magazine.

With a focus on news, lifestyle and entertainment, MOC is the premier magazine for black gay men in the UK. 

We are extremely excited about this relationship and look forward to providing you our readers with more quality news content from our brothers in Great Britain.

AfterElton, the LOGO web magazine property, just posted the results of it's Hot 100 list. The list is composed almost exclusively of Hollywood stars who are gay or gay friendly. The composition of the list is determined through a balloting  process whereby readers of the website vote for their favorites.

This year the list contains very few people of color.

Over the years, gay people of color have become accustom to poor results in such polls taken by the broader gay community. However, a significant sign that things may be changing is that AfterElton took note, attempted to explain the results but finally acknowledges racism as a potential factor.

In the magazines's own words:

One disappointing aspect to this year’s list was a 50% drop in the men of color who made the Hot 100 — nine in all. Only three African-American men made the list and of them, only Darryl Stephens is gay. Additionally, no Asian men landed in the top 100 this year. What accounts for the drop? Men of color certainly didn’t become suddenly less sexy. Nor do we think our readers suddenly became less tolerant.

We suspect it’s a combination of factors. Even in 2008, Hollywood is still a shockingly white place. Given how many of those on our list are actors, and how many of those actors have played gay, it’s not then entirely surprising minorities are underrepresented. There simply aren’t as many actors of color who are either out or have played gay. And even when minority actors do play gay, since gay movies don’t get nearly as much attention as do “straight” ones, folks are less likely to have heard of them. Case in point is Maurice Jamal’s Dirty Laundry starring Rockmond Dunbar. Had the movie received a wider release and more attention last year, we suspect Dunbar would have made the list. That being said, the current U.S. presidential campaign has clearly demonstrated that racism (as well as sexism and homophobia) are hardly things of the past. No doubt some amount of racism is at play here as well.