By Rev. Dewey W. Edwards

Cleveland, Ohio hosted their annual Pride Day in downtown Cleveland this weekend.  There were many spectators from all over the Cleveland community and the many participants from other near by cities in the Ohio region. The event kicked off at 12:00 Noon capping off with a festival that concluded  around 9:00 P.M. In addition to the parade events there were many other gay pride events going on through out the " The Rock 'n' Roll Capital of the World" this past week.


 

Please continue to Full Story

Theme: Generations 2008 Celebrating 20 years of pride

On Saturday June 21, 2008 the Cleveland Pride LGBT Organization hosted its annual pride day parade and festival in down town Cleveland at the Voinovich Park by the water. All the parade participants and venders gather downtown around 11:00 A.M. on the corner of West 3rd and St. Clair near Rockwell Street to register in and be placed in the assign order for the step off parade.
 

As I walked around from corner to corner and crossing the streets as everyone gathered and started setting up their props etc. I was excited and proud to hear  local residents watching and shooting out words of pride words of encouragement. I could look back in time at the days when cities would not allow any type of gay/homosexual marches such as the one today.

Yes the gay communities have come a long way. It's time for a change and it looks like our times have come to help make this change come about. As Senator Barack, Obama shoots with authority Yes We Can Oh Yes We Can. Has help set the stage give the LGBT community hope as they move to reach another milestone.

Please continue to Full Story

TOLEDO -- Tough choices for Ohio voters as preparations are underway for two presidential rallies. Camps for both candidates running for the Democratic nomination will be in Northwest Ohio at the same time. The Ohio Primary is only a week and a half away and the Toledo Lucas County Democratic Party says many voters are still on the fence about which candidate should compete for the White House.

A lot of people have come that are undecided. They've called the office of the Democratic Party, saying that we don't know which way we want to go. So we want to hear both. Now undecided voters have another tough choice on their hands, whose rally to attend Sunday. They both start just after 4:00 p.m. and they're about 25 miles apart. You can't be in two places at once, needless to say.

Some say I like Hillary, but I want to hear about Obama because I don't know much about him, so I don't know. Those who can't make it to either rally are sure to hear from grass roots volunteers. What they probably need to be doing is going door to door. They have to get out there to reach the people.

The Clinton camp, still riding the wave of Hillary's Friday night rally at Whitmer High School. Obama's campaign got a star powered boost from actress Regina King who reached out to women voters. King says, "The Ohio Primary is coming in two weeks, so I'm here in Toledo to give that last push to get people out to vote for Obama." But voters say even that doesn't compare to hearing and seeing the candidates themselves.

February 24, 2008 

Obama arrives in Toledo, Ohio to speak at a rally held at the University of Toledo's Savage Hall. There was more than10,000 people this afternoon that came out to hear what the new presidential candidate have to say bringing his message of change and hope.

The doors open early at 12:00 noon and about 3:00 P.M. people was being turned away Savage Hall filled to capacity at a fast rate. There were people who came out as early as 6:00 A.M. to be the first and sure they got in from all over city and tri-state near Ohio.

Sen. Obama arrived around 4:35-4:45 giving a speech and lecturing almost one hour, Sen. Obama started out with his familiar message of "CHANGE" telling the audience that he is the best candidate suited to run the white-house and let the people voices be heard and not lobbyists and special interest groups.

Please continue to Full Story

Larry Wilson, Jr. is an accomplished author of several books, The King of Erotica I: the Throne  and The King of Erotica II: the Crown. Tired of the issues that a sexually liberated man faces with the publishing industry, Larry took control of his image and his writing and self-published his first book. That book sold over 2,500 copies online in just five months.

Larry accomplished this feat by leveraging  his talent and  reputation that he had built in gay market. In his books Larry addresses his bisexuality, sexuality and the black church and sexuality in the black family. The books are fictional; however, Larry does expose the exploitation that he personally experienced and that exist in the black environment today.

In Larry's own words....

When I looked in the mirror this morning, what reflected back wasn't Langston Hughes. When I smiled, what reflected back wasn't Alice Walker. I looked around; I didn't see the Color Purple. I may not have Oprah Winfrey's money nor have an estate built next door to Bill Gates. I may still catch the Metro Bus and walk around broke. I may still be looking for a job. I may have gone to prison ten years ago.  I may have a past. I may not be what Mama preferred. I may not be talking to my brothers, and probably never will again. I may not drive a flashy car and on my fingers may not gleam the brilliance of materialistic jewelry. I may be a lot of things in your mind and I may not live up to your expectations. I may have done some things that disappointed you, and half of the people I know say I'm out of control because I'm out of THEIR control. I may sleep late into the day and bump Janet Jackson from my SONY walkman at night. I may not be perfect.

Please continue to Full Story

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Ramone Johnson and speaking with him over the phone conducting a phone interview.

Ramone Johnson is the gay lifestyle columnist for About.com, a New York Times Company, and top 10 Web-based information and resource site. Gay Life on About.com is a practical guide to better gay living.

Ramone Johnson of About.Com

Be it through a solution to the common love and relationship quandary, a step-by-step guide to coming out, or an exploration into gay rights in the most volatile regions of the world, Ramone provides today's same-gender-loving person with the tools they need to live a better gay life.

Mr. Johnson has been a guest gay lifestyle expert on Q Television's "On Q Live", "The Derek and Romaine Show" on Sirius Satellite Radio and New York's Power 105 Morning Show. He's been featured as a panelist in the New York Times "Times Talks" Gay and Lesbian Speaker Series and was recently named one of Clik Magazine's Elite 25.

Ramone is an freelance journalist and advocate for the gay community. He seeks to give back to the gay community by providing advice, facts and resources for all aspects of gay and bisexual life. Ramone resides in New York City.

Mr. Johnson is an engineer by degree, many moons ago Ramone realized that life was more than gears and gadgets and embarked on a queerer mission of gay social advocacy.

Mr. Johnson is very committed to increasing positive awareness of same gender loving people and gay culture. To building self-esteem and self-awareness within the gay community, through practical and objective advice resources and information. He is also committed to helping rid the world of homophobia, discrimination and hate by developing a better understanding, and in turn acceptance, of gay people.

Please continue to Full Story

I wrote an article a few months ago about sagging pants and their history and meaning. I spoke to children, teens and adults who were walking around with sagging pants and many of them had no particular reason or purpose for doing it other than "My friends do it so I do it, it’s cool." Currently, many city and state officials are trying to take action and institute laws against this style of dress and establish fines for anyone exercising their right to choose this style of dress. Some say the style is offensive, it’s rude, it’s a gay thing, a black thing, it’s disrespectful, even an open invitation for sex.

Some have taken the word SAGGIN and turned it around to say NIGGAS. Is this another way to change the focus and make it a label for black culture?

Please continue to Full Story

Dewey and partner

The measure passed 10-2, with Councilmen Rob Ludeman and Joe Birmingham - both Republicans and both set to leave office when their terms end this year - casting the no votes.

Toledo City Council approved an ordinance making Toledo the first large city in Ohio to offer gay and other unmarried but committed couples the opportunity to register their relationship with city hall.

Under the ordinance, couples will be able to obtain recognition of their "domestic partnership" from the clerk of council.

The purpose of the registry is to create an official list which employers can use to verify their employees' relationships when they offer benefits to unmarried partners, supporters said.

Mr. Ludeman gave a detailed explanation for his position, saying among other things he thought it would create a cost burden on city taxpayers because the city could wind up recording the domestic relationships of couples far beyond the city's borders. Such a record-keeping function, he said, should be a county one..

One afternoon in November 2005, at the Atlanta Live, a porn actor took a close look at a guy who seemed to have the potential of being a porn star. After they talked for a while, the actor introduced himself as "ThugZilla", gave the guy his information, and said, "If you're interested and want to try it out, call me and come to my site." Two weeks later the guy took a plane to do his first porn.

And from there a new porn star was born.

I present to some, and introduce to others, Mr. Saukei. He's 25 years old, and is blessed with a beautiful two- year-old daughter. A few months ago, Mr. Saukei received a phone call from his mother. She, as well as other family members, friends, and her church heard the news that he was performing in porn movies. Despite all the gossip, his mother just wanted to hear it from him. She let him know that she loves him, and urged him to do whatever he wanted to, as long as he was being safe while doing it.

Mr. Saukei returned home for Thanksgiving dinner with his family and friends. He was surprised and pleased by their welcome, just as if everything was normal. No one ridiculed him; they all accepted him with open arms and love, and the day went on as any other holiday gathering would.

Please continue to Full Story for the interview

A Young Back Man Painting With A Vision

I had the privilege of meeting Reduell Crowder. He's an 18 year old black male in the state of Tennessee. A senior in high school fulfilling a dream as a Singer and Artist. Reduell is a true Leo to his heart. His love and passion to paint free lance for the last five years and his music as a singer for two years in R & B.

Reduell had a ruff life as a child coming up. He was raised by his mother who was at the time on drugs heavily;  then later he move in with his father which he really dreaded.

He and his father were not close at all. Unfortunately they never bonded like most people. Those three years were hell for Reduell. The only good thing that happen in his life is his mother did finally get drug free and as of today she is still drug free.

I have never enjoyed talking to a brother as I have during a phone interview with Thug Zilla he is a man of integrity, a man of his word and a person who is not ashamed of who he is and what he does.

The King of Porn who is better known as Thug Zilla lives in the great state of Texas a graduate from Texas University majoring in Business Administration. The king of porn is 30 years of age a Virgo he has two children and one grandson.

No matter what porn you find him in one thing for sure you will always see a black man full of high self esteem, motivation and enjoy the work and performance he's engaged into at that time.

During our telephone interview he never demoted or talks negative about anyone from his pass or his present he always was using their positive points to describe ones attention.

Blessing are coming faster than we think. Our work is far from over but at lease we can start seeing the fruit from our labor coming to the light.

Mayor Carty Finkbeiner yesterday signed a law making Toledo the largest Ohio city to create a domestic-partner registry that allows same-sex couples a form of official recognition of their relationship.

Mr. Finkbeiner said that while he is a “strong Christian believer” who does not advocate alternative lifestyles, he does believe in minority rights and diversity.

The law, which takes effect in 30 days, was passed 10-2 last week by Toledo City Council. It requires the clerk of council to set up a registry for domestic-partner couples, whether of the same or opposite sexes.

Mr. Finkbeiner said the calls, e-mails, and letters he received were divided evenly between urging him to sign and urging a veto. Brian Schwartz, the mayor’s spokesman, said that as of Tuesday, the mayor received 69 communications against the ordinance and 63 in favor

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, Lord. The words I speak, those who have an ear let them hear, and those who have eyes let them see. For Your eyes have seen, and Your ears have been hearing. 
 
Amen.

For many, many years strong men and women have been fighting for peace and justice. And now the Jena Six have entered this path of fighting for freedom and rights. This is yet another call for everyone to wake up, no matter what color, race or ethnic group they come from. But until we can learn to accept each person for who they are or choose to be, and to respect one another for their decisions, we will always live in a world full of hate, crime, and most of all lack of respect.

For many years men have been wearing earrings. If we go back in time, kings often wore earrings. Some had earrings in more than one ear... even in their noise. When their tribes or worshipers looked at them they was able to place them as a king or someone of higher royalty.

And nowwearing ear rings has become very common.We have gang members who wear them more than one on the ear as a sign of rank or levels.

I ask a few guy’s on the street today that was wearing one or more earrings, why they wore an ear ring?

A Victory For Advocates

The annual gay pride interfaith prayer service today will for the first time take place in a predominantly black church, highlighting an intensive effort by advocates of same-sex marriage to demonstrate support from theologically conservative wings of the religious community.
 
The worship service, just five days before a Constitutional Convention at which the Legislature is scheduled to decide whether to put a repeal of same-sex marriage onto next year's ballot, is taking place at a church whose pastor is a member of the board of the Black Ministerial Alliance, an organization that has been among the most vocal opponents of same-sex marriage.

A church here in the United States have removed there ban on same sex marriage. And now offer marriage to any one the process can be started on line to start. But it is there policy that you get one of their AUTHORIZED MINISTER to perform the wedding you can also choose and pick your own person friend or family member to perform it for you. But to do this the person you pick must get registered and licensed by their church.

Hundred of high school students in the Toledo Public School system was not able to walk with there class this year June 2007. Despite they all met the requirements with grade point Averages ranging from 2.5 and higher some even had 4.0 and higher (G.P.A.’s) Grade Point Averages. Many were on the Dens and principles list not to mention many had honors and Scholarships to various colleges.

Why do young and older males wear their pants hanging and sagging below the waist. What message are we sending and displaying to our youth and new generation to be.

Living a homosexual life or going with the same sex have nothing to do with you being a christian and doing the will of God. Man have to release it rim of trying to control others.