Daryl Wilson Productions is seeking models for the up comming Andrew Christian Men's Underwear Fashion Show. The event will be held in Washington, DC on May 23rd.

Please contact Darly for more information: www.daryl202dc.com

 

Congressman Tom Lantos to Receive Posthumous Award

The New York-based International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) announced today that it will present its 2008 OUTSPOKEN Award to Nobel Peace Prize recipient Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The award will be presented to the Archbishop as part of IGLHRC's A Celebration of Courage human rights ceremony on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco, with the exclusive film of Tutu's address to be aired at the group's event in New York on April 28.

IGLHRC is one of the premiere international human rights organizations dedicated to documenting and fighting against the range of human rights abuses faced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people and groups around the world. Since 1990, IGLHRC has played a critical role in drawing global attention to persistent human rights violations, such as police abuse and torture, arbitrary arrests, harassment, and discriminatory laws and treatment. IGLHRC works in partnership with local LGBTI groups so that they are equipped to build lasting change in their societies and greater justice around the world.

"There is really only one name in the world that immediately conjures up moral leadership in pursuit of dignity for all people on earth, and that is Desmond Tutu," said Paula Ettelbrick, IGLHRC's Executive Director. "Archbishop Tutu's vision of a world in which human rights are respected has always explicitly included LGBT people, despite the fierce opposition he has faced from his peers and colleagues. He has challenged political apartheid in South Africa and continues to challenge spiritual apartheid within his religious community."

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We invite all same-gender-loving men of African heritage to join us in the gathering for our 22nd annual ADODI retreat: "Living our Authentic ADODI Lives". Creating an authentic life simply means that a person consciously strives to become a whole person and lives the life that gives them purpose and joy within the context of a supportive community.

The goal of the 2008 retreat is to give each attendee the opportunity to examine areas of their lives where barriers to joy may exist and develop a plan of action to tackle these challenges and cultivate a deeper sense of alignment with one's self, others, and their environment.

Workshops, African inspired rituals, daily affirmations and other activities will be inclusive of the above mentioned concepts. The purpose will be to stimulate consideration of resources that may be useful tools to begin to achieve predetermined goals.

We look forward to welcoming you on this adventure of exploration and celebration.

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By Entertainment Correspondent, John Frazier

This Chocolate City Fest 2008 promises to be the main event of the year! This big party is given through Daryl Wilson Promotions and all proceeds from all events will be donated to area HIV & AIDS organizations.

The dates are Memorial Day Weekend, May 23rd through May 27th.

Special Performance by The Broadway Legend, Grammy, America Music, and Tony Award winning, Ms. Stephanie Mills.

On top of that, there are so many more things happenings, too many to mentioned, the list continues to grow and grow!!

Party passes to all events are $65.00 for the entire weekend!

For those of you, who are out of town guest, accommodates are available at the Host Hotel. Many scheduled events and special bonus deals, if you make reservations by April 9. 2008.

Avis car rental available with Avis discount code on Daryl Wilson's website.

For more information go to www.daryl202dc.com

Please note: This event will take place each year and is not affiliated with any other Memorial Day Weekend.

When I spoke to Daryl, he said, "We are creating a new fire in D.C."

I say to our readers, don't walk but run, don't wait, make your reservations now!

Be a part of history being made!

The March Other Countries Monthly Writing Workshop will be on:

Date & Time: Saturday, March 8th from 5:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m. Location: Room 205 of the LGBT Community Services Center, 208 West 13th Street, New York, NY 10011

If you are interested in presenting work: please e-mail Kevin to confirm at kevmcgr@pipeline.com bring 8-10 copies of your work. (After the workshop, for those who are interested, we will have dinner at Spain on 13th between 6th and 7th Avenues). Below are guidelines for the workshop.

Other Countries Writing Workshop Discussion/Critique Guidelines

The Other Countries Writing Workshop is a peer-facilitated workshop. In order to ensure a supportive atmosphere and to encourage constructive criticism of work please keep the following in mind:

• Before reading their work, writers should introduce it by telling about the FAP (Focus, Audience, and Purpose) for the piece as well as its genre. They should think of specific questions they want answered by the workshop, e.g. “Is this ready for submission to literary journals?” “Does this first chapter pull you into my novel’s story?” “Does this character seem too cardboard or cliché?”

• The moderator will facilitate the discussion/critique of the work

• Participants should:

avoid cross talk between other participants while a comment is being made; address both positives and negatives in the work; avoid extraneous “amen-ing” (repeating the comments) of previous speakers; avoid personal commentary of the writer and others; provide suggestions for further development of the work, etc.

Fire Island Black Out (FIBO), an annual party that takes place in the Cherry Grove section of Fire Island and is enjoyed by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community of color, has announced that this year's event, their sixth, will begin on Friday, August 8, 2008 and continue through Sunday, August 10, 2008. FIBO has also announced its partnership with The Ali Forney Center, a New York-based 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, which houses homeless LGBT adolescents and provides these young persons with the skills necessary to help them transition to adulthood.

"FIBO is proud of its track record of providing our guests with an exceptional beach experience over these past five years, and we are excited to introduce our guests to the Ali Forney Center, and encourage the type of altruism that will directly benefit LGBT youth in need," said James Wellons, FIBO Vice-President. "We were inspired by the mission and achievements of the Ali Forney Center and are proud to donate a portion of our proceeds to this great organization."

"We greatly appreciate FIBO for choosing the Ali Forney Center to be the beneficiary of this exceptional event," said Carl Siciliano, Executive Director of the Ali Forney Center. "We are thrilled to begin a partnership with the wonderful members of FIBO, and hope this event is only the beginning of a continuing, rewarding relationship."

Fire Island Black Out begins with a Friday evening after-work social in New York City. The next two days' events - Saturday's day at the beach and "Bump & Dip" dance party, and Sunday's midday brunch - take place in Cherry Grove. The full schedule of events will be published to FIBO's website - www.fireislandblackout.com - in March.

 The African American Playwrights Exchange

Nashville

On Wednesday, March 19, AAPEX has the honor of presenting a reading of Hershell Norwood's play BILLIES BLUES TONIGHT AT MAMA'S JAM at the famed Player's Club in New York City. For those of you who are not familiar with this historical organization , see below.

For more information on this event, contact Jaz Dorsey, Dramaturg, AAPEX at jazmn47@aol.com

The Players, which is its proper name, is a social club founded in New York City by the famed 19th century Shakespearean actor Edwin Booth who purchased a magnificent 1847 mansion located at 16 Gramercy Park. During his lifetime, he reserved an upper floor for his home, turning the rest of the building over to the Clubhouse. Its interior and part of its exterior was designed by famed architect Stanford White. Known also as The Players Club, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1962.

In 1989, women were invited to become fully participating members. The Players still maintains its entryway gaslights, among the few remaining examples in New York City.

RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) — Brazil's traditional carnival parades, those extravagant displays of flesh and fantasy set to a samba rhythm, were to hit their peak late Sunday with a glitzy show in Rio de Janeiro in front of a sold-out crowd.

Half of the city's 12 top samba schools were to unveil their colorful entries to stands packed with 50,000 people, and with a worldwide television audience looking on.

 

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The February Other Countries Monthly Writing Workshop will be on:

Date & Time: Saturday, February 9th from 5:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.
Location: Room 205 of the LGBT Community Services Center, 208 West 13th Street

This workshop provides black gay writers with an opportunity to read their work and have it critiqued by peers.

- Chris Adams will facilitate the discussions for this session;

- In order to provide those interested with sufficient time, poetry should be 1-3 pages in length; prose 5-12 pages; full length plays and chapters of books may be scheduled in installments over a few months;

- Afterward those who are interested will go to dinner at SPAIN on 13th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues;

- Those interested in reading work on February 9th should confirm with Kevin McGruder at kevmcgr@pipeline.com and bring 8 copies of your work to the workshop.

February 21-24th, 2008 in Los Angeles, California, The World Pride & Power Organization will host the First Annual World Pride & Power Conference in an effort to foster unity, empowerment and inclusivity in SGLBT communities of African descent and their allies.

Why should you attend? You should attend if you are a person of color, an activist, a poet, a writer, a politician, or an entrepreneur. You should attend if you are wise elder or a youth. You should attend if you are seeking inclusivity and wanting to connect and commune with your own kind.

Tashia Asanti

I had the absolute privilege to speak with one of the Founders of the Conference. Ifalade Tashia Asanti! Tashia Asanti is an award-winning activist, journalist, fiction writer, filmmaker, poet and initiated Yoruba/Ifa priestess. Tashia is the author of two best-selling books, The Sacred Door: A Spiritual Guide to Power Living and The Seer: Legacy of Stone and Spirit.

Azaan: know you are an Award Winning Journalist, Poet, Author, and Film maker, what are some of the other things you are involved in?

Tashia: One of my deepest passions is African history (pre-slavery) and African spirituality. I have founded a Yoruba temple in Denver, the first Ifa temple in the State of Colorado. Our membership has expanded to several states. We hosted an international conference in 2003. The healing work of my temple brings me indescribable joy.  Another of my passions is being a grandmother. I’m blessed to have grandchildren at a young age and therefore my partner and I get to do lots of fun activities with our three grandsons. This too is among the greatest pleasures in my life.I am also working on the sequel to my first novel and I am still touring with and promoting my first novel, The Seer. I am also working on the film adaptation to The Seer...

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HOLLYWOOD, CA -- Mr. Gay Argentina, Carlos Fabian Melia, took home the title of International Mr. Gay 2008 at an event in Hollywood, Los Angeles, Sunday, which drew contestants from 21 countries.

Melia, who is a 33 year old travel agent from Buenos Aires, was a last minute stand-in for the actual winner of the Mr. Gay Argentina pageant, Jorge Schmeda, who was disqualified when it was learned he had worked in the adult film industry.

Melia came in ahead of Mr. Gay Venezuela, 33 year old Juan Bracho, and Mr. Gay UK, 25 year old Mark Edward Carter, who is a police officer. Mr. Gay Brazil, Luciano Lupo, won the title of Mr. Popular by getting the most votes online.

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The leather community evolves with the exuberance of youth and the wisdom of age

By Will O'Bryan
Photography by Todd Franson

As Gary Samuels competed for the title of Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather 2007 a year ago, he made a pledge to the judges and audience gathered at Almas Temple that afternoon.

Justin Smith

''As an MAL contestant, I made a promise to anyone coming into this culture, this scene, regardless of how far they've decided to go, if I'm around they won't have to go through it by themselves,'' recalls Samuels, who went on to win the title that day. That means he's spent a year carrying a banner of mentorship and outreach to youth who may be interested in leather/BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism), stressing that the community veterans need to look to a new generation to keep the community viable. But it can be a tough sell in a community that has evolved out of strict, militaristic roles that stress rank and position, dominance over submissives.

''Have I converted anybody?'' he asks. ''I don't think so.''

What's at stake may go beyond the leather/BDSM community's strength and potential. It may be a matter of its existence.

''[I fear] the culture is going to die,'' says Samuels. ''The leather community goes back to the '40s, the '50s, guys coming out of World War II. The 'founding fathers,' or however you think about it, we lost a lot of these guys in the AIDS epidemic. Even some of the older guys now, what they know of leather history had been passed down to them. And if they have no one to pass it down to, the culture will die out. I am hopeful that won't happen. I remain hopeful in the worst of times. I don't think, realistically, that the culture will die out in my lifetime.

''For all outward appearances, it will probably look the same. Ask anybody not involved to describe a 'leatherman,' it's always an older guy. Walk into any of the bars and that is what you will see. I've seen some younger guys, but they're way outnumbered.''

That's how Samuels lays it out. In a nutshell: Adapt and outreach, or die.

But the leather/BDSM community is by no means monolithic. There are polar extremes, shades of gray, and -- for some but not all -- black-and-white dictums. There are a variety of perspectives. That holds true when it comes to issues of age in the local leather/BDSM community.

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My birthday celebration and the launch of the monthly networking Nubian Dreams Lounge. This will be a reunion for my friends from the South Oxford Club, Men are from Mars, Octogan, Brooklyn Cafe, Oasis, The White Party Moonlight Cruise, Black Pride NYC and so many other events. You only turn 50 once. Help us celebrate NY style. Come early. Thank you for the years of support... James Saunders

This Sunday, Dec. 16th, 2007 from 5pm-10pm for the launch of the Nubian Dreams Lounge we come together to celebrate a very special birthday for a legend, James Saunders III. This is a golden time for James where the wisdom of life comes together. With 30 years of experience developing parties, trips and events for same gender loving people he continues to seek new opportunities. A testament of his contribution can be seen from the thousands of people who have supported him from the barbershop parties to Black Pride to the White Party Moonlight Cruise and now with his new partnership - the Nubian Dreams Cruise & Lounge.

Please come to the birthday celebration for legendary club promoter, James Saunders and the grand opening of the Nubian Dreams Lounge at Taj Lounge 48 W. 24th Street @ 6th Ave., NYC from 5pm-10pm

Happy Hour  From 5pm-8pm. Entertainment by 4 of New York's top DJ's; Fred Pierce, Andre Collins, Poison & DJ Calvin, surprise guest entertainers including the return of the fabulous Ms. Tammy Peay and hosted by the ultra talented ButtaFlySoul.  Showtime is 8pm. Free admission.

“The First Annual Bedford Stuyvesant/ Crown Heights Ecumenical AIDS Memorial Service,” Brooklyn, NY – Sunday, December 2, 2007

and “The First Annual Christmas Banquet“, Saturday, December 22, 2007.

Karlene Francis Berry, Founder and Executive Director of Global Manifestations is collaborating with the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church- Health & Welfare to mobilize local church leaders to join the campaign against AIDS. Ms. Berry has been meeting with some of the local pastors in Bedford Stuyvesant and Crown Heights, Brooklyn to develop realistic initiatives that are easily implemented in the programs and activities of church culture.

This is a part of Global Manifestations’ “Community Alliance” and “Healing Hands” projects with the primary objective to link local churches with community based and faith-based organizations. It is through collaboration that pastors will receive the technical assistance needed to effectively increase AIDS awareness and establish HIV/AIDS ministries to offer spiritual support to individual and families infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
 
Pastor Wesley Daniel (Union United Methodist Church), Pastor Douglas Cunnigham (Bethany United Methodist Church), Pastor Pauline Wardell-Sankoh (John Wesley United Methodist Church), Pastor Glenmore Bembrey (Trinity Baptist Church) and Pastor Clive Neil (Bedford Presbyterian Church) will be participating with Global Manifestations and the General Board of Global Ministries United Methodist Church-Health and Welfare in the “First Annual Ecumenical AIDS Memorial Service” on Sunday, December 2, 2007 at 4:00pm to 6:00pm at the Union United Methodist Church at 121 New York Avenue Brooklyn, New York.

The memorial service will include a candle lighting ceremony in remembrance of those who have died of AIDS and a liturgical dance from PDM dancers. The keynote speakers include, Youth HIV/AIDS Activist, Raven Lopez, Joyce McDonald, HIV Coordinator of Church of the Open Door and Rev. Alfonso Wyatt, Chair of NYC National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS (BLACA), and Vice President of The Fund for the City of New York.
Global Manifestations will also sponsor a local “Anti-AIDS Stigma Poster Competition” to use art to make a difference in the attitudes that causes HIV/AIDS related stigma and discrimination. Candidates are to create posters with message of hope, healing and compassion.

The posters will be exhibited on December 2, 2007 at the memorial service. The three most illustrative posters will be selected. The first prizewinner will be awarded $200, second prize $150.00 and third prize $100.00. Contestant must be 13 to 19 years old and must submit their posters by Wednesday, November 28th at the Union United Methodist Church, 121 New York Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11216.

Please contact Karlene Francis Berry for more information. If you are a service provider and you would like to have your clients to attend the December 22nd Christmas Banquet for individuals and families infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, call to request tickets and registration form.

Karlene Francis Berry
Founder/Executive Director
GLOBAL MANIFESTATIONS
Tel. [718] 927 2146
Email: Breakingthesilenceconf@yahoo.com
or globalmanifestations@yahoo.com

Last Wednesday, November 7th, 2007, Triple S Rated was a sensual blend of fashion, music, and community awareness. Legendary diva Tyra Allure was the host and was joined by Sony Music Recording artist Jesse O, Ray from BET, Smoov from MTV, Nathan 7 Scott, TV producer Nathan H. Williams, Brooklyn B-boy Shorty Roc, JaGore Music Group Boy-Girl duo Rebel Starr, model Nyabel Lual, Lee Soulja, FlavaMen, and a host of others as they spread the message of CAUTION to promote safer sex.

Proceeds from this event were donated to the Beyond the Street Tour and the RaShawn Brazell Foundation.

J.S. Marketing announces the Nubian Dream Cruise. The event is scheduled for October 8-16, 2008. Port of departure is New York City. The cruise features stops in San Juan, St. Thomas and Tortola.

Prices exist for all budgets. Space is limited and going fast. Participants must reserve in advance. Please go to the web site for more details.

GBMNews is a media partner in this event

JS Marketing Group, LLC is an event & marketing company started by James Saunders III of New York City. This venture began to fill the void in programming for the LGBT African American & Latino market. Over the last 25 years the principals of JS Marketing Group, LLC have been bringing unique events to the Gay & Lesbian community in New York City.

Those in attendance included Charlie Rose; actress Ruby Dee; dancer Carmen de Lavallade; author Walter Mosley; author Terry McMillan; Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo; dancer Judith Jamison; chairman and founder of Essence Communications Inc., Edward Lewis 

Tavis Smiley, founder and publisher of SmileyBooks, hosted a reception October 2, 2007, in New York City to introduce his new company president, Cheryl Woodruff, and to celebrate his company’s newly acquired list of authors, including Iyanla Vanzant, Cornel West, Tom Burrell, and Eleanor Hinton Hoytt of the National Black Women’s Health Imperative.In the past decade, Mr. Smiley’s unique contributions have transformed the American media landscape, placing his remarkable imprint on television, radio, print, Internet, and digital media.

This year, Smiley moderated the historic All- American Presidential Forums broadcast live on PBS. He has also been the driving force behind The Covenant with Black America. President Bill Clinton, in his #1 New York Times bestseller Giving, waxes enthusiastically: "I can't begin to do justice to The Covenant movement, to the power of its inspiration, instruction, and examples....I believe Smiley has given us a model for how to organize other groups with common challenges for action in America and across the world...." Smiley has also been a leader in nationwide community outreach, sponsoring on-going community forums, town hall meetings and symposiums, and a national college program called the Talented Tenth HBCU Tour.

Laurence Pinckney Events, www.zenbizness.com,  produced the event and the photos are provided by photographer Jefry Andres Wright, www.jefryandreswright.com

 

New York, NY  Futuristic Carnival was held on Sat Aug 25, complete with acrobats, contortionist and clowns. This carnival, actually the theme of 16th Annual Latex Ball, started with a bang. Twenty five years ago the Latex Ball was a first of it's kind event in the campaign to inform, treat and prevent HIV. Then HIV/AIDS was perceived as a disease of gay white men. Today, HIV ravishes gay youth of color, our most vulnerable population.

 

New York, NY Mark Nelson announced the launch of  Fairgrounds IV: Out at Night, the 4th annual private party fundraiser for Heritage of Pride and what is anticipated to be a crusade for thousands of tri-state gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transsexual city dwellers to ride into Six Flags Great Adventure Theme Park in Jackson, NJ. Headlining the turntables is Seth Gold. Music will be engineered by Shorty,  to insure an even balance of acoustical ambiance throughout the park. A portion of the proceeds benefits Heritage of Pride, the folks who produce the annual New York City Pride Week including the Gay Pride Parade and The Dance on the Pier.

On August 11, 2007, nearly 1,500 LGBT people of color converged on the shores of Cherry Grove for what has become one of the “unofficial end-of-summer events” in New York – Fire Island Black Out (FIBO).

Celebrating their fifth year, FIBO defines itself as an event geared towards same gender-loving people of all colors, bringing together women and men of various ages, socio-economic, and cultural backgrounds, for a day of fun and networking at the beach. The mantra for this year's FIBO event was ‘Be Yourself,’ speaking directly to the essence of FIBO’s clientele: upwardly mobile, educated professionals of all genders who can identify what a good time is.