Multi-Talented Mo'Nique Speaks for God and the Gays

Mo'Nique is a popular African-American comedian, actress and talk show host. On The Mo'Nique Show on BET Monday night she spoke with gospel singer Miki Howard about gay aspects of the Church.

Mo'Nique praised Howard for confronting the delicate subject matter and added:

"I applaud you for addressing that, because most times we run from it. ... I applaud you for not judging it, because like you said, we didn't know anything was wrong with it. For all our gay brothers and sisters watching, please know that you are always welcomed, baby. We love you - the no judgment zone! If you in church and you gay, God ain't judging, baby, so be who you wanna be" (SheWired).

Check out the clip below at about the 21:00 minute mark.

Thank Mo'Nique for speaking up for gay-affirming Christianity via Twitter or Myspace.

Blog Spotlight: The Gang's All Queer

The Gang's All Queer is a blog representing queer people of color that cover news, politics, art, music, media, and design.

Blog Spotlight: Living Out Loud With Darian

Living Out Loud With Darian is a blog that discusses a range of issues from an African-American gay male perspective. This same gender loving blog has been nominated for Best Gay Blog in Southern Voice's annual Best of Gay Atlanta.

Equality California Targets Blacks With New Marriage Equality Ad

Better late than never! Equality California is working on making inroads with the state's black community.

As same-sex couples who were able to legally marry last year celebrate their one-year-anniversaries, Equality California (EQCA) and Jordan / Rustin Coalition (JRC) are together launching an education and mobilization effort on the freedom to marry in LA's African-American communities. The effort includes a TV commercial, on-the-ground organizers and a dedicated field office, which will be based in South Los Angeles, a predominantly African-American community. "Jordan / Rustin Coalition is happy to partner with Equality California as we do the work to open the hearts and minds of all Californians, including those in the Black community, on the question of marriage for same-sex couples," said Ron Buckmire, JRC board president. "Our partnership includes a multi-media campaign, outreach and public education and even the nuts and bolts of staffing and supplies. I am confident that together we will see the day when full LGBT equality is restored to our state."

H/T to Joe My God.

Maya Angelou Calls for Marriage Equality

Maya Angelou, an extroadinary autobiographer and poet has issued a call for marriage equality calling it an issue of basic fairness. She has joined a number of celebrities in lobbying the New York state senate to push for same-sex marriage.

"Angelou, who maintains a home in Harlem in New York City, placed three phone calls to state senators in the past week, compelled by her belief that allowing same-sex couples to marry is a matter of fairness.

“To love someone takes a lot of courage,” the 81-year-old said in an interview with the newspaper. “So how much more is one challenged when the love is of the same sex and the laws say, ‘I forbid you from loving this person’?" (Advocate)

Please send a thank you letter to Ms. Angelou via her office manager for speaking out for equal rights and using her platform of fame for justice.

Kimberly Wheeler, Office Manager
kwheeler@lordly.com

Word of the Gay: "Pomo Afro Homo"

"Pomo Afro Homo" stands for Post-modern African American Homo, they shun labeling their sexual orientation, and choose to be avant-garde.

Thank Florida Governor Crist for Supreme Court Appointment

With his fourth and possibly final appointment to the Florida Supreme Court, Governor Charlie Crist has lived up to his promise to appoint more diverse Justices.

In appointing James Perry, an African-American judge from Seminole County, Gov. Crist resisted intense pressure from extreme-right groups who saw the vacancy as an opportunity to stack the court with ultra-conservative ideologues.

Send a note to thank Gov. Crist for keeping his promise and appointing a more diverse Florida Supreme Court.

Black History Month!

Black History Month held in February is the celebration and recognition of important people and events that shaped Black history. In honor of the month and in the spirit of the mission of the website, I would like to offer some elements of same-gender loving black history.

"I still hear people say that I should not be talking about the rights of lesbian and gay people and I should stick to the issue of racial justice, but I hasten to remind them that Martin Luther King Jr. said, 'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.' I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream to make room at the table of brother- and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people" Coretta Scott King - Reuters, 31 March 1998.

Association for the Study of African-American Life & History - The founders of Black History Month and an educational resource for more info.

Brother Outsider - The life of Black/LGBT activist Bayard Rustin.

UKBlackOut - A space to disseminate information and for Black LGBT people to interact and discuss issues that are relevant to them.

National Black Justice Coalition - A civil rights organization dedicated to empowering Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Our mission is to end racism and homophobia.

Gay Men of African Descent - Empowering gay/bisexual men of African decent through advocacy, education, health and wellness promotion and social support.

Black LGBT Pride Parades - The links are for 2008, but the websites will reflect the 2009 dates.

Clip of Bayard Rustin honored during LGBT History Month:

Is Kanye West Bisexual or Queer?

UPDATE: Apparently Kanye West is now denying this on his blog. In the age of the internet who knows what is true or not these days. Either way regardless of Kanye West's sexual orientation or questioning status he deserves props for being outspoken against homophobia in the rap community.

Off Kanye West's website in response to the AVN charge:

"YOOOO WHY WON'T YOU LET ME BE GREAT!!! I HAD THE TWO GREATEST DAYS OF MY LIFE AND WHEN I GET BACK FROM THE LOUIE SHOW I READ SOME SHIT CLAIMING I SAID I'M DOWN TO DO PORN AND SOME BISEXUAL PORN!!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE THE AVN WOULD POST FIRST PEOPLE BELIEVED THE TWITTER/STEVEN COLBERT THING, ROLLING STONE EVEN PRINTED IT!!!! NOW SOMEBODY HAS BEEN HACKING INTO MY MYSPACE AND SOMEBODY'S ACTUALLY HACKED INTO MY PERSONAL GMAIL ACCOUNT AND HAS BEEN EMAILING PEOPLE FROM IT... HEY WORLD I NO LONGER HAVE A GMAIL! I FOUND OUT I HAD TWELVE UNAUTHORIZED SKYPE ACCOUNTS UNDER MY NAME!!! THIS ALL IN THE PAST FOUR DAYS. WELCOME TO KANYE WEST WORLD! .... IT'S NOT OFFICIAL. I JUST GAVE THE PERFORMANCE OF MY LIFETIME FOR OUR NEW PRESIDENT ... THEN I FLEW TO PARIS AND THEY DEBUTED MY NEW SHOES THAT I DESIGNED WITH LOUIE VUITTON WHICH WAS A DREAM COME TRUE. PLEASE I BEG YOU, GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!! PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LET ME BE GREAT!!! WHO HAVE I HURT SO BAD THAT THEY WANT TO DESTROY ME? WHO HAVE I EVER SPOKE ABOUT SO NEGATIVELY? I JUST WAS SPEAKING WITH OUR NEW PRESIDENT TWO DAYS AGO... AND NOW THIS.... SIDEBAR... NEVER TAKE A PICTURE FROM MY OBAMA PERFORMANCE AND PUT IT NEXT TO A BS QUOTE LIKE THAT! THAT'S IN POOR TASTE! THAT UNDERMINES WHAT MY CONTRIBUTION TO THAT EVENT WAS AND SLAPS EVERYBODY WHO FELT UPLIFTED BY THAT PERFORMANCE IN THE FACE! A PICTURE SAYS A THOUSAND WORDS... LOOK HOW FRESH MY SUIT IS... NUFF SAID!" (Kanye West Blog)

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The news is coming in that Kanye West may be bisexual or at least open to being in bisexual porn.

He is quoted as saying:

"I know people will find that as another thing to hate me on, but fuck it. I'm open to doing porn. Hell, I'll even do bisexual scenes - myself, another man and a woman, or just me and two women. I know people will find that as some weird shit, but I am who I am." (Post Chronicle)

This proves juicy gossip but also important as it once again brings media attention to the subject of bisexual and queer sexuality. Additionally, it sends a strong message to queer youth of color that even a famous masculine rap artist isn't freaked out by the notion of queer sexuality.