Arts.Advocacy+Wellness: "New York achieves it! MARRIAGE EQUALITY"

Cornelius reflects on
MARRIAGE EQUALITY
FOR
THE EMPIRE STATE

Love and fairness wins the day for all New Yorkers, our families, and allies!
I remember going to Albany (in 2009) with my friend Angel to rally for Marriage Equality, Anti-Bullying in Schools, and GendaRights...meeting the many faces, advocates, activists, politicians, young&old supporting Empire State Pride Agenda...and the day has come NY Legislators approve same-sex marriage. Awesome Victory...

My journey was to support Angel, he had been with his partner for over 6 years, sharing a home in Long Island, but not able to obtain rights as other legally married couples. While, at the time, I was totally jaded and cynical to the idea of same sex marriage (mainly because I had not experienced a meaningful and mature partnership). I knew this was really important to him. I needed to support and to be educated. While in Albany, my ideals shifted. I was awakened and more educated. Everyone deserves equal rights, especially in marriage, if one chooses to go that route, regardless of how long or short the marriage lasts. While I, myself, stood more in favor for Anti-Bullying and Safe schools (having been bullied and harassed throughout elementary, middle,and high school), being in Albany opened my eyes to HUMAN RIGHTS/HUMAN NEEDS. I was also exposed to GendaRights (equal rights for my transgendered brothers and sisters). We don't know why we feel, think, or act a certain way or do have the answers to every question or adversity in life, but I feel we are ultimately individuals who aspire to live peacefully, safely, and harmoniously and we all deserve to be treated fairly and respectfully.

Oh yes, the tide has turned in the east and may this victory be infectious and effective to all states across our country, until everyone is granted the freedom to love, live, and be joyous.

....AND, Congrats Angel!!!

Tune in next Wednesday for more

Arts.Advocacy+Wellness with Cornelius Jones Jr.

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Chi-Chiz Will Live On Into The New Year, But Not Long After

by Next Magazine

It seems as if the trials and tribulations of West Village watering hole Chi Chiz, reported by Next Magazine and elsewhere, have finally come to an end. After losing a recent appeal against charges by the State Liquor Authority, the owners announced they would be closing the predominantly African-American gay bar for good on January 3, 2011. In a recent e-mail, Chi Chiz attorney Tom Shanahan wrote about the decision and the actions of David Poster, vice-president of the Greenwich Village Block Association and one of the main forces in the effort to shut it down:

“This [closure] was forced but [still] our decision, as we cannot run a business with sustained harassment by the NYPD, as has been occurring. Deputy Inspector Caroli issued twelve summons since March…and all have been dismissed. The time and [cost] of litigating one thing after another—and all of it being dismissed—are too expensive for a private-sector business the size of ours. It is truly sad—and bad for Christopher Street and the LGBT Community. Moreover, it is clear that David Poster and his minions will be whatever they can to chase African-Americans and the transgendered away from Christopher Street and the community. The continuing harassment by these ‘village idiots’ has continued and poses a problem to running a small business. Now they [will] deal with a vacant block on Christopher Street, which has a 50% commercial vacancy rate.” —Dan Avery

To read the entire article click here: Next Magazine

Black Pride Times Two

Sharp contrasts in attendance, organization of Black Prides in NYC

Written by Nathan James

The summer of 2008 was a difficult time for the LGBT community of color in New York City. Following the executive-management collapse at People Of Color in Crisis (POCC), the annual Black Gay Pride Weekend, Pride In The City, was abruptly canceled the day before it was scheduled to begin. Thousands of people arrived at the venues for PITC, only to find no events, and no explanations. It was therefore a topic of great interest as to whether 2009 would see any Black Pride events at all. Much to our surprise, there were two Black Gay Prides in NYC during the past two weekends.

The first of these was Jubilation, organized by Lee Soulja and sponsored by Gay Men Of African Descent (GMAD). Held during the traditional Pride In The City [first] weekend in August, Jubilation was put together on very short notice, but it was quite successful. Beginning with a reception on Friday, July 31, a picnic Saturday in Commodore Barry Park, and ending on Sunday, August 2, with the Black Gay Expo, it was a tour-de-force. On Sunday, there were screen presentations of Christopher Street TV, and a stage show with a lineup of rappers, poets and literary figures, hosted by actor and comedian Reginald L. Barnes. Among the performers were songstress Chelly, rappers King Jabbar, Baron, and Eric Joppy, male impersonators Dred Gerestant and Stefon Royce, eye-candy dancer Marck Angel, authors Nathan James and Renair Amin, and Out Music producer and singer Deepa Soul.

A Mr. Jubilation model search contest was also held, with $200, and a spot on black gay author Blair Poole's next book cover going to the audience-chosen winner. The overriding theme of Jubilation was a celebration of LGBT people of color, and this was carried off to good effect by the organizers, with centrally-located venues, positive themes, and, as Lee Soulja stated, "a strong message of self-love and HIV prevention". Jubilation closed out the following weekend with Fire Island Black Out as its official beach party. Attendees generally agreed that all of the Jubilation events lived up to their billing. It is clear that Lee and the Jubilation staff are off to a good start.

A week after Jubilation held its Manhattan events, a new HIV/AIDS outreach organization held several events under the familiar Pride In The City (PITC) banner used by POCC in years past. The new group, Atlanta-based National AIDS Services and Education for Minorities (NAESM), opened its Brooklyn branch offices and began their PITC events with a reception and Grand Opening on Thursday, August 6. They hosted a catered reception in their Atlantic Avenue building, where attendees met CEO Rudolph Carn, Acting Executive Director Craig Cobb, and several other executive managers. They outlined NAESM's mission statement and goals, and engaged the community members in dialogue about ways to achieve their aims. The official PITC reception, Expressions, was held on Friday in Brooklyn, at Langston's, followed by a kickoff party at Secrets in Manhattan. The next day was NAESM's Family Day in The Park at Prospect Park. Attendance at all of the PITC events was sparse, possibly a result of poor publicity, no booked performers, and the overshadowing of Jubilation the week before. A planned Beach Party on Sunday, August 9, was a washout due to stormy weather. Still, NAESM organizers pronounced PITC a success, and Director Craig Cobb insisted "our events will be bigger and better next year."

2009 will be remembered as the year Black Pride returned to New York City in full force, with Manhattan venues (a first for Black Gay Prides in NYC), dedicated community and artistic people engaging to celebrate our diversity and beauty, and twice as many opportunities for LGBT people of color to be out and PROUD. Long may this continue to be so.

--
Nathan James
http://www.authornathan.blogspot.com/
Photos Courtesy of GBMNews.com