YoBoiNewNue: Who RUN the World? Bottoms

Where there's a will, there's a Woman ~ Abiola

Abiola Abrams is our very first featured female at Where there's a will, there's a Woman! ABIOLA ABRAMS is a TV personality, author and art filmmaker who shows up with her big mouth and hot pink doctor bag of advice and self worth to whip us into shape.

1. When did you discover your inner goddess? I would have to say that like all little girls I was born knowing my power. Then somewhere along the way - with life, and teasing and advertising and cultural brainwashing I forgot it. I rediscover my inner goddess daily. And I have dedicated my work to helping my sisters on the planet remember as well, and allow them to use and access my mistakes, snafus and triumphs as their own!!

2. What color excites you? Purple. Purple is deep moody, regal and sensual. It can flash loving or angry depending on the shade. I agree with Alice Walker: The Goddess gets angry if you walk past the color purple and don't notice it!!

3. Where did you grow up? I am a native New Yorker. I was born in Brooklyn, raised in Queens, went to middle school and high school on the Upper East Side and went to undergrad upstate. My family is from Guyana though, in South America. So it was New York until I walked into my parent's front gate. Then I was in Guyana USA!

4. Name 5 women who inspire you. I am inspired by Oprah Winfrey, of course, Martha Stewart, Michelle Obama, affirmation master Louise Hay, and the writer SARK.

5. If you had to recommend 1 good book, what would it be? Oh come on-- of course I must recommend Dare by Abiola Abrams, a thirty something year old empress living in Harlem!! You just wouldn't respect me if I said anything else! *giggling.*

6. Do you believe in miracles? I absolutely believe in miracles. My very existence is a miracle. My mom says I was born weeks early. I couldn't wait to get out and get started. I am the daughter of immigrants, great-great granddaughter of slaves-- from a completely different continent. I a descended from Africans in South America. Heck yeah I believe in miracles! You can find out more about Abiola at www.abiolaabrams.com or www.planetabiola.com. Leave a comment!

Arts.Advocacy+Wellness: "Thought for the day: The Four Agreements""

Thought for the day:

"The Four Agreements"

by Don Miguel Ruiz

First Agreement – “Be Impeccable With Your Word”

There are people we come across in life that will use their word to tarnish us. When we are not fully awakened and solid in our spiritual foundation, we tend to take on that tyranny of self-doubt causing harm to ourselves. Sometimes as kids our tyrants are our parents, who may have no intentions of harming us but this is what they know. As an adult, in a more awakened state, it is now up to us to not take this on from any human being. Recognize and forgive the person because they are not awakened in the moment and know no better. We must also forgive ourselves if we chose to accept it and placed blame and doubt on our physical mind and body.

I take responsibility for me and practice daily not blaming or judging me in all I do: In my decisions, in my lifestyle, career, recreation, sexual identity, and whom I chose to be with intimately. I am a man of my word and who ever I deal with professionally or intimately must also be impeccable.

Connect with me online:

www.corneliusjonesjr.com

facebook: Cornelius Jones Jr.

twitter: CorneliusJonesJ

facebook fanpage: FlagBoy: Official Fan Page of the Actor

YouTube Channel: LifeJones77

ACTOR DEMO REEL: CLICK HERE

Inspired In New York Honors PHILLIP BLOCH, CONSTANCE C.R. WHITE & KEVIN LILES

Inspired In New York Honors
PHILLIP BLOCH, CONSTANCE C.R. WHITE & KEVIN LILES
Hosted By CHERYL WILLS – NY1 News
Presenters BEVY SMITH & SANDRA BOOKMAN – ABC7 ANCHOR

PHILLIP BLOCH, acclaimed Television personality, host of “Cause Celeb with Phillip Bloch” on ABC News, CONSTANCE C.R. WHITE, Editor In Chief, Essence Magazine and KEVIN LILES world-renowned music mogul and Founder/CEO of KWL Enterprises are being honored by INSPIRED IN NEW YORK on April 24, 2012 at Tian At The Riverbank in Harlem, NY.  Attendance is by INVITE ONLY.

Phillip Bloch, Constance C.R. White and Kevin Liles were chosen to receive this recognition by the honorable Councilwoman Inez Dickens due to their many years as innovators and trendsetters in the arts media and entertainment industries.  All honorees will receive a proclamation from New York for their contributions.

The crème de la crème of the entertainment industry will be in attendance to support and honor these trendsetters and innovators on their very special day.
Media Sponsor: Uptown Magazine.

Contributing Sponsors: CME Group, Promotional Pro, MEGA Personalities, International Festival Network, Lezplay Radio, and MVC Productions.

RSVP at: http://inspirednyapril2012.eventbrite.com

Are You Still The Same Person From High School?

I don't think of high school that much. The memories of those four years are slipping away by the minute. It's kind of weird when you think about it. People say that high school is supposed to scar you for life whether it's good or bad. And yet, here I am, not really affected by high school.

All I remember is being that silent, still kind, shy person that was hardly talking to anyone. I was very private about my life due to my dysfunctional family, being bullied because I was the guy who was into technology and glee club instead of sports, and the struggle to accept my sexuality. I wasn't open about my life at all. It was a very difficult time.

I was not only on a journey towards accepting myself, but also looking for true friendships and true love. Everybody knows that when you break up with someone in high school, it feels like the end of the world. I sure had my share of those relationships and went through the emotions. The same thing applies to friendships.

Then once graduation was slowly approaching, I began to change. It all started when I sat down in a chair and said to myself "Do you love yourself? Do you accept everything about yourself as a gay man who loves glee club and computers? And do you give a damn about what others think about you?"

It was then that I became the person I am now. I am now this confident, calm, kind person who is completely open about his life. I am letting out all of this large amount of natural energy every day. I am now not afraid to tell people my stories. I even make a living writing and talking about my funny life. Ain't that a coincidence?

By the time graduation even came, everyone knew that I was different. I was still kind and friendly to everyone, but they knew I had this fiery temper if you pushed my buttons to the limit. I can deal with a lot of things. I have tough skin and a large amount of patience. However, if I am pushed to the max (and I'm talking about days of dealing with crap), that's when I explode. And back in school, if I exploded, everyone noticed it. My balls grew bigger and I knew how to use them.

When I look back at the person I was, I don't even see him anymore. He is fading away completely. I always thought that I would still be that same person. Not the depressed man, but the quiet, private person who wouldn't want to talk to anybody about his life. The only thing that's the same about me is that I'm still the shy type. I can't help it. It's stuck with me.

After years of leaving those four years behind, are you still that same person from high school?

Arts.Advocacy+Wellness: "Thought for the day: The Four Agreements""

Thought for the day

"The FOUR Agreements"

by Don Miguel Ruiz

It has been nearly 10 years since I first read the four agreements. In a mature state and definitely in a more grounded spiritual place, revisiting the book 10 years later was an act of divine intervention. Even more interesting and purposeful, this book came at the beginning of my yogi teacher training and my life transition from NYC to LA. It is always so interesting reading a book for the second time and when there is a huge time gap between each read, new information is received and lessons that always need to be remembered are revisited.

“We pretend to be what we are not because we are afraid of being rejected”

-Don Miguel Ruiz

The domestication of humans simply is how we are shaped, which begins at birth. At birth, and I can say even before we are born into this world, there are systems of rules conditioning and controlling the way we live, think, and breath. We are not given a choice. We are told what to do, not allowing the brain and mind to take shape and grow into our own identity. This is not to point blame on anyone, it is just the way it is in this society. That being said, I feel it is ok to have guidance from an elder, however one needs the freedom to experience many facets of life without fear, shame guilt, and rejection. Now there are some children and some families who don’t have rules in their household, but I think its safe to say they are a rarity in this society. I can relate to the domestication from our elders. In no harmful way, they are trying to prepare the young child for the realities of the world, and their teachings were passed down from generations to generations of older philosophies and principles. The world today is now shifting. With science and technology we have more information; information that releases the shackles from certain limited or restricted thinking. We have the power to reshape, define, and/or redefine who we truly are. And while, economics is still an issue for certain demographics (not having access to affordable education and healthcare), we have always had access to personal freedom, we just were never made aware of it, it was kept from us, or we forgot. A book simply written like the Four Agreements is a vessel to help liberate our thinking and way of living.

For the next four weeks I will debrief how each chapter speaks to me. I invite you to join in the conversation.

Miguel Expresses Artistic Musical Sexiness

By J9 of J9's MusicLife


Since Miguel released the video Arch & Point from Volume 2 of his Art Dealer Chic EP series, I've been obsessed!!  It just serves as another confirmation of his skill of not only expressing sexiness in his music but also complimenting it through his video interpretations.  How many videos of today can you say do that?  Most of the time you're left confused or disappointed as to how a video even relates to the vibe and content of the song.

With undeniable comparisons to Prince, I believe Miguel has picked up from where Prince left off but has also found his own style by incorporating this edgy, futuristic vibe.  In his catalog of videos, we are left with this sensual picture that is painted to convey the sexy sounds of Miguel's music, leaving our imaginations going wild. 

In Arch & Point, what first got me was the guitar riff. . . how can something so simple sound so effortlessly sexy, leaving you in a trance?  After watching the video a few more times, I then turned my attention to the visuals in the video.  Throughout the video, Miguel is seen playing the guitar at the mic, while a female dancer performs around him  You can't help but to draw your attention to her. . .the choreo is just HOT!  My fav part starts at 0:20. . . pay attention to her especially at 0:25. . . her moves goes with the beat as Miguel sings "arch your back, point your toes". . . that joint is just. . just. . .WOW!





Click here to download the Art Dealer Chic EP.

My Friend Cornelius Jones Jr is KING!!!

YES, it's true my friend Cornelius Jones Jr is KING!!! Did you know he was in the Broadway production for more than 10 years and the traveled on the road and was featured in the Las Vegas production?

"The Lion King" has dethroned "The Phantom of the Opera" as Broadway's all-time box-office champion. The Disney musical, based on the popular animated movie, has grossed a total of $853.8 million since opening on Broadway in 1997.

The gross figure, which represents Broadway box-office receipts only and not worldwide revenue, was confirmed by a spokeswoman at Disney Theatrical Productions. She said the figure has not been adjusted for inflation.

"Phantom" has grossed approximately $853.1 million since opening in 1988.

The crowning of "The Lion King" as Broadway's new box-office leader comes with a caveat, however. The Disney musical has benefited from higher ticket prices than "Phantom."

Figures provided by the Broadway League show that the average ticket price for "The Lion King" was recently $155.09, compared with a recent average ticket price for "Phantom" of $98.97.

Lil Mogul is so PROUD of him!!!

I was backstage and on stage in NEW YORK CITY!!!

Birthday Wishes to all you pioneering Aries by Louisa J. Curtis

Bessie Smith born April 15th, 1894, Billie Holiday born April 7th, 1915, Pearl Bailey born March 29th, 1918, and Sarah Vaughan born March 27th, 1924 – all four ladies were pioneer blues singers and all four were Aries!

Bessie Smith 1894 – 1937 & Billie Holiday 1915 - 1959

Pearl Bailey 1918 – 1990 & Sarah Vaughan 1924 - 1990

All these examples of Aries are headstrong, inspirational people who are passionate about what they do. And another thing you may have noticed by now is how similar they all look? They all tend to have large heads, and in particular, prominent foreheads, typical of the hardheaded Aries. The ram butts with its head, does it not? Now I know I’ve mentioned in a previous bulletin that Aries rules over the head, so it’s no big surprise that these people like to wear hats and is why we have the custom for dressing up in our “Easter Bonnets.” The Planet Mars rules our aggressive sign of Aries, and many “Martian” professions also involve wearing hats or protective headgear of some kind, such as the Military, Police, Firemen, and Chefs, yes Chefs – this is no accident (no pun intended!) but Aries can be accident-prone as well, so be sure to read this month’s tips! In fact, I noticed how much clumsier I became as soon as we had moved in to the sign of Aries last month, and even today while I was cleaning the kitchen, I managed to break something!

Back to hats, and although the main celebrations for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee don’t take place until June, I wanted to share this timely piece I found in a “People” magazine recently. I thought it was a brilliant story of how her headgear has evolved over the past 60 years, and no, she is not an Aries herself, it was the “hats” that caught my eye! But notice also, that we are talking about her “Diamond Jubilee” and guess what Aries’ stone is – of course it’s the diamond, considered to be the hardest material on earth, a bit like Aries’ head!

A History of the Queen’s Hats from 1953 - 2012

As always we send out Birthday Wishes to all you pioneering Aries!

Transsexual artist Titica takes Angola by storm

By Louise Redvers

She is bold, she is bright, she is beautiful and she is taking Angola by storm. Not bad for a transsexual in a Catholic African country where homosexuality is illegal and punishable by hard labour.

Born in Luanda as Teca Miguel Garcia, singer and dancer Titica adopted her female persona four years ago following a breast enhancement operation in Brazil.

Now, at 25, Titica is the new face of Angola’s unique urban rap-techno fusion music style known as “kuduro”.

By day her songs boom from minibus taxis, by night they fill Luanda’s dance floors and at the weekends she has become the essential soundtrack for children’s parties.

Named best kuduro artist of 2011, she is a regular on television and radio, and has even performed at the annual Divas concert, attended by President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, where she herself was named a diva.

With a training in ballet, she first got involved in kuduro as a backing dancer, supporting popular acts such as Noite e Dia, Propria Lixa and Puto Portugues.

Last October she released her first song, Chao, which to date is one of the most-played kuduro tracks in Angola and its diaspora.

This month Titica will embark on her first international tour with dates so far fixed for Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Read the entire article at: http://gbmnews.com/wp/?p=2083

New Documentary Explores How Music Restores Lost Identities of Elderly

By J9 of J9's MusicLife


Many people have seen the clip below of the elder man named Henry who at first was unresponsive, comes alive when he hears music.




When asked if he likes music, Henry's response is like any other music lover. . . "I'm crazy about music!"  Then when asked what does music do to him, he responds "It gives me the feeling of love, romance."  My favorite part of the clip starts at 4:30 when Henry starts singing one of his favorite Cab Calloway songs and ends it with an "OW". . . too cute!  It's crazy how earlier in the clip, Henry couldn't even remember his own daughter name but ask him his favorite band/song and he'll tell you.  Kind of like ask a kid what they remember from school and they'll have a blank stare on their face but they can recite every word to a song.



To read the rest of the post, click here.

Has Your Best Friend Become Your Career?

Are you the best friend? I am not talking about the ordinary best friend. I am talking about "the" best friend.

In life, we are given this one best friend who sort of have became your brother/sister. There is no conflict. There is no arguing. Whenever you guys hang out, you're enjoying each other's company and having a good time. Life can be very difficult sometimes. Sometimes, all you need is your best friend's voice to calm you down. You can vent until your body loses 80% of it's blood and your best friend will still be there on the other line.

Of course, there comes a time when arguing and disagreements occurs between your friendship. Life is not 100% positive. But if your friendship bond is that strong, you can overcome whatever comes your way.

Once you've realized you have a tight bond you begin to realize something else. You look closely at everything you are doing in your everyday life. If more than 60% of your life is surrounding your best friend you begin to worry if your life is being truly consumed by the needs of your significant other. They will call you at 4 o'clock in the morning asking for a favor. Even though it's early to be doing anything around that time, you will get out of bed and still do it. Because that is how much of a best friend you are. Before you know it, you are getting more than a dozen phone calls from that person and 50% of them revolves around doing favors.

In life, we count on our best friends to do everything for us. They come over to your sleepovers. They come to the club together. If you are that experimental you might even invite them for a threesome. But when do you take a second and realize that you've sacrificed a large portion of your life to be there for your best friend.

When it comes to friendships, has your best friend become your career?

LaChanze, Will Power, Kamilah Forbes and More live in performance April 30th

EVENT DETAILS: You are cordially invited to attend the Impact Broadway Spring Fundraiser Event Join us for an evening of performances, fun, food and celebration! Hosted By: Kamilah Forbes, Artistic Director Hip Hop Theater Festival Performances By: LaChanze, Tony Award Winner, The Color Purple Alexis Houston, Singer Alls Well Music Will Power, Playwright and Performer Monday, April 30, 2012 at Chocolat Restaurant and Lounge 2217-23 Frederick Douglass Boulevard corner of 120th Street New York 10026 5:00pm Doors Open 5:30pm-7:30pm Reception/Program Festive Attire RSVP to Nicole Judd by April, 23rd Email impactnicole@gmail.com or (718) 703-2260 Ticket: $50 Purchase Tickets online via Paypal link: http://www.impactbroadway.com/fundraising-benefit-reception/ WHAT IS IMPACT BROADWAY? Impact Broadway is a multifaceted youth, audience development program focused on empowering African American and Latino students to become active participants in the theater community. Impact Broadway Co-Founders Donna Walker Kuhne and Cherine Anderson For more information, visit www.impactbroadway.com

Arts.Advocacy+Wellness: "Thought for the day"

Thought for the Day

You must reward yourself with every little step, every little accomplishment - Well Done - Greatly Done! Approach each small accomplishment as if it is a major success...like a Heisman Award, an Oscar, a CNN Hero of the Year, McArthur Fellow, Pulitzer Prize, Guggenheim Fellow, Fullbright Fellow. You get the point. Don't diminish any of your accomplishments because the small ones are just as important as the huge ones. Embracing and praising the small accomplishments will allow you to appreciate and fully own the larger achievements even more.

Well Done! Greatly Done! Greatly Achieved!

AVAILABLE NOW

Shadows & Lights

by Cornelius Jones Jr.

CLICK HERE

To Purchase your Autographed Copy

at www.corneliusjonesjr.com/Books_Plays.html

Film Explores Term ‘Gay For Stay’ & Risky Behavior of Black Men Post-Prison

by Drew-Shane Daniels

for musedmagonline.com

There’s a video that has been circulating on the web discussing black men and their behavior post-prison. Throughout the short film called Earl’s Post-Prison Playdate, the director exploits the downlow lifestyle, breaks down the unstable black family dynamics and educates viewers on the risky behaviors men learn from being in jail.

Earl’s Post-Prison Playdate was written, directed, and produced by award-winning NYC filmmaker, Rod Gailes OBC. Richard S. Carroll Jr., Pernell Walker from the Sundance-Hit, Pariah, and Iris Wilson of Broadway’s FELA star in the short.

Most of the controversy from blogs and critics overshadow the real meaning of the film. The film was created as part of an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign addressing lifestyle issues affecting our community. HIV/AIDS is a huge epidemic in our community- no matter the sexuality. Even though I felt I was watching a script full of stereotypes, I know this is real life for many people in our community (or at least some variation). The message still remains the same: go get tested!

Please check out the video below and share with your friends:

Earl's Post-Prison Playdate: Feature from OBC DreamTheatre on Vimeo.

DESIGNER MELVIN BROWNE LAUNCHES PREMIERE MEN’S SWIMWEAR COLLECTION

MELVIN BROWNE LAUNCHES PREMIERE MEN’S SWIMWEAR COLLECTION HCSwimwear by Melvin Browne HCSwimwear by Melvin Browne is an EXCLUSIVE Collection of the most popular swimsuit styles designed for the modern man. Our Men's debut Collection combines the garment districts finest fabrics with this summer’s hottest colors. Hand made in the U.S.A, HCS is completed with Five (5) male swim suit styles, Eight (8) solid colors, and Two (2) fashion prints that create a mixture of over Fifty (50) designs to choose from. Our Styles include: Body Trunks, Trunks, Bikinis, Briefs, and Thongs. HCSwimwear is designed to showcase the body, personality and fashion sense of the person wearing them. “Cotton underwear is not made to be worn outside and in the water. My inspiration behind creating this collection was to provide men not only with comfortable and supportive swimwear, but to support a lifestyle with a variety of swimsuit selections that are fashionable, unique, daring and sexy.” – Melvin Browne HCSwimwear is constructed from the Premium blend of Nylon & Spandex and lined with Ultra-Smooth Nylon. Our styles are designed to not only fit and support the forces of a man, but crafted to accentuate and chisel the natural shape of the male body. Our Sexy and Stylish Men's swimsuits can be worn in and out of the water to accommodate your eventful vacations. HCSwimwear takes you from the beach to the boardwalks, from the pool parties to the yacht, and to some of the nation’s most popular summer destinations. HCS was created for confident men with a desire to have fun and be innovative. Shop Our Spring/Summer 2012 and HCS Basics Collections Today! Our 15% off Pre-Order Sale Ends April 14th, 2012 at Midnight. www.HCSwimwear.com

The Strange Things About The Johnson's FULL MOVIE

Okay, ok... I'm a few months behind on this film and this topic; however, I watch it this week. WOW!!! WOW!!! WOW!!! I don't know what else to say. YOU MUST WATCH FOR YOURSELF.

The Johnsons are an attractive, well-to-do, upper-middle class family. Sidney, husband and father, is a famous poet, known and adored for his kindness and sensitivity. Joan, wife and mother, is a dutiful housewife, an obsessive homemaker and the life of every party. Their son, Isaiah, is a charismatic young man who has just gotten married to an equally appealing young woman. In fact, there is only thing that separates the Johnsons from their charming friends and neighbors: Isaiah, the son, has been molesting Sidney, the father, since he was twelve years old. And what's more, Sidney has written a memoir that chronicles, in great detail, the ins-and-outs of this unseemly father-son relationship. Will the manuscript ever see the light of day, or will young Isaiah have a thing or two to say about it? THE STRANGE THING ABOUT THE JOHNSONS is a dark satire of the domestic melodrama, which asks "What if...?" and then, for some reason, comes up with an answer.

However, the comments are more interesting to me... What did you think of the film?



&

Me -n- My Gay Son with Lady D

1.  After I told you that I was gay, you prayed.  What were your prayers?

My prayers were that God would deliver you.  I honestly thought that you were going through a phase.  Now, my prayers to God are for him to protect and keep you.  You were given to me as a gift from God, raising you was a moving experience.  I continue to pray that He allows me to treasure each and every moment of my gift.

2.  How different do you think things may have been had my father been around?

I don't think things would have been any different.  Initially, I don't believe your father would have accepted your sexuality.  When he was alive, you were growing and exploring and sometimes he would question why you did certain things.  I believe that you would have been scrutinized for your behavior.  There would have been name calling.  He would have most likely blamed me or your aunts for how you turned out, not taking responsibility for not spending more time with you himself.  Women get blamed for churning out flaming queens, but what absentee fathers don't get is that they need to step up, be a man and play their role in the boy's life.  Mothers are definitely more receptive of their children being gay than fathers.

3.  What was it like for you knowing that I was going out with boys/men?

It was challenging at first.  The thought of you being intimate with the same sex wasn't easy for me.  I didn't allow myself to dwell on it so much.  Eventually, I hoped that you would find someone to love you for who you are.

4.  What has been your biggest concern or fear around me and my sexuality?

My biggest concern is your safety.  Hate crimes are the worst and with you putting yourself out there the way that you are doing with your media efforts, sometimes, I just worry.  People are so focused on the hatred that they don't stop to think about the fact that people are HUMAN BEINGS first.

Thanks for allowing me to share myself with you.

Rihanna is a restless sleeper, is partial to rotary phones, and packs lightly in a video for Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans.

Rihanna is a restless sleeper, is partial to rotary phones, and packs lightly in a video for Emporio Armani Underwear and Armani Jeans. In the black-and-white video, there’s a rotary phone off the hook and Rihanna is tossing and turning in bed. She hangs up the phone, continues to toss and turn, looks at a Polaroid of a bathroom sink and mirror, turns up the steam and finds a note on the mirror: airport 6:00. Rihanna puts on a pair of jeans, a jacket, but no shirt, and leaves for the airport. Or does she? The video ends and she’s still in bed.

directed by Jordan Scott of RSA and edited by Cut + Run’s Dayn Williams.

Arts.Advocacy+Wellness: "Pump-Plie-Jump"

Pump-Plie-Jump

Hello good people. Two weeks ago, I traveled to DC to perform with Brave Soul Collective as we honored National Black HIV/AIDS awareness day through performance art and advocacy. I performed "Pump-Plie-Jump" from my book SHADOWS&LIGHTS and I must say, I had some magical moments sharing this piece. The entire performance touched, moved, and inspired many as there were stories from not only the gay male perspective, but the straight male and female, and the lesbian perspective. This night was so inclusive and so transforming.

Brave Soul Collective is gearing up for a reprise of the show during the International AIDS Conference, which takes place this summer in Washington, DC. Stay tuned as we update you with all details.

For now, please enjoy and share "Pump-Plie-Jump". I would love to hear your thoughts and I would love for you to share this with someone whom you feel will benefit from it.

HUGS,

Jenna Talackova, Transgender Miss Universe Canada Contest, May Compete After All

By JEREMY HAINSWORTH

The Miss Universe Organization announced Monday that it might reverse an earlier decision and allow a transgender woman to enter the Miss Universe Canada pageant.

Jenna Talackova, 23, was born male, leading organizers to disqualify her last month as a finalist in the 61st Miss Universe Canada pageant in May.

The rules of the contest run by Donald Trump's New York City-based organization say entrants must be "naturally born" females. The Vancouver woman underwent a sex change four years ago.

But shortly after Talackova announced a news conference in Los Angeles with high-profile lawyer Gloria Allred for Tuesday, the New York-based Miss Universe Organization said in a statement on the Miss Universe Canada website that Talackova can compete "provided she meets the legal gender recognition requirements of Canada, and the standards established by other international competitions."

The statement did not elaborate and messages seeking clarification from Miss Universe organizers were not immediately returned.

Vancouver constitutional lawyer Joe Arvay, who is on Talackova's legal team, told The Associated Press that Miss Universe Canada's latest statement about Canadian legal gender recognition requirements is "incomprehensible."

"I have no idea what they're talking about," he said.

Arvay said the pageant requirement for "natural born" females does not comply with Canadian human rights legislation and that a complaint will be filed with the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

"In the absence of clarity, we will be proceeding," Arvay said. "At the present time, it's gobbledygook."

Allred's office said its news conference is still proceeding as planned.

The disqualification won Talackova widespread sympathy and raised the question of whether the pageant has the right to decide who is female.

Her change of gender was hardly a secret before the event because she had competed in the 2010 Tiffany Miss International Queen Competition for transgendered and transsexual women in Pattaya, Thailand. In a video interview for that pageant, she said she had lived her life as a female since age 4, began hormone therapy at 14 and changed sex at 19.

"I regard myself as a woman with a history," she said.

Connie McNaughton, Miss World Canada in 1984 and first runner-up for the world crown, had called the decision outdated and discriminatory. Professor Patrizia Gentile of Ottawa's Carleton University, who did a dissertation on beauty pageants, equated the ban with the exclusion of blacks and Jews from pageants in earlier times.

From the conservative side of Canadian society, Gwen Landolt, national vice president of REAL Women of Canada, said the pageant was simply being realistic in barring Talackova.

City Gym Boys Get A BANGIN' BODY by Charles LaSalle

Meet the City Gym Boys founder Charles LaSalle at the Hueman Bookstore, Harlem, NY on Tuesday, April 3rd at 6:00pm


The go-to guys for urban health and fitness point the way to summer's bangin' body. Charles LaSalle and his City Gym Boys first gained notoriety with their ripped bodies and popular beefcake calendars. But since LaSalle founded the group in 1997, they have made it their mission to mentor urban youth on the lifelong benefits of fitness and exercise. With practical advice on everything from diet to turning household objects into workout tools, "Get a Bangin' Body" explains why pumping iron is passe, and shares a body-weight-only program that anyone-whatever their age, income, or fitness level-can undertake.

Hue-Man Bookstore

2319 Frederick Douglass Blvd
NY, NY 10027
212-665-7400
www.huemanbookstore.com

Patrick Ian Polks new film The Skinny premieres in Washington, DC & Atlanta

"The Skinny" Exclusive
One Week Engagement Begins April 6th in Washington, DC & Atlanta, GA

THE SKINNY opens Friday, April 6th for an exclusive one-week engagement in Atlanta at the Midtown Art Cinema (931 Monroe Drive, Atlanta, GA 30308) and Washington D.C. at the E Street Cinema (555 11th Street NW, Washington DC 20004) with more cities to follow. We will be having a "Meet and Greet" with the director and the cast on Friday, April 6th at E Street Cinema at 7:30pm and 9:45pm. In Atlanta, we will be having a "Meet and Greet" with Polk and the cast at the Midtown Art Cinema on April 7th at 7:30 and 9:45pm.

From the director of cult classics PUNKS and NOAH'S ARC, comes the much-anticipated third feature film from Patrik-Ian Polk THE SKINNY, a sharply scripted comedy about a group of four young, black, gay men Magnus, Sebastian, Kyle, Joey and their lesbian best friend, Langston. They arrange to meet up in New York City one year after their graduation from Brown University. Their plans for a weekend of fun start off well, relaxed in each other's company as only old friends can be. But old tensions quickly resurface.

Drinking, drugs, hidden desire and the demands of promiscuity put friendship, trust and even lives at risk. In between sharp one-liners and a great soundtrack there's a few important lessons that these pleasure-seekers must learn for themselves. Written with a real sense of the demands of urban living, these bright and believable characters will remind you of someone you know. Remaining true to his past work, Polk addresses issues in THE SKINNY that face the LGBT community such as date-rape, infidelity, and HIV/AIDS awareness.
The film stars Jussie Smolett, Blake Young-Fountain, Anthony Burrell, Shanika Warren-Markland and Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman. Supporting cast includes alumnus of Polk's past features such as Darryl Stephens ("Noah's Arc"), Jennia Fredrique ("Noah's Arc"), Wilson Cruz ("Noah's Arc") and Seth Gilliam ("Punks"). Also, the film introduces new actors Dustin Ross and internet sensation B. Scott.

In an exciting partnership, the film has teamed up with the Black AIDS Institute to promote the importance of health in the LGBT Community, especially in the Black and Latino communities. The Institute will sponsor appearances, receptions and panel discussions in Washington D.C. and Atlanta featuring producer/director Polk and cast members Jussie Smollett, Blake Young-Fountain and Jennia Fredrique (who all appear in the Black AIDS Institute's latest PSA campaign "Greater Than AIDS"). The Skinny director and cast will be on hand to discuss the HIV awareness story-lines in the movie and other sexual health issues of importance to the LGBT population.

"I've been involved with the Black AIDS Institute since the early days of my NOAH'S ARC television series, and I've been addressing issues of HIV and AIDS in my work since my first film PUNKS," Polk explains. "So it makes perfect sense to partner with them to promote their great cause and highlight the HIV awareness issues raised in my new film THE SKINNY."

The film also features music written and performed by Patrik-Ian Polk. With tunes that illustrate the highs and lows of the film, Polk sings with his heart and soul to capture the essence of it all. Polk was inspired by artists such as Grammy-Award winning Adele to "who had created a very personal album based on her romantic experiences," he says. Polk continues to share coyly that, "...most of the songs I wrote, although they fit very nicely in THE SKINNY, are actually about some very personal experiences with...someone very specific."

For more information, see http://www.skinnythemovie.com.
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Advance Movie Ticket Information

Atlanta, GA - Purchase Tickets HERE

Washington, DC - Purchase Tickets HERE