The 3rd Annual African Day ParadeSunday, September 27th, 200912 Noon - 7PMHarlem, NYC (USA)

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Date: Sunday, September 27, 2009
Time: 12:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: "Little Africa"

City/Town: Harlem, NY

Phone: 646-420-5199
Email: COMET6ER[at]YAHOO.COM

AGENDA

1-Parade date: Sept 27, 2009

2-Parade Formation Point: 126 St bet 7 & 8 Avenues

3-Formation Time: 11:00 am

4-Kick off Time: 1:00 pm

5-End Parade Time: 3:00 pm

6-Parade route: Starts at 126 St & 7av Goes South to 116 St &

7 Av then Turns Right West To 8 Av where it will end.

-* There will be a Review Stand(Jury, Officials & V.I.P)

7-Bet 8 Av & Morningside Av is the buffer zone/dismissal area.

8-Festival Stage inside of the Morningside Park for

performing artists and dance groups.

9- Stage Performance Starts @ 3:00pm.

10- End of event 7:00 pm.

11-After Party To Be Announced.

Mailing Address:
African Day Parade & Festivals 2009
2070 First Ave Suite 858
New York, New York 10029

Phone Contacts:
646-420 5199
646 934 7337
646 245 3705
347 879 6107
646 420 7284

E-mail Contacts:
COMET6ER[at]YAHOO.COM
LOOKED007[at]YAHOO.COM
PSNJAMEN[at]YAHOO.COM
Fax: 646-290 6607

Click Da Pic To See Larger Parade Map Route

Click Da Pic To See Larger Size

Same Gender Loving (SGL) Version of "The Dating Game": Rainbow Dating Game Show & The "Newlywed Game": Rainbow Couples Game (Sep 25th & 26th)

DTEG Theatre Proudly Presents
The Same Gender Loving Version Of

"The Rainbow Dating Game Show"

"The Rainbow Couples Game Show"
With Your Host
Lee Truesdale

Friday, September 25th, 2009
Saturday, September 26th, 2009
8:00PM

112 West 131st Street
(betw. Lenox Avenue and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd)
Harlem, New York City
USA

Tickets: $20
Contestant Info: 212/991-8471

MISSISSIPPI DAMNED (2009), A Black Same Gender Loving FilmPlaying At The Best of NewFest @ BAMSat & Sun, August 29th & 30th (Bklyn, NYC)

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Same-sex Couples Stage "Kiss-in" To Protest Treatment At DinerIn Silver Spring, Maryland

Dozens of same-sex couples locked lips inside a popular Maryland diner Wednesday to protest the treatment of a lesbian couple there.

Aiyi-nah Ford and Torian Brown said they were tossed from Tastee Diner at about 2 a.m. on the morning of August 12th for holding each other, not even kissing, in front of the counter.

They also claim that a straight couple was making out nearby with no complaints from management.

"We were just like talking and holding each other, and the next thing you know, the manager comes over and he asks us to leave," Brown said.

"Their exact words were, 'This is a family establishment, and people are trying to eat,' as though interaction between Torian and I was something to the effect of 'Fear Factor'," Ford added.

The restaurant's manager, Lisa Wilkes, whose family owns the well-known eatery, countered that the couple went further than innocent cuddling.

"They were touching each other inappropriately," she said. "The Tastee Diner is a family restaurant, and it doesn't matter if you're straight or if you're gay, if you start going beyond the point of kissing and things start to get a little X-rated, we're going to ask you to stop."

Ford, who is a blog radio host, urged same-sex couples to go to the diner and protest with tame public displays of affection.

Ford and Brown want an apology, but regardless, they don't plan to return to the diner.

"Something needs to be done," Ford said. "People need to know that there is a way that you treat every individual, regardless of race, religion, creed or sexual orientation."

The owner plans to release surveillance video showing the couple's inappropriate behavior.

Coney Island Street Petals and Knight Skies

I was headed to Fort Greene Park in Downtown Brooklyn for the last in a series of Soul Summit house music gatherings. There was a light drizzle of water drops in my neighborhood (Coney Island) and I was hoping that wasn't a prelude to something worse. Normally, I don't get upset about the weather, because it is what it is, but I'll tell you... this has been a FUCKING TERRIBLE SUMMER WITH ALL THIS RAIN!!!!! I'm a SUMMER BABY and this rain has FUCKED up so many plans or events in general. Never have I seen or can recall this much rain in a whole summer!

Anyway, I got on the "Q" train and by the time I was arriving at the Church Avenue train stop the rain came down big time!! I got off the train, went to the other side of the platform and brought my butt back home to Coney Island. I felt defeated again by the rain, and I know nature is not being personal with me or anyone else. BUT DAMN!!

Well, so much for Soul Summit. I never made it out to any of them this summer! (and the last Soul Summit, which I got an email about, got rained out as well!)

So, I had my camera with me and I decided to walk from the Coney Island train station home. Along the way I saw these rose petals on the ground. It was crazy! They came from around the block and onto Neptune Avenue where I was walking. I mean... where did these petals come from? Who put them there? Did someone get married? Was this a cultural ceremony or ritual? It was astonishing because I've never seen anything like it. I've always said that even though I have been born and raised in New York City,  I still get surprised, astonished and amazed of the things that go on or happen

Well, I pulled out the camera and took some pics...

Literally 10 to 15 minutes later, the sky was darkening and I saw some interesting color from the leftover rays of the sun in the sky. I decided to head over to Kaiser Park so I could find a nice clearing and photograph the sky. It's been a while since I've shot any sky stuff. And truth be told, after seeing BrookLENZ's photography work on his blog (YO! Hit me up BrookLENZ, I wanna talk with U brutha man!), it inspired me to do a little something myself.

Coney Island's Gravesend Bay Facing
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge

Coney Island Streets

Anyway, as the Johnny Ringo character (played by actor Michael Biehn) said in the spectacular western genre film Tombstone, "I was just foolin' about..."

The Revolutionary O.N.E.S: "Freedom School Thang"Say YES to EducationPhiladelphia Freedom Schools

Music by: A Freedom School Thang and GP Productions

Video by: SYTE Videography Program

This video was shot by the wonderful and talented videography students at Say Yes to Education. They were awesome teenagers as you can see by this video.

Greetings

Sharing a YouTube video made my the Say Yes to Education youth this summer in Philadelphia Freedom School. They did all of the filming and also wrote the positive lyrics. There were two different classes: Videography under the great leadership of Independent Filmmaker Safidi and Music Production under the great Leadership of Hanaki Ra. Safidi has worked for National Geographic and the Discovery channel. She was a summer college Intern in our program for 3 years before receiving film degree. She returned this summer to work on this project with us while filming another independent film in Philly. Hanaki Ra is an award winning Music producer and has his own studio which our students made two visits and "cut" their CD. Really some great learning of what it takes to produce products, they were exposed to all of the "behind the scene" skills, networking for places and people to film. They had to do outreach in the neighborhood and inform the community of the Goals of their project and find partners willing to participate. They had to know the history of Say Yes to Education and Philadelphia Freedom Schools to share with everyone they met who they wanted to be a part of the project. They were all wonderful "Ambassadors"

They are so proud of themselves and represented our program and Philadelphia Freedom School well. They learned a lot and had a great time this summer it will be a benchmark in their lives.

I want to also thank many of you who have been so supportive of our program this year and previous ones. Your support and encouragement has assisted us in various ways so that we can create good projects with good outcomes that engages the children and youth in so many ways.

In Service

Maisha Sullivan, Director
Say Yes to Education
Peace Family.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Please check out the link below and please share with others as well. As you may know I worked this summer at an amazing program...Say Yes to Education Philadelphia Freedom Schools in Philadelphia. Among many other things, I had to pleasure to teach a videography class to some young teenagers. I gave them the tools and they definitely produced. All of the camera work was done by their skilled and talented hands. Not only that, the lyrics to the song were also written by another Freedom School enrichment class, the Music Production class. It was a perfect combination. Enjoy. And dont forget to pass it along. Do it for the kids. Thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kHA1slo4wI

--
Safidi Tyehimba

Circle of Voices Inc. Seeks Performing Artists, Vendors,Organization Exhibits For SGL Event In Nov 2009 (NYC)

Circle of Voices Inc.

Presents

"Issues Through Art"

An Evening of Social Expressionism

While

Building a New Community Resource



Performance Art Series

Market Place

Gallery

We are looking for:

Spoken Word Artist

Dancers

Rappers

Poets

Fine Artist

Vocalist

Drummers

Storytellers

Narratives/Dialogues

Artistic Contributors

Vendors

Exhibitors

(Not selling items-Orgs)

For

LGBTQ Events

For

NOV 2009



If you have a message to share about LGBTQ Concerns/Issues

We would be delighted to hear from you!

We host community events and we address "Issues Through Art"


Please send your Bio/E-clips, Download your Headshot & Contact info to:

entertainment[at]circleofvoicesinc.org

Please include a phone number, and any on line images of pass shows

Youtube, etc.

Vendors

vendors[at]circlevoicesinc.org


Please describe the product you sell

(No hot foods)

We will then provide the details and requirements


Exhibitors

(not selling items-Orgs)

Please let us know the name of your org

Brochure, flyers, cards, promotion items, Safe sex materials only

We will then provide the details and requirements

info[at]covinc.org

Sponsors Needed!!

Inquire now

for

Early Bird rates!

info[at]covinc.org



http://www.circleofvoicesinc.org/


We are a non-profit Womyn of African Descent
and Womyn of Color organization
that produces multi-cultural events
of an artistic nature as nourishment for the human spirit.
We provide a creative arts environment where Womyn
of all orientations can exchange
information, herstories, knowledge and skills amongst each other
and the community at large through
performances, workshops, music festivals and seminars
that express issues that affect our environment.

Out to Work: The Largest LGBT Career Fair in the NortheastThursday, September 17th, 2009 > 11AM -4PM

Out to Work:
The Largest LGBT Career Fair in the Northeast
Thursday, September 17th, 2009
11AM-4PM


Featuring 3,000 attendees and 60 exhibitors from all industries

Confirmed Exhibitors Include:
NYU
JPMorgan
Village Care
Wachovia
Pfizer
Johnson & Johnson
McBurney YMCA
Prudential
AXA
This List as of August 18, 2009

Out to Work Attendees

Register now for Out to Work

Find this event on Facebook, and invite your friends.
Sign up to receive email reminders about Out to Work.
See our Community Partners

Out to Work Exhibitors

Learn More about Exhibiting at Out to Work

About Out to Work

This event is co-produced by the
Greenwich Village Chelsea Chamber of Commerce.

Bill Moyers Journal: For-profit Insurers Hijack Our Health Care System And Put Profits Before Patients

July 31, 2009

With almost 20 years inside the health insurance industry, Wendell Potter saw for-profit insurers hijack our health care system and put profits before patients. Now, he speaks with Bill Moyers about how those companies are standing in the way of health care reform.

Click The Pic To Watch The Video

South African Teen Wins 800 Meter Track & Field Race Amid Gender-test Flap

Hey Black Family,

I just happen to catch a thumbnail view of this sports story and it caught my attention big-time. I need to sit and digest the story, but I wanted to share it, too.

Read on...

YahooSports

South African Teen Wins 800
Amid Gender-test Flap
by RYAN LUCAS, Associated Press Write

BERLIN (AP)—Facing questions about her gender, South African teenager Caster Semenya easily won the 800-meter gold medal Wednesday at the world championships.

Her dominating run came on the same day track and field’s ruling body said she was undergoing a gender test because of concerns she does not meet requirements to compete as a woman.

Semenya took the lead at the halfway mark and opened a commanding lead in the last 400 meters to win by a massive 2.45 seconds in a world-leading 1 minute, 55.45 seconds. Defending champion Janeth Jepkosgei was second and Jennifer Meadows of Britain was third in 1:57.93.

After crossing the line, Semenya dusted her shoulders with her hands. Semenya did not speak to reporters after the race or attend a news conference.

About three weeks ago, the international federation asked South African track and field authorities to conduct the verification test. Semenya had burst onto the scene by posting a world-leading time of 1:56.72 at the African junior championships in Maruitius.

Her dramatic improvement in times, muscular build and deep voice sparked speculation about her gender. Ideally, any dispute surrounding an athlete is dealt with before a major competition. But Semenya’s stunning rise from unknown teenage runner to the favorite in the 800 happened almost overnight. That meant the gender test—which takes several weeks—could not be completed in time.

Before the race, IAAF spokesman Nick Davies stressed this is a “medical issue, not an issue of cheating.” He said the “extremely complex” testing has begun. The process requires a physical medical evaluation and includes reports from a gynecologist, endocrinologist, psychologist, internal medicine specialist and gender expert.

South Africa team manager Phiwe Mlangeni-Tsholetsane would not confirm or deny that Semenya was having such a test.

“We entered Caster as a woman and we want to keep it that way,” Mlangeni-Tsholetsane said. “Our conscience is clear in terms of Caster. We have no reservations at all about that.”

Although medals will be awarded for the 800, the race remains under a cloud until the investigation is closed, and Semenya could be stripped of the gold depending on the test results, IAAF general secretary Pierre Weiss said.

“But today there is no proof and the benefit of doubt must always be in favor of the athlete,” Weiss said.

Semenya’s rivals said they tried not to dwell on the issue before the race.

“I’ve heard a lot of speculation, but all I could do was just keep a level head and go about my business,” Meadows said. “If none of it’s true, I feel very sorry for her.”

One thing not in doubt was Semenya’s outstanding run.

“Nobody else in the world can do that sort of time at the moment,” Meadows said. “She obviously took the race by storm.”

City Gym Boys (NYC) 2010 16-Month Wall CalendarThe Day After (LOL!) & The Latest Addition ToMy Black Male Calendar Collection (80+)

Hey Y'all,

I didn't expect to be reporting back to soon with another blog entry on calendars! However, this came in the mail today and so I took some quick pics to show ya. Besides Ebony Soul calender, City Gym Boys is my second most favorite calendar. This is the City Gym Boys 2010 calendar and it is a true 16-month calendar that runs from November 2009, all the way through 2010 and two additional months of January and February of 2011. So that's pretty qool!

The Calendar For Each Month Is Not Too Functional
In Terms Of The Clarity/Size Of The Monthly Dates.
However, If Eye Candy Is All You Care About,
And That's Mostly What This Calendar Is Designed For,
No PROBLEMO! LOL!

This calendar, unlike the Ebony Soul 2010-2011 calendar is not as functional in terms of using it as a date planner; meaning, the dates for each month are small and each of the 16 monthly calendars itself take up only 25% of the calendar space (see picture above) when extended and hanging on the wall. The other 75% of the calendar is taken up by each of the 16 models/body builders. All previous City Gym Boys calendars have pretty much followed this method. Like I can't use the 2" x 1.5" yellow sticky post-it notes which helps me organize the things I need to do in life (appointments, events, etc.) on this calendar like I can with the Ebony Soul calendar. In essence, this calendar is really meant for pure eye candy unless you have the calendar very near to your work space, computer desk or wherever and then you can see the dates more clearly. It's not a problem for me though; eye candy is phine in this instance. I typically have 3 or 4 Black male calendars hanging up in any given year anyway, so one of them usually fits my post-it note needs.

What I definitely LOVE about this calendar is if you look closely at the pic above (click on it to see the bigger version), in the lower right hand corner it shows the flag of the ethnic background of the model. This is true for each month. All the models have an African heritage or Latino heritage background.

Background wise, City Gym Boys is based here in New York City and they are a collecive of twenty-something Black and Latino men. On their website under "About Us..." it says:

City Gym Boys is an elite team of natural bodybuilders from the inner city dedicated to mentoring young men and women on the lifelong benefits of fitness and exercise.

City Gym Boys was founded in 1997 by owner Charles La Salle to reach young men and women in the New York City area. "Our mission is to help eliminate the onset of obesity, particularly among African-Americans and Latino’s in the inner city, by getting teens hooked on working out. If we can get 15 to 23 year olds to make fitness a habit, then we are on our way to reducing diabetes and heart disease", says La Salle.

Joel

City Gym Boys travels around NYC as well as around the United States for different functions and events. As a same gender loving brutha who has been to three of their functions over the years, I can tell you that 90 to 95% of the crowd at these various functions are women, who also get autographs. Despite that, I have gotten my calendars autographed. And yes, there is this subtle dynamic and curiosity of why this tall 6'-3" and relatively masculine Black man (ME) is asking for an autograph. The fellaz are always polite and never disrespecftul. However, they have been to some Black Pride events here and there such as Washington, DC and they will be at Atlanta Black Pride 2009 next month (I believe) for the Labor Day weekend. So they should be used to the SGL experience, I suppose unless some are down low themselves.

Kwame

Rome

Yusef (aka Da Prince)
Is By FAR MY FAVORITE City Gym Boy!
HIS ASS IS PHINE! Fo' Real! LOL!
His Arms Are Leaning on Me! LOL!

Of all the City Gym boys models, Yusef (aka Da Prince) is by far the best looking one. Case in point, when I went to one of the City Gym Boys parties they had last year in NYC (see pic below), all the models came out one by one and all the women were cheering. But man, when Yusef came out, he got a really huge round of applause and loud ass screams from all the women in the joint! It was crazy.

The pic below is from last year's party event. I bid, then bidded again, and then outbid some girl to finally win the framed City Gym Boys print. While shooting the event myself, I met and chatted with the photographer who shoots the calendars for City Gym Boys as well as the framed picture I won. Everybody who won an auction piece took pictures as part of a publicity campaign. I quickly gave the photographer who shoots the City Gym Boys my Nikon D200 DSLR camera and had him shoot a few pics for my own collection which you see below!

It took some real courage for me to bid in the auction (as I was the only guy who did so) and stand there for publicity stills afterward. But I needed to stand in my own light and authenticity and enjoyed da boyz as much as the women did (without al the screaming, of course, LOL!).

Charles LaSalle, the president of City Gym Boys had the mic at oem point and asked the crowd to give all the auction winning folks a round of applause, and so I ("BIG ROD") had his name called out and was shown LOVE by the audience and the other City Gym Boys with claps of applause. That felt good! It shows that Black SGL folks can be visible!!!

I Bid And Won One Of The Auction Pieces
NO! Not The City Gym Boy Standing Next To Me,
The Framed Picture! LOL!
(June 4th, 2008)




At Home With My Auction Piece The Next Day

Overall, I rate this City Gym Boys calendar 4 stars out of 5. A bit tad higher than Ebony Soul calendar which is saying a lot.
You can click the very first pic at the top of this blog entry if you're interested in buying the City Gym Boys 2010 calendar or click here: City Gym Boys 2010 Calendar. If you wanna view the pics I took from the City Gym Boys parties they are in thebe two photo albums below with music (turn ya speakers on!). Just click on whichever photo album you wanna view:

City Gym Boys @ T-New York Lounge (10 Year Anniversary Party) - 2007

City Gym Boys 2009 Calendar Release Party and Boys & Girls Club of Harlem Benefit [6-4-2008]

Ebony Soul 2010-2011 18-Month Wall CalendarThe Latest Addition To MyBlack Male Calendar Collection (80+)

Hey Y'all!

Well, it's August and you know what that mean??? It means it's that time of year when new calendars traditionally begin launching for use for the next year. I have been collecting Black male calendars as a hobby for about 9 years now. I have a total of 81 Black male calendars in my collection! YES! I AM A SERIOUS COLLECTOR! YA HEARD! LOL!

Can't You Tell I'm A Happy Camper! LOL!

There are awards given out for best calendars (I forget what they are called) and Anthony Ragland is a 4-Time World Award Winner for his Ebony Soul calendars over the years. And if I had to give out awards myself there is no question that I'd give one out consistently to the Ebony Soul calendar series. It is by far my favorite and best produced calendar hi-liting Black men: from the selection of Black bruthaz, to the posing/directing of the bruthaz, the composition/framing of the bruthaz to the situations/locations. The only thing I'd say is missing is a lack of Black history almanac vignettes that could be added to the boxes on particular days where folks can get at least a weekly dose of our African heritage. KWANZAA is included though.
The Ebony Soul calendar series is produced by the photographer on the project - Anthony Ragland himself. This brutha has a nice eye and I LOVE his work!! As I mentioned before, Anthony has a knack for selecting good lookin' bruthaz.

AH! Gotta LOVE It!
Excellent Art Direction Layout On The Back Cover!

Not only that, Ebony Soul is the only regularly published Black male calendar that consistently produces a TRUE 16 or 18-month calendar. That means there are 16 or 18 individual bruthaz featured for each month. Not that crap where a calendar features the last 4 months of the existing year on one page (and is too small to be functional anyhow), and then features 12 bruthaz going into the next year. Some calendar producer calls this a 16-month calendar when, Uhhhh... NO!

Michael (February 2011) Lookin' Mad Guud and Sexy!

Overall, I give the Ebony Soul 2010-2011 calendar 3.5 stars out of 5 this time around. It's not 5 stars this time because the situations/locations and model direction shots aren't as good as the two previous calendars before it. However, Anthony has definitely got daring and gone risque for the first time with some nude shots (but you don't see genitals or butt), yet keeps true to his artistic integrity and didn't fall into a crude soft-porn category! (THANK YOU, Anthony!) Nevertheless, I have and LOVE the calendar overall.

Julian Is A Mad Hottie!
He's My Favorite Model In This 2010-2011 Calendar
As Well As The Previous Ebony Soul 2008-2009 Calendar

You can click the very first image of the calendar itself at the top of this blog entry where you can order it directly from Amazon.com via Anthony Ragland's website. The calendar costs a little more than most calendars at $19.99 plus $5 bucks for shipping, but just remember it's a true 18-month calendar and will last a little more than a year and a half on your wall. Anthony ships the calendars out USPS Priority Mail (2 to 3 day service) so you'll get it pretty fast.

Another notable calendar that is real HOT and that I recommend, too, is City Gym Boys!

Be qool y'all! Peace!

ROD (aka BIG ROD)




UPDATE (Tuesday, August 25th, 2009):

Hey Black Family,

I sent Anthony Ragland, the producer/photographer of the Ebony Soul Calendars, an email a week ago and I got a response back and wanted to share it with y'all:


Hello Big Rod,
First of all, thank you for your continued support and compliments on our calendar. Your blog was well written and with a great sense of honesty, both with the compliments and slight criticism.

Our goal is to produce a product that everyone will be proud of, not just the models included. We do receive a lot of feedback each year and I include those thoughts in fine tuning our upcoming productions.

Thank you again,
Anthony Ragland
Producer
EBONY SOUL INC.
www.ebonysoul.net

Other Countries: Black Gay Expression Monthly Writing Workshop Saturday, August 22nd from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM (NYC)

Other Countries:
Black Gay Expression Monthly Writing Workshop

The second August 2009 Other Countries Monthly Writing Workshop will be:

Date & Time: Saturday, August 22nd from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Location:
LGBT Community Services Center
208 West 13th Street
(between 7th and 8th Avenues)
Room 102
New York, NY 10011


If you plan to present work on August 22nd:

* please confirm with Kevin McGruder by Thursday, August 20th at kevmcgr[at]pipeline.com
* bring 8-10 copies of your work for distribution.


For those interested, we will go out to dinner afterward at a nearby restaurant.


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.


We welcome contributions to defray room rental costs. Checks or money orders can be made payable to Other Countries and sent to:

Other Countries
345 West 145th Street, Suite 12B2
New York, NY 10031-5323