AM I BLACK- Renair Amin

Sometimes we have instances where our soul cries out and for me, this is one of them:

Am I Black
It really amazes me
Totally blazes me
That I am only black if I am not gay
I know that people might say
That I am overreacting
Extracting what I want to believe to be truth
There is no use in trying to convince people
How feeble
That mentally we are all on the same level
So I will bury that with my shovel of reality
If you understand my point, will you follow me
If not, you can stop reading right now
Yes, I could crowd you with statistics
And I may do that in a minute
But first let me bear my soul
Now I will not profess to be some radical fist-pumping- afro-wearing
Feminist Lesbian wearing peace signs
While standing high on my podium holding on to my point of view
And please do not get offended as if I am talking about you
I am just saying what I am not
As I plant my anger seeds into a pot of conviction
Because I am guided by the idea that I am not black if I am gay
I listen to what people say
About how we as a community have to fight to stick together
We have to march through whatever the challenges we face
Ban together as victims of race and struggle
The numbers of racial profiling has doubled
And the man has kept us down
Gather around the burning cross that still lights the night
Listen as we hear the latest plight
One attack after another
Believe me, my heart beats for my brothers
And my sistahs
But I would be remise if I did not count my ENTIRE community
So I take it the murder of Sakia Gunn should not have mattered to me
I don’t remember too many people marching
As I matter of fact I remember people marking out reasons why this was okay
Hell she was out late that day
She had no regard for her safety
But really gets me
Is they seemingly excuse the attacker
Talking about after this is over maybe more will learn
How many more of us have to get burned
Beat like a piece of fabric needing to be cleaned
No I don’t mean to sound mean but do you realize
That when “others” have died
They came together at their side
I am telling you, I believe that I am only black if I am not gay
I don’t care if you get mad because of what I say
It is the truth
Right now we are focused on Jena 6
And I am not saying that is not important but shit
But what about our other youth that are rotting away
Defending themselves for their crime of being gay
This here ain’t happen yesterday
We all gathered for the Newark girls
Whose story was only told to their world
Portrayed as a gang…a wolfpack to be exact
If you don’t believe
Then check your facts or at least the New York Post archives
Believe me I do not lie when I speak up picking of the paper
And getting vapors as I read that Aggressive Lesbians want to be men
Or how we tend to think women are nothing but property
Yet it seems to me whenever someone is injured
The media paints the picture with their sexuality first
You can even see the invisible rainbow on the hearse as it drives on by
Do you have the heart to tell me that you think we should die because of who we are
No.
Well I still believe that I am only black if I am not gay
And I don’t care to play the games some play when they say it is not the case
That we are under one umbrella within the same race
Because statistics do not lie
If you do not know any stories
Do a search on homosexual hate crimes resulting in death
And if you look up orientation discrimination
Don’t rest until you have read every entry
I know this may sound elementary
But I am speaking to the dunce that is reading this ready to attack
In fact I guarantee that I will experience some ignorance when this is read
But do not approach me
Instead
Write your community leader
Or preacher
Teacher
Or Speaker
If you want me to be wrong
Start a petition a mile long and lay it on their desk
Yes, prove that I have all my information wrong
Put it in a song and have it downloaded a million times
Hide it in a chorus of a famous rhyme
Spread the word
Renair Amin is saying we don’t support the gays
Tell her she is wrong in spite of what she says
Please
Start a revolution speaking out against me
It doesn’t matter what their orientation may be
All revolutionaries are included
Have them meet secretly in a building
Plotting to show I am misinformed
Do
Whatever
It
Takes to show the nation
That it is about unification
And not about me
But until that day I remain free
To state my case in spite of what you may say
That I am only black if I am not gay

Copyright@Renair Amin. September 2007

ENDA Hits Snag Over Transgender Inclusion

ENDA hits snag over transgender inclusion
House Democrats likely to drop gender identity provision
By LOU CHIBBARO JR. | Sep 26, 4:57 PM

http://www.southernvoice.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=14507

Matthew Sheppard Act Passes!!!!

Dear Stephaun,

I've been waiting for months to write this.

With your help, the U.S. Senate has just passed the Matthew Shepard Act! I want to thank you, personally, for everything you've done to help make this moment possible. HRC supporters sent 350,000 emails, made 30,000 calls to Congress, and wrote over 5,000 letters to local papers. Your commitment was inspiring. And even Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) acknowledged the work of the Human Rights Campaign during debate on the Senate floor.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for your incredible support.

But even as we celebrate this victory – we know we face a tough road ahead. The bill has to survive final negotiations between the House and Senate before it gets to President Bush. Even then, he has threatened to veto it. As you know, pressure from the radical right will be fierce the whole way. Our support must be fierce as well – so we will continue to ask for your support over the coming weeks. It's been nine years since Matthew Shepard was senselessly murdered because of who he was. HRC stands firmly committed to this being the year we finally make sure every American is protected from this kind of violence. We just made history. Thank you for getting us this far. Now, let's see it through to the end.

Warmly,

Joe Solmonese
President

***************************************************************************
MY TAKE: I am so very glad that this bill has finally passed. I have had the opportunity to advocate, research, and speak on behalf of this piece of legislation and although this is a sure sign of progress in the fight for human rights, being a Black Gay Man in this country, I know that the fight is no where near over. As it has been said before, THIS battle has been won....but the war is far from over. Thank you to all of those who have supported progress and progressive change.

Stephaun Clipper-Wallace (aka Stephaun Elite Manolo Blahnik)

Jena 6 March & Rally

This is a video clip of the recent March and Rally in support of the Jena 6 that took place in Jena, Louisiana. Additionally, some comments from three of the members themselves are included in the clip. I hope you enjoy the clip and support this cause by giving it its due attention, but also lets not neglect nor overlook the fact that the tyranny of White American supremacy and entitlement continues to have devastating impacts that can be felt around the country.

SOVO: MANOLO BLAHNIK SCHOLARSHIP

By: Ryan Lee, Southern Voice Reporter

View SOVO Article

Being mr. nice guy in a world of shade isn’t always easy, but Ajmar Millar is learning that it has its perks.

The 21-year-old Morehouse College senior first learned about the local house and ballroom scene when he was in high school and visited family who lived in Atlanta. During one of his trips, Millar came across YouthPride and started a friendship with someone who introduced him to the world of gay houses and ballroom competitions, where mostly black and Latino gay men walk the runway to battle in fashion, voguing, make-up and gender illusions.

“I met a friend there, and we’re still friends to this day, and he was involved in ballrooms,” says Millar, who eventually joined a gay house when he moved to Atlanta for his senior year in high school.

Over the past four years Millar has become part of the backbone for Atlanta’s House of Balenciaga — a trusted brother and friend to his fellow house members, and a fierce runway competitor who is better known as Ajay Balenciaga.

The ballroom category Millar competes in is “Schoolboy Realness,” where judges critique contestants on how preppy and masculine they appear. The “Realness” category is particularly well suited for Millar, who strives to remain authentic in most areas of his life.

“Some people have to act when they go up there [on the runway], but for me, I just be myself completely,” says Millar, who has won five major balls in cities across the U.S. and a handful of victories at the mini balls that take place here at Club 708 every Wednesday.

But it’s Millar’s daily performance in “Schoolboy Realness” — as someone who’s preparing to earn his English degree from one of the most prestigious historically black colleges in America — that’s earned him even more attention among his ballroom peers.

a few months ago, at the suggestion of his house father, Harold Balenciaga, Millar applied for the inaugural Tony Milan Scholarship Fund, which was created by the national House of Manolo Blahnik.

“We started it because for a long time the ballroom scene was stigmatized as all people being criminals, drug addicts and prostitutes, and so it really had a negative cloud above it,” says Damon Humes, the father of the House of Manolo Blahnik who funded the $1,000 scholarship out-of-pocket.

“We were looking for people who made an impact on the community, and who promote positive energy and a positive attitude,” says Humes, explaining why Millar was selected as the first ever recipient of the Tony Milan Scholarship. The honor is named after a Hall of Fame ballroom performer who is also a Morehouse alumnus.

“He’s an amazing person,” Humes says of Millar. “He’s very talented, very intelligent, he works from his heart, he has great energy and he helps people, so he really embodied what we were trying to accomplish.”

In addition to being grateful to receive more financial help to complete his studies, Millar says he is proud to be part of a new chapter in the evolution of the ballroom scene.

“It’s about progression as far as education and advancement — it’s good because it’s not just about balls and winning a trophy, it’s about doing things outside in the real world.

The Trinidad native is involved with Morehouse’s gay student group, Safe Space, the English honors society Sigma Tau Delta, and the Caribbean Student Association. A contributing writer for the Morehouse Maroon Tiger, Millar hopes to one day launch his own lifestyle magazine to empower young men.

“Something that they can read and be interested in, but yet still there’s so kind of substance to it so it’s not like some cliché music magazine out there, or the celebrity trash you read about," he says.

“PLEASE, DON’T BE AMERICAN TRASH,” jack Mizrahi pleads with the folks attending the House of Balenciaga’s “League of Extraordinary Individuals” ball in the early hours of Sept. 3. The legendary emcee from New York City informs the crowd that the ball is hosting guests from London’s burgeoning ballroom scene — which is preparing for the first international ball on Dec. 1, 2007 — and so he asks the American queens to be on their best behavior.

Held at the new Stone Mountain location of the gay nightclub Traxx, the Balenciaga Ball attracted hundreds of revelers who were in town to celebrate Black Gay Pride, including nationally known figures like Andre Mizrahi, Ivy Herrera, Jamie and Raquel Balenciaga, and Jade Cole, a former contestant on “America’s Next Top Model.”

The eight-hour event kicked off at 4:30 a.m., with hundreds of house members competing in more than three-dozen performance categories for more than $5,000 in cash prizes. The grand prize of $2,007 went to the House of Manolo Blahnik whose members conjured the spirits of Freddy Kruger, Jason, Carrie and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” in their final number.

The crowd for the Balenciaga Ball almost filled the enormous space inside the new Traxx, underlining Atlanta’s status as a premiere host city for ballroom competitions.

“I think the scene is really growing and it’s strong,” Humes says of Atlanta. “At one point it had become like the capital of the ballroom community because of the migration of so many black gay men to Atlanta.”

As part of the host house, Millar — a.k.a Ajay Balenciaga — was ineligible to compete, although he did receive a special shout out during the opening Grand March, an elaborate procession where each member of the House of Balenciaga is introduced and walks the runway dressed to the nines.

“Whenever I walk I try to bring creativity to a category that can be dull,” Millar says. “Recently, I made some shorts out of candy because the theme of the ball was Candy Land. All kinds of candy — everything from Tootsie Rolls to peppermints.

“Ultimately, I want to bring creativity to a category where often times people don’t think outside the box,” he says.

Anticipating The Good

Anxiety About Change

When we find ourselves going through any kind of change in our lives, our natural response may be to tense up on the physical, mental, or emotional level. We may not even notice that we have braced ourselves against a shift until we recognize the anxiety, mood swings, or general worried feeling toward the unknown that usually results. There are positive ways to move through change without pushing it away, however, or attempting to deny that it is happening. Since change will occur in almost every aspect of our lives, we can learn to make our response to it an affirmative one of anticipation, welcoming the new while releasing the past with grace.

One thing we can do is change our perspective by changing the labels we use to identify our feelings. We can reinterpret feelings of anxiety as the anxious butterflies that come with eager expectation. With this shift, we begin to look for the good that is on its way to us. Though we may only be able to imagine the possibilities, when we acknowledge that good is there for us to find, we focus our energy on joyful anticipation and bring it into our experience while allowing the feelings to carry us forward.

We can also choose to do a ceremony to allow our emotions to process. Every culture has created ceremonies to help people make the transition from one phase of life to the next. We can always create a ceremony too, perhaps by burning written thoughts to watch the smoke carry them away, thereby releasing them, or we can welcome new endeavors by planting flowers or trees. Some ceremonial activities such as a farewell send-off or housewarming party, we may do automatically. Society also has built-in ceremonies, like graduation and weddings, which may satisfy the need we feel. Sometimes the shift from denial to acceptance is all that is needed to ease our anxiety, allowing us to bring our memories with us as we move through nervousness to joyful excitement about the good to come.

Gay Issues Still Not Important Enough

Gay issues still sensitive for ’08 Senate race
Democrats fault Chambliss for Bush cronyism

By ZACK HUDSON
Aug. 24, 2007

The first two Democrats to give chase to Republican U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss for the 2008 election both remain mum on changing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which prohibits gay people from serving openly in the military.

Chambliss’ current challengers — DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones and Dale Cardwell, formerly an investigative reporter for WSB-TV — are each toeing the middle line as “conservative” Democrats in attempts to lure voters from both ends of the political spectrum. And while they are quietly taking jabs at each other, Cardwell and Jones’ knives are out and in view when it comes to Chambliss, Georgia’s senior U.S. senator.

Chambliss’ campaign did not respond to interview requests by press time.

“He’s had his chance. By giving Bush a blank check, he’s put us in a bind,” Jones said of Chambliss, who in 2003 defeated Sen. Max Cleland, a Democrat, to take the seat.

Cardwell pointed out the memorable campaign Chambliss lodged against Cleland, a Vietnam veteran who lost limbs in the war.

“I don’t have to be defensive against Saxby. He has to be on the defense with the people of Georgia, because I think he’s failed them,” Cardwell said.

Cardwell and Jones don’t visibly part ways on most major issues. Cardwell’s campaign has so far stressed his commitment to transparency and his refusal of Political Action Committee (PAC) money should it be offered him.

Jones highlighted his experience as DeKalb County CEO and a former Georgia state representative. As the highest-ranking official in DeKalb County government, Jones oversees an annual budget of nearly $3 billion and approximately 7,000 county employees.

“I’ve been there. And I know how to lead people to get things done. This isn’t a game or a hobby for me,” Jones said.

He first took the elected position in 2000. In 2001, he and the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners legislated domestic partner benefits for county employees. He said he supports extending the benefits to federal employees.

“That doesn’t endorse someone’s lifestyle,” Jones explained of his support for domestic partner benefits, which differs from his stance on gay marriage.

“That just says I want to have the type of benefits that attract the best employees,” he said.

Like Jones, Cardwell pointed to the expanding number of companies that offer domestic partner benefits to employees. Cardwell says he supports offering domestic partner benefits to federal employees.

“Why in the world should the federal government be hamstrung by not being able to recruit the best candidates in any field?” he asked.

Cardwell touted his own reputation in business and his personal life as proof of his qualification for the Senate race. As a celebrated investigator for WSB Channel 2 Action News, he took on hot-button issues and unearthed his share of official corruption including in the high-proile case of DeKalb sheriff Sidney Dorsey.

“I’ve been telling people the truth for 23 years. I never backed down off that story because the people deserved to know the truth,” he said.

GAY UNIONS

Cardwell and Jones differ slightly on the issue of gay marriage and civil unions.

Cardwell said simply that he is in favor of “equal protection under the law” for everyone. He said he voted against the 2004 amendment to the Georgia Constitution that limits marriage to opposite-sex couples only.

“It was an unnecessary amendment. I think it was done for a clearly political purpose, and I think it’s immoral to tinker with the constitution,” he said.

Jones said he voted in favor of the amendment back in 2004.

“I have my feelings about marriage, and I agree with most Georgians when it was put in the constitution that marriage should be between a man and a woman,” Jones said.

Jones promised to advocate on behalf of Iraq War veterans to ensure they receive better health care access once they return to the U.S. He said he has not examined efforts to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” closely enough to take a firm stance on the issue.

“There are probably gays and lesbians who are in the military who are coming back home as veterans and not being treated with proper medical care,” he said.

Cardwell also said he will have to closely examine efforts to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” before he weighs in on the subject. His own idea about being a conservative Democrat is rooted in what he calls “good American values,” like monogamy and fiscal conservatism.

---

© 2007 The Southern Voice | A Window Media Publication

MY TAKE:

Here again, we have two candidates who are skipping around issues and almost all together avoiding the conversation about gay rights. I really wonder how people would feel if gays and lesbians were in the majority and it was heterosexuals who were fighting for their rights to live and exist free from oppression. To put it simply, the Constitution (US & GA) is to provide for the rights of its citizens, not to remove them. If these historic documents do not support its citizens or at least not provide for the rights of a certain segment of the population, then how can that population of people be held accountable to the Constitution or the other laws of this country?

PHYRE presents "THE NU BLAK"

PHYRE = (fire)

PRESENTS

‘THE NU BLAK’

SUGAR - 257 Trinity Avenue - Atlanta, Georgia 30303

‘PHYRE', is a COALITION OF COMMUNITY PARTNERS PRESENTING AN EVENING OF ART, FILM, LITERATURE, AND MUSIC TO SHOWCASE OUR CREATIVE TALENTS AND TO ADVOCATE FOR THE DESTIGMATIZATION, HEALING, AND PREVENTION OF HIV/AIDS.

Atlanta, Georgia – ‘PHYRE’, is pleased to announce ‘THE NU BLAK’, an evening featuring performances by Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people who continue to move our community progressively forward through the arts, literature, film, social and political activism, and HIV/AIDS prevention.

This extraordinary event will take place on Sunday, September 2^nd beginning at 5 p.m. at SUGAR, a new sophisticated downtown night spot. Dance the night away at the after party hosted by Plush, Inc.

‘THE NU BLAK’ event will feature

• 2 Film Screening

‘Christopher Street’, Named for the safe haven known to many LGBT youth in the Big Apple, Christopher Street presents the story of four young men of minority descent, and the challenges that they faces daily growing up in a world of poverty, sickness, alienation, racism, sexism, and prejudice.

Gateway Entertainment in association with Orphan's Nest Productions presents "Playing Spades" a soapy lesbian series served up in 5-minute episodes. Based on the books Back in the Day and Drama written and published by Atlanta's own femme fatale, Deardria Nesbitt.

• An Art Exhibit by Phyllis “Adair” Robinson and Seanlamont;
• Inspirational and motivational reading by Herukhuti;
• Live music by JLeeb, ebb-n-flow, R &B sensation Xantha, and the Black sistah of County Music, Carmen Belle.
• And a candlelight vigil to remember and celebrate the lives of members of the Black LGBT community who have made their transitions.

After the success of our groundbreaking series of events during Black History Month we wanted to continue our dedication and service to the community and its allies. The BLACK HISTORY WEEK events paid homage to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender African-Americans who have shaped the American mosaic through their contributions in the areas of politics, social justice, film, art, music, dance, religion, and literature in America today.

‘PHYRE’ is a coalition of community partners based in Atlanta, Georgia, organized to promote dialogue, as well as, cross-cultural awareness of the contributions of African American LGBT persons to American history. Our community sponsors and partners include AID Atlanta, Inc., EM Designs Group, N.A.P.W.A (National Association of People with AIDS), and Plush Inc.

©2007 PHYRE

For more information on ‘THE NU BLAK’ IN ATLANTA including a detailed program of events and requests for press interviews, please visit www.afterthephyre.org, email us at info@afterthephyre.org, or call us at: 678-280-7750.

"STAYING ALIVE 2007"

This past week I had the opportunity to attend the “Staying Alive” conference hosted and sponsored by NAPWA, also known as the National Association of People With AIDS, in Cleveland, Ohio this past week. I was grateful to be accompanied by 4 beautiful young people who I feel are like “children” of mine. I feel like I can be very frank and state that although I have been working in Community Development and Organizing for over 10 years and have been working in HIV/AIDS Prevention/Education for about 5 years, my background provided nothing to prepare me for the experience that lay ahead of me at this conference. Within this summary I will touch upon some of the points that impacted me the most.

As long as I have been in this field (HIV/AIDS) I have never felt victimized when people would assume my HIV status as being positive. Most often I would find a sense of comfort and validation, because that means that people are paying attention to me and that my presence is impacting those around me. Plus, I mean, shouldn’t we all more or less assume people are HIV positive? Checking into the hotel and feeling like I was truly one of very few HIV negative people in the room had a profound effect on me mentally and emotionally. Never have I been in such a setting before, considering most of my work in HIV has been on the “prevention/education” side. I do, however, have the understanding that “prevention” is not just for HIV negative people, but for HIV positive individuals as well. It’s about preventing the spread of HIV which applies to everyone.

I, again, have never felt like I needed to defend my HIV status, and this conference truly reinforced that for me. From the conferences’ very beginning, people engaged me just like I was HIV positive, and there was such a strong sense of empowerment and belonging that I felt from those gestures and energy, that to some degree I put out of my mind that my sero-status was different from most of the people present. Having numerous conversations with many people who have been infected by HIV due to rape, being infected from birth, having contracted the virus through consensual sex with someone unaware of their own status, a few stories of women contracting HIV from invetro-fertilization, and even a very emotional story of a person who contracted the virus from a needle stick by a medical professional who was trying to save their life.

I sat back after hearing some of these stories and really asked myself, “how is this possible?” During some of the workshops with the youth there was a creative writing component, in which the youth were able to put their thoughts on paper about how and what they would say to their loved ones if they were about to be put to death. One of the youth wrote (and later spoke to me) about his piece. He mentioned that he had no relationship with his father, and that he has a varied relationship with his mother. This youth confessed to me that he contracted the virus after being rapped at a very early age. It wasn’t until years later that his health began to decline and while in the hospital he was tested for everything. He, his doctors, and mother couldn’t come to any resolution and then asked if he had ever had sex. He reluctantly and embarrassed said that he was still a virgin, not remembering at the time that he had been raped as a child. His mother insisted that he go ahead and be tested for HIV anyway just to rule that out. No one could have imagined the result would come back positive. These stories really touched me in very deep ways allowing me to empathize with people in truly unique manner and also further empowered me to continue the work that I do and even take it up a notch.

In other workshops, the youth learned about the media and the advantages/disadvantages of coming out with their status, a creative performance workshop where the youth exercised their minds and let go of their inhibitions to embrace inner peace and freedom, skills building/human relations and how to incorporate passion into your career objectives to make them work for you, and several other workshops which challenged them mentally and emotionally to think outside of the box, and even a workshop of self-care and how to keep yourself healthy.

It is my sincere hope that all people will learn from each other and become empowered in their lives through the impact of others in their lives, and by the prevalence of trials and successes we all encounter and endure through this existence. As human beings, we often define our existence through our struggles….I hope you define yours through empowerment.

RE: The Blueprint of Success Miniball Part 1

Community,

Thank you thank you thank you all for your support of the education and empowerment of our youth!! The event was again a success. This makes the 5th one and trust me they are going to keep going!!

Ya'll really came and showed out!!!!!

On a personal note, providing information and HIV education is not just something that I do for a job, its a passion and a lifestyle. I appreciate everyone acknowledging that part of me and supporting this project. Special thanks to the ICON House of Ebony via Stan "TWIN" Ebony, the MYLIFE Project of YouthPride, and all the folks who came out!

The Houses represented in the building: (from memory)
Azzure
Mizrahi
Ebony
Revlon
Labeija
Manolo Blahnik
Cavalli
Ultra Omni
Chanel
Balenciaga
Lacroix

Stephaun Elite Manolo Blahnik
Community Activist-Health Educator-Empowermen t Specialist

"Love is the ability and willingness to allow those that youcare for to be what they choose for themselves without any insistencethat they satisfy you."- Wayne Dyer

No Wrong Response

Experiences Shape Your Reactions

Our view of the universe is largely determined by our experiences. It is when we are caught off guard by the spontaneity of existence that we are most apt to respond authentically, even when our feelings do not correspond with those of the multitude. Events that arouse strong emotions with us or are surprising in nature can be disquieting, for it often is in their aftermath that we discover how profoundly our histories have shaped us. The differences that divide us from our peers are highlighted in our reactions when these diverge from the mainstream, and this can be highly upsetting because it forces us to confront the uniqueness of our lives.

When our response to unexpected news or startling ideas is not the same as that of the people around us, we may feel driven by a desire to dismiss our feelings as irrational or incorrect. But reactions themselves are neither right, nor wrong. The forces that sculpted the patterns that to a large extent dictate our development are not the same forces that shaped the development of our relatives, friends, colleagues, or neighbors. There is no reason to believe that one person's reaction to a particular event is somehow more valid than another's. How we respond to the constant changes taking place in the world around us is a product of our history, a testament to our individuality, and a part of the healing process that allows us to address key elements of our past in a context we can grasp in the present.

Life's pivotal events can provide you with a way to define yourself as a unique and matchless being, but you must put aside the judgments that might otherwise prevent you from gaining insight into your distinct mode of interpreting the world. Try to internalize your feelings without categorizing or evaluating them. When you feel unsure of the legitimacy of your reactions, remember that cultural, sociological, spiritual, and familial differences can cause two people to interpret a single event in widely dissimilar ways. Examining your responses outside of the context provided by others can show you that your emotional complexity is something to be valued, for it has made you who you are today.

~(unknown author)

The Blueprint of Success MiniBall

The Evolution Project of AID Atlanta

presents....

The Blueprint of Success MiniBall: Part I

Supported By:
The Legendary Headliner - Stephaun Elite Manolo Blahnik

Date: August 17th, 2007- 5pm!!!

Venue: YouthPride (1017 Edgewood Avenue- Atlanta)
Next to Inman Park MARTA Station

Cost: Free!! (Snacks provided by The House of Ebony)


***Ages 24 and under only unless you are on the guest list (to get on the list contact me directly- 404.870.7812) .

Sponsored by The Evolution Project of Aid Atlanta, The Icon House of Ebony, and the MYLife Program of YouthPride.

A "blueprint" can be described as a model or prototype. Something that represents the pinnacle of where other similar things are fashioned from. Many people have their own thoughts about what a blueprint is, how it is created, and how it should be executed, just as many people have their own thoughts about what success means. What we will see tonight is, can we create our own blueprint of what it means to be successful? Tonight its not about traditional and what once was, we want to see something revolutionary that has yet to be done on a ballroom runway....the synthesis of empowerment and education coupled with the ballroom floor. What we want to see today is; can you demonstrate success in other areas in addition to the ballroom floor?

To qualify for the trophy for each category you must be able to answer an HIV related question.

Categories

"The Blueprint of Realness"- (BQ Realness) - You know the taste! I wanna see the pretty bois, the school bois, the thugs, executives (if you dare) and the athletic realness guys bring it. This is not a category that requires a change of clothes if you are "everyday all day realness"!!!

Virgin Performance- There are no chops in this category, you simply have to show us what you have been working on. You are attempting to create the standard so remember the five elements and make sure you have them when you hit the runway!

"The Blueprint of Carta" - (OTA Face) - Painted or Unpainted. Light or Dark or Medium? If you have what it takes to help redefine what FACE means, line up at the back of the runway and show the judges. Knowing the basics might prove to be to your advantage!!! !

Virgin Runway- Tired of watching the girls pump? Want to get out there and get your L.I.F.E? Know that you are being judged on your look as well as your walk. Even though there are no chops for this category, make sure you come ready to serve!!!

Sneaker vs. Sneaker- Some of you spend hundreds of dollars on shoes because you want the best and unique style. Lets see what you think is the best.....bring us your best "sneaker" and tell us why its so unique.

"The Blueprint of Runway" - (Runway OTA) - Every once and a while, someone will make an impact in runway so strong that it becomes a "staple" or the new standard to which everything else is measured. We want to see that tonight!!! Bring us your most sickening look, walk, and poses to mark a new day in the definition of RUNWAY!!!

"The Blueprint of Performance" - (Performance OTA) - What is performance? What exactly is a catwalk and duckwalk? Are you a twister? Do you have hands or arms control? Tonight its all about the art of performance! ! I want to see you take performance beyond the elements and wow us with what you feel should be the new standard for performance.

"The Blueprint of J-Sette" - Some people think they can do the counts, while other KNOW they can. Which are you? Will you be on beat or will the count beat you? We all know that any new standard should totally stand out from the old. Which road will you take? The door to the new standard or the old?


For more information on this event or other Evolution Project activities contact us at: 404.870.7812 or on myspace: www.myspace. com/evolution_ atlanta

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Stephaun Elite Manolo Blahnik

Community Activist-Health Educator-Empowermen t Specialist

www.stephaunelite. blogspot. com
www.groups.yahoo. com/group/ southeast_ ballroom_ scene

"Love is the ability and willingness to allow those that youcare for to be what they choose for themselves without any insistencethat they satisfy you."- Wayne Dyer

House of Manolo Blahnik Presents 1st Ever Ballroom Scholarship

www.houseofblahnik.com For Immediate Release Contact: Damon L. Humes aka Father Jay Manolo Blahnik Telephone: (215) 431-1790 Email: houseofblahnik@yahoo.com

BLACK AND LATINO LGBT YOUTH AWARDED SCHOLARSHIP The House of Manolo Blahnik Acknowledges Patron of the “Ballroom” Community

For many, the only reference of the House/Ball community comes from the movie, “Paris Is Burning;” which showed a world chiefly occupied by a melee of artistically talented misfits and criminals. Since then, members of the “House/Ball” sub-culture have often been viewed as outcasts of the larger lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and are even stigmatized among Black and Latino LGBTs. But there have been some changes to the world captured in Jenny Livingston’s revealing film. Chief among those changes is the efforts made by The House of Manolo Blahnik. This house chose to make a difference in the lives of others by awarding the “FIRST EVER” scholarship to students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities, both of whom are members of Houses. The House of Manolo Blahnik, like those featured in Paris is Burning, values all of the social contributions made by this marginalized population; but, The House of Manolo Blahnik is also a real non-profit organization under the fiscal management of the New York State Black Gay Network. The House of Manolo Blahnik established its’ Tony Milan Scholarship Fund in 2006, to support the educational and “ballroom” success of LGBT members of the House/Ball community. The Tony Milan Scholarship Fund encourages LGBT community members to aspire to positions in which they are able to contribute to society, are open about their sexual orientation and act as role models for their peers in the Ballroom scene. This year’s inaugural recipient of the Tony Milan Scholarship is Ajmar Millar known by his House/Ball friends as “Ajay Balenciaga”. Similar to Tony Milan, after whom the scholarship is named, Ajay is pursuing his undergraduate education at Morehouse College, in Atlanta (GA) where he is a graduating senior and is an active member of Atlanta’s Ballroom community. “Ajay truly exemplifies our community’s new leaders,” states Damon Humes (co-founder, House Father and Executive Director of the House of Manolo Blahnik). In addition to the Tony Milan Scholar, the House of MB chose to grant a second award to Jimmy Vincent, known by his House/Ball friends as Boi Boi St. Clair to help with books and supplies. Boi Boi St. Clair is a student at North Carolina Central University. “Both young men were chosen based on their academic performance, their ballroom community participation and their positive contributions to our community. They most certainly represent the legacy of Tony Milan and the Undeniable House of Manolo Blahnik. Please join me in congratulating both of these amazing men for their hard work and achievement!” exalts Humes.

The House of Manolo Blahnik: With chapters in New York (NY), Philadelphia and Pittsburgh (PA), Atlanta (GA), Detroit (MI), Chicago (IL), Columbus and Cleveland (OH), Louisville (KY), North and South Carolina, and in Oakland (CA), seeks to invest in the future of ball patrons who make valuable contributions to the ballroom community. The House of Manolo Blahnik seeks to shift community norms by creating tangible recognition for individuals who make such contributions and highlight these contributions. Tony Milan: For over twenty years, ‘Hall of Famer’, Tony Milan, has and continues to make a lasting impression in the hearts and minds of ball patrons around the country. Tony Milan is an educated leader, community advocate, and celebrated LEGEND within the ballroom community. Upon realizing it was time to set priorities, Tony applied and was accepted to Morehouse College. After being crowned Legendary, Tony completed his undergraduate studies in 1994. For more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please call Damon L. Humes at (215) 431-1790 or e-mail at houseofblahnik@yahoo.com.

Hit Man Kills Newspaper Editor

08-02) 14:05 PDT OAKLAND -- Chauncey Bailey, editor of the Oakland Post and a former reporter for the Oakland Tribune, was shot to death today on a downtown Oakland street in what police described as a targeted killing.

Bailey, 57, was shot just before 7:30 a.m. on 14th Street near Alice Street, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses said a lone gunman dressed in dark clothing approached Bailey, shot him twice and ran away. Oakland Fire Capt. Melinda Drayton said Bailey was shot first in the back and then once in the head.

Police spokesman Roland Holmgren said investigators believe the shooting was an assassination-style hit.

Bailey, who lived in Oakland and has a teenage son, was known for his assertive style of questioning city officials, Holmgren said.

He was well known in the African American community and was often invited to speak as an expert on black issues. In more than a decade at the Oakland Tribune, he covered African American issues ranging from AIDS in the black community to prison-sentencing policy to minority college enrollment. Before coming to the Tribune, he worked for 10 years at the Detroit News.

Bailey was fired from the Tribune in 2005 for ethics violations, including instances when he mixed personal affairs with business, according to several former colleagues. He went on to work for the Post as a freelance foreign correspondent, covering stories in Vietnam and Haiti, and was named editor of the publication in June.

"This is madness," Holmgren said of the slaying. "He held our feet to the fire; he kept me on my toes."

The Post, a weekly with a circulation of 49,500, is geared toward the African American community and is distributed in Oakland, Berkeley, Richmond and San Francisco.

Gwendolyn Carter, the paper's advertising manager, said news of Bailey's killing reached the office a little before 9 a.m. She said the staff of about 10 people was in shock.

"He was a good man," Carter said. "He always took care of me. He would say I was his little sister and he was my big brother."

Members of the Post staff, including publisher Paul Cobb, as well as local NAACP representatives gathered at the scene, expressing disbelief at Bailey's death and consoling one another.

"I'm shocked, as all of us are in the city. This is a daylight shooting; it's frightening," said Chris Jackson, executive director of the NAACP's Oakland chapter.

John Bowens, the paper's director of advertising, said he and others had no idea what the motive could be.

"He talked to me about what he could do to make Oakland better for people, about how the city could improve," Bowens said. "He spoke his mind."

Members of the Police Department's command staff, including Chief Wayne Tucker, were on scene this morning. Tucker, who arrived around 9 a.m. and did not stay long, said he was there because of the unusual nature of the killing, noting that it occurred downtown and in broad daylight.

Mayor Ron Dellums issued a statement saying, "Chauncey will be missed. He was at every media event and he always asked the first question. His questions were thoughtful and you knew that he sought to truly inform the public."

City Councilman Larry Reid called Bailey's killing "a loss to the entire African American community."

"Chauncey is someone who was very well respected, even though he and I sometimes disagreed," Reid said. "It's just really sad. Somehow we as a city, we a human beings have to get a handle on all these guns on the streets and these crazy people who have no sense of the value of a human life."

In a statement, Tribune Managing Editor Martin Reynolds called Bailey "a friend, a valued colleague and a loving father."

"His death has left all of us at the Oakland Tribune shocked and deeply saddened," Reynolds said. "Chauncey's coverage of Oakland's African American community was a tremendous asset to the Tribune. ... We will miss Chauncey and send our sincerest condolences to his friends and family. We now look to the authorities to bring his killer to justice."

Chronicle staff writers Henry K. Lee and Jim Herron Zamora contributed to this report.

NEWLY FORMED MIDTOWN INCLUSION ALLIANCE

Good afternoon everybody;

Last night about 10 brilliant sisters and brothers met to discuss and address the recent discriminatory actions towards the Black LGBT crowd that goes to Piedmont Park on Sundays. We adopted the name Midtown Inclusive Alliance (MIA). Side note: MIA is Spanish for MINE. How appropriate!!!

A lot of great but alarming information was disseminated and well there is definitely a pattern happening that is painting a dismal picture for the inclusion of our folks in midtown and Piedmont Park in the near future.

We did come up with a “plan” with first steps in addressing our concerns. On Monday, August 20, 2007 @ 7pm we will reconvene to continue the conversation and to report back on our progress. Anyone is welcome to join us. Please contact us if interested. We are currently looking for a meeting space in MIDTOWN. As a default, Craig Washington has offered 139 Ralph McGill Blvd. as a possible meeting space.

NOTE:

The meeting tentatively scheduled for tomorrow THURSDAY will not take place.

Also the MPSA meeting scheduled for Monday, August 13^th WILL NOT TAKE PLACE!!! Their meeting will be the 2^nd Monday in September.

HOW CAN YOU GET INVOLVED???

Anyone working with Black Gay youths (Da CRIBB, Evolution Project, Youth Space, Atlanta Ballroom Alliance etc.) is STRONGLY encouraged TO BE AT THE TABLE!!!

We need everyone to be extra vigilant of any discriminatory acts and to keep recorded details (time, place, witnesses etc.)

IF you live in midtown, Please join the Midtown Neighborhood Association and/or the Midtown Ponce Security Alliance so that your voice can be heard. Or at least attend the meetings!!!

Share this information with your friends and family that might live in midtown. Ask them to join us at our next meeting.

As always, be blessed!!!

Jon Gabriel Ortiz

Communicable Disease Specialist

Fulton County Department of Health & Wellness

Communicable Disease Prevention Branch

99 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, SE

Atlanta, GA 30303

(404) 730-1429 Office

(678) 499-9716 Cell