REVIEW; Noah's Arc; Jumping The Broom

Remember Love
Noah’s Arc delivered. The short on reviews would be to say, “Thumbs up!” Sure, I can break it down and tell you that Noah’s Arc; Jumping the Broom could have included the theme song – at some point – or maybe even that it would have been nice to know what happened to Wade’s jilted ex-Dre’, but none of those things tarnished the experience of hangin’ with our favorite Logo-boys again. The movie – which played in only FIVE theaters across the country - grossed a very respectable, $161,000 (to put it in perspective, this averages to over $32,000 per location vs. $11,500 for the number one movie this weekend, HSM3) proving Noah’s Arc had the staying power to remain on LOGO and be successful if the powers-that-be weren’t so intimated by color on the network. I mean, let’s keep it real, I read one reviewer say that he was disturbed that the guys of Noah’s Arc have no White friends and that somehow this ruins his view of the show – and the movie. Ummm…. Maybe it’s me, but we sat for over seven seasons of Queer As Folk without so much as ONE black or Latino friend for any of the cast members of that hit Showtime series. Where was this entertainment critic then – and get this, the critic was BLACK! All those cock-and-bull issues aside, the movie doesn’t disappoint. If the title itself isn’t a spoiler then let me put the nail in the coffin and say, YES, the succulent Wade and the wispy Noah live happily ever after, but not before some really creative story writing takes place. The packed audience that sat through the showing we attended cheered, cried and laughed out loud. BD and I routinely shared a kiss or a tight hand-grip at several of the issues addressed by the movie. Although you shouldn’t expect any Academy Award winning performances, no Noah’s Arc fan will be disappointed by this much awaited flick. A must see for gay men of color and their admirers. The movie clearly showed that Showtime or HBO would have made a much more respectable home for the series and our men of the Arc.



On Blast
Put yourself in the casting chair….What character do you relate to the most on Noah’s Arc and why?

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Join Us This Saturday; Noah's Arc The Movie

Join Us; Saturday, October 25th, 9:45 p.m.; Noah's Arc, Jumping The Broom
This Saturday, October 25th at 9:45 p.m. a group of us will make a movie date out of our favorite boys of cable-TV – Noah’s Arc. The guys return for their final hurrah in Noah’s Arc; Jumping the Broom. BD and I have invited a few friends – and any of their friends who are up to some campy fun – to join us at Chelsea Cinemas; 260 West 23rd Street. To purchase advance tickets online click here and be sure to choose the Saturday, October 25th, 9:45p.m. show.

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They're back to tie the knot--or not? Noah, Alex, Ricky, Chance and their significant others travel to Martha's Vineyard for a weekend wedding getaway. Drama ensues as, one-by-one, their relationships start to crack under the pressure of closer examination. Newly successful screenwriter Noah looks to his friends for advice as he prepares to move his relationship to a more serious level while struggling to keep his first studio movie alive. But the friends are of little help as they juggle their own issues. Elder statesmen Chance and Eddie attempt to scratch their seven-year itch, but they worry their marriages have permanently lost their spark. And playboy Ricky flaunts his barely legal college student fling in the face of his monogamous friends but hides a surprising secret that threatens to rock the house. Add to the mix Alex's crazy-making wedding prep, a closeted superstar rapper, a high-maintenance studio exec and a surprise visitor, and you've got the makings of a hilarious yet potentially disastrous weekend. Can the boys survive it--and each other?

Rosacea?!?!!

Rosacea?!
It’s almost unthinkable to suffer from bad skin late in life. Throughout my teens and twenties I enjoyed fairly clear skin. In the last 2-3 months I noticed I began suffering –from what appeared to be- acne. I tried everything and noticed my face, like my self esteem, was deteriorating. Frustrated and unable to cope with what it was doing to my appearance and my self-confidence I marched to a dermatologist today. After stripping nude and wearing the paper-exposed-booty number they force on folks – I really didn’t expect this at the dermatologist – the doctor (with a trusted resident in tow) went over my face and body with a fine tooth comb. The exam was so thorough that I wasn’t sure if he’d differentiate the redness of humiliation from what was causing this disfiguring condition. Finally, after the bright lights were turned off and the magnifying lenses were removed he announced his diagnosis – Rosacea. Since the condition primarily afflicts Caucasians and women, I was shocked. “You must be mistaken, “I protested. He discussed how he came to his conclusion with his resident, taking care to tell her why he ruled out all other causes for my condition. He asked if my parents suffered from any skin disorders, since Rosacea is also known to be hereditary. All said, I’m relieved to finally figure out what was causing my discomfort and affecting my appearance. I should be all clear in 4-6 weeks, but the good doc cautioned that Rosacea is not curable – only treatable – and I will probably use a gel once a day to keep my face clear. Who knew?


Joe Six Pack
As I was leaving the doctor’s office today I thought about all the cock-and-bull the McCain/Palin ticket has spewed about their ticket having the Washington-outsider interests at hand; basically their rhetoric says that putting McCain/Palin in the White House would guarantee Joe Six Pack was running the country. Here’s the thing though…I don’t think I want Joe Six Pack at the helm of our fair country. I mean, think about it. When I go to the doctor, I want him/her to be qualified to treat me – not be like me. So before you choose your next leader think about whether you want Joe Six Pack to get our country back on track or an experienced, qualified and diverse ticket that has the years at the helm, connections and vision to restore America’s glory. Sorry Joe…just grab me a beer.

On Blast
Do you believe you settled on your choice for President because of their qualifications or because you saw yourself in the ticket?

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An Argument For Better Home Training

What would happen if Obama's daughter were caught in a similar photo op?

On Blast

What do you think the headline would read if Obama's daughter were caught making the same gesture?

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Senseophobia

Senseophobia – the Unreasonable Fear of Making Sense
Maybe I’m just too close to some issues and fail to understand how ANYONE can come to different conclusions when faced with facts. It’s almost like putting someone’s hand over an open flame, allowing them to suffer third-degree burns and asking the onlookers if they understood why the person suffered the burns, only to hear several different reasons. The fact seems apparent – the burns were caused by holding the person’s hand over intense heat for a prolonged length of time. Would we be a bit shocked to hear different cause-and-effect explanations? Well, such is the case with the Lofton family of Florida. Steven Lofton and Roger Croteau have been partners for over 20 years. The registered-nurse pair met in college where they both prepared for their work in the pediatric AIDS ward of a Florida hospital. After witnessing first-hand the devastation of AIDS in the 80s and the rejection infants suffered during this time, Lofton and Croteau took on the daunting task of being foster parents to six foster children – five of whom still reside with the Loftons today. All the Lofton children were basically toss-aways of society. Lofton recalls how some of the AIDS babies would cry in their cribs and nurses would ignore their wails ignorantly afraid to interact with them. The Loftons have done an amazing job of raising a beautiful and diverse family of five – only one baby succumbed to AIDS-related illness when she was six-years old. For the record, experts predicted the AIDS-infected infants would all be dead before the age of 5. Through bouts of illness, state-wide indifference and societal judgments, the Lofton family always thrived. Now, with two of their children preparing to enter college, the Loftons faced another hurdle. The state of Florida explicitly prohibits adoption by gays. Simply put, the Loftons could keep the castaways in their care while serving as foster parents, but they could never hold the hope of adopting them. One of the Lofton children, Bert, 12, now tests negative for the HIV virus and guess how the state of Florida celebrates this little miracle? The state now suggests that Bert be removed from the Loftons since he is now deemed “adoptable” by a “normal” home. Bert has been with the Loftons since he was 9-weeks old! The self-righteous right-wingers say that ALL children fair better when raised by a two-parent, male-female arrangement, but few in this hypocritical group take on the task of providing foster care or better, come forward to be adoptive parents to the MILLIONS of children who wither-away in orphanages around the country. Various psychiatric and psychological groups have clearly stated that there is NO evidence to show that children fair better in male/female as opposed to male/male or female/female parent families. Moreover, studies have concluded that ONLY the stigma suffered by children of same-sex parents in the form of judgments spewed by outspoken opponents of the arrangement. Gays make loving parents, caring role models and supportive caregivers. Any child would opt for a stable home environment where they are loved and nurtured than the ward of an orphanage facility. As to the argument that gays/lesbians will unfairly sway these children to be gay and/or lesbian, the notion is not only unfounded, it is ridiculous. If this were the case we could say that those of US that were raised by heterosexual, male/female parents would be straight – and by golly, I’m not. It’s a case of sensophobia – folks having the overwhelming fear of situations making sense – even when we disagree with them.

On Blast
What benefit would be served by removing a teenager from a healthy gay family unit to place him/her into a heterosexual family unit when the teen recognizes the gay family unit as his own since infancy?

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Weak

BD,

Because every time I hear your voice
See your face
Or feel your touch
I’m weak
Thanks for being my strength

Cocoa

Back At One

Back At One
Relationships take work. Many times in life I’ve wondered if I have what it takes to make a relationship flourish and have it be everything that I want it to be. Sure there’s the romance, but there’s also the feeling of security that comes from a partner that understands your needs, recognizes your insecurities and accepts your many flaws. Warren Buffet – a billionaire revered for his wealth and wisdom – recently remarked that ‘the measure of success in life is the number of people you want to love you who do love you. And the way to be loved is to be lovable.’ We don’t always have the luxury of having those we love to truly love us in return. I’ve often commented to BD that we both suffered some pretty awful slights in life so that we would really appreciate each other today. Somehow I believe that if I met BD just five years ago, I wouldn’t have been ready to recognize the treasure that his love really is. As I read some of my favorite bloggers talk about their foray into dating and relationships I can’t help but think that their journeys have a purpose. Assuming they’re taking steps to be ‘lovable’ – not in some whimsical way – but truly lovable in the marketable way, then their struggle to love and be loved will be rewarded. Rather than setting materialistic standards and hurdles for our partners maybe we should be setting standards for who we want to be to someone. Are we ready to commit to a partner through the many episodes that our lives will have? Losing jobs, gaining weight, illness, even the natural aging process all present serious obstacles that can only be met and surpassed with the belief that you can always start ‘back at one.’ You know…that place where you first felt those butterflies in your stomach for your partner…when you left silly voicemail messages that contained a love song to punctuate your emotions…none of those emotions die of natural causes; we murder them with familiarity. As BD and I shared a romantic weekend together doing much of nothing, I looked into his face and saw the man I saw the very first time. The eyes that immediately caught my attention again held my gaze. His soft skin under my fingertips melted my heart like whipped cream over a hot cup of cocoa. I want to love him for life and that means that I need to consciously make an effort to start back at one.

On Blast
Forget your ‘baller’ salary and your tricked-out ride…think of yourself outside your designer threads and your $25 undies….fuck your power-pad and your color-coordinated appliances…what do YOU bring to the table to make you ‘lovable’?

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Givin' Up

On Blast
Givin’ Up by Jennifer Holliday is one of those songs that tears at the sheer curtains of my soul. What melodramatic love ballad still evokes a good candle burning with a glass of wine for you every now and then?

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So the Bitch is Tolerant?

So the Bitch is Tolerant?
After watching the Vice Presidential Debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin last night, I was in awe at how ignorant Palin really is and how out of touch with the issues she appears. I shuddered to think that, if elected, a woman who managed to fast-talk herself up the ladder of a state with a population a smidgen larger than ONE municipality on the small island of Puerto Rico, would be charged with running these United States. Her interview with Katie Couric – heavily spun on all media outlets – highlighted how truly out-of-touch Palin really is. Unable to quote any Supreme Court legislation that has passed – well, outside of Roe v. Wade.; unable to identify definitive examples of her ticket’s stand on foreign policy; and worst of all – unable to identify the very publications that she reads on a regular basis, that keep her informed of the issues. That aside, the woman has spunk; well, that and apparently an uncanny ability to stick to the script. I’d say she’d make a better candidate for lead actress on a revamped version of NBC’s West Wing, than the real-life White House. Last night as she asserted her tough stand on issues within her 670,000-some-odd constituents, I couldn’t help but wonder if anybody cared that she was the equivalent of having your office janitor coordinate the clean-up for the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Best of all, was when she was questioned about gay rights and the right to marry. Now, in fairness, Biden also mentioned that his ticket is AGAINST gay marriage, but this two-bit, former runner-up beauty queen with the knocked-up-‘fuck-abstinence’-hookah-of-a-teenage-daughter went on to say that her ticket is “tolerant” of gays. TOLERANT? Let me put this in perspective for you folks; if I told you there are two-or-three women in my office and we’re extremely “tolerant” of them, people would be in an uproar. Yes, I believe in tolerance, but this is 2008. I need a Presidential ticket that is sensitive to the issue of diversity and believes in EQUAL rights for ALL Americans; not a ticket that is “tolerant” to my ‘kind’. It’s one thing to not support gay marriage, but to listen to this back-woods, script-reading ditz say that she isn’t a Washington insider and speak of it with the zeal of someone who believes this to be a positive point on her resume had me think-and-rethink the desire to toss my Blackberry at my television screen. Look, it’s clear Obama doesn’t have the Washington experience of say, a Joe Biden, but he does have SOME Washington experience and yes, Obama may be a bit green on foreign policy issues, but he chose a candidate that compliments his ticket. When I look at the McCain-Palin ticket I see the old-and-blind leading the aggressive-and- ignorant. This is a new America. An America that is rich in diversity and hurting from mismanagement of our tax dollars; an America that is ready to reach across the aisle to make REAL changes to the American economy; an America that is ready to repair its reputation abroad; and finally, an America that has enough sense to see through the glamour, glitz and hoopla of a ticket that is running on yesterday’s values, yesterday’s views and yesterday’s idea of equality – I think they’re calling it “tolerance”?

On Blast
In your view, what is the core difference between being “accepting “of diversity and being “tolerant” of it?


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The Death of Role Playing

The Death of Role Playing
There’s a sense in the majority of gay men I come across, that we somehow must assume the masculine or feminine role in our relationships. In the past I’ve found myself at odds with the role playing, since I’m assertive, somewhat athletic and yet love feeling safe with my partner – sometimes even relishing moments where I can cradle him in my arms or rest peacefully in his chest. As I’ve mentioned before I love being a man – the whole rough-and-tumble of it all – but can seriously enjoy being tenderly caressed and coddled. As I was enjoying BD this past weekend, I was amazed at how everything about him turns me on – front-to-back and top-to-bottom. Whether that boy sleeps on his stomach or his back I’m mesmerized. To watch the little dip in his top lip as he’s speaking or to sniff his armpits when he’s not watching…yeah, I know, it’s a bit repulsive. All to say, that I wonder if sometimes we gay men limit our choices of great-match partners because we have a vision of masculinity or sexual role play that disqualifies so many potential partners. Whether you’re extremely feminine or straight-acting (whatever that is) the fact remains that, as gay men, we’re all male; capable of taking on whatever sexual position we’re inclined to take at any given moment. It’s actually one of the things I love most about being a gay man; we don’t need toys, we don’t have to have rules and we have limitless possibilities to enjoy our partners – physically and spiritually.

On Blast
Honestly – are you irritated by men whom you consider attractive, but do not fit the masculine- or feminine-acting role you have preconceived for your future companion?

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