Guest columists
Tall and imposing. Standing 6'3”, fluent in Italian and French, James Arthur Johnson (stage name of Raymond St. Jacques) was a man who recreated himself into an actor of distinction--when it was rare for Black actors to get more than bit parts in movies and plays. Johnson was born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1930; shortly [...]
“What a Difference One Voice Makes” These days, many people consider December 1 as World AIDS Day; I acknowledge that this does have its place, given how it has impacted the lives of the LGBT community and beyond. However, I remember this day in history for a different reason. I was three years old on December 1, [...]
“Black Love, Meet Cute” During my life, I have certainly read my share of LGBTQ novels. Unfortunately, many of them have portrayed African American pastors as villains and antagonists, including in the romance genre. However, I remain ever inspired by Toni Morrison’s quote, “If there is a story you wish to read, and it hasn’t been written [...]
“The Most Handsome Man in Harlem” Guest Writer: Bishop Hartsel Clifton Shirley A teacher, model, and passionate patron of the arts, Harold Jackman was particularly known for his involvement in the Harlem Renaissance and his dedication to preserving African American cultural artifacts. From the outside looking in, he was beautiful, yet elusive -– that’s the first impression one may have gotten [...]
“Summer Daze” Despite the challenges these past two summers have brought, this is still my favorite season of the year. This has been my time to chill and enjoy the outdoors, the open road, and the beauty of nature. As a child of the 1950s and early 1960s, this was a time for such treats [...]
“Tales of the 1940s B*tch” Are you a card-carrying geek/nerd? Have Mean Girls been giving you a hard time, past or present? Then have no fear. You have an avenger, a crusader, an advocate--the 1940s B*tch! Indeed, I own it; I inherited Dad's offbeat sense of humor. In my VSS365 Twitter community, I have had [...]
“Hello! My Name is Norman-- and I’m an Addict!” Guest Writer: R. L. Norman We just finished doing it and it felt soooooo good! Because of the pandemic, it had been over a year since I’d done it. Social distancing put a real damper on my possibilities of fulfilling my urges. But now I [...]
“Ribbon in the Sky” Guest Writer: Bishop Hartsel Clifton Shirley Detroit is known for a few things: being the home of the big three auto manufacturers (Ford, GM, Chrysler); the birthplace of Motown, the record label that introduced beloved singers and groups such as Marvin Gaye, India Arie, the Supremes, the Commodores, and Boys II Men to the world. [...]
“To Thine Own Self” Guest Writer: W.D. Foster-Graham June 2021 was certainly a big month in this household. Juneteenth is now a federal holiday. Father’s Day has special meaning for me. My husband and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary. And on a local level, I and another LGBT congregant had the honor of speaking at our [...]
Now and then, a talent graces the world with its appearance. It’s like a shooting star! And those who catch a glimpse are forever changed. This was the life of Franklyn Vincent Ellison Seales. Born on July 15, 1952, he was the fifth child of eight to Francis Seales, a government employee and [...]
“It Never Stops” Yes, June is Pride Month, in commemoration of the Stonewall riots that took place on June 27, 1969, and lasted three days. It was a time when LGBT folks said, “Enough,” and fought back against the police harassment that was a common practice for far too long. And leading the pack of social resistance [...]
“Speaking in Retrospect” Recently on my Twitter feed, I was invited to do a “Quote Retweet,” attaching a black-and-white photo myself. I had to dig deep to find one; it is included in this post. From time to time, I have been asked variations of the following question: “If you could tell your younger self anything, what would [...]
