I Was Too Blind To See – Latest on MUSED

Young man thinkingImage courtesy of MUSED Magazine.

Ever been in a situation, be it a relationship, friendship, or job, that was no good for you?  Everyone other than you knew you could do better and encouraged you to move on.  But for reasons that were oblivious to you at the time, you remained.  I’ve had my fair share of experiences such as these.  In my latest article for MUSED, “I Was Too Blind To See,” I talk about a past relationship that had run its course.  I ignored all the signs.  Yet, I stayed… And paid dearly for it.  But as I say in the article, “I’m grateful because that experience was crucial to bringing me forward.”  To learn more, read the article on MUSED.

Major thanks and props to Drew-Shane Daniels, Neo Huxtable and the MUSED family for featuring the article!

Follow MUSED on:  Facebook | Twitter
Follow BuddahDesmond on:  Facebook | Twitter
Peace, Love, and Many Blessings!

~ BuddahDesmond

Vote MUSED Magazine Online for Best LGBT Blog of 2013!

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It’s with great excitement that I announce that MUSED Magazine Online is a finalist for Best LGBT Blog 2013 for the Black Weblog Awards! MUSED is a pioneering “digital destination for lifestyle, entertainment & culture for modern black gay men. MUSED serves as a collective of experiences and issues we care about” (see About MUSED). Its mission is to raise the level of consciousness for our community and provide reliable, relevant, interactive, and engaging content for its readers. MUSED is the only weekly online magazine for black gay men.

MUSED offers such wide-ranging perspectives on issues that matter to black gay men. It’s substantive. And truly in a class by itself. I’m so grateful to have been given the opportunity to contribute to such a valuable, significant online resource. I look forward to contributing more in the future!

To cast your vote for MUSED Magazine Online, please go to: http://blackweblogawards.wufoo.com/forms/2013-final-ballot-copy/.

Congrats to the entire MUSED family on this wonderful achievement!

The DL Chronicles Returns is Another Triumph for Gossett and LeNear

timthumb.phpImage courtesy of 2 Cents Productions.

SWERV Magazine recently sponsored the DC premier screening of The DL Chronicles Returns: Episode Thomas.  The film is another triumphant work from the ever-talented, award-winning filmmakers Deondray Gossett and Quincy LeNear.  

The DL Chronicles Returns premiered to a packed theatre at DC’s Navy Memorial.  Fans have been anticipating the return of this groundbreaking film series for a few years.  The DL Chronicles made history when it appeared on Here! TV, as it was the first television series to the depict stories about gay and bisexual men of color living on the DL (down-low).  Winner of the 2008 GLAAD Media Award for “Outstanding Television Movie or Mini-Series,” The DL Chronicles was heralded by critics and fans alike for painting realistic portraits that challenged the notions and stereotypes of the DL phenomenon.

The screening began with the The Chadwick Journals.  Originally released in late 2011, The Chadwick Journals is a four-part web miniseries which “centers on The DL Chronicles’ narrator, Chadwick Williams, in the beginning of his research into men who lead double lives” (2 Cents Productions). Aside from providing deeper insights into the lives of men of color on the DL, this winsome miniseries unveils the painful motivation behind Williams’ research (which will ultimately lead to his healing and that of many others).

Promptly following The Chadwick Journals was The DL Chronicles Returns: Episode ThomasEpisode Thomas is the story of a man “who has not experienced love in a way he truly desires. After a tragic, life-changing event, he falls in love with someone who’s come to assist him” (MUSED).  Not to give too much away, Thomas’ brooding outlook soon changes once he embraces his truth, opens up, and allows real, unconditional love to come into his life.  Gabriel Arthur Corbin (as Thomas), Johanny Paulino, DeLaRosa Rivera, and Damien Toofeek Raven (as Chadwick Williams) all star in the film.

deondraygossett&quincylenearImage courtesy of 2 Cents Productions.

Beautifully shot and directed, The DL Chronicles Returns: Episode Thomas is exemplary.  The writing, acting, and quality of the production continue to set Gossett and LeNear apart from their peers.  This factor was consistently praised by members of the audience during the Q & A which followed the screening.  The Q & A was facilitated by the engaging, spirited, funny, and legendary Rayceen Pendarvis.  Pendarvis called Gossett and LeNear leaders, and commended them for being authentic and letting their light shine.  

Gossett and LeNear are empowering themselves and our community by using their art to tell our stories.  Ours are stories that are rarely acknowledged or praised.  Make no mistakeour lives, our voices, our truth have value.  As Pendarvis said, “Everyone needs to see [The DL Chronicles Returns] because our stories are so worthy!”

Do yourself a favor and check out The DL Chronicles Returns when it comes to your city.  And be sure to spread the word.  Quality projects such as The DL Chronicles Returns deserve our support. 

Still NO Answers in the Marco McMillian Case – Latest on MUSED

Image courtesy of NY Daily News.
It’s been five months since Marco McMillian’s death and so many questions remain unanswered.  McMillian, 34, was a black, gay rising politician in Clarksdale, MS whose body was found beaten, burned, and unclothed on a Mississippi River levee on February 27.  Race, political corruption, and a hate crime motivated by sexual orientation have all fed into the speculation surrounding McMillian’s death.  Lawrence Reed, 22, confessed to the murder and is currently in police custody at the Coahoma County jail.  McMillian’s family, their community, and the NBJC (to name a few) have all called for a federal investigation into McMillian’s death.  For more information, read the article on MUSED.

MUSED Magazine Online is a pioneering “digital destination for lifestyle, entertainment & culture for modern black gay men.  MUSED serves as a collective of experiences and issues we care about” (see About MUSED).  Its mission is to raise the level of consciousness for our community and provide reliable, relevant, interactive, and engaging content for its readers.  MUSED is the only weekly online magazine for black gay men.


Major thanks and props to Drew-Shane Daniels and the MUSED family for featuring the article! 


Follow MUSED on:  Facebook | Twitter

Follow BuddahDesmond on:  Facebook | Twitter

Peace, Love, and Many Blessings!

~ BuddahDesmond

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Welcomed Return of The DL Chronicles Series – Latest on MUSED
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John Legend Developing HBO Series ‘Down Lo’ Following Closeted Gay Rapper – Latest on MUSED

Image courtesy of MUSED.

In a highly competitive bid, HBO recently purchased Down Lo, a forthcoming series produced by singer, songwriter, and producer John Legend (Get Lifted Film Co.) and producer, director, and writer Tony Krantz (Flame Ventures).  Set in South Beach Miami, the series will follow models, musicians, and athletes in the intermingled worlds of fashion, music, and sports.  Apparently, one of the characters will be a closeted gay rapper trying to make it in hip-hop.  To learn more, check out “John Legend Developing HBO Series ‘Down Lo’ Following Closeted Gay Rapper” on MUSED.

MUSED Magazine Online is a pioneering “digital destination for lifestyle, entertainment & culture for modern black gay men.  MUSED serves as a collective of experiences and issues we care about” (see About MUSED).  Its mission is to raise the level of consciousness for our community and provide reliable, relevant, interactive, and engaging content for its readers.  MUSED is the only weekly online magazine for black gay men.


Major thanks and props to Drew-Shane Daniels and the MUSED family for featuring the article! 


Follow MUSED on:  Facebook | Twitter

Follow BuddahDesmond on:  Facebook | Twitter

Peace, Love, and Many Blessings!

~ BuddahDesmond

Related Posts
Does The GOP Really Want Your Vote? – Latest on MUSED
Latest on MUSED – Danish Study Finds Same-Sex Marriage Decreases Mortality Rate For Men
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Welcomed Return of The DL Chronicles Series – Latest on MUSED
Latest on MUSED – ‘Truth. Be. Told.,’ Refreshing New Docu-series Highlights Black Queer Visionaries
Latest MUSED Articles – Steamy New Short Film ‘Pause’ & Marriage Equality Support from the GOP
Latest MUSED Article – Should We Ditch ‘LGBT’ For ‘GSD’ (Gender And Sexual Diversities)?
Latest MUSED Article – Looking For Black Leadership? The Savior Lies Within
Upgraded Charges in FAMU Robert Champion Hazing Death Case

Does The GOP Really Want Your Vote? – Latest on MUSED

Image courtesy of MUSED.


A 100-page “autopsy” report by the Republican National Committee (RNC) confirmed that the GOP has an outreach problem.  Judging from the audience at the 2012 Republican National Convention, it was quite clear the GOP has been unable to connect with the youth and minorities for some time.  Looks like this is soon going to change.  Raffi Williams, son of journalist and Fox News political analyst Juan Williams, has been tapped as the Deputy Press Secretary of the RNC.  He will work to create initiatives to outreach to the youth and African Americans.  To learn more, read “Does the GOP Really Want Your Vote?” on MUSED.
 
MUSED Magazine Online is a pioneering “digital destination for lifestyle, entertainment & culture for modern black gay men.  MUSED serves as a collective of experiences and issues we care about” (see About MUSED).  Its mission is to raise the level of consciousness for our community and provide reliable, relevant, interactive, and engaging content for its readers.  MUSED is the only weekly online magazine for black gay men.


Major thanks and props to Drew-Shane Daniels and the MUSED family for featuring the article! 


Follow MUSED on:  Facebook | Twitter

Follow BuddahDesmond on:  Facebook | Twitter

Peace, Love, and Many Blessings!

~ BuddahDesmond

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Latest on MUSED – Danish Study Finds Same-Sex Marriage Decreases Mortality Rate For Men

Image courtesy of MUSED.


A Danish study recently published in the International Journal of Epidemiology provided some intriguing data about the health benefits of gay marriage.  Conducted by the Statens Serum Institute in Copenhagen and the Center for Sexology Research of Aalborg University, the study “reports the mortality rate for men in same-sex married couples has dropped significantly since the 1990s.  In contrast, researchers noticed an increase in mortality for women in same-sex couples in recent years” (MUSED).  The study also trumped the notion that married couples tend to have lower mortality rates when compared to individuals who are unmarried or divorced.  For more, read “Study Finds Same-Sex Marriage Decreases Mortality Rate For Men” on MUSED.

MUSED Magazine Online is a pioneering “digital destination for lifestyle, entertainment & culture for modern black gay men.  MUSED serves as a collective of experiences and issues we care about” (see About MUSED).  Its mission is to raise the level of consciousness for our community and provide reliable, relevant, interactive, and engaging content for its readers.  MUSED is the only weekly online magazine for black gay men.


Major thanks and props to Drew-Shane Daniels and the MUSED family for featuring the article! 


Follow MUSED on:  Facebook | Twitter

Follow BuddahDesmond on:  Facebook | Twitter

Peace, Love, and Many Blessings!

~ BuddahDesmond

Related Posts
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Ain’t Nobody’s Business: Coming Out On Our Own Time – Latest on MUSED

Image courtesy of MUSED.


We live in a society obsessed with sexuality.  Beliefs, opinions, and perspectives aside, people spend a lot of time speculating about others’ relationships, sex lives, and sexual orientation (as if it really matters).  We’ve also witnessed a plethora of celebrities who’ve been forced out of the closet in the last decade or soHell, we may know people personally who’ve been outed.  Coming out is deeply personal though.  No one should be robbed of their chance to do it in their own time, when they’re ready.  Furthermore, if someone chooses not to be open about their sexual orientation we should not assume they’re ashamed of themselves (or their sexuality).  For more, see my commentary “Ain’t Nobody’s Business: Coming Out On Our Own Time” on MUSED.

MUSED Magazine Online is a pioneering “digital destination for lifestyle, entertainment & culture for modern black gay men.  MUSED serves as a collective of experiences and issues we care about” (see About MUSED).  Its mission is to raise the level of consciousness for our community and provide reliable, relevant, interactive, and engaging content for its readers.  MUSED is the only weekly online magazine for black gay men.


Major thanks and props to Drew-Shane Daniels and the MUSED family for featuring the article! 


Follow MUSED on:  Facebook | Twitter

Follow BuddahDesmond on:  Facebook | Twitter

Peace, Love, and Many Blessings!

~ BuddahDesmond

Related Posts
Dr. Ben Carson’s Gay Marriage Gaffe – Latest on MUSED
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Latest MUSED Articles – Steamy New Short Film ‘Pause’ & Marriage Equality Support from the GOP
Latest MUSED Article – Should We Ditch ‘LGBT’ For ‘GSD’ (Gender And Sexual Diversities)?
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Dr. Ben Carson’s Gay Marriage Gaffe – Latest on MUSED

Image courtesy of MUSED.


Dr. Ben Carson is a highly lauded neurosurgeon, educator, speaker, and best-selling author.  After  making several appearances on Fox News and giving speeches at the National Prayer Breakfast and the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), he’s become somewhat of a political wunderkind lately.  Carson recently caught some heat for comments he made last week on Fox News’ Hannity about gay marriage.  He said, “Marriage is between a man and a woman. No group, be they gays, be they NAMBLA, be they people who believe in bestiality, it doesn’t matter what they are. They don’t get to change the definition. So, it’s not something against gays. It’s against anybody who wants to come along and change the fundamental definitions of pillars of society. It has significant ramifications” (Media Matters).  He later apologized and said his comments were “insensitive” and misunderstood.  He went on to say the “attacks” by “racist” white liberals against him “have been so vicious” (The Hill).  To learn more, read “Where Dr. Ben Carson Linking Gay Marriage To Bestiality Went Wrong” on MUSED.


MUSED Magazine Online is a pioneering “digital destination for lifestyle, entertainment & culture for modern black gay men.  MUSED serves as a collective of experiences and issues we care about” (see About MUSED).  Its mission is to raise the level of consciousness for our community and provide reliable, relevant, interactive, and engaging content for its readers.  MUSED is the only weekly online magazine for black gay men.


Major thanks and props to Drew-Shane Daniels and the MUSED family for featuring the article! 


Follow MUSED on:  Facebook | Twitter

Follow BuddahDesmond on:  Facebook | Twitter

Peace, Love, and Many Blessings!

~ BuddahDesmond

Related Posts
Welcomed Return of The DL Chronicles Series – Latest on MUSED
Latest on MUSED – ‘Truth. Be. Told.,’ Refreshing New Docu-series Highlights Black Queer Visionaries
Latest MUSED Articles – Steamy New Short Film ‘Pause’ & Marriage Equality Support from the GOP
Latest MUSED Article – Should We Ditch ‘LGBT’ For ‘GSD’ (Gender And Sexual Diversities)?
Latest MUSED Article – Looking For Black Leadership? The Savior Lies Within
Upgraded Charges in FAMU Robert Champion Hazing Death Case
Nielsen Study Highlights Shopping Habits, Buying Power of LGBT Community
Latest MUSED Article – Just Been Tested, Social Network Promotes STI/HIV Testing & Awareness
‘Dress Code’ at The Grammys? Check Out My Article on MUSED Magazine

Welcomed Return of The DL Chronicles Series – Latest on MUSED

Image courtesy of MUSED.


I was so happy when I discovered that The DL Chronicles was returning this year.  This trailblazing series turned the whole DL (Down Low) phenomenon on its head by challenging the portrayals of men of color “who by consequence and by choice, live sexually duplicitous and secret lifestyles” (The DL Chronicles site).  I give its creators Deondray Gossett and Quincy LeNear (2 Cents Productions) major kudos for their creativity, fearlessness, and commitment to artfully telling stories that need to be told.  Read my article, “Welcomed Return Of The Critically Acclaimed ‘The DL Chronicles’ Series (VIDEO)” on MUSED.

MUSED Magazine Online is a pioneering “digital destination for lifestyle, entertainment & culture for modern black gay men.  MUSED serves as a collective of experiences and issues we care about” (see About MUSED).  Its mission is to raise the level of consciousness for our community and provide reliable, relevant, interactive, and engaging content for its readers.  MUSED is the only weekly online magazine for black gay men.


Major thanks and props to Drew-Shane Daniels and the MUSED family for featuring the article! 


Follow MUSED on:  Facebook | Twitter

Follow BuddahDesmond on:  Facebook | Twitter

Peace, Love, and Many Blessings!

~ BuddahDesmond

Related Posts
Latest on MUSED – ‘Truth. Be. Told.,’ Refreshing New Docu-series Highlights Black Queer Visionaries
Latest MUSED Articles – Steamy New Short Film ‘Pause’ & Marriage Equality Support from the GOP
Latest MUSED Article – Should We Ditch ‘LGBT’ For ‘GSD’ (Gender And Sexual Diversities)?
Latest MUSED Article – Looking For Black Leadership? The Savior Lies Within
Upgraded Charges in FAMU Robert Champion Hazing Death Case
Nielsen Study Highlights Shopping Habits, Buying Power of LGBT Community
Latest MUSED Article – Just Been Tested, Social Network Promotes STI/HIV Testing & Awareness
‘Dress Code’ at The Grammys? Check Out My Article on MUSED Magazine