In Case You're Heading To SF Next Week...

This is Badlands. The club in San Francisco that's at the heart of what often is dismissed or ignored in LGBT life... racism. It exists, duh.

Well, of course it does. If it does in mainstream life, who's to say the LGBT community is any different. Oppressed people are capable of perpetuating oppression on other people. And classism, racism, sexism, and weightism in the LGBT community are just as prevalent as in mainstream life. Might just be ignored by the glittering disco balls and clouded over by drinks disguised as fun.

So many of you will be dancing in the streets next week outside this place if you're hitting San Francisco Pride. Enjoy the events safely.

In the Badlands case, black and Latino men, as well as women, were given difficult times getting in to the club time and time again. They also were never employed, according to investigations into the Badlands matter.

I won't lie. I've been to the bar. Never had a problem getting in. Might have gotten slow service a few times. Danced to lots of pop/Top 40 (i.e. white) music, some of which I enjoy. But also felt like wall paper. Just part of the background of the scene. No biggie. The black bar, Pendulum, is across the street... where I'd be an elaborate piece of art, not just wall paper :-) and where the sense of community among blacks and Latinos is a lot stronger.

Of course this is nothing new.

Blacks, Latinos, and Asians to some extent have always been ignored by their white counterparts in the LGBT scene, unless they're providing comic or sexual relief, or just glossing over their ethnicity to make them blend in with the majority crowds. Not always the case, but just head to your local bar or club and observe. You feel me?

Anyway, a couple writers have written about the Badlands issue: Rod and also Keith. Check out their sites.

Of course the idea of racism and club discrimination isn't limited to just the Badlands case. But it looks like, finally, a city is standing up and taking a stand against businesses that don't treat all potential customers fairly.

What's the "Badlands" spot in your city?
fs

Creating A Book Title

You may not know this, but authors go through several titles before settling on the right one for their projects. DOWN FOR WHATEVER, my first novel, is no different.

Originally, the title was Same Script, Different Cast. Yeah, kinda cheesy, and from that Deborah Cox/Whitney Houston duet from the late 90s. I thought it was cute, and so did my editor for a quick minute. My agent never felt the name. He's hilarious and blunt about these kinds of things. I thought it summed up what many of my friends say the LGBT scene is all about... same storyline, just different people. Over and over.

Uh, didn't work. So we brainstormed for several weeks:

• Getting Over The Boys
• Brown Days, Black Nights
• Boyz On The Side
• Men Of Color
• Kickin' It
• Something Sexy On A Saturday Night
• So Over It

There were others... but I'll spare me... and you... the embarrassment.

And then finally, while on vacation visiting family in the midwest, I heard some Teena Marie song on the radio. Heard the phrase "down for whatever" said in the song. I was like: this is it! And I composed the following paraphrased e-mail to my editor:

"DOWN FOR WHATEVER. Like it because it's short and easy to remember. My friends and I use the phrase all the time: a yes to going out and not knowing where we're going; a yes for a short-term hook up; a yes to just being with people and open to the possibilities... kinda like love."

He wrote back immediately: "I kind of like this title. Let me run it by the other editors, the publisher, and sales. Touch base in a few days."

In a few days, editor, agent, and I were in agreement. DOWN FOR WHATEVER would be the title. My only worry was that the book would get lumped with all the "Down Low" books that came out in the past year or so. Didn't want people thinking I was jumping on the bandwagon. Last thing on my mind, and definitely not my intention. However, I notice when random people hear the title, it immediately creates an association with black and brown men having drama in their love lives. Is that a good thing? I don't know...

Selecting the right title is paramount to the story you're writing. It's what will roll off the tongues of potential readers and buyers when they ask, "Do you have ________?" Editors look for something that gives an idea of the overall theme. Sales look for something that will move books onto bookstore shelves. Authors look for something that best represents their work. Customers look for something catchy... that's easy to remember and repeat to their friends. I suppose.

I'm sure any of the other titles would have worked. But I think DOWN FOR WHATEVER works best. No turning back now. July 5 is right around the corner. And as I move forward toward editing my second novel, I know there will be no debate or discussion over the title. Agent and editor both love it. But I'll save, or reveal, that for another entry.

Coming up... editorial notes and requests for changes to your manuscript. Gotta be open. That's later in the week.
fs

Graduation Season, Part 3

Great weekend with graduations. One of the highlights was helping with the 1st Annual PRIDE Graduate Celebration at Cal State L.A.

Jasmyne Cannick, producer, writer, activist, was the keynote speaker and gave a great speech. Check out her website for her commentary on the significance of PRIDE Graduate Celebrations... and take a look at her keynote address, too, which is linked on the site.

Thanks Jasmyne for making a great day even greater!
fs

Summertime Bliss

This is the cover of one of my Kensington labelmate's books, Bliss, by Fiona Zedde. It'll be out in August.

The cover totally reminds me of summer... laid back days at the pool, or finding your passion, being outdoors, creating fun summer storylines for yourself.

On my last night in New York City, Brooklyn to be exact, I was at a little gathering with friends Eric, Preston, Mark, Roberto, and me. Daiquiris. Warm weather. Lots of fun conversation, reminiscing on life in our early 20s, when we were all in college, and how fun the summer were. How we'd all just do WHATEVER, WHENEVER, and with WHOMEVER. Life was fun. Full of promise. No worries about real world issues. When everyone was a potential friend, mate, lover, or all of the above. Fun times.

Then Mark suggested that we can still have that BLISSFUL summer again. At least for 2005. When we just let go. Enjoy the company of new and old friends. But more importantly, make sure we have fun stories and dalliances to reminisce on at the end of summer. Since they're all East Coast, they're heading all up and down the coast and to Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and other fun islands for their summer of bliss. I've got book stuff, but will be traveling and meeting new, cool people too.

I think we should take it back this summer. Live life and this summer like we were 18 or 21 again. Have fun. Safe fun. And bring back tons of fun stories to tell by the end of Labor Day weekend in September.

I'm ready. Are you? :-)
fs

Graduation Season, Part 2

Such a beautiful sight. Black college graduates. College graduates period. About to make a difference in their families' lives and the world.

This month, you're probably celebrating someone's educational achievements... or maybe your own. If you are, CONGRATULATIONS!

I know it's an easy road for some. Filled with trials and tribulations for most others. If you are black or brown, over 30, a woman, gay or lesbian, differently abled, poor or working class, or dropped out for whatEVER reason... most would say the odds are stacked against you, and that college is a dream that should be snuffed out.

I say that in spite of it all, those are the reasons to continue your education... no matter how long it takes to get that piece of paper. And not just to prove other people wrong, but to show that you can complete a goal you wanted to finish. A few months ago I talked about working with many people who have beat the odds and made it to graduation. This weekend they will be walking the stage, listening to keynote speakers such as Jasmyne Cannick and Andre Farr.

I'm so proud of them. Makes me want to graduate again... but I'm not about to do a Ph.D. No, for real.

Have a nice weekend! Be safe... be cool!
fs

Books Are Sexy!

A hot new book club is launching in New York City.

The Derrick L. Briggs Book Club is looking for a few good men to kick off a new Books Are Sexy! campaign.

I've always thought books, brains, and brawn make for a good mix. Now it looks like Derrick and the guys in NYC are looking to bring together smart and sexy folks for a fabulous reading and gathering group.

Hit Derrick up via his site... or visit some of the other supporters of the Books Are Sexy! campaign... Bleu Party (who I PROMISE to hit up when I'm there in August, Z!!!) and Nathan.

Help make this campaign part of a nationwide, well, why not worldwide, effort to make books an every day part of sexy, single lives in the city.
fs

So It WAS Fantasia!!!

OK. Last week at Book Expo America, I was running from one signing table back to Kensington's booth, when I saw someone I thought was Fantasia of American Idol fame.

But then I thought to myself: Why would Fantasia be at a book expo? She's a singer, right? There's a lot of Fantasia look-alikes out there, right? Well, I'm wrong on a lot of fronts.

It was Fantasia. My writer friend Cydney Rax got a picture with her (scroll down a couple pics, look on the right). And she has a children's book coming out this fall. Go figure.

It wasn't an illusion. But low and behold, I didn't have my camera that day with me anyway. So all I could have done was gushed and said hello.

Silly me. Truth is.
fs

L.A. Body Myths

First, this photo is by my friend Kurt Brown, San Francisco photographer. Can make a dandelion look like calla lilies.

Now, to the matter at hand. No, you don't have to look like the model pictured above to find someone in L.A. Or even to have a good time in L.A.

Last week, while in NYC, I met a bunch of guys who will be visiting L.A. this coming weekend for Pride, or 4th of July weekend for At The Beach L.A. (Black Pride), or Latin Pride in August/September. For many, it's their first visit to the Golden State. And for many, they had a ton of myths and misnomers about L.A.

And while many can be true (or close to true until the makeup smears away, lol), let me tell all you out there eating cigarettes and mints for dinner and working out 25 hours a day, you don't have to look like the model above to find a long-term or one-night lover in L.A. You don't have to front like you're this close to a lucrative contract in "the industry" either. You don't even need a tan or body-altering surgeries. There are TONS of regular, down-to-earth, Southern and Midwest born boys and girls in L.A. People who get their eat on and their freak on. Oh, and there are regular, everyday L.A. natives too.

All you need is your yourself, your own personality, and just your own natural and God-given charm and talent.

Hope that helps :-)
fs