4

"It takes a village to raise a child"

[theglamazonproject]

Phillip Rideoutt as Gizele Monáe (Oklahoma City, OK) - "Drag for me is a way to become a character that I can never be on a daily basis. Plus, hearing, ‘OMG, you are so pretty!’, never gets old."

[phillipbri4n]

OMG! It's Me!

[phillipbri4n]

You cannot build a reputation on what you are going to do.

Henry Ford

[drst]

11. Bring consent out of the bedroom. I think part of the reason we have trouble drawing the line “it’s not okay to force someone into sexual activity” is that in many ways, forcing people to do things is part of our culture in general. Cut that shit out of your life. If someone doesn’t want to go to a party, try a new food, get up and dance, make small talk at the lunchtable—that’s their right. Stop the “aww c’mon” and “just this once” and the games where you playfully force someone to play along. Accept that no means no—all the time.

Holly over at The Pervocracy with an excellent 101 post on Consent Culture. Read the whole thing.

(via a-bayani)

Even out of the micro-“lunch table” type examples, the idea of non-consent is so pervasively intertwined in western/north american culture. it is cousins to the “i know, better than you, what is best for you”. obviously, my first thought is the obesity crisis and the media myths that go along with it, but even broader speaking; neoliberal politics and policies. someday soon i will get into it a bit more, but rape culture, isn’t just about sex. and consent isn’t just about the bedroom.

(via brandianomalee)

[thecopperinfluence-deactivated2]

[phillipbri4n]

I was captured by this.

[phillipbri4n]

Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus || Spoken Word (by bball1989)

[myholigay-blog]

Neil Patrick Harris & David Burtka’s Out Magazine Cover

[phillipbri4n]

WHERE WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO VISIT ON YOUR PLANET?

Thailand!

[phillipbri4n]

tumblr.

So. Why did I create a tumblr. you ask? Well, it's quite simple really. The past weekend has opened my eyes to an entirely new and comfortable world. Now, I know most can agree that being a gay man can be difficult (especially during adolescence/discovery). But I can safely say that it is no longer difficult for me (in most aspects) and that I have found comfort in being a young, black gay man.

Now, do not misconstrue. I have always being comfortable in my skin; and those who know me personally can plainly see that through the blindest eye. And, without comfort, I would never have had the courage to come out. But, after attending the 2012 National African American MSM Leadership Conference on HIV/AIDS and other Health Disparities in New Orleans, Louisiana, I visualized that I am not alone in this world. I met numerous educated black gay men, and was bombarded with a smorgasbord of information from these educated black gay men.

It is quite evident that we, as a community, have an obligation to the black gay community to educate, raise awareness, and promote HIV prevention among it. According to the CDC (Center for Disease Control), MSM (men who have sex with men) account for 53% of all new HIV infections in the U.S. CDC’s most recent data show that between 2006 and 2009, the number of new infections that occur each year increased among young MSM — driven by a 48% increase among young, black MSM 13 to 29 years old. That is not OKAY. There in lies our obligation.

Young black MSM will not cooperate without outreach. My favorite quote of the weekend was the African proverb, "it takes a village to raise a child". I won't go into detail on the meaning behind the proverb, but I am sure you all catch my drift. Not to mention the other quote, "It's a sausage fest. You can have your sausage as long as it's in a package." Safe sex. -- We must reach the youth in any way possible; even for the small things, because small can grow to large. I will end this blog on the moral of the story being that I created this tumblr. because of my obligation. I am going to use this and all other forms of media to reach out to the black gay community; as I hope everyone else will do the same for theirs and other communities. Also, extra hands are always acceptable. :D

Yours Truly,

PhillipBri4n