One Piece

Parades: Bleh A few years ago I was asked why I didn't attend any gay pride parades and events of a particular organization any more, especially since I was one of the few people of color. I simply responded "I don't feel welcomed, comfortable, or visible." To this day it's still my most succinct description of my emotional reaction to this time of year. When I was in college I would attend the Pride Parade in Chicago. I found the experience to be an exercise of masochism. It was white guys from my college, their outlier cliques of hanger-ons, a few lesbians, and me: the fat black guy with glasses cracking nervous jokes and sweating. I would stand there talking myself into 'enjoying' the loneliness, the complete lack of communication. My last Chicago Pride parade I was invited back to the place of my straight friends for a Sangria birthday party. It was a pity invite which I gladly accepted. That was the only event anyone ever invited me to during my four ...

I always thought you would come to me        in the shape of a beautiful lover I never dreamed you would steal my heart        with no shape at all I always pretended I needed arms to hold me        and lips to kiss away my pain yet I find fulfillment       in the embrace of empty space I always wished you would speak to me      with words of tender sweetness now I know you whisper silently       of your undying love I always knew I would find you       although I foolishly looked with my eyes you were here all along       hiding just out of sight in my heart -Rumi

A few yrs ago I was driving around NJ listening to right-wing talk radio. I wanted to laugh. I switched between Glenn Beck and more fringe radio filled with anger and bombastic yellers.  Most of the callers weren't upset about Obama or immigrants, but they were frustrated with the big business fraud, corporate control of government, and the GOP's lack of concern for the average person. Instead of laughing, I found myself agreeing on some of things being said. The callers were mostly older, white men. What they were saying made sense on a basic level. Ever since listening to that, I'm continually amazed at how this valid feeling of 'losing control' gets so easily misdirected by GOP consultants into attacks on blacks, immigrants, women, gays, Muslims, atheists, unions, teachers, and other groups who -historically- have so little control over their own fate, much less others. If there were ever day when Occupy youth and Tea Party elders could sit at the table, I think ...

Her teeth fell into her soup "Gotdamnit to hell Good Lord!" unfurled Panegyric plangents twanging the twi'lit nimbus as she fished white choppers from stew. The kippered shriveled orifice twisted like a hank of flesh Black rheum gravid with ribaldry swallowing white dentition. "Wearing me to a frazzle!" this shilly shallying life, anger and acquiescence appall and appeasement lit recividist revelry cigarette's lissome pale reeds tumbled silver blue trellis'es quivering hieratics spelling out her life in smoke. "Let's get whisky stinky!" she blessed her meal in rapture and flung the damp paper bowl in her wake and to nirvana. Gray decanters clanged on plastic taiga brown gulches in styrofoam  filled to the stippled tip invoking the Dionysus she petitioned for dice luck, and whor'ish nights of passion. Appealed for sharpshooter's aim employ gravedigger's wisdom. "Our father who art in heaven shoot 'em six, roll 'em se...

1. Queer Art Mentorship Deadline: June 7th The program is a year in length. It is largely driven by the unique character of each of the mentor/fellow pairs according to their respective needs and habits of communication, although once-a-month meeting commitments will be suggested. The program coordinators engage in an ongoing dialogue with the mentors and fellows in an effort to ensure that the program best serve its participants. The entire group of mentor/fellow pairs will also convene for three short meetings throughout the cycle. The goal of the limited group-wide meetings is to encourage dialogues between all levels of participants and between all disciplines. It has been shown in a variety of fields that implement mentor programs that the mentor-to-mentor dialogue that occurs in mentor programs is as significant to the program’s success in developing the field as any that occurs directly between mentor and mentee. 1) INTENT TO APPLY Before you can receive the application you must...