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fiction and musings from a gay black dude with delusions above his station

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the gar spot fiction and musings from a gay black dude with delusions above his station

Tag: AIDS

Let the Record Show: ACT UP New York’s History as told by Sarah Schulman

Posted on December 1, 2021December 1, 2021 by gar

The AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power is a diverse, non-partisan group of individuals, united in anger and committed to direct action to end the AIDS crisis. –ACT UP New York’s motto, recited at the start of each meeting. Let the Record Show: A Political History of ACT UP New York, 1987-1993 is a must-read book….

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Black Gay Voices in the Age of AIDS

Posted on June 23, 2019June 23, 2019 by gar

The AIDS Memorial on Instagram and Facebook invited me to write a post about black gay writers during the height of the AIDS crisis in the 80s and 90s. I came out around that time and quickly saw the devastation the disease caused within the black gay literary community. Writers whose works I came to…

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World AIDS Day 2018 Reading

Posted on December 5, 2018December 5, 2018 by gar

For World AIDS Day this past Saturday, December 1, I read an excerpt from my novel Sin Against the Race. The story involves Alfonso Rutherford Berry, III, a young black gay man coming into his own, mourning the loss of his cousin Carlton, a long term AIDS survivor. Here, taken from Chapter 20, Alfonso explains to…

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“Holding the Edge,” A play about AIDS and Life in the 80s (Review)

Posted on October 10, 2016March 27, 2017 by gar

[Update (3/27/17): This is playing again at SF Marsh through April 8. If you haven’t had a chance to see it, run, don’t walk, to check it out.] It’s the early morning hours of January 28, 1986. Hospice Nurse Elaine Magree just pulled an all-nighter, answering calls and visiting dying patients. She’s already tended to…

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C. Everett Koop, A Man of Science

Posted on March 3, 2013 by gar

In 1981, shortly after taking office, President Ronald Reagan nominated Dr. C. Everett Koop for the position of surgeon general.  Though largely unknown to the general public, Dr. Koop had gained a reputation within medical circles for his innovations in pediatric surgery.  And he also had some cache within conservative and right-to-life circles because of…

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It Took Two Weeks

Posted on November 30, 2011 by gar

Within a couple of months of coming out in 1988, I took my first HIV test.  It took two weeks to get the results at that time.  Two weeks.  They counseled you when they drew blood.  And they counseled you when they gave you the results.  But for two weeks, you were on your own….

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Dame Elizabeth Taylor

Posted on March 23, 2011 by gar

Today I’ve had one word going through my head:  GEORGE!  GEOOOOORRGE! It’s impossible to represent with letter and words and punctuation the raw emotion evoked when Elizabeth Taylor belched it from her gut in scene after scene of her Oscar winning performance in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.  She was only 34 at the time, but she…

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Ptolemaic Logic

Posted on November 21, 2010November 21, 2010 by gar

Ptolemy was an Egyptian-born Roman philosopher and scientist who lived around the First and Second centuries AD.  He’s best known for the Ptolemaic System of the universe, an expansion of Aristotle’s view that the Earth laid at the center of universe and all the heavenly bodies, including the sun and stars, revolved around it.  Aristotle’s…

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SIN AGAINST THE RACE, a novel–Click image for info

Sin Against the Race

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A gorgeous day at the #oaklandgreekfestival #oakla A gorgeous day at the #oaklandgreekfestival #oakland #greekfestival #greek #music #food #ilovemycity
I used to rock the hell out of these. Cards of dis I used to rock the hell out of these. Cards of discovery and endless possibilities. I still miss them. 
#cardcatalog #library #knowledge #og #searchengine
A sunny Saturday in 1990 found my sister Tania (@m A sunny Saturday in 1990 found my sister Tania (@makeuptogoblog) and I outside of the Julia Morgan Center waiting. I had seen the great Maestro Pt. Shivkumar Sharma in LA—he even autographed an album for me. And I was studying tabla with his accompanist Ud. Zakir Hussain at the time. We couldn’t wait. But wait we did, because the maestros weren’t there. As my sister and I stood at the front of the line, they came. Ud. Zakirji was laughing and joking. Pt. Shivji looked as if he floated in as he passed and entered the theater. After we got settled in our seats, it was on. A beautiful concert with the two maestros playing rapturously, holding us spellbound. Pt. Shivji floated in like a deity and played to the heavens, taking us all with him. By far one of my favorite concerts. 

Words cannot describe how devastated I am at the great master’s passing. His gifts to music and the world are incalculable. My condolences to Panditji’s family, to @zakirhq9 , and to all who loved his beautiful music. #ptshivkumarsharma #indianclassicalmusic #santoor #rip
This makes me very happy. #oaklandgreekfestival # This makes me very happy. 
#oaklandgreekfestival #theyreback #yahoo #greek #oakland #ilovemycity
Happy 85th Birthday to legendary Maestro Ron Carte Happy 85th Birthday to legendary Maestro Ron Carter! The most recorded bassist in history, he was a huge inspiration for my late brother Robert. And he continues to inspire bassists and musicians to this day. 
#happybirthday #roncarter #legend #bassist #jazz #music
Dinner on the back porch. #alfresco #dinner #pizza Dinner on the back porch. #alfresco #dinner #pizza #arizmendi #evening
My sacred music day where I pay homage to Duke Ell My sacred music day where I pay homage to Duke Ellington (1899-1974) and Ustad Alla Rakha (1919-2000) on their shared birthday. This year I’m also celebrating the 100th birthday anniversary of harmonica and whistling maestro Toots Thielemans (1922-2016). Enjoy the music of all of these legends! ✌🏾 ❤️ 🎶 
#dukeellington #allarakha #abbaji #tootsthielemans #centenary #happybirthday #music
Happy Birthday Ella Fitzgerald! Born on this day i Happy Birthday Ella Fitzgerald! Born on this day in 1917. 
#ella #ellafitzgerald #firstladyofsong #jazz
It’s the only home we got. Let’s treat it with It’s the only home we got. Let’s treat it with respect and love. 
#earthday #earthday2022 #home #planet #environment
A harrowing day, but it ended safely. I’m home n A harrowing day, but it ended safely. I’m home now with a nice cup of tea. ☕️ 
#berkeley #shelterinplace #allclear #home #tea #murchies
This pale blue beauty is destined to become part o This pale blue beauty is destined to become part of my #sundaybrunch #pancakes. Fresh from my next door neighbor!
Celebrating the centenary of a great musician. Hap Celebrating the centenary of a great musician. Happy 100th Birthday Ustad Ali Akbar Khan Sahib!!! His great legacy lives on. 
#aliakbarkhan #centenary #indianclassicalmusic #sarode
Booster number 2. #teammoderna #booster #covid #k Booster number 2. 
#teammoderna #booster #covid #kaiseroakland
Lunch today. @arizmendilakeshore #pizza #nomnom # Lunch today. @arizmendilakeshore 
#pizza #nomnom #lunch
History achieved. #confirmed #justiceketanjibrown History achieved. 
#confirmed #justiceketanjibrownjackson #justicebrownjackson #ketanjibrownjackson #history #scotus
Banners appear all over the #Cal campus highlighti Banners appear all over the #Cal campus highlighting its 150+ year history. These hang on lampposts, painted in African-themed colors, around a square just off Sproul Plaza that has served as a gathering place for Black Cal students for decades. A nice acknowledgment that Black students have been and continue to be a part of the campus history. 
#blackhistory #blackstudents #blackstudentsmatter #blackatcal
The most Robert photo ever, smiling and on the pho The most Robert photo ever, smiling and on the phone. Thinking of you on your birthday. 
#missyoumadly #happybirthday #fuckcancer
Meanwhile, Miss Lucy keeps careful watch. #catsof Meanwhile, Miss Lucy keeps careful watch. 
#catsofinstagram #neighborscat #catguardian #frommybackyard
Definitely back home in Oakland. #californiagaspri Definitely back home in Oakland. #californiagasprices
Foggy morning. Just waiting for the plane. Farewel Foggy morning. Just waiting for the plane. Farewell #nola and #sas22! Until the next time. 
#traveling #flying #writersofinstagram #writerslife
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