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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: homophobia

Kevin Hart Hasn’t Apologized

Posted on January 6, 2019January 6, 2019 by gar

Folks like Kevin Hart are exactly why I wrote SIN AGAINST THE RACE. Nothing hurts more than when straight, cis black folks turn against their own because of anti-LGBTQ bigotry and hatred. Nothing he has said or done has made up for the vile remarks he made during his comedy routines or in his tweets….

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I’m weeping for my country

Posted on November 9, 2016 by gar

They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. -President-elect Donald J. Trump at his campaign launch, June, 2015 I’m weeping for my country. It has stepped decidedly backwards. Change. Hope. Progress. All dirty words. Obstructionism won the day. Now that Republicans are in charge of everything, the White House and both houses of Congress, what…

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Homophobia Kills – The Lesson of the Pulse Massacre

Posted on June 15, 2016June 15, 2016 by gar

The other day, I listened to Kate Bush in the car on my commute to and from work, specifically tracks from The Whole Story. This album has a special place in my heart and history. I first heard it, and listened to it obsessively, when I came out 28 years ago. So I will forever…

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Comic Strip Heroes

Posted on May 22, 2016 by gar

I’m a long-time reader of the comic strip pages in newspapers. Peanuts and Doonesbury were favorites growing up. Nowadays I like Luann and Pearls Before Swine. And of course I’m thrilled that Berke Breathed has revived Bloom County. Even back in the day, I tried reading myself into some of the characters. I wasn’t so much looking for black characters,…

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The Final Years – The Strayhorn Centenary Project

Posted on November 28, 2015November 29, 2015 by gar

The homophobia that Joe Morgen, Duke Ellington’s publicist, possessed only reflected the homophobia of the society at large in the late 1950s. Around the time the New York Times ignored Strayhorn in its review of Such Sweet Thunder, a move undoubtedly engineered by Morgen, the Amsterdam News, Harlem’s daily, published a series of articles and…

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Self-Haters Gonna Hate

Posted on March 19, 2015 by gar

Self-haters gonna hate. Earlier this week, gay Italian fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana made harsh statements about same-sex couples raising children. We oppose gay adoptions. The only family is the traditional one… No chemical offsprings and rented uterus: life has a natural flow, there are things that should not be changed. They further…

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Eww! And the gay kiss

Posted on May 18, 2014 by gar

“Love him, and let him love you.” – James Baldwin Out of nowhere, my friend started making loud, “Eww!” sounds. Over and over again, “Eeeeewwwww!!!” I was like, what? He said he saw two men on the TV, kissing. I had missed it. He continued to register his disgust on our eardrums. My other friend…

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Encore from the Archives: Clyde

Posted on December 15, 2013 by gar

[Originally published in February 2012.] When I was about 13 I had to endure a week at Reverend Schlep’s Summer Camp for Men and Boys.  It’s a right of passage in my family.  My grandfather took my father.  My father took my older brothers Mark and Karl, Jr., when they reached the right age.  Now…

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Descent into Chaos

Posted on August 31, 2013 by gar

Art Spiegelman’s masterpiece Maus deftly illustrates the slow descent into chaos experienced by European Jews as the Nazi menace took hold over their lives. The nightmare did not hit all at once, but in slow, dreadful paces. During the descent, everyone tried to live as normal a life as possible.  They went to the store. …

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Ender’s End Game – The Bigotry of Orson Scott Card

Posted on July 11, 2013July 11, 2013 by gar

This is an easy one. On the one hand we have Orson Scott Card, an award-winning science fiction writer, who is also a raging homophobe who lives in his own little world of homophobia-land. On the other hand we have reality. One of Mr. Card’s works, Ender’s Game, has been made into a motion picture….

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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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