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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: queer

Reflections on the Castro Sweep 30 Years Later

Posted on October 6, 2019October 6, 2019 by gar

Thirty years ago, October 6, 1989, the Castro Sweep happened. And I was there. What started as a fairly routine ACT UP demonstration turned into a police overreach of epic proportions. I wrote about the Sweep a few years ago in a review/critique of a book by Paul Krassner (RIP), where he wrote about his…

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A Perfectly Queer Reading: July 26 in Oakland

Posted on July 22, 2017 by gar

So what have I been doing that kept me away from blogging for about a month and a half? Writing a book. More on that later. Meanwhile, I’ll be reading from and talking about said book, Sin Against the Race, this coming Wednesday as part of Perfectly Queer‘s reading series. Details! You Are the Author! Wednesday,…

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Olympic Outing Outrage: Shame on Nico Hines

Posted on August 13, 2016 by gar

Way back when during my waning days at UCLA, not long after I came out, the Daily Bruin did something unconscionable. Buried in the paper appeared a story about the campus police arresting some guys cruising each other in a men’s room. And the paper printed their names. I was mortified. And livid. With youthful, righteous…

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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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Passion Flowers – Part I

Posted on March 28, 2012April 1, 2012 by gar

“Listen, why are you here?” Startled, I looked up from my notepad. “The lifetime achievement award, Mr. Horton.  My magazine wanted an interview.” “No!  Why did they send you?” I had no immediate response. “You’re awfully young, you know that?  How the hell do you even know who I am?  What work of mine have…

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Marriage Equality and the Turn of the Tide

Posted on March 3, 2012March 3, 2012 by gar

February was a remarkable month for marriage equality.  Three state legislatures passed bills to allow same-sex couples to marry:  Washington, New Jersey, and Maryland.  In Washington and Maryland, the bills passed by an average of 54%.  This jibes with a Gallup poll from May of last year which showed, for the first time, majority support…

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Struggling Struggles in Shades of Black and Lavender

Posted on December 28, 2011December 29, 2011 by gar

On Salon I found a wonderful coming out essay written by Jean Melasaine in which she recounts the multiple communities she has grown into during her life.  She was born to Samoan parents who immigrated to the US.  Her parents speak little English.  Her family was poor.  And they attended the Mormon church, where she quickly…

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Short Story: The Burrito Kiss

Posted on May 17, 2011May 29, 2011 by gar

I saw him sitting in the bleachers looking my way.  I rationalized that he’s probably looking at the new computerized scoreboard our piss-poor high school just installed.  Everybody does, more in disbelief than anything else. I kept running around the track, eyes forward. Then I ran in front of the billboards.  They’re bright and colorful…

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How Many Queer Folks Does It Take To Achieve Equality?

Posted on April 9, 2011 by gar

Groggy from lack of sleep, I rolled over early one morning just before Get Up time and put on my reading specs then turned on the Touch to read the latest headlines.  At the SF Chronicle mobile site I find this:  Demographer: US has 4M adults who identify as gay.   Really? I thought in…

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And then there were none: A Different Light, A Remembrance

Posted on April 4, 2011 by gar

It sat in a little white building nestled on a small block squeezed by Santa Monica and Sunset. I always had problems finding it exactly, and then there was the parking which was challenging even for a motorcycle.  I didn’t drive cars in those days.  It was small and crammed, the way all independent, hippy-ish…

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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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