VIDEO: Black LGBT Media Images Explored
March 26, 2009
Members of the entertainment community came together recently to discuss the state of African American LGBT images in the media. And with The Wire, Noah’s Arc and The L Word all part of television history, these images are slimmer than ever. Thanks to our friends at Screen Actors Guild, the 90-minute panel is now available for viewing — and in HD — right here at glaadBLOG.
“Knocking Down the Door: Black LGBT Images in Media” was a standing-room only event that took place at Screen Actors Guild, sponsored by GLAAD and the National Black Justice Coalition. The panel was co-sponsored by SAG’s LGBT Actors Committee and the Beverly Hills/Hollywood Branch of the NAACP.
The panel began with opening remarks from SAG Interim Executive Director David White, and featured Deondray Gossett and Quincy LeNear, the creative duo behind The DL Chronicles; actor/director/writer Maurice Jamal (Dirty Laundry, The Ski Trip); performer J. Karen Thomas, founding member of the SAG LGBT Actors Committee; TV personality Marcellas Reynolds; performer and trans activist Ashley Love, host of the online series LGB to the T; actor and NAACP Image Award nominee Sonja Sohn (The Wire); and Willis Edwards, member of the NAACP National Board of Directors. The event was moderated by Rashad Robinson, GLAAD Senior Director of Media Programs and featured a special appearance by Alice Huffman, President of the California State NAACP.
To read more about the panel, check out this post, or just sit back and watch it for yourself here:
Special thanks to Kevin Curran, Screen Actors Guild
Crossroads: The Intersection of Black & LGBT Images
February 13, 2009
With both The Wire and Noah’s Arc now part of television history, there are currently — and depressingly — few on-screen television characters who are both gay and black.
Marcellas Reynolds and Sonja Sohn
On the eve of the 100th anniversary of the NAACP and the 40th NAACP Image Awards, the lack of African American LGBT representation was the crux of a forum hosted in Los Angeles this week by GLAAD and the National Black Justice Coalition. “Knocking Down the Door: Black LGBT Images in Media” was a standing-room only event that took place at the Screen Actors Guild, co-sponsored by SAG’s LGBT Actors Committee and the Beverly Hills/Hollywood Branch of the NAACP.
The evening began with a historical video retrospective of black and LGBT images produced by Deondray Gossett and Quincy LeNear, the creative duo behind The DL Chronicles. The two were also part of the evening’s lively panel discussion alongside actor/director/writer Maurice Jamal (Dirty Laundry, The Ski Trip); performer J. Karen Thomas, founding member of the SAG LGBT Actors Committee; TV personality Marcellas Reynolds; performer and activist Ashley Love, host of the online series LGB to the T; actor and NAACP Image Award nominee Sonja Sohn (The Wire), and Willis Edwards, member of the NAACP National Board of Directors. The event was moderated by Rashad Robinson, GLAAD Senior Director of Media Programs and featured remarks from SAG Interim Executive Director David White and Alice Huffman, President of the California State NAACP.
PSA Featuring Michael & Xavier
The forum explored potential reasons behind the under-representation and how this history of invisibility may have affected voting on California’s Proposition 8. Apropos, the 30-second commercial from GettoKnowUsFirst.org featuring the African American family headed by Michael and Xavier was shown to the audience. The spot ran in California television markets during the inauguration, Super Bowl, and the NAACP Image Awards. The absence of these kind of images on television, the panelists suggested, makes the idea of someone being gay and black something foreign and strange to many in the African American community. “Most communication is non-verbal. Whether it’s in a film or on TV or in a commercial, we’re very affected by what we see,” said panelist J. Karen Thomas. “So just by having an image of a black gay, bisexual or lesbian, it alters your awareness and your imagination of what can be possible.”
The panelists agreed that African American representation, LGBT or not, is influential. “When I first saw A Different World and The Cosby Show, I thought, ‘I can go to college,’” admitted Deondray Gossett. “These images really affected the way I thought about the future. I think these images are absolutely essential. If it’s done well, TV can shape young minds.”
"Knocking" panel audience
Featuring black LGBT representation provides a necessary and accurate reflection of the African American community. The panelists, like GLAAD, understand the impact the entertainment industry has on America and the world, and all are working to not only help the industry understand that responsibility, but to realize that diversity and inclusion is also good business.
Patrik-Ian Polk Jumps to an Image Award Nom
January 28, 2009
Gay auteur Patrik-Ian Polk just nabbed an NAACP Image Award nomination for his direction of Noah’s Arc: Jumping the Broom. He’s in good company: Spike Lee, Tyler Perry, Gina Prince-Bythewood and Darnell Martin are also nominated, but Polk is the only one with an LGBT film.
The 40th NAACP Image Awards, hosted by Halle Berry and Tyler Perry, airs live on Fox Feb. 12.
Good luck, Patrik!
OUTAuction 2008
November 25, 2008
A big thank you to everyone who attended GLAAD’s 7th Annual OUTAuction this past Sunday at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York City. Close to 600 people attended the event and over $135,000 was raised!
OUTAuction is a unique event for GLAAD – a chance for art patrons, collectors, artists, celebrities and friends of GLAAD to come out and support our work while viewing and bidding on 100 pieces from both established and emerging artists.
The event drew notables like three time Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Edward Albee, actor Jensen Atwood from Logo’s hit show Noah’s Arc, celebrated portrait artist Robert Risko, fashion designer and Project Runway’s Jack Mackenroth, and many more.
Attendees were able to bid on pieces through a silent and a live auction. The live auction included works by artists such as Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall and Herb Ritts. We were lucky enough to be assisted in displaying the pieces during the live auction by both Jensen Atwood and by Derek and Drew Riker, the subjects in the Herb Ritts piece being auctioned.
The winning bidder of the Herb Ritts piece not only got to take the original custom framed photograph home, they also got their picture taken with the Riker twins AND the twins offered up a private lunch at the last moment to help drive up the bidding price.
At the event we also announced the 2008 OUTAuction Emerging Artist winners. The winner are selected from hundreds of submissions falling into three categories - Photography, Mixed Media, and Painting/Drawing.
This year’s winners are below.
2008 Best Emerging Artist – Photography
“Birthing of Epiphany” by Troy Duham & Jeff Eason
2008 Best Emerging Artist – Painting/Drawing
“Muslim Icon” by Komail Aijazuddin
2008 Best Emerging Artist – Mixed Media
“White 2″ by Dragana Zoric
Our professional photographer will have more pictures from the event soon. For now, take a peek at some of the shots I took here.
Noah’s Arc: Jumping the Broom Premieres to Big Numbers
October 30, 2008
This post was written by Terrell Frazier, GLAAD’s Fellow for National News – Communities of African Descent.
Last Friday, Noah’s Arc: Jumping the Broom premiered in Washington, DC at a private screening proudly sponsored by GLAAD, the National Black Justice Coalitionand DC Black Pride.
Jumping the Broom, a big-screen adaptation of Logo Network’s landmark television series about a group of young gay African-American men in Los Angeles, sold out its Washington, New York, and Atlanta venues, grossing an astounding $32,000 per screen. You can check out the trailer on Logo’s website.
The huge audience response to the film’s weekend release has prompted Logo Features to add screens for the film’s second weekend. “It’s a really phenomenal event,” Logo’s Steven Fisher told indieWIRE. “This is a testament to our strategy to appeal to niche audiences within the gay community with content that speaks to them.”
With Black gay and lesbian relationships often ignored by the mainstream media, honest and heartfelt depictions such as those found in Noah’s Arc take on added importance within popular culture. We are excited to see the audience respond so positively to this film and hope that its success leads to increased representation of the Black LGBT community.
Jump the Broom with Noah, Alex, Ricky and Chance on Friday
October 20, 2008
Noah’s Arc: Jumping the Broom hits select theaters Friday, October 24, but if you’re in the Washington, DC area, you can attend a very special private screening this week, sponsored by GLAAD, the National Black Justice Coalition and DC Black Pride.
On Friday, October 24, head to the E Street Cinema at 555 11th Street NW for a perfect date movie — and a chance to see the stars of your favorite Logo series in person!
For only $20, you can obtain a General Admission ticket.
But $30 will grant you a VIP ticket, which ensures preferred seating at the theater, with a reception to follow. (Great deal, huh?)
The movie starts at 5:45pm, with a Q&A with very special guests right after.
But what’s the film about?
All your favorite characters are back but this time, there’s a big wedding to plan! Noah, Alex, Ricky, Chance and their significant others travel to Martha’s Vineyard for a weekend wedding getaway. Drama ensues as one by one, their relationships start to crack under the pressure of closer examination.
Newly successful screenwriter Noah looks to his friends for advice as he prepares to move his relationship to a more serious level while struggling to keep his first studio movie alive. But the friends are of little help as they juggle their own issues. Elder statesmen Chance and Eddie attempt to scratch their seven-year itch but worry their marriage has permanently lost its spark. And playboy Ricky flaunts his barely legal college student fling in the face of his monogamous friends but hides a surprising secret that threatens to rock the house. Add to the mix Alex’s crazy-making wedding prep, a closeted superstar rapper, a high-maintenance studio exec, and a surprise visitor and you’ve got the makings of a hilarious and poignant romantic comedy.
Check out the trailer here.
And buy your tickets already! Tickets are going fast! Call 202.319.1552 ext. 24.
Cast of Noah’s Arc Reunites For Marriage Town Hall
October 1, 2008
On Thursday, October 2, the cast of the beloved Logo series Noah’s Arc will come together for a Town Hall meeting on marriage equality in Oakland, CA and YOU are invited.
Sponsored by the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry, the San Francisco Foundation, Energy 92.7 FM, and First Congregational Church of Oakland, the meeting will specifically address the issue of marriage for all couples as it pertains to the African American community.
In addition to the cast of Noah’s Arc (Darryl Stephens, Doug Spearman, Rodney Chester, Christian Vincent and Jenson Atwood) the panel will also include Rev. Roland Stringfellow, director of the Bay Area Coalition of Welcoming Congregations; Rev. Lynice Pinkard, pastor, First Congregational Church of Oakland; and Rev. Francine Brookins, pastor, Wright Chapel A.M.E. Church.
This is the first time all five actors have appeared together at a public forum. The discussion promises to be lively, engaging and enlightening. Details are as follows:
Thursday, October 2, 2008, 7:00 p.m.
First Congregational Church of Oakland
2501 Harrison St. Oakland, CA
Pre-Event Reception with the actors of Noah’s Arc
4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. ($300.00)
Town Hall Meeting 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. ($30.00)
For more information on the event, please click here.
Voter registration and “No on Prop 8“ information will be available following this forum.
See you there!
