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13 posts tagged lgbt

“A Missionary Position” by  Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine.

“A Missionary Position” is a multimedia solo stage piece written and performed by Ugandan American artist Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine. A Missionary Position is a piece in response to the rampant homophobia now gripping Uganda - but from the LGBTQI community’s perspective. Mwine plays the role of a Ugandan priest, a sex worker and an LGBT activist in his documentary-style solo show.

It’s great to hear how folks from within the Ugandan LGBT community (as well as allies) respond to the violence, laws and media portrayals of themselves - instead of always having to hear it from outliers. Take some time to watch the video - you won’t be disappointed.  

Written, performed, directed and shot by Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine
Direction and dramaturgy by Emily Hoffman
Video Design by Carole Kim
Lighting design by Tiffany Willams
Production still photos by Steven Gunther
Hair and make up by Wamuhu Waweru

*Trigger Warning: There are violent acts recounted in this video

“In Japan if you have tattoos, you’re in the mafia. When I saw my grandmother in Japan I had to cover mine up because she’d reject me as part of the family. I also couldn’t tell my grandmother I was gay. Having tattoos and being gay and going to art school? She’d be like, “What are you doing with your life?”” Read the rest of Sarah’s story at We Are the Youth! Photo by Laurel Golio. Interview as told to Diana Scholl. (via wertheyouth)

“In Japan if you have tattoos, you’re in the mafia. When I saw my grandmother in Japan I had to cover mine up because she’d reject me as part of the family. I also couldn’t tell my grandmother I was gay. Having tattoos and being gay and going to art school? She’d be like, “What are you doing with your life?””

Read the rest of Sarah’s story at We Are the Youth!

Photo by Laurel Golio. Interview as told to Diana Scholl.

(via wertheyouth)

“I have no sickness or a condition, there is no cure, I am nothing but life. God named me like everything else; I was not to be subject to your spit, or your fire, or fences, fist, faggots, fairies, your fantasies that you attempt to beat out of me, or to get me to beat it out of myself. I am no Demon. I was born to mean happy, can’t you see my beauty? Can’t you see my gorgeous, can you see my humanity before it’s rejected, pushed into closets cramped with empty men looking to be filled, I am no Demon. I am not evil, I am not.” Excerpt from “For Those Who Pray In Closets” by Danez Smith (Poet/Author) (via abluesforbrklyn)

“I have no sickness or a condition, there is no cure, I am nothing but life. God named me like everything else; I was not to be subject to your spit, or your fire, or fences, fist, faggots, fairies, your fantasies that you attempt to beat out of me, or to get me to beat it out of myself. I am no Demon. I was born to mean happy, can’t you see my beauty? Can’t you see my gorgeous, can you see my humanity before it’s rejected, pushed into closets cramped with empty men looking to be filled, I am no Demon. I am not evil, I am not.”

Excerpt from “For Those Who Pray In Closets” by Danez Smith (Poet/Author)

(via abluesforbrklyn)

Janet Mock’s Huffington Post conversation with journalist Clay Cane - a video interview shot and edited by Aaron Tredwell.

Here are some snippets from their great conversation:

On quoting Zora Neale Hurston, saying, he’s not tragically colored or tragically gay:

CC: For many people, they look at being LGBT as having a tragic life: living an existence of shame, rejection and anger. That’s not my story and I will not let that be my story. Actually, being gay saved my life. If I would’ve been straight, I would’ve more than likely been in jail or dead like the other boys in my neighborhood in West Philadelphia. Because I was gay, I was introverted. I would stay home and study, listening to Madonna and Prince! [Laughs] I wouldn’t be the writer that I am if I don’t fully accept all of the dimensions of myself.

CC: …It seems no one questions your womanhood. Is there certain amount of privilege you have versus someone who isn’t as “passable”?

JM: First off, I have major issues with the term passing because it implies that trans people are trying to “pass” as something we are not, when in fact we are being exactly who we are. But yes, my so-called attractiveness can be a privilege, one of the few I’ve experienced in my life — like my access to an education, the fact that I had a family that supported me and access to medical intervention as a teen. I’m conscious of my privileges and my so-called oppressions. Because I fit our society’s rigid mold of femininity, no one yells, “That’s a dude.” That’s not a part of my everyday experience, and that has lightened my load. There’s no denying that, but that’s also why I shed that invisibility and came out. And I know many women who will never come out, just like you know many closeted men who’ll never come out, because there’s so much fear and paranoia surrounding being trans or gay.

Syd the Kyd (Interview Magazine) Producer and Musician, 19 Syd the Kyd—that’s what they called Sydney Bennett when she first appeared as the DJ-producer-mixer-sound engineer for the 11-piece hip-hop group Odd Future. “My older brother gave me that name when I was younger, but I grew out of it,” she explains. “I ran with it until things got serious.” Indeed, Odd Future has exploded into a full-on phenomenon, with group members signing to taste-making labels like Fat Possum and XL, an Adult Swim live-action series in the works, and its own Sony-distributed label. Concurrently, Bennett’s profile has grown from shy, behind-the-scenes beatmaker to assured performer in her own right. The 19-year-old has always drawn attention, though, as both the sole female in the Odd Future crew and a gay woman in a group notorious for violent rape-fantasy lyrics. “We’re not trying to offend or intrigue people,” she explains. “It’s more of a social experiment. We make fun of society on a daily basis, and people take it so seriously. They’re proving us right.” Bennett’s own music also defies any stereotypes. Her initial solo effort, 2011’s “Flashlight,” evoked a spectral Prince ballad; meanwhile, “Love Song-1,” her first track with the difficult-to-google group The Internet, which features fellow OF members Matt Martian and Left Brain, suggests an android Sade. Syd promises that The Internet’s full-length, tentatively due next month, will keep people guessing, too. “It’s called Purple Naked Ladies, after a kind of LSD,” she explains. “It sounds like Stevie Wonder on acid. Basically, we tried to create a psychedelic trip without drugs, using music. We’re in control of our creativity, so expectations don’t matter. After all the outside bullshit goes away, then you can do anything. You can conquer the world.” (via based-messiah)

Syd the Kyd (Interview Magazine)

Producer and Musician, 19

Syd the Kyd—that’s what they called Sydney Bennett when she first appeared as the DJ-producer-mixer-sound engineer for the 11-piece hip-hop group Odd Future. “My older brother gave me that name when I was younger, but I grew out of it,” she explains. “I ran with it until things got serious.” Indeed, Odd Future has exploded into a full-on phenomenon, with group members signing to taste-making labels like Fat Possum and XL, an Adult Swim live-action series in the works, and its own Sony-distributed label. Concurrently, Bennett’s profile has grown from shy, behind-the-scenes beatmaker to assured performer in her own right. The 19-year-old has always drawn attention, though, as both the sole female in the Odd Future crew and a gay woman in a group notorious for violent rape-fantasy lyrics. “We’re not trying to offend or intrigue people,” she explains. “It’s more of a social experiment. We make fun of society on a daily basis, and people take it so seriously. They’re proving us right.” Bennett’s own music also defies any stereotypes. Her initial solo effort, 2011’s “Flashlight,” evoked a spectral Prince ballad; meanwhile, “Love Song-1,” her first track with the difficult-to-google group The Internet, which features fellow OF members Matt Martian and Left Brain, suggests an android Sade. Syd promises that The Internet’s full-length, tentatively due next month, will keep people guessing, too. “It’s called Purple Naked Ladies, after a kind of LSD,” she explains. “It sounds like Stevie Wonder on acid. Basically, we tried to create a psychedelic trip without drugs, using music. We’re in control of our creativity, so expectations don’t matter. After all the outside bullshit goes away, then you can do anything. You can conquer the world.”

(via based-messiah)

(via friscotsc)

The story of Imam Daiyee Abdullah - a gay Imam in Washington D.C. WHAT’S THE STORY? He goes by Imam Daiyee Abdullah and lives in Washington D.C. He is known as the gay Imam because many queer Muslims come to him for advice on how to live a balanced and spiritual life. He is a large man that towered over both Aman and I. He also has a mean handshake. WHERE’S THE MOSQUE? For now, it is a makeshift mosque. They meet at a public library in Washington DC for Friday prayers. HOW DID HE KNOW HE WAS GAY? Imam Daiyee grew up in a very loving family and always knew that he was gay. He finally came out to his parents when he left for college at the age of 15. At the time, his name was Sidney and he wasn’t Muslim. His family had always instilled in him the importance of believing in God. They themselves are Southern Baptists, but accepted their son when he came out.  WHY IS THIS RELEVANT? We are afraid as a community to touch this subject because we feel the religion doesn’t accept it as a lifestyle. Many muslims right now see homosexuality as a phenomena that doesn’t effect Muslims. We take the Ahmedenejad “there are no homosexuals in Iran.” But what will we do if one of our siblings comes out? If our child tells us they are gay? Or a close friend? Will you still love them? Will you shun them? Beat them? […] Click the dots above to read more. Also, the heated commentary that ensues as a result of the article…thoughts?

The story of Imam Daiyee Abdullah - a gay Imam in Washington D.C.

WHAT’S THE STORY?

He goes by Imam Daiyee Abdullah and lives in Washington D.C. He is known as the gay Imam because many queer Muslims come to him for advice on how to live a balanced and spiritual life. He is a large man that towered over both Aman and I. He also has a mean handshake.


WHERE’S THE MOSQUE?


For now, it is a makeshift mosque. They meet at a public library in Washington DC for Friday prayers.


HOW DID HE KNOW HE WAS GAY?


Imam Daiyee grew up in a very loving family and always knew that he was gay. He finally came out to his parents when he left for college at the age of 15. At the time, his name was Sidney and he wasn’t Muslim. His family had always instilled in him the importance of believing in God. They themselves are Southern Baptists, but accepted their son when he came out. 

WHY IS THIS RELEVANT?


We are afraid as a community to touch this subject because we feel the religion doesn’t accept it as a lifestyle. Many muslims right now see homosexuality as a phenomena that doesn’t effect Muslims. We take the Ahmedenejad “there are no homosexuals in Iran.” But what will we do if one of our siblings comes out? If our child tells us they are gay? Or a close friend? Will you still love them? Will you shun them? Beat them?

[…]

Click the dots above to read more.

Also, the heated commentary that ensues as a result of the article…thoughts?

(via sexgenderbody)