Millions More March...Be There

Just over one week ago I posted an article about Rev. Willie Wilson, pastor of the Union Temple Baptist Church in SE DC, who is the leader of the Millions More March, which is the follow-up to the Million Man March held 10 years ago. In that article I discussed and some of you commented on the deeply seeded and hate filled remarks the good reverend made regarding black lesbians, and all gays in general. At the time, I was really undecided on whether or not the black gay community should be supportive of this event or not. My thoughts on this topic spawned further when I received an email from a reader who suggested that our community should be there in an organized fashion. He was unaware of any organized effort, and so was I. Of course, I was still undecided on whether or not we should even be present, however the more I have thought on this matter I've determined that we must make our presence known at this event, and in the largest numbers possible, even if it is in spite of some organizers. If we do not step forward and take this stand demanding our own self respect, we will once again be relegated to the closet that the larger black society tends to push us into. The more we are heard and seen, the more accepting and educated the black community becomes of us and our concerns. Also, these types of displays (with our participation) will provide confidence and example to others within our world who might not have reached the comfort point yet for fear of societies treatment. Keith Boykin informed me that his organization, the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) is organizing an event in coordination with the MMM. Information can be found on their website at http://www.nbjcoalition.org/.

What a Difference a Name Makes

Chaniqua, Jaquita, Bionte, Shaquita, or Beyonce...what do they all have in common? Well, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research these young ladies are all less likely to achieve academically, they will also have more trouble finding jobs, getting loans, and getting ahead in life. Why? All because of their names. The Bureau did a study that spanned from 1994 to 2001, looking very closely at names popular within the African-American community that in general society make it very easy to identify, or assume ones ethnic identity. As a part of the research, they also compared siblings, those with indentifying names, and those without. It seems that many of the educators involved in these surveys have negative impressions of children with names such as these. This of course leads to less attention given to that student, which results in lower achievement. Of course, in the job market, we know that discrimination exists, however these names serve as an identifying factor on resumes that can prevent us from getting in the door. So who is to blame in this mess, should parents be blamed for naming their children as they saw fit, or should educators and corporate America be called out for the prejudiced approach they have taken? I think there is some blame on both sides, because as black people we know what we face daily from society, we also know what perceptions are out there, so why should we do anything to make life more difficult for our children. While we have to take responsibility for that side of it, educators or any other human being alive who carries these types of impressions is not fit for the position they occupy. They are doing a disservice to children everywhere.

Why don't we focus on Rick Santorum's Gayness?

Who is Rick Santorum, and why is he on a blog about black gay life, you might ask...well Mr. Santorum is a republican senator from Pennsylvania, who ranks #3 in the senate. He is also one of the fiercest opponents to GLBT issues, and has spoken out against our community and our lives countless times. Well, it appears that one of his senior staffers, Robert Traynham has been outed as being a gay black male. Of course, with this revelation, the news media has been in buzz mode of course questioning Santorum's record on GLBT issues, but also spending much time on Mr. Traynham, exploring questions like "How can you work for a politician like Santorum", etc. Of course, initially I asked myself the same question, and I have avoided commenting on this issue, until I was clear on my own position on the matter. On one hand, I question how any of us can question Robert Traynham, when most of us work for corporations or individuals, who are not exactly staunch supporters of our causes, black or gay in most cases. So what makes his scenario so wrong? The primary issue here in the hearts and minds of gays and especially black gays everywhere is that when you enter the political arena, no longer are you simply "doing a job". When we look at prominent black figures in the political arena, (Condoleeza Rice, Colin Powell, etc.) we view their affiliations, and support of their respective employers as representative of their own beliefs. It has been reported that when confronted on this issue, Mr. Traynham sys he is supportive of the Senator. Now, whether these are his genuine feelings, or his attempt to save face professionally, we may never know, but for our agenda to advance, those of us who are in positions of influence must stand up. As long as we stay hidden in our closets...we are right where they want us.

DC Black Leader 'Goes Off' on Homophobic Rampage

Why do Some Black Minister's Work to Divide Race?

Rev. Willie Wilson, pastor of Union Temple Baptist Church in Southeast Washington DC and national executive director of the Millions More Movement to mark the 10th anniversary of the Million Man March in October, warned his congregation that "Sisters making more money than brothers and it'’s creating problems in families that'’s one of the reasons many of our women are becoming lesbians." This rampage is in sharp contrast to an effort Wilson championed to bring the black community together despite our differences a few years ago.

Wilson stated "I ain'’t homophobic because everybody here got something wrong with him, he said. “But a… women falling down on another woman, strapping yourself up with something, it ain't real. That thing ain'’t got no feeling in it. It ain'’t natural. Anytime somebody got to slap some grease on your behind and stick something in you, it's something wrong with that. Your butt ain'’t made for that." Now, first of all, his insinuation that a homosexual person has "something wrong with them" is ludacris and a perfect example of the uneducated views that exist. Also, I have to question the almost explicit depiction of sexual activities between two SGL personunnecessaryas unecessary, and reminds me of some x-rated literature...which I am sure Rev. Wilson would not endorse!

As we already stated, Rev. Wilson is the head of Louis Farrakhan's Millions More Movement, whose objective is to commemorate the Million Man March's 10th anniversary. Rev. Wilson previously met with activist Keith Boykin and agreed to an inclusive movement this time around. I would have to question his commitment to inclusion, given his recent comments. Just one more example of our religious leaders trying to divide the black community. What do you think?

NAACP Chairman Reaffirms His Commitment to Racial, Religious, and Gay Minorities

Renewing his attack on conservatives and the Bush administration Sunday, NAACP chairman Julian Bond accused national leaders of rolling back past civil rights gains, crippling efforts to battle racism and undermining democracy.

"The President likes to talk to the talk, but he doesn't walk the walk," Bond told members at the annual convention of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

President Bush has turned down five invitations to attend NAACP gatherings, including this year's, and Bond on Sunday invited Bush to the next one, in Washington.

"Mr. President, we're extending the invitation a year in advance," Bond said. "We want to see you and we want you to see us -- we want to know you think you're our president, too."

Bond also addressed an investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, which has said NAACP officials' political statements are partisan comments that violate the group's nonprofit status.

"They may try to intimidate us into silence," Bond said, "but we will not be frightened away from the truth."

The Baltimore-based nonprofit, which has struggled in recent years to raise money, this year faced allegations that former president Kweisi Mfume granted workplace favors to an NAACP employee with whom he had a relationship.

The national board last month selected a new president, retired Verizon executive Bruce S. Gordon, who has pledged to raise an endowment and improve efficiencies in the organization. He is expected to be confirmed Thursday.

The group's 96th convention, a six-day event, is being attended by more than 8,000 people, including 2,200 young adults.

Republican Rep. James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin also spoke to the group Sunday evening, saying he would help fight for reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, portions of which are due to expire in 2007.

"The stakes have not been higher on this in the last 25 years," Sensenbrenner said.

Bond stressed the convention's theme, Conscience of a Nation, saying the NAACP has been a pivotal force in shaping the U.S. and plans to continue doing so.

"There is not a single American -- black, white, male, female, Christian, Muslim or Jewish, straight or gay -- who is not a beneficiary of the work the NAACP did in the past or is doing today," Bond said. But, he said, "the enemies of justice and fair play" are trying to "steal the just spoils of our righteous war."

He criticized Democrats who agreed recently to support conservative judicial nominees. And he pointed to conservative blacks and some black churches that receive federal funding and promote conservative causes such as attacking affirmative action.

Earlier Sunday, civil rights advocates and other NAACP officials echoed those sentiments, saying blurring the lines between religious groups and politics threatens equal opportunity.

Democratic Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia said religious groups that receive federal funding for social programs are increasingly hostile to program participants who disagree with their views on social issues.

"When you allow discrimination based on religion in federal programs, you lose all your moral authority to enforce civil rights legislation," Scott said.

Black Gay Talk Show to Debut on Television

Herndon L. Davis, author of last year’s controversial book, “Black, Gay & Christian,” is preparing to enter television.

The Herndon Davis Reports will debut on DirecTV channel 227 and Comcast Cable on Sunday July 17. It will reach nearly 16 million households and Davis is hopeful the show will be expanded on other cable services.

The show will be world’s first black gay/lesbian, TV news/talk show. The one-hour weekly program promises to "empower the black gay/lesbian" viewer - an audience long ignored by even the gay media.

Davis says the show will be a cross between the Chris Matthews Show (MSNBC) and the Oprah Winfrey Show.

"It aggressively tackles a variety of socioeconomic and political issues impacting the gay/lesbian community but from a distinctly black gay/lesbian affirming perspective," says Davis.

Among the shows already in the works is one devoted to understanding the DL “down low” phenomena and another on gay marriage rights.

Davis says that other topics will include spirituality, raising children, and coping with depression and homophobia,

"The Herndon Davis Reports will deeply explore into the vibrant and diverse lives of the entire black gay/lesbian community, past, present and future” he adds.

In 2004, Davis self-published the spiritual empowerment book, “Black, Gay & Christian,” a book which challenged the status quo of homophobia within the black church as well as its scriptural interpretation of biblical text surrounding homosexuality.

The book also provided inspirational and motivational resources and texts for black gays/lesbians in order to jointly embrace and reconcile their homosexuality with their spirituality.

It appears that Davis has been able to secure airtime on local or independent broadcast channels on these two service providers, however I wonder if we can ever expect to see such a show on BET (maybe, now that it's owned by Viacom), of TVOne, the network owned by Comcast and RadioOne founder Cathy Hughes. With the advent of the new gay channel LOGO, I would expect to see more black gay media ventures spring up.

Charlotte's First Black Gay Pride - Gay Movement vs. Civil Rights Movement

As Charlotte, NC plans to celebrate it's inaugural black gay pride event many in the area have mixed emotions about what the event represents. Of course Charlotte, in the heart of the bible-belt has it's fair share of ultra-conservative right wingers, however even among the more liberal black community this event has caused a stir. Many heterosexual blacks in the area are not in favor of the event, especially since some of the organizers have billed the event as a movement of sorts. Many of the organizers and participants have related the black gay pride event as the first step in a movement very similar to the civil rights movement of the 1960's. This debate is not only happening in Charlotte, it is happening in black communities all across America. Even the first family of civil rights, the family of the late Rev. Martin Luther King are divided on the issue. King's daughter, Rev. Bernice King, is starkly opposed to any comparison between the two movements, and based on her comments in the past does not seem supportive of the community, however King's widow Coretta Scott King, and son Martin Luther King III do compare the two movements, and are supportive of GLBT issues. Our communities really need to do some soul searching on this issue, because it is becoming a dividing force among us, not only is it dividing us, but the reluctance to build any bridges is also killing us physically. What do you think, can the comparison be made between the gay rights movement, and the civil rights movement of the 1960's?

Don't Ask, Don't Tell; Should You, Would You?

A common phrase used when joking about "gays in the military", the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Policy was implemented during the Clinton Administration forcing gay servicemembers deep into the closet if they wanted to remain in the military. Now it's one thing to keep yourself in the closet, but to have to do so for fear of losing your job puts a whole new spin on things.

I decided to post this after reading about Robert Stout, a soldier wounded in an attack in Iraq and discharged from the Army for being gay; after a campaign to remain in the Army but as an openly gay soldier. The 23 yr-old Stout said he was open among most of his 26-member all male platoon and knew a tons of gay men that would be more than willing to stay in the Army if they could just be open.

I'd like to use this story as a premise for a discussion about openess in the work place. The military is one extreme example of the conflicts of sexual orientation and occupation. How many of us know of gays or have been with someone in the military? What pressure does being gay add to life on your job, such as questions about why aren't you married, or who's that special woman in your life, etc? I'd like to hear from you!

Author of the Month - Frederick Smith

Frederick Smith

Well folks, it's time to do something a little different here at datSPOT, we have decided that we want to broaden horizons...open the imagination, and at the same time support our Black Authors. So we will begin featuring a new author at least once every month. We will do this more often if we come accross books or authors that we feel you would or should be interested in. Frederick Smith is the selected author for July. His new book Down For Whatever was released nationwide on Tuesday, July 5, so...go on down to your local bookstore and pick up a copy...or better yet, for those of you who do not want to leave the house...we have provided a link over on the right-hand menu which will link you directly to Barnes & Noble to pick up the book. Fred was kind enough to answer a few questions about the book for us. The only thing we still want to know is whether or not he is single! http://www.fredericksmith.net or www.simplyfredsmith.blogspot.com (yes he has a BLOG!)

Q & A with Frederick Smith

What was your inspiration for the book? How did you come up with the story?

DOWN FOR WHATEVER started as a short story for a fiction class I was taking. My teacher, Kerry Madden, and my small group loved the story wanted to know more. The inspiration for the short story wasn’t that profound. I wrote a scene I’d observed a million times between friends and acquaintances – the competition for dates, the repetitiveness of the club scene, and the countless resolutions to oneself to slow down and settle down. My teacher and classmates wanted to know more about Keith, the character who was the focus of the short story, and these other friends mentioned in the story. So I decided to expand the story and wrote out character biographies for Keith and his friends, Rafael, Marco Antonio, and Tommie. Once I wrote the biographies, the stories just came. It was like they spoke to me and told me what they wanted to get out. Living in L.A., you can’t help but be immersed in the multiple cultures, ethnicities, and realities people have, and I knew I wanted to write a story that included all people in a realistic, yet fictional, way. All my characters are culturally and personally aware, proud, and empowered, though they may exhibit this in different ways in their interactions. And since I’ve had seven years of formal instruction in Spanish, and live in Southern California, I knew I’d want to use some of my knowledge of the language and cultures that speak it.

So what is DOWN FOR WHATEVER about? Is there a message?

In a nutshell, can four twenty-something friends find true love in a city where Black, Latin, and Gay Pride collide? Though all four characters – Keith Hemmings, Marco Antonio Vega, Rafael Dominguez, and Tommie Jordan – have equally important and self-supporting storylines, Keith is the glue of the group. Keith grew up in Detroit with Tommie, who sang at Keith’s father’s church. Keith and Marco Antonio met while freshman at Stanford. And upon moving to L.A., Keith and Marco Antonio pick up Rafael along the way to complete the clique. All four are gay, bi, down, same-gender-loving, take your pick. All four encounter the L.A. scene in a way that makes their humanity shine and you realize their stories are human stories, only supplemented by the labels they choose to identify as. As for a message… self love, education, safe sex, family, and ethnicity, class, and gender are all part of DOWN FOR WHATEVER, and it’s still a fun read. Think of it as a vitamin-enhanced dessert.

Have you ever been involved in any situations like your characters?

Yeah. Which situations? I’m not telling. But honestly, the novel is fiction and I wrote it based on my observations and reactions to things I have experienced or friends and family have experienced. And though some of the locations are real, the situations and characters are all made up. I guess you could say I have an active imagination and love to ask the question, “What if?” and then write about the answers.

How long did it take for you to write DOWN FOR WHATEVER?

It took about a year to write the first draft of the novel. I joined two writers workshop groups for feedback and critiquing, which helped move the novel from something with potential to a publishable piece. The re-writing process was about another year. I shopped it around to literary agents and some small publishers. After a few rejections, I lucked out. John Scognamiglio, Editorial Director at Kensington Publishing, heard about my work from a writer friend of mine named Denise Hamilton. He requested the manuscript and two weeks after sending it to him, he called me at work – yes, I have a day job which is very fun and rewarding – to say he wanted to buy it for publication. That made my day. And my literary agent, Nicholas Roman Lewis, was pretty thrilled too.

What was the most challenging part about writing the novel?

Figuring out how I wanted the story to end. I could have written five hundred more pages, I’m sure, but I imagined some young man or woman on-the-go wouldn’t want to haul around such a fat book on the subway or to the gym or beach. But bringing the novel to a close was hard. Do I go for the happily-ever-after ending? Do I go for the Miranda from Sex & The City sarcastic/keep-it-real ending? Or a happy medium? I wrote two endings. When you read the novel you’ll see the ending I chose. Other than that, I used my time wisely and wrote daily. As soon as I got feedback from my workshop members, I worked on revising immediately. I was so enthused and stoked about writing that I didn’t let anything come between me and the characters.

Which of the characters do you most relate to?

Well, I identify and relate to all of them for different reasons. I can tell you that Rafael was the most fun to write for. There’s tons of stuff he did, or could have done, that didn’t end up in DOWN FOR WHATEVER. He’s the bad boy you just love to have around and wish you could be—then again, maybe I am that bad boy. Hmmm… Tommie and the basketball player, Tyrell, were a fun challenge for me – writing about these smart, closeted, men in a loving relationship really made me think. Keith was fun to write smart-ass remarks and dialogue for. I had to put myself in the shoes of a smart person with a smart mouth, but who did it with class and in a subtle way. And Marco Antonio helped me learn and appreciate the life of Mexican immigrants and the tight family bonds that make survival possible in this country that’s not always kind to its citizens.

How did you balance writing this book with work, family, etc…?

There really wasn’t a major balancing act. I knew I wanted to write a novel and just prioritized for everyone and everything, including myself. I wrote before and after work (sometimes during work, but don’t tell my boss ☺, a joke!). I still hung out with friends and family for drinks, dinner, and good times. I didn’t really tell people I was writing a book, because you know how people can get when you share your dreams but they don’t know how it would happen or how to give support. They just give you that blank look that says, “Great. And everyone else is writing one too.” So I just focused on the end product, drove myself to complete it, took classes, met great people who understood the writing life and helped me meet the right people, and then I shared with everyone once I sold the manuscript.

What are you working on now?

My mind is always racing with ideas and I’m working on two projects. We’ll see which one I finish first. One is kind of a continuation, but not really a sequel, of DOWN FOR WHATEVER. Some of the characters from DFW appear, but they’re not the only focus. The other is more of a college, coming-of-age story. Both have multi-ethnic, multi-gender, multi-class casts. All are set in L.A. It’s what I know, and it’s what I’ll keep writing about.

HITdatSPOT recognized as best gay news BLOG

Our friends over at Best Gay Blogs just recognized HITdatSPOT as the best gay news BLOG of the week. Many thanks to BGB, and we intend to continue bringing you the issues that matter most! Be sure to check out Best Gay Blogs!

Mexico Releases Stamps with Racial Overtones

New stamps released in Mexico

As many of you may have seen by now Mexico has recently released a new set of postage stamps commemorating a popular cartoon character there, who many in the United States believe carries significant racial overtones. Even the Bush White House expressed outrage at the stamp release. Of course this issue is bringing criticism from all of the usual Black spokesperson, the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, etc. Of course Mexican president Vicente Fox says that Mexico will not apologize or withdraw the stamp release. He says that people in the US simply do not understand Mexican culture, and that the cartoon series is loved all over Mexico. I sincerely hope there is nothing afoul here, however one has to wonder the motive behind this release. Obviously the characters remind us of the mammy images of days gone by, and we all recall the recent statements made by President Fox recently when he commented on the fact that Mexicans are taking on the jobs that even Blacks will not take in the United States. What do you think? Should we be offended by these images, or are we simply being over-sensitive?

San Francisco Gay Bar Accused of Racism Agrees to Mediation

Former S.F. mayor will help settle 13 complaints of racial discrimination leveled against proprietor of Badlands in the Castro

The owner of a gay bar accused of racial discrimination agreed Sunday to mediation to settle the dispute.

Les Natali, owner of the S.F. Badlands bar in the Castro district, has said all the allegations stem from misperceptions and misunderstandings.

The city's Human Rights Commission determined 13 complaints were valid from eight complainants who said they had been barred from patronizing or working at the bar because they are black.

Natali has agreed to allow former Mayor Willie Brown and attorney Scott Emblidge to mediate the dispute.

Julius Turman, lawyer for the complainants, said Sunday he would recommend that his clients accept Brown and Emblidge as mediators.

Protesters with the anti-discrimination group And Castro for All have picketed the bar weekly since April.

I sincerely hope that this issue is resolved, because as the gay community fights for acceptance and rights it certainly does not help to be divided within our own segment of the population.

Logo Launches as MTV's Must See Gay TV

As many of you may know Logo a new free channel launched on Thursday and is brought to us by MTV networks. There are many opinions concerning this new channel. Some people don't feel that homosexuality has any business with a dedicated 24hr. Presence on television, however what these critics fail to realize is that homosexuality is grabbing more and more of the airways everyday. Anyone who has turned on a television in the last 4 years has seen the growing acceptance that gays have found on television and in movies. There is hardly a show or movie made today without some reference or characters who represents the gay lifestyle. I only hope that Black gays get fair representation on the network. We certainly would not want this to turn into a Queer As Folk network. I admit that for the first few seasons I enjoyed QAF, however it did not satisfy me completely because we were not represented. This was really not at the fault of the shows writers in my opinion. They were telling their story, and we all know that the white and gay communities exist independently. With all that being said, MTV is highlighting Noah's Arc (cas pictured) as one of its premiere shows. Noah's Arc is a show about 4 black gay guys living in LA, and from the reviews I have seen it is a good effort. So call your cable operator to see if LOGO is available in your city. For more info on Noah's Arc click here.

Live 8 Brings Worldwide Unity

I am sure that by now most of you have hear about the Live 8 concert held yesterday in support of African famine relief. Live 8 was an amazing outpouring from the world that crossed cultural and class lines. The concert was hosted in London by its founder Sir Bob Geldorf, who organized the first concert 20 years ago. In Philadelphia, homegrown superstar Will Smith served as the host, however it is believed that the best response for any of the hosts was that received by Nelson Mandela who hosted in Johannesburg, S.A. In all there were 20 concerts, with one in every G8 countries, as well as in South Africa. Events such as these always amaze me...it amazes me that people across the world can put aside their racial, social, and political differences/agendas in support of a movement that the world can agree is for the "common good". These types of events provide hope...now the music is over and its time for action! For more info on Live 8 (you can view a replay if you like) click here.

Questions Surrounding Luther Vandross' Death?

It appears that there are now some questions emerging as to the cause of Luther's death. I don't have much information on this, but according to a FOX News report, Luther's manager Carmen Romano claims that is was a constant struggle between her and Vandross' mother Mary Ida Vandross (pictured) and sister. I am not sure how valid this claim is, but the FOX News article suggests that more details are to come in the following days. I hope that these claims are not true, and more importantly I hope that the world only give Luther the respect that he deserves during this time of mourning. I have seen Luther's mother in several interviews since his stroke two years ago, and I must say she seemed very passionate about doing everything she could to see that Luther recovered. In addition, I have also heard her, and Luther allude to the fact that all of his siblings were deceased already, which causes me to further question the FOX News article. If you are interested in the article you can find it here.

Black Gay Men Face 'serious problem' in HIV

Ok...I don't want to dwell on the sermons but, a few weeks ago results from a recently completed study by the CDC made headlines across the world. The message was simple: according to the study 46% of black gay men were HIV positive, and of those who tested positive 67% did not know that they were. Now, this study was done with participants in 5 different cities across America to achieve a diverse sample of participants. I don't think that these results should be surprising to any of us who can be real with ourselves. We know that our community has not been very responsible in this area, and we have taken the availability of treatments almost as a license to ignore a problem of epidemic proportions. The study brought to light many issues within our community with regards to HIV/AIDS. Another highlight of the study is the finding that men who meet online are more likely to have unprotected sex than men who meet through more conventional means. This too comes at no surprise to me...the internet provides a sense of anonymity that cannot be matched by any other method of meeting a sexual partner. Take a look at the article from the Southern Voice to learn more about the study. My only question is: when are we going to do something...besides make the problem worse.

Southern Voice Online

Are Black Gays Invisible?

I ran across an article about a group of folks at NYU who held a forum concerning the Black gay community, and its visibility, power, relevance, etc. The ultimate question at this summit was "Are Black Gays Invisible". It is true that the gay community as a whole has experienced a tremendous amount of growth in power and influence, however the African-American sector of that group is really behind. We all know how homosexuality is still viewed by many in the black community. Our institutions are some of the fiercest opponents of diversity, which is odd when you think of where we have come from. In an earlier post I questioned whether or not even black gays are concerned about the gay marriage question...it just seems at times that we are standing on the sidelines while others are fighting the battles that should be important to us. One example that stands out in my mind, which occurred just last year, I participated in an AIDS Walk/Run event, which of course was organized to raise much needed funds for AIDS research and treatment. At that event I witnessed an outpouring of support from many businesses in the community and hundreds of individuals...however I must say that the African American presence was just not there. The only black organization represented was the local chapter of Delta Sigma Theta. Of all the churches, and black businesses in this city...none of them showed. The black community has to reach the realization that our relationship with our gay subculture is going to cause the decimation of our race if we do not address these issues and become educated on these matters. Just ask any of the black women who now represent the fastest growing segment of the HIV population...for more info on the NYU forum click here. By the way, I'd love your comments on this one.

Luther Vandross Dies at age 54

Grammy award winner Luther Vandross, whose deep, lush voice on hits like "Here and Now" and "Any Love" sold more than 25 million albums while providing the romantic backdrop for millions of couples worldwide, died Friday. He was 54.

Vandross died at 1:47 p.m. at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, N.J., said hospital spokesman Rob Cavanaugh. Cavanaugh did not release the cause of death.

Since suffering a stroke in his Manhattan home on April 16, 2003, the R&B crooner stopped making public appearances - but amazingly managed to continue his recording career. In 2004, he captured four Grammys as a sentimental favorite, including best song for the bittersweet "Dance With My Father."