Speaking this weekend at SUNY - Fredonia

On Saturday, February 28th, I will be speaking at SUNY - Fredonia for their closing ceremonies of Black History Month.

This is an exciting event as I will be incorporating and infusing music (from the 60's to present day), the Civil Rights Movement, and Hip Hop culture into my speech.

The event is at 1pm. If you live in the area, please feel free to come out. The event is free and open to the public.

Tavis Smiley's - State Of The Union...

If you live in the Los Angeles area you should definitely attend this event.

State of The Union

Sponsored by:
Wells Fargo, ExxonMobil and Nationwide

Saturday, February 28, 2009

@ Los Angeles Convention Center - South Hall K
1201 S. Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
www.lacclink.com

8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
EARLY ARRIVAL IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED!

The first 1,000 registered attendees in line for the State of the Black Union will receive an original copy of the State of the Black Union report signed by Tavis Smiley. Doors open at 6:30 a.m. Be there early for an opportunity to receive this exclusive collectors’ Edition!

Speaking at Salisbury University....

On Tuesday, February 24th, I will be speaking at Salisbury University.

The school is entering its second week celebrating the "Quest for Black Citizenship in the Americas" and African American History Month.

The event will begin at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, February 24th in the Wicomico Room of the Guerrieri Center.

This African American History month event is sponsored by SOAP and the Multicultural Student Services.

If you live in the area, come and check out the event!

Support Black Films...

It's opening weekend for movies - make sure to go out and show your support of Tyler Perry's Madea Goes To Jail

The Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference...

This weekend I will be in Bloomington, IN at Indiana University as a featured presenter for The 17th annual conference for The Midwest Bisexual Lesbian Gay Transgender Ally College Conference (MBLGTACC).

Bloomington, home of the world-renowned Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, was recently ranked by The Advocate as the nation’s No. 1 gay-friendly small town vacation destination. Indiana University was included in The Advocate’s top 20 list of schools for LGBT students while the Campus Climate Index rated IU 3.5 out of 5 in a recent survey.

MBLGTACC keynote speakers are “The L Word” Writer/Director/Producer Rose Troche, out ESPN sports columnist LZ Granderson, and ISU Professor Kand McQueen.

Conference entertainment will be provided by dragapella beautyshop quartet The Kinsey Sicks and OUTmedia’s Queer Riot! featuring comedians Julie Goldman, Marga Gomez, Vidur Kapur, and Jason Stuart. Additional entertainment by local musicians and performers is also scheduled.

MBLGTACC hosts workshops led by students, faculty, and professionals to educate and motivate students to action. Participants will attend five sessions from a list of nearly 100 workshops concerning topics such as safe sex, activism basics, creating change on your campus, and ally community building.

Featured presenters are Hiding in Hip Hop author Terrance Dean, GLAAD President Neil Guiliano, and Mommy Queerest filmmaker Beverly Seckinger.

If you live in the area, or are planning to attend, make sure to check out my workshop presentation.

Former NY Mets Second Baseman Robert Alomar sued by ex claiming he has AIDS

Former All-Star second baseman Roberto Alomar has full-blown AIDS and insisted on having unprotected sex, his ex-girlfriend charged in a lawsuit, according to a report by the New York Daily News early Wednesday morning.

The claim is being made by Ilyna Dall, 31, who said she lived with the former New York Mets star for three years, according to the report.

In papers filed in state and federal court, Dall said Alomar finally was tested in January 2006 while suffering from a cough, fatigue and shingles, the Daily News reported.

“The test results of him being HIV-positive was given to him and the plaintiff on or about February 6, 2006,” the $15 million negligence suit read.

Soon after, the couple went to see a disease specialist, who discovered a mass in the retired second baseman’s chest, the court papers stated.

Alomar’s skin had turned purple, he was foaming at the mouth and a spinal tap “showed he had full-blown AIDS,” the suit said.

Alomar, 41, who quit baseball over health issues in 2005, was unable to be reached by the Daily News for comment.

His lawyer, Charles Bach, would not say whether Alomar is HIV-positive.

“We believe this is a totally frivolous lawsuit. These allegations are baseless,” Bach told the newspaper. “He’s healthy and would like to keep his health status private.”

Alomar’s father, Mets bench coach Sandy Alomar Sr., said the claims were news to him.

“That’s the first time we ever heard of that,” he told the Daily News from Puerto Rico. “I imagine I would know (if he had a serious ailment).”

Dall, a mother of two who has run a massage spa in Queens, New York, would not discuss the suit.

“I have no comment,” she told the newspaper, referring inquiries to her lawyer, Anthony Piacentini, who also declined to comment.

Full story here: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=txrobertoalomarsuit&prov=st&type=lgns

Wanda Sykes - Gay Stigma in Black Community Leads to Down Low Lifestyle and HIV...

Black and Gay Like Me
After Wanda Sykes stood up in front of a crowd of thousands and declared that she’s a lesbian, she became a poster girl for black and gay America, whether she likes it or not.
By Ari Karpel
From The Advocate March 2009

Sykes may be uneasy getting personal, but she has a firm grasp on why it’s important for an African-American celebrity to help normalize homosexuality. “There’s such a stigma about being gay that a lot of the men don’t want to be labeled as gay, so they live straight lives, and then, behind closed doors, they’re fooling around with men, bringing HIV home to their wives,” she says, stepping confidently onto a soapbox. “We’re literally killing ourselves over this fear of homosexuality.”

Read the entire story here: http://www.advocate.com/issue_story_ektid71760.asp

Casting Call for "Raw"...

A few months ago my new good friend JL King called me ecstatic. He was in negotiations for a play he was working on. When he told me the premise, I knew it was a powerful and amazing story that needed to be told. Well, yesterday he called to inform me that his play was picked-up to run Off-Broadway in New York.

I am so happy for him. He deserves all the success coming his way.

With that, they are holding auditions....so all you actors here is an opportunity to get your shine!

Raw:
No More Secrets, No More Lies
Six Men. Six Conversations. Six Confessions.

Auditions:
March 9th
1pm - 4pm
(Bring A Headshot)
Requires Nudity!

Actors Playhouse
100 Seventh Avenue South
New York, NY

E-mail: actorsplayhouse@yahoo.com

Contact:
Senay
212-255-6452

Check Out The Story I Wrote In The March Issue of VIBE...

Make sure to get the March Issue of VIBE when it hits the stands! I contributed a story on Beyonce' and J-Setting....

The Big Idea: J-Setting Beyond Beyoncé
by Terrance Dean

Editor's Note: This article can be found in its entirety in the Mar '09 issue.

From Doin’ Da Butt to the Bankhead Bounce, everyone loves to be up on the latest dance style. And usually, once the mainstream catches on, the true originators of the style are on to the next thing. But some dances are more than just slick moves, they’re the expression of a culture.

In 1990, Madonna introduced vogueing to the masses, bringing a phenomenon that had been popular in gay clubs since the 1970s to national attention. Now, nearly 20 years later, J-Setting, a popular dance in Southern black gay clubs, has made its way into the mainstream—largely, thanks to superstar Beyoncé Knowles, who’s been a gay icon pretty much since she sang “snap for the kids” in 2006’s “Get Me Bodied.”

“It’s kind of a risk when you’re introducing something underground,” says JaQuel Knight, 19, the co-choreographer, with Frank Gatson, of Beyoncé’s sensational, sensual videos “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” and the follow-up “Diva”—which brought J-Sette culture from local dancefloors and into the international limelight. “There’s the fear that people will get upset if it’s not done right.”

J-Setting is a lead-and-follow style of dancing that requires the body to move to an eight-beat count: One, two— high knee kicks defy gravity. Three, four—hips gyrate from left to right. Five, six—arms and hands slice the air. Seven, eight—heads jerk up and down to the bassline.

According to JaQuel, it was Frank Gatson who introduced the J-Sette technique to Beyoncé. “Frank didn’t know the name of it, but I did,” says JaQuel, who grew up in Georgia and taught himself to dance by imitating routines from television. He started putting together choreography for local acts, eventually working his way up to dancing with Diddy, Janet Jackson, and Soulja Boy. After catching the eye of legendary choreographer Fatima, he graduated high school and moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams full\time. “Beyoncé wanted to do something really different,” says JaQuel, “because she had done everything.” He and Frank sat Beyoncé in front of the computer and showed her YouTube clips of people J-Setting. “We were like, ‘Are you sure?’ and she was like, ‘Let’s do it.’”

Read and watch video about the latest dance craze: http://www.vibe.com/news/online_exclusives/2009/02/j_setting_beyond_beyonce/

Sexual Closure...

LOL...I am falling out laughing hysterically. A good friend of mines just returned home to NYC after two years living abroad in Prague. She and I have so many shared experiences, relationship-wise, it's bananas!!! At the same time, we both were dating jealous, crazy, and abusive guys - in the same state! Yeah, it was crazy. Then I jetted from my relationship, as did she. I went to the Caribbean and she went to Prague. Now, we both are regrouped, healed, and stronger.

So, yesterday we were talking and she mentioned to me about a guy she used to date a long time ago. Well, instead of me telling you the story, read it below...then I want you to ask yourself, have you ever had Sexual Closure with someone??

Sexual Closure
by Lois Lane

I've been home almost two weeks and between the reunions and job interviews, all I can say: It's been interesting.

It took me about four days to get into the swing and vibe of the city. It first came last Saturday when I went shopping with my cousin at the Macy's Department store in Herald Square. I was trying to convince her that she needed to branch out and buy a pair of heels for no other reason than they were elevated and pretty. At this precise moment, a woman butted into our conversation from nowhere to offer her two cents.

Ah, it's good to be home.

Then, I left my cousin to go to what we call, 'The Spot.' This is the affectionate name we have for the hectic Dominican hair salon where you can go from having a happy, nappy kitchen to china doll straight hair all in a matter of half a day on a good Saturday. It's here where they wash, condition, roll and blow out every woman on the Upper West Side who puts down $20 + $5 + $5. If you've ever been to a Dominican shop you know about the $5 add-ons.

Back in the day, I spent many a Saturday morning putting down my $20 + $5 + $5. When I walked in, I found my old stylist, Idalia. It took her a minute before the lost gaze on her face turned to recognition. Her reaction: "You're so skinny."

Ah, it's good to be home.

An amazing two hours later, I left feeling like my old self after two years of braids and otherwise less desired coifs.

It feels good to be home.

But the best New York moment came from an old friend. Now, even though I've decided not to use his name, I must supply the backstory. About a decade ago, we used to 'date' but he wasn't ever my boyfriend. Anyway, in the years since, we've moved onto a platonic friendship -- or, so I thought.

I met up with this particular old friend for dinner at his place. I was glad to see him and this guy can burn, so I was excited about the visit. With bellies full and Kona coffee poured, we got to talking about our love lives. I explained that I'm interested in someone, yada, yada, yada. Genuinely surprised by the timing (so soon after my return), he had the following suggestion to cap the evening:

"Before you do that, we should have sexual closure on our relationship."

Dear God, I have now heard it all. Thank you for this last bit of comedy before I close my eyes and die, laughing.

He, however, was serious. He went on to explain how, although our friendship would continue that he would like to share this with me one, last, time. When I overcame my shock, I explained I was uninterested in revisiting that part of our history. He continued with how I would regret it once I was settled into a routine. Don't think so. And that when I did regret it, he might not be able to help me out.

"Aw, come on. You know you want to."

No, I don't. I figured the time we 'colorful sexual euphemism here' and it turned out to be the last that was all the closure our sexual relationship needed. And I'm positive I'm not wrong.

My close circle of friends, thought it was true hilarity and one for the record books. One person said, it actually belongs on a t-shirt:

Sexual Closure
Get Some

What do you think? Are there people whom you need to have sex with one last time before committing to the idea of someone else? If you are in a relationship, you do regret not having sex with someone once more?

Having lived in many places around the globe, it's only in NYC do you even have to ponder situations like this. It really is great to be home.

Congratulations Christina Norman!...

Christina Norman

Named as head of Oprah Winfrey's OWN Network.

This is great news!!!! Christina was my former BIG boss at MTV (she was president of MTV Networks), and I was literally two doors away from her at MTV. I am so happy and proud of her and her accomplishments...

MTV’s former president, Christina Norman, is joining the most powerful woman in media to launch OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network.

Winfrey’s CEO appointment, announced Thursday afternoon, caps a talent hunt that’s been going on quietly since May 2007 when Discovery Communications (DISCA) CEO David Zaslav pitched Winfrey on the idea of her own cable-TV network. Winfrey liked the idea instantly–”it’s about living your best life,” she says about OWN. A 50-50 Harpo-Discovery joint venture, the network is supposed to launch early next year in at least 70 million homes.

Norman is a well-regarded media-industry veteran. She spent 17 years at MTV Networks, rising from freelance production coordinator to president of VH1 and then MTV in 2005. She quit last February, stunning colleagues and stirring rumors that she might be headed to Oprah’s new venture. But her meeting with Winfrey a couple of weeks later went poorly. Burned out and exhausted, “I certainly wasn’t in a position to represent myself well. I needed to bring my whole self, and I wasn’t there,” says Norman, 45, who had met Winfrey for the first time the previous December when they ran into one another in a hotel lobby in South Africa.

Norman was traveling with her husband, Charles Hunt, and their two daughters, now 17 and 12, and she stayed in vacation mode. So much so that she almost blew her chances with Winfrey because she was more interested in living her best life, so to speak, than landing a big new job. “I wanted to go to a beach, clean out a closet, pick up my kids from school, and show up for something on time,” she says.

So Winfrey considered other candidates. Her first choice was Tom Freston, the former Viacom (VIA.B) CEO who built MTV and has been on the loose ever since Labor Day 2006, when chairman Sumner Redstone fired him. Winfrey called Freston, whom she had never met, out of the blue a few weeks after his dismissal–reaching him in Burma, of all places. After a meeting at her home in Montecito, California, she pursued him to come on board as CEO of Harpo, her media empire, or OWN, the new network.

Even as Freston resisted Winfrey’s overtures, he has been working behind the scenes to help develop the new business. He and Spencer Stuart recruiter Jim Citrin helped Oprah line up other candidates for the OWN CEO post, including History Channel boss Nancy Dubuc, an up-and-comer in the media industry, and MTV Networks CEO Judy McGrath, who worked with Freston for more than two decades after MTV’s 1981 launch. McGrath was unwilling to move from New York to Los Angeles, where Oprah’s new network is based.

Norman says that the OWN opportunity gnawed at her through last year. But she really didn’t pop back into the picture until mid-November when Citrin, who is on the board of trustees of Vassar, offered to interview her daughter, Zoe, who was applying to college there. That day, Citrin recalls, Norman “had her sparkle back.” She was recharged. He mentioned to her that the CEO position at OWN still hadn’t been filled.

“I definitely wanted this job,” she says. Last month, as Winfrey and Freston went into discussions with another candidates, onetime VH1 president John Sykes, Citrin checked back with Norman one more time. She jumped. Meeting with Winfrey last Friday in Chicago, she told Oprah that she had always wanted the job but she hadn’t been ready to give her full self until now. “You can’t fake the funk,’” Norman said to Winfrey.

Norman is joining media-industry veterans who subscribe to the Oprah ethic that a job is about more than clocking the hours. It’s part of a personal journey to fulfill a passion (and communicate that to an audience, of course). Winfrey’s other hires for OWN include president Robin Schwartz, who headed Regency Television and before that was VP of programming at Disney’s (DIS) ABC Family. OWN’s chief marketing officer is Liz Dolan, who oversaw global marketing at Nike (NKE) until 1997 and has since teamed with her four sisters to do an inspirational radio show, Satellite Sisters. The digital boss is Rob Tercek, who was at Mforma, a publisher of entertainment content for mobile phones, and previously at Sony (SNE) and MTV. Digital, Winfrey says, is “the bigger vision” for OWN, so that role is critical.

As for Freston, who has been the stealthy convener of much of this talent, he signed on as a consultant to OWN last summer. Winfrey, who calls Freston “my business soul mate,” is still prodding him to step up to a bigger position. Freston says he will, though not full-time. Next week in Fortune and on Postcards, Freston talks for the first time about his life after Viacom. Stay tuned for more about Oprah and OWN as well.