My 2 Pence: Pose

A new show hit the FX channel in the States earlier this year called Pose. Created by Ryan Murphy in collaboration with trans writer Janet Mock, the series took inspiration from 80s cult classic documentary Paris is Burning, a spot light on the New York ball room scene and the sense of community that had been created by LGBT outcasts of mainstream society.

What really came through, was how the casting of Trans actors of colour like MJ Rodriguez and Indya Moore and thoughtful character development gave a platform for authentic trans stories - exploring fresh themes from a unique perspective.

Prior to watching the show, I had a non existent point of reference for the trans experience and by the end of the 8 part season, my mind was opened to the real struggles of a marginalised people.

Check the trailer out below:



Pose is available on Itunes and Amazon Video.

Watch: Taylor Bennett Visits The Breakfast Club

Chance the Rapper's younger sibling Taylor Bennett made waves last year when he claimed his bisexuality publicly. He recently stopped by the Breakfast Club to talk music and share his perspective on the LGBT experience. Watch the interview by clicking 'read more' below:

Watch - Gavin Houston Talks Playing Jeffery Harrington

Unless you have been living under a rock, you will be familiar with the number 1 show on the OWN Network, The Haves and Have Nots. One of the highlights of the show over the seasons, has been the journey of main character Jeffrey Harrington played by Gavin Houston. Born into a wealthy black family, we see the rollercoaster ride of highs and lows as he processes his sexuality.

Watch Gavin Houston discussing his character by clicking 'read more'.

New Music: Taylor Bennett - Be Yourself

Chance the Rapper's younger sibling Taylor Bennett made waves last year when he claimed his bisexuality publicly.

The 22 year old's current single 'Be Yourself', is lifted from the EP of the same name which is due for release later this year.

Take a listen and read my thoughts on the song by clicking 'read more' below.

The US Adventures: Atlanta Pt 1

I'm not gonna lie. I have a weakness for Americans.

I love the confidence, the chat, the looks and the chemistry. So much so that I decided to go to the belly of the beast for my 1st trip there. Atlanta.

Read the rest by clicking 'more'

Checking In

Hey guys, hope everyone is good.

I've been gone waay too long. Part of it has been writer's block, part of it has been selling my soul to the corporate world to allow me to have the means and access to experiences that inspire my posts and part of it has just been living life.

Fortunately, the thankless hard work over the years has meant that I have able to reclaim my time for a while. I am unplugging from the matrix and refocusing on giving you guys regular content because I know that the neglect has been real.

Long story short. I'm back!

Watch: Nigerian Short - Hell or High Water

Hell or High Water is a Nigerian Short by Director Asurf Oluseyi. The film chronicles the life of a married Pastor and the consequences of concealing his sexual identity.

Peep the movie after the jump:

My 2 Pence: Outness Levels

Outness levels have always been an interesting subject for me.

Being black and African where it is drilled into from a young age that from an African / Caribbean mentality POV, having guys as your preference will not be tolerated. It will also conjure up feelings of repulsion and digust within family members who hold this view due to the images they associate with gay people. This preference is seen as a sickness that brings shame onto the family name and is looked at as choice that should be prayed away.

So imagine, you are in your teens, twenty or in some cases older and through dating you are reconciling your attraction with like minds but with the burden of the people who you love hating a part of what makes you, you?

You begin to introvert your experiences through the need to avoid discussing your love life, in some cases avoiding family functions where as you get older, siblings peers and other family members of your generation settle down and get married while you keep them at arms length.

So the question is, can you be happy with someone who is out and accepted by their family? Or are you limited to swimming in the pond of discreet like minds carrying the weight of the world as they figure this thing out called life?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below:

Watch: Kaleidoscope Episodes 1-8

Kaleidoscope is a cool webseries from Freefall creator Lamont Pierre and his ArtHouse collective. The webseries explores the journey of a man who due to lack of funds, ventures into gay adult entertainment to support his family.  Pierre's production umbrella, The Art House, offer the 'shortie' or bite sized episodes on youtube and the full length episodes via http://www.thearthousetv.vhx.tv/

The show stars Thomas Mackey about About Him actor Rahim Brazil

Peep Episodes 1 -8 after the jump:

My 2 Pence: What's your Value add?

Do me a favour. Stop what are you doing right now and Whatsapp / imessage your best friends and ask them what they think your strengths as a friend are from their perspective.

Find out what my friends replied with after the jump...

Watch: Moonlight (Movie Trailer)

The trailer for coming of age movie by director Barry Jenkins, Moonlight hit the web today. Peep the trailer by clicking on 'read more' below.

Watch: 2 Gay Themed 'What Would You Do?' Episodes

ABC's What would you do? hosted by journalist John Quiñones aired two Atlanta based gay themed episodes recently. One episode covers praying the gay away whilst the other centres on HIV status disclousure. Peep the instalments and my 2 pence by clicking 'read more' below:

The Success Years

What up #TeamBlud. I've been gone for a minute but I've been getting my priorities in order. 

Own crib, saavy investments, getting my corporate career moving. Spending more time with my family and feeling the love. Dating people who are about their hustle with heart, taking escapades to the next level, and leaving red flag waste men in the past. 

I've also made real inroads with dope people in this life internationally who I consider my connects and take trips where I get to see the world and experience dope hospitality.

I say that to say, have a vision for how you want you life to be on your terms. Stop explaining your life to people and live it. Also don't get in your own way or compromise your vision for people who haven't earned the right for their opinion to matter or who are not where you want to be.

Simply put, life is good.

Former Death Row Artist Danny Boy Talks Being Gay

Former Death Row Artist Danny Boy sat down with Vlad TV recently to talk about his journey to going public about his sexual preference for men. Peep the insightful interview by clicking 'read more' below.

Watch: Industry Guys ATL Season 1

Web based reality show Industry Guys ATL, recently wrapped its first season. Get to know cast mates DeMariyon Nathan Jarvis Delvin Javis and Reggie by clicking 'read more' below.