6th Annual Oakland International
Black LGBT Film Festival
Parkway Theater
Oakland, California
AUGUST 14 - 17, 2008
PARTIAL SCREENING SCHEDULE


MAHOGANY
THURSDAY, AUGUST 14
35mm, USA:109 min

The Oakland International Black LGBT Film Festival started a new tradition last year of screening one opening-night film that has been deemed "Classic" by Black Americans and particularly by LGBT people of African descent. In 2007, we chose "THE WIZ" (starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson) because the film is analagous with the many challenges that black LGBT people face on the road to self acceptance and self love.

For 2008, we have selected another film starring Miss Diana Ross - MAHOGANY. This Oscar nominated musical was produced and Directed by Motown founder and legend Barry Gordy. Mahogany was harshly criticized by white film critics when it was released in 1975. But, the African American community saw Mahogany as a cinematic celebration of Black beauty, Black struggle, Black success and Black Love.

The poignant words to Mahogany's theme song asked us the question - Do You Know Where You're Going To? Which is the question that we ask the Black LGBT community this year. Do You Know?

Add the drama of high fashion and the sexy Billy Dee Williams and you have a film that was destined for gayness...we mean greatness.
Click here to learn more about the film MAHOGANY!
Friends and Lovers: Ski Trip 2
Directed By: Maurice Jamal

Award winning Director, Maurice Jamal returns to Oakland with the premiere of his new film FRIENDS AND LOVERS: SKI TRIP 2. Part romantic comedy, part drama, part Hollywood spoof and all signature Jamal, the story follows the lives, loves and mishaps of three diverse couples living in Los Angeles, and their eccentric circle of friends.Featuring a multiracial cast that crosses orientation and gender, FRIENDS AND LOVERS is a bold, brazen and totally outrageous look at life in LA. TRT: 90 mins.Date & Time tba.



U People
Directed By: Hanifah Walidah, and Olive Demetrius

In a brownstone in Brooklyn, a film about a film unfolds, and not just any film...but a documentary steeped with sexy, intelligent women who have gathered together to make a unique music video. The talented filmmakers capture what happens when 30 hot and sharp women of color convene, revealing a blend of experiences and perspectives that are rarely voiced. U PEOPLE is a powerful and engaging romp that enters a world seldom represented - and you¢re invited to
the party. TRT: 77 min. Date & Time TBA.
BLUEPRINT
Directed by Kirk Shannon-Butts

Out 100 honoree Director Kirk Shannon-Butts tells the story of Keith who is a reserved, straitlaced transplant to New York City from Los Angeles; Nathan is a street-smart, potsmoking Brooklynite who lives on the edge — or so he’d like Keith to believe. At first glance, nothing about these two young African American college students suggests romantic compatibility. But a casual courtship gradually develops amidst minor bickering and disagreements — those familiar interstices inside which nascent love restlessly takes shape.
USA, 2007, 75 Minute Running Time
Date & Time TBA



The Incredibly True Adventures of Sistas of the Canyon
Directed By: Jasmyne Cannick and Ellene Miles

Voices of mothers, sisters, daughters, girlfriends, and lesbian women spanning different generations, shapes and sizes redefine unity and sisterhood by testing their physical and emotional boundaries that begin at the mountaintop.
TRT: 23 min.
Date & Time TBA
Pariah
Directed By: Dee Rees

Pariah is a coming-of-age drama about a lesbian teenager who unsuccessfully juggles multiple identities to avoid rejection from her friends and family.
TRT: 27 min.
Date & Time TBA



Tru Loved
Directed By: Stewart Wade
A charming romantic comedy and an unabashed gay contribution to the canon of teen films. Tru (short for Gertrude, as in Stein) is the new kid at her So Cal
suburban high school. She has two moms, two dads, and everybody thinks she¢s the big dyke on campus.

Talented Najarra Townsend as Tru and other rising actors carry the film, as familiar faces like Jasmine Guy, Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura from STAR TREK!), Jane Lynch, Alec Mapa, and Bruce Vilanch round out the stellar supporting cast.
TRT: 103 min.
Date & Time TBA

East Bay AIDS Walk 2008-Team Woubi Yossi Collective...

Greetings All I am hoping to assemble a team to walk during East Bay AIDS Walk 2008. If you are interested in participating you can go to the website for East Bay AIDS Walk to register and sign up with the team in the pull down menu for named, Woubi-Yossi Collective. I have tentatively set the group's goal as $250.00 but this amount can be changed. Details for the days and time are included in this message. If you have any questions feel free to contact me here or by e-mail theliterarymasturbator@gmail.com


The term Woubi-Yossi comes from the Ivory Coast,

A "Woubi" takes on the "female" role in a male/male relationship

A "Yossi" takes on the "male" role in a male/male relationship

A "Bat" is a Transgender because they live by night

Currently there is no known term for a Lesbian in the Ivory Coast as "officially" there is no homosexuality in the country.


EAST BAY AIDS WALK 2008
Saturday, September 6, 2008
9AM Registration
10AM Walk Starts
Lakeside Park, Oakland, CA

Thank you for registering to walk in the 4th Annual East Bay AIDS Walk! We appreciate your dedication to help local agencies fight this growing AIDS epidemic in the East Bay. As a sign of our appreciation you will receive a free t-shirt and water bottle on the day of the walk!

Last year we raised over $40,000 so this year our goal is to raise $60,000! We know that with YOUR help we can achieve this goal! Just contacting a few friends, relatives, and co-workers you can help us on our way to achieving this goal. If you visit your HQ Participant Center at www.eastbayaidswalk.org you will find a section about 'Spreading the Word'. There you can use the email template or your own email to contact as many people as you want via email. Below is the template also for your convenience. Also, calling and talking to friends, family, and coworkers is a simple and fast way to raise funds! If you ever need any help or have questions or concerns please contact us at info@eastbayaidswalk.org or leave a voicemail at 888)510-EBAW. Thank you again for your support!

Total Registration Amount: 0.00
Sincerely,
EAST BAY AIDS WALK 2008 Planning Committee
www.eastbayaidswalk.org
Email Address: info@eastbayaidswalk.org
Phone: 888)510-EBAW

--
Jair-The Literary Masturbator™
myspace.com/theliterarymasturbator
http://theliterarymasturbator.blogspot.com/
"When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important when I am afraid"-Audre Lorde

This Is Some Funny Shit...

I came to LOGO's "Big Gay Sketch Comedy Show" late. In fact I never watched when it ran on television. I've seen it on dvd.

The first season had some funny moments but for the most part it was like alot of programming on LOGO not totally fleshed out. Just on because they wanted programming for a "gay" channel.

Season 2 is much better. The cast seems to perform better, there are recurring characters that the audience goes crazy for, and the writing seems better and faster paced for a sketch comedy show. These three clips are standouts...

Black History With Grandma Bell

This is funny to me on so many levels. I can't even really explain it but it's just laugh out loud funny...



This next sketch is funny because of it's great satire. To use a wonderful, celebrated icon like Maya Angelou to comment on the absurdity of the personals on Craiglist is genius...



This final sketch is great because not only of it's commentary of objectifying the "hot latino" but also the depths we are sometimes willing to go to, to serve our own needs...

GuyWriters Conference: Get Plugged In

GuyWriters Conference: Get Plugged In
June 21st, 2008
San Francisco

GuyWriters calls all gay and bisexual male poets,
prose writers, and playwrights to gather for a one-day conference.

Featuring workshops by
Jay Frazier, Joel Tan, Kirk Read, Jaime Cortez,
Matthew Graham Smith, and John Fisher,
the GuyWriters Conference offers participants the chance
to pick up new skills, learn the craft and the business of writing,
and network with the most prolific gay writers in the Bay Area.

Part of the 2008 National Queer Arts Festival,
the Conference will be held on Saturday, June 21, 2008,
from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM at The Center,
1800 Market Street San Francisco, CA 94102.

This is where the action is, boys.

Be there. Plug in.



* * * * *


Cost: $15 for the whole day (includes catered lunch)

We anticipate that this event will be sold out.
To RSVP: email guy@guywritersconference.org

For a full listing of workshops, visit:
http://www.guywritersconference.org/

Oakland's McClymonds Wins Boys' Prep Hoops Title

I still consider myself a new resident of Northern California as it will be on year on 05/31 that I moved into my new place in Oakland. I didn't realize how affiliated I was with the culture and activities in Southern California until I see things like the McClymonds Boys Basketball team win the state championship. They played against a school (Compton Dominguez) that has a long history of being a great team but McClymonds not only went undefeated and won the championship they did it for their coach who in the last few years lost his wife and a daughter. These young men touched and inspired me. I even ended up sending a donation so they could get championship rings. I hope it will help them keep the memory of their special triumph...



SACRAMENTO (AP) ― William Cherry had 19 points, eight assists and four steals to lead McClymonds of Oakland past Dominguez of Compton, 73-54, and win the boys' Division I state championship at Arco Arena Saturday.

Damon Powell scored 18 points for the Warriors (32-0), who were ranked 19th in the nation by Rivals.com before the game, and Damario Sims had 16. Powell punctuated his scoring with several thunderous dunks, and both Sims and Cherry completed more than one acrobatic attack on the basket.

Jordan Hamilton led Dominguez (32-3) with 20 points, including two NBA-distance 3-pointers, but the Dons shot just 32 percent from the field, and allowed Mack to hit 47 percent of its attempts.

The game was the last one for McClymonds' coach, Dwight Nathaniel, and was also redemption for the Warriors, who scored just 29 points in the 2007 D1 final. They matched that total in the second quarter, in the midst of an 10-0 run that put the Oakland school ahead for good.

Mack extended the lead to eight at the start of the third quarter, and used an 8-0 run at the beginning of the fourth period to build a 57-43 cushion. The Warriors, alma mater of Hall of Famer Bill Russell, pulled away down the stretch to win their first-ever official state championship.

Counting all boys' state championships, Southern California has a 28-11 edge over Northern California.

(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

Brotha, Sista...Can You Spare Some Change??

Brotha, Sista…Can You Spare Some Change?

By The Literary Masturbator™




Brotha, Sista…Can you spare some change?




Can you change the way you view the situation?




Can you change the way you react to what you see?




Because the only to make change, is to be the change you want to see




Change is not a political slogan, or a sound bite from a pundit on TV




Change is co-creation, the ability to turn a situation into what you want it to be…




You are the only constant in your life so if your life isn’t going the direction you want it to…you should know exactly what to do…




So I ask again…




Brotha, Sista…Can you spare some change?





www.myspace.com/theliterarymasturbator

theliterarymasturbator@gmail.com

http://theliterarymasturbator.blogspot.com

Copyright©2008 Jair

Mecca Adjacent

Everytime I see the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre I am moved. It touches me in a place that is so familiar and home I can hardly express it.

This performance was held at Zellerbach Hall at UC Berkeley. My first time at this venue since moving to Northern California. It's a beautiful hall. I had seats in the main orchestra section at the very back. The seats were in the middle so I could see the whole stage.

From the first note of music the evening was transformtive. They started with "Firebird". The lead was danced by one of my favorite all time Ailey dancers, Matthew Rushing. Matthew is as handsome as he is talented. He has the kind of energy that draws you to him no matter where he is on the stage. The next piece was a west coast premiere called, "The Groove to Nobody's Business". It is a new work by Camille Brown. It blew me away!!! Another revived work was Monte's "Treading". With the pulsating music, lights, and costumes this work totally transported me. Of course the evening ended with the signature work, "Revelations". I don't care how many times I see this work I never tire of it. I know some of the steps by heart and look for them (the flick of the wrists in "Fix Me Jesus", the undulations and contractions in "Wade In The Water") even though throughout the years I have seen them danced by different dancers.

All in all it was a great evening...