"The Down Low Exposed"

Do you remember that utterly bizarre season of Dallas when Pam Ewing awoke in the finale and we learned that it was all just a bad dream?

That's exactly the same premise behind the re-invention of J.L. King and his special tomorrow night on BET, The Down Low Exposed. King has immensely profited from the hype surrounding the "down low" and, it's just a little too late to try to take him seriously as a post-gay black man.

Supposedly, this is "a probing look into the world of men with wives or girlfriends who also secretly engage in sex with other men." We're not sure that this will be adequately addressed. Instead, some reviews, like today's Hollywood Reporter, have noticed the hype: "If there are any official statistics or research on the phenomenon, you won't find it in this." Terry McMillan's participation—her "last interview on the subject"—has been the most highly promoted aspect of the "documentary." Our position is more than obvious regarding some of the best-selling author's statements on gay men and the down low. However, we've had several recent long discussions with Terry, and, are willing to withhold judgment until the broadcast. But the network's promo copy is clearly inflammatory "on the subject of her ex-husband who hid his gay lifestyle."

Who else should we look forward to seeing on the J.L. King special? Let's see, there's the "exclusive interview with his former wife Brenda Stone-Browder"—not sure about the exclusivity factor, since they've been touring together and interviewing since last summer. There are also interviews with AIDS activist Maria Davis (who also works with the BET AIDS foundation); sex therapist and UCLA professor Dr. Gail Wyatt; author Scott Poulson Bryant; director Bill Duke, who is developing a movie on the down-low; Black AIDS Institute Executive Director Phill Wilson, and, Pastor O.C. Allen, the openly gay minister of the Vision Church of Atlanta.

You'd expect more from BET's "news" division—especially since they scrapped their nightly broadcast to concentrate on specials. Bill Duke's inclusion is even more odd because his unfinished film is already drawing criticism as inaccurate. As we said, the Pam Ewing season finale to a long nightmare.

BET Presents Down Low Exposed (BET)

Low Down on the Down Low (AOL Black Voices)

The Down Low Exposed (Hollywood Reporter)

Return of the Down Low (Keith Boykin)

J.L. King Launches Just Living Atlanta (the brotherlove)

Previously:

The House That DL Built (Rod 2.0) On the Next Oprah ... (Rod 2.0) A Conversation with Keith Boykin (Rod 2.0) And Now—Back to the Down Low (Keith Boykin) Bill Duke (SGL Café) The "Invisible" Man Returns (Rod 2.0) Coming to a Megaplex Near You (Rod 2.0) Couldn't I See the Signs? (Rod 2.0) The DL Chronicles (Rod 2.0) Kirk Franklin: Gays and the Black Church (Rod 2.0)

Comments

[taylor Siluwé]

No you didn't go back to 'Dallas' LOL!

But seriously, we all know this show is gonna be a big load of crap (like most of BET these days) with a steaming side of bullshit.

But far be it for me to pre-judge. We shall see.

[pe]

I think the only people who get tired of this subject are gay and bisexual men. As a gay woman, I know of plenty of "DL" supposedly straight and married WOMEN. I think their tails need to get exposed just like these brothas got exposed that are creepin' on sistahs. Pull your heads out the sand....the shyt has been going on and it's about time it comes to light.

I will TiVo this special and wait to read the irrate comments from gay/bi black men the next day.

[Roger Pollard]

I'm just more than a little skeptical of any project involving J.L. King. He is making a profit off of all this sensationalism and using scare tactics to inflame the sisters. I will give him his props: he is one master manipulator.

[algie]

jl king is a hott mess and thats all i got to say.this special won't be nothing new that hasn't already been talked about wayyyyyyyyy too much.if you don't know by now what dl is about then something is wrong with that picture

[Andrew in Seattle]

Post-Gay? Ahem.

I suppose asking the articulate Down-Low-Hype Debunker Keith Boykin, author of Beyond the Down Low, to weigh in would spoil the party. What a Shame (no pun intended) that the hysterics continue.

[Kia]

Why wont this go away? I am sick and tired of hearing the words "down low" outside of the context of the old R. Kelly classic (cuz i loves me that song). As a member of a panel of Queer and Ally students that held open discussions with groups across my campus and also as a black woman, I was asked far more times than I can count, how I felt about black men on the DL. And each time I wanted to choke the shit out of the person asking.

BET is sad, sad network and while it purports to advance black people and culture, it does us no good. None.

[Harlm Artist]

I am so tired of the term "down low" being exclusively used to describe closeted black men. The "DL" has come to mean BLACK men who are cheating on their BLACK women, who are possibly carrying HIV and passing it on to their women. It's become ALL of that. White men who are doing the same thing are SIMPLY "in the closet", which has become in my opinion " ...Oh, it's alright, he just hasn't figured out he's gay yet." Why have we ACCEPTED this (DL) definition to soley describe black men? It used to mean ANYTHING that ANYONE did undercover. Wake up black folks, stop feeding the fire. A lie is a lie, a cheat is a cheat. We are lying and cheating ourselves by continually accepting double standards. Why is a white man STEALING food in New Orleans "trying desparetly to feed his family", and a black man in the same store STEALNG, "looting"?
Feel me?

[kristen]

yes harlemartist i fell ya. i said something similar to this over at www.blackgayblooger.com, where he has this hilarious minute-by-minute recap of this BET "special"

another thing: why is a movie like "brokeback mountain" hailed as a damn love story, where two WHITE DUDES cheat on their damn wives and when some black men behave similarly, they are called predatory, deviant sex fiends? damn let Brokeback star 2 black dudes, raheim and rod:) and it would not have been as well received as the original.

i tell you, i'm getting real sick of this shit

peace

[Brokeassnigga]

I know J.L.King's former Publicist and after not being paid for months he dropped him. For a shallow, over-blown, one-trick pony he is sure is dragging out his 15-minutes by including his ex-wife in the special. Oh, and Terry, even a 7-year-old could have known that Jonathan was gay! Just look at those plucked eyebrows and dicksucking lips! He kinda looks like the puppet from Madam and Flowers.