Carey Sherrell in "Instinct"

Carey Sherrell graces the cover of the April issue of Instinct.

You'll recall that Carey made reality show history as the first openly black gay contestant on The Apprentice, Donald Trump's corporate-themed reality show. He also made history last season, according to After Elton, because his dismissal happened "under what some have felt were slightly homophobic circumstances." To add insult to injury, in the first two episodes of Season 6, Trump fired two black candidates back-to-back, Carey being the second.

Refreshingly, the Instinct cover feature does not rehash that already-too-familiar story or the interesting sidebar on the pink square cut swimsuit. (Background HERE.) Instead, the article is more focused on Sherrell's marketing background and entrepreneurship, and, how he segued his dismissal into a swimwear line, Blue Motion Squared (BM²), which is exclusively marketed to the gay community.

On growing up:

"I grew up in the ghetto, in the projects, on welfare. I saw the food stamps, I saw the government boxed cheese. It's not the fire that reminds me, but it is a distinct reminder."

On being out in the workplace:

"I want people to know they can be gay, they can be out, and they can be a businessperson. They can work on Rodeo Drive, on Wall Street or anywhere and still be who they are."

On perceptions of the gay community:

"It's not all about a parade. We have the same issues that straight couples face. Who does the dishes? What are we going to eat tonight? How are we going to balance the budget? If people could realize that were all the same, that we face the same issues and the same problems, they'd realized that there's no difference."

Just as an FYI, the big three gay lifestyle magazines (Genre, Instinct, Out) have been roundly criticized for not reaching out and diversifying their content and cover features. It's only fair to give credit where credit is due and is Instinct is doing a great job—besides the Carey Sherrell cover feature, remember, just a month or two ago, they ran this scorching swimwear editorial.

More in this month's Instinct.

Some Background ...

Fired Gay "Apprentice" Fires Back [R20] Patrik-Ian Polk in "Genre" [R20] Isa in Genre [R20] Sweat or Swim [R20]
Darryl's "Boy Culture" [R20] Noah's Arc Has Sailed [R20]

Comments

[Queer Kid of Color]

The truth of the matter is Rod, GENRE isn't good in diversity. I commend Instinct.

[Otis]

Rod, this is great. I'm pleasantly surprised to see a brotha on the cover. It's also nice that they are profiling a 'real' person from the community. Not that hot models aren't real but you know what I mean.

[LaRufus]

Rod, Thanks for the snippets on the article, its good to see that some of the white gay editorial boards are now putting black men on the covers, I might buy one or even subscribe if they continue to show that not everyone is blond, muscular and white.

And, this young man has it going on, great to see a positive black man on the pages as well, instead of those for HIV med's.

[Derrick]

I agree, however is it me or is there still a slight double standard? When they have a lighter colored person on the cover, aren't they half naked, smiling and glowing in grand gay fashion? They put a brother on and he's frowning and dressed head to toe?

maybe I'm just being picky here. I do think credit is due, considering most gay mags act like gay minorities don't exist.

[Dluv]

Yes, we'll buy the magazines if they put brothers on the cover. But the question is, will white gays by-pass the magazine if a black person is on the cover? I understand this is what happens with mainstream magazines.

[Chris]

"When they have a lighter colored person on the cover, aren't they half naked, smiling and glowing in grand gay fashion? "

But we could also argue that if they did have a man of color half naked, they were objectifying him...

[Carey Sherrell]

I agree......thank you for putting this out on the table to talk about.