PHOTO: Kalup Linzy Named One of Paper's "Beautiful People 2010"

A scan from the May "Beautiful People 2010" edition of Paper, which is covered by Beth Ditto and dropped this week. Brooklyn-based video and performance artist, scenester and HIV activist Kalup Linzy is named to the list.

Linzy, who often performs in drag, has stormed the art world with satirical and raunchy soap-opera videos. Says the magazine: "In 2005, The New York Times opened its review of the group show 'African Queen' at the Studio Museum in Harlem with four heart-stopping words: 'A star is born,' referring to Linzy and his now infamous piece 'All My Churen.'"

In case you missed it the first time, Kalup Linzy was last seen on R20 in the ENDHIV.com PSA with actor Wilson Cruz, watch it AFTER THE JUMP ...

Comments

[Jim]

So nice to see some alternatives here. He's cute as hell, especially without the blonde wig. Everyone on this blog is always saying who they could tap. Well how about this: I'd take him out to dinner without a moment's hesitation.

In the PSA, when he says, "And they've killed HIV in the human blood," he sounds a lot, endearingly, like Maya Angelou.

But maybe it is really Maya Angelou who sounds like Kalup Linzy.

[J]

He's in this month's issue of Details.

[FQ]

what Jim said.
i always appreciate the diveresity and topics on this blog but I am always saying "Thank you!' when we get news on less gender variant types and those who push the boundaries. i'm the same way, so i'm naturally simpatico.

kalup linzy is ridiculously talented and will go very far. i'd love to go to nyc and meet him, and men such as j alexander and andre who was on the cover of french vogue.

more please!

[FQ]

duh "diversity"

[Stuffed Animal]

Wow! This dude is about seven different kinds of embarrassing. Gay stereotypes and Black stereotypes mixed with raunch . . . we don't need this sh!t!

[Honut Sinti]

He does sound like Dr Maya Angelou. I envision a voice-over duet project with snap starring the two of them.

[marc]

@Stuffed Animal - If you really think all Kalup is doing is pandering to stereotypes then you're completely missing the point of his work, in my opinion.

Instead of always attacking people by saying they're playing into the oppressor's ideas, maybe you should stop being so reactive. The ideas and criticisms you spout seem to be far more limiting of free black expression than any of the wider ideas you claim everyone is falling victim to.

But then again, I identify as "queer" so I'm just a puppet anyway, right?

[Alex]

I don't find his art interesting, comprehensible, or even particularly creative, but I'll take yall's word for it. I'm more left-brained. Likewise, I don't find him attractive, but it's good for him that some of you do (lol).

As for being embarassing, nope Stuffed Animal. The way he's living his life like he wants to, without worrying about the way close-minded people might view him, is one thing I admire about him.

[Dalton]

@ Stuffed Animal:

What Marc and Alex said.
I don't feel any embarrassment looking at Kalup Linzy. Just the opposite, I am proud that he is doing his thing as an individual and as a black gay man. He's naturally handsome but the glitter and wig doesn't do it for me sexually, but that doesn't mean I have to knock his persona or his grind.

I'm not really big on much performance art so I can't say is his work any good or not. But his looks and work have gotten him noticed by the New York Times, Paper and the Art World.

[Dalton]

"Stuffed Animal" ... one more thing. I've read your comments here at Rod's blog, Pam's blog and other places. You're a hater.

You sound very miserable and discontented. You attack everyone and everything that you feel does not fit the narrow box of what is supposed to be your gay black experience. And your "blog" is devoted to attacking LGBT activists who press for gay rights. You even go out of your way criticizing and attacking marriage activists and any LGBT activist who dares criticize President Obama.

Sorry girlfriend, maybe you're happy to get crumbs. I'd rather go for the whole meal. And why don't YOU do something "for" gay rights instead of criticizing gay activists or bloggers who do? If anyone is a stereotype, it's you and other black gays who criticize everyone in the movement and "do" absolutely nothing.

Oh and talking about the worst black gay stereotypes...a Jheri curl? Srsly?

[Stuffed Animal]

Daiton: If you're going to tell baldfaced lies, at least try to do it with some skill. Your outrageous statements about my blog shows you haven't even read it. What I do to advance Gay Rights is try to keep the movement focused on serious people and things instead of focusing on the frivolous. You are definitely frivolous, so I'm not going to waste my time catfighting with you. However, I will take just a moment to tell you that my hair is not a Jheri curl, and I'm not your fcking girlfriend. Not even in a bad dream would I ever be your girlfriend. You got that, Miss Thang?

Marc: The fact that you identify with an ignorant label like "queer" does indeed make you a a puppet for the oppressor. Since you're already aware of that fact, you should do something about it. Educate yourself a little more, and choose a label that expresses dignity instead of shame. Free expression, Black or otherwise, has no value unless it's also intelligent and responsible expression. Promoting himself with crude stereotypes that would give Stepin Fetchit pause makes Kalup Linzy a person who gives free expression a bad reputation, as well as a person who distorts the image Black Gay men.

[Stuffed Animal]

One sure sign that you've got people thinking about stuff they don't want to think about is when they start telling lies about your work and subjecting you to catty ad-hominem attacks . . . ah, human nature is so predictable! Especially Gay male human nature. Actually, I thought they were spot on. Glass houses, stones, etc. -RM

[Ten in My Timbz]

why even argue with a black man who calls himself a Stuffed Animal? i mean srsly ppl, he is just trying to get hits for his seasame street "blog". Real talk!

if you want to talk about oppressors & labels, a black man nicknamed "Stuffed Animal"? ROFL are you a toy or an inanimate object? keep it movin' son!

and no offense, but that is most definitely a "starved" jheru curl. or a curly perm. either way its very femme look, but maybe the white gay men in your city like that look ...

[Dalton]

@ Miss Stuffy:

"What I do to advance Gay Rights is try to keep the movement focused on serious people and things instead of focusing on the frivolous."

Insulting and going on how Kalup Linzy looks, and obsessing and playing internet hall monitor over the word "queer" is "serious" business!

"You are definitely frivolous, so I'm not going to waste my time catfighting with you. However, I will take just a moment to tell you that my hair is not a Jheri curl, and I'm not your fcking girlfriend. Not even in a bad dream would I ever be your girlfriend. You got that, Miss Thang?"

Sounds like a catfight to me, girl. But 'Miss Thang'? Really? I rest my case.

"I will take just a moment to tell you that my hair is not a Jheri curl.."

Of course it isn't dear.

Oh and "Stuffed Animal"? That's kinda ... queer, no?

[Ten in My Timbz]

interesting, i see 'stuffed animal' has not returned and once again runs off once he is outed as a snow queen. the ones who cry "black power" the loudest 9 times outta 10 have a white significant other. no exception. over compensation and 'coveting' imho

[Trey]

YUCK! HE MIGHT BE TALENTED BUT REALLY?