Rod 2.0:Beta

After Elton on Breakthrough Film Roles for Black and Latino Gay Men

With the exception of Maurice's Jamal's soon-to-be-released independent feature Dirty Landry—which we profile in the next (?) issue of The Advocate—the cinematic landscape for black gay men has been practically barren. "It’s barely a landscape," notes veteran television producer Kevin E. Taylor at a comprehensive new analysis at Logo-owned After Elton. "It’s a window garden at best."

The editors After Elton asked us to survey and analyze the more important roles for black gay men and Latinos on the big screen. The piece went live last last week and has caused a strong buzz in comments and across the e-telligentsia. Was Brother to Brother more important than Patrik-Ian Polk's PUNKS? Should Isaiah's role in Get On on the Bus be reevaluated give recent developments? Rev Kev, director Maurice Jamal and critics such as Keith Boykin ,J. Brotherove, and author Fred Smith express cautious optimism.

On the other hand, several Latino voices say they have even fewer choice and are largely unimpressed with their portrayals in Hollywood, including the well-received Quinceañera, seen above. "There are actually very few instances where Latino gay life has been depicted in American film,” says Andrés Duque, the well-known New York City-based advocate for Latino LGBT issues at Blabbeando, Repoter and novelist Johhnny Diaz and poet Emanuel Xavier agree, saying some of the most complex portrayals of Latino gay men are seen in Spain and Almodóvar movies. “It's interesting that countries supposedly plagued by religion are putting out the most provocative cinema [for gay Latino roles]," adds Xavier.

After Elton's Breakthrough Black and Latino Roles on the Big Screen is easy to read, but, clocks in at some five jump pages. Grab your morning coffee (or two) and enjoy the article. It's important issue and thankfully is getting some much-needed recognition.

More After Elton HERE.

Jensen Atwood Talks Bicurious, Bisexuals, and, Metrosexuals

The November issue of Clik features our cover profile on the über-gorgeous Jensen Atwood—the newest addition to the third season of Dante's Cove which debuts tonight on here! The issue is being shipped from the binders and will drop over the weekend and on Monday. So more on the Jensen Atwood cover and profile next week,

Meanwhile ... After Elton publishes a revealing interview with the pec-alicious Atwood, who, as we noted before, is cast as the bisexual warlock "Griffin" on the supernatural-themed soap opera. The interview was conducted by actor Charlie David, who plays "Toby" and has some behind-the-scenes perspective on Jensen and the show. Especially on the former football player's reluctance to "play" with the cast, and, his thoughts on bisexuals and the bicurious.

Now all the boys and girls liked to toss around the football except for you and Reichen. Care to explain yourself?
I had a great time with all of the cast. It was torture to watch you guys toss the football around. I love football. But as you know I chose to keep my fingernails long for the character. So playing catch would have jeopardized the continuity. Okay, okay. Basically, I didn't want to break a nail. The first description sounded better though.

Do you think it’s common for straight guys to consider having an encounter with another guy, especially in light of gay and alternative culture being so chic right now?
JA: No, I don't think that's common for a straight guy at all. But because of the gay and alternative culture becoming more mainstream, I think it leaves room for those that aren't sure of their sexuality. Or for those whose sexuality isn't as simple as gay or straight.

"Those whose sexuality isn't as simple as gay or straight" more or less sums up Atwood's characters in Noah's Arc and Dante's Cove. More in the After Elton interview, which touches on Noah's Arc and recent reports that suggest the series is coming to the big screen. Our take is different than the After Elton piece, so, get their perspective and next week read ours here and in the new Clik.

More Jensen Atwood HERE.
More Noah's Arc HERE.

Interview with Jensen Atwood [After Elton]

You May Have Missed ...
First Look: Jensen Atwood in "Dante's Cove" [R20]
Jensen Atwood Joins "Dante's Cove" [R20]
Deal or No Deal? [R20]
Dante's Cove [Fleshbot-NSFW]
What Does the Future Hold for Noah's Arc? [After Elton]
TV's Most Influential Gay Sex Scenes [After Elton]
Jensen Atwood Reveals All [KeithBoykin]
Jensen Flaunts It [R20]
J for K [R20]
A Conversation with Darryl Stephens [R20]
A Conversation with Keith Boykin [R20]
Patrik-Ian Polk in "Genre" [R20]
Jason Steed on Homophobia [R20]
Jensen Atwood Reveals All [R20]
Jensen Flaunts It [R20]
No Big Deal Playing Gay [R20]
Uno Dos TREY [R20]
"Honey, I'm Home!" [R20]
DVD Review: "Noah's Arc" [R20]

ABC Family's "Greek" Actor: "Best Roles are Black Gay Roles"

Set your TiVos on Monday nights for Greek, the new ABC Family comedy on college life and the fraternity and sorority system. The third episode of the series debuts tonight and one of the pleasant surprises has been the introduction of a black gay character.

Twenty-year-old actor Paul James plays "Calvin" and his character goes against the grain: He's the only recurring black male character on the series, and, is the fraternity's resident wealthy "legacy" and a jock. In the pilot episode, we see Calvin "hooking up" with another fraternity brother and their relationship continues. “Calvin's issues sort of come with not wanting to be pigeonholed in what he was in high school,” the actor says in a new interview at Advocate.com. “Whether it was for being gay or for being a jock. He's very happy with who he is."

Unlike recent comments by black actors and singers who feel compelled to broadcast their (alleged) heterosexuality—some of these denials are quite comical, by the way—this straight actor is more than happy to play gay. "As a black actor, a young actor, it's really hard to find good parts," Paul James tells Greg Hernandez, the out entertainment reporter for The Los Angeles Daily News. "And a lot of times, the well-written roles for black actors are gay roles. They have some depth, something beyond I'm a thug on the street. I have no qualms about it at all as long as the material is good which it is."

There are some very obvious criticisms one could make of the series: Those yearning for Noah's Arc will be disappointed in the largely vanilla cast, and, Paul James' character isn't nearly as interesting as the roles. However, in Paul James' interview to Out in Hollywood, the actor goes out of his way to lend authenticity to his character. "I wouldn't have a problem with" kissing another man on-screen, he says—which we want to TiVo—and adds, "It's real important to me [to] show little kids who are gay that you don't have to be afraid of who you are. You can be happy."

Greek: ABC Family Mondays at 9/8c.

Greek Goes Gay—with Suburbia Watching [Advocate]
Gay Fraternity Brother on "Greek" [Out in Hollywood]
Gay TV Recap: Greek [After Elton]

Some Background ...

Shemar Moore: "I'm Not Gay" [R20]
Rodney Chester of "Noah's Arc": "I'm Still NOT Gay" [R20]
R&B Singer Tyrese Will Ban ALL MEN [R20]
No Big Deal Playing Gay [R20]
Jason Steed on Homophobia [R20]
What Does the Future Hold for Noah's Arc? [After Elton]
Deal or No Deal? [Rod 2.0]
Noah's Arc Has Sailed [R20]
Michael K. Williams and Being Gay on "The Wire" [R20]
Beyond the Sassy Sidekicks? [R20]

Kevin Aviance Describes Recovery from Crystal Meth Addiction

It was almost one year ago at this time that Kevin Aviance, the iconic gender-bending performer and downtown personality, was savagely attacked in a gay-bashing in Manhattan's East Village. "Aviance found his image changed overnight from that of an oversize black man with an outsize drag persona to that of an invalid stuck in a wheelchair," reports the Village Voice. "Not only couldn't he sing, he could barely talk through jaws wired shut."

As a result of the depression, isolation and unstructured time, Aviance turned to an familiar habit that threatened to destroy what his four young assailants could not: Crystal methamphetamine. "I'd been doing drugs for a long time. It was a way of life. I was able to have a career, wear the clothes I wanted, get high."

"It got crazy," he said. "I was drinking, drugging—shopping to sex to everything. I was trying to fill this void in my life. Crystal meth was the one thing that took me over the edge. I was doing it to keep myself going. I had to get outside my head..."

Fueled by alcohol and any other mood-altering substance within reach, Aviance went on crystal binges that got longer and longer, with "Suicide Tuesday" comedowns that grew worse and worse.

Thankfully, friends staged an intervention and Aviance went into rehab. (More on crystal meth and black gay men here and here.) Kevin's recovery has been remarkable—in addition to producing his third album, the performer just debuted a line of women's shoes which "run to a size 13!" he laughs.

Clay Cane was treated to a glamorous preview: "Kevin's expression is just as creative as his stage performances. The heels are graced with names like 'Willona', 'Alive' and 'Belinda', full of straps, jewels, buckles and more. The footwear range from $70 - $100—not bad to walk in the shoes of a diva."

"I’ve always wanted to be a designer and to go in that fashion world," Kevin Aviance tells Cane in an interview at the New York Blade. "I have a big fetish for high heels. The inspiration is my mother and other fierce women in my life. I’m dedicating my first collection to them."

Becoming Kevin Aviance, Again [Village Voice]
Kevin Aviance Releases Women's Shoes [After Elton]
Walk the Walk [NY Blade]

You May Want to Read ...
Four Guilty in Aviance Bashing [R20]
Michael Sandy Rally Today [R20]
Suicide Tuesdays [R20]
(Virtual) Sex and the City [R20]
Murder Suspect Only "Arranged" the Crime [R20]
News: Divas Fight Crystal and HIV [R20]
The HIV Morning After Pill? [R20]
Campaign Links Viagra, Crystal Meth and HIV [R20]

"Shear Genius" Finale: Will This Be Anthony's Final Cut?

Bravo's performance-based reality shows—Project Runway, Top Chef—have a wonderful gay aesthetic and are infinitely more appealing than most reality fare. Their newest, Shear Genius, is also a cut above the rest and tonight is the coif competition's season final. After Elton shags a short a interview with Anthony Morrison. He is the Londoner and the final three's lone gay male ... but very reluctant to discuss his sexuality on the show:

I am gay and very proud of being gay. I have lived my life openly as a gay man for most of my life. But, whether I am gay or not should have no bearing on my talent or skills. My personal life is just that—personal.

Anthony also sheds some light on, ahem, Dr. Boogie, the ghetto-fabulous hair styling queen who continually insists he is "straight" while pawing Rene Fris,

Dr. Boogie is quite a character and like no one I have ever met before. I think he had a crush on Rene but did not want to admit it. LOL. I think in another life Boogie and Rene were lovers. That's my theory and I am sticking to it.

The series finale should be interesting but would have provided more drama if Tabatha and Tyson hadn't sabotaged themselves several weeks ago. Oh well. Carry on.

Shear Genius finale airs tonight on Bravo 10P EST.

Two-Bite Interview: Anthony, Shear Genius [AE]

Some Background:

Confirmed: Michael is "Straight!" [R20]
Michael's Secomd Win [R20]
Make. It. Work. [R20]
Michael: Is He in or Out? [R20]

Olbermann on the Cheney Baby

If you've followed much of the news coverage around the latest addition to the family of Dick and Lynne Cheney, you may not have even realized their daughter Mary is a lesbian and that she has a longtime partner. You may not have even realized this was Mary's child, because the White House has only released photos of the Vice President and his wife holding the baby and none showing the two mommies.

Via After Elton is MSNBC's Keith Olbermann, who provides some much-needed context to viewers who do not understand the impact of anti-gay, "family values" legislation.

Heather Poe, Mary Cheney's partner of fifteen years, is not permitted any legal connection to the child whatsoever—can't adopt as a second parent, can't legally exist. To the folks that keep that law on the books, let me see if I've got this right—your political or religious beliefs are more important than this one kid having a loving, two-parent home. Not theory here, not abstractions... this particular little boy, on day one facing all the crap life has to offer him and everybody else. He doesn't get two parents and this makes you feel better about yourself, how?

For this, Olbermann awarded the Government of the State of Virginia as the day's "Worst Person in the World." That dishonor is usually reserved for the likes of Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly or grandpa Dick Cheney.

Something Else Keith Olbermann Said [After Elton]
I Demand to See Mary Cheney Holding Her Baby! [Blade]

Some Background ...

It's a Boy! [R20]
Mary Cheney Pregnant [R20]
Christian Right Reacts to Mary Cheney's Pregnancy [R20]
The Kid Stays Out the Picture [R20]

After Elton Rates Television's Most Important Gay Sex Scenes

For your Monday morning hotness, head over to After Elton for their history and countdown of television's most influential gay sex scenes. The historic moments (and screencaps) were selected by the editors of After Elton and several writers, critics and producers—including yours truly—and each are accompanied with some spot-on analysis.

The list includes two episodes from Noah's Arc, including the short scene in the premiere episode, "My One Temptation", between Ricky (Christian Vincent) and Dwayne (super hottie Nate Adams). It probably wasn't the most memorable scene from the series, writer Christie Keith argues, "But Ricky and Dwayne's storeroom sex scene just busted onto TV screens without apology or angst, marking the first graphic representation of gay men of color having recreational sex in television history."

After Elton's choices are fairly diverse, ranging the gamut from that groundbreaking moment on thirtysomething to Omar and Dante's romp on The Wire and the more recent black gay storyline on ER. But it's worth noting that the vast majority of the selections come from premium cable television, which somewhat shows how far we've come since that 1989 postcoital snuggle on thirtysomething. Far ... but not too far.

TV's Most Influential Gay Sex Scenes [After Elton]

Some Background ...

What Does the Future Hold for Noah's Arc? [After Elton]
Deal or No Deal? [Rod 2.0]
Noah's Arc Has Sailed [R20]
Michael K. Williams and Being Gay on "The Wire" [R20]
Beyond the Sassy Sidekicks? [R20]
A Conversation with Keith Boykin [R20]
Patrik-Ian Polk in "Genre" [R20]
DVD Review: "Noah's Arc" [R20]

How Gay Friendly is BET?

How gay-friendly is Black Entertainment Television? Not very, according to a new survey of the cable television networks.

After Elton rated the 17 best established cable networks for their gay content. It should come as no surprise that BET was ranked in the third and lowest category.

The good news. Sister station BET J received top marks for including Keith Boykin as co-host of My Two Cents. "Also on BET J's My Model is Better Than Your Model produced by Boykin's partner Nathan H. Williams. The show offers up an unapologetic gay aesthetic without any apologies." The latter show stars Eva Pigford, left, from America's Next Top Model.

Back to BET. Writer Christie Keith noted that besides the appearance of College Hill's Ray Cunningham—"the first openly gay face to grace the network in 25 years"—the network has offered scarce original programming targeting black gay men and lesbians. However, BET programmers were applauded for creating shows such as Rip the Runway "which fuses fashion and hip-hop and often profiles designers, make-up artists, and stylists that are gay" and "reruns of the very-gay inclusive cop drama The Wire." The latter show features two principal gay characters, stick-up artist Omar Little and lesbian Detective Kima Greggs, as well as their love interests.

On the flip side, the survey noted the disappointment that followed the network's first news special that addressed black gay men, The Down Low Exposed. "[It] purported to show the extent of the “down low” in the African-American community despite the fact it provided no evidence to back up its contentions." Our review of The Down Low Exposed is HERE.

BET recently announced its most ambitious lineup of original and scripted programming in its 25-year history. We'll see if the network spreads its wings and includes more diversity in the new programming.

Cable Network Roundup [After Elton]
BET Announces New Lineup [After Elton]

Some Background ...

Michael K. Williams, Being Gay on "The Wire" [R20] "The Down Low Exposed" [R20]

Hot Actor Mykel Shanon Jenkins Joins Cast of "Ugly Betty"

If you're not already watching Ugly Betty, here's just one more reason: Mykel Shannon Jenkins.

The seriously hot actor—winner of the reality show I Wanna Be A Soap Star and seen on shows such as CSI and CSI: Miami—will join the breakout hit on May 10. After Elton reports Mykel's character will be gay and apparently Marc, the gossipy gay played by the delicious Leslie Jordan, "doesn't take kindly to the new gay kid on the block."

In case you were wondering, the Mississippi-born an New Orleans-raised Mykel Shannon says he "knows what it takes to maintain a healthy body" and is more than happy to share that advice in personal training sessions ... but back off because he is a happily married man and father to a four-year-old son.

Awwww. We can only hope ....

Best. Gay. Wek. Ever. [After Elton]

Mykel Shannon Jenkins [site]