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VIDEO: Outrage After "Vulgar" Black Gay Dancers in Xmas Parade

PHOTOS: Press-Register/FOX Mobile

Some residents in a rural Alabama town are "outraged" after a Black gay male dance troupe performed a "vulgar" and "obscene" routine in the town's annual Christmas parade. Watch Fox Mobile's report AFTER THE JUMP ...

The Mobile-based Prancing Elites performed a "J-Setting" routine in the western Alabama town of Semmes. The rural townsfolk were not prepared, reports the Mobile Press Register.

Dressed in red and white Santa sweaters and snug white shorts, the four young men performed a routine that entailed a combination of sharp thrusts, swaying and elaborate hip movements. Each member also sported pristine make-up. 

Within hours, members of the community in Semmes called parade organizers and posted on social media, most of them in shock. At least one woman demanded an apology, saying she had "never been so insulted" in her life. Others wrote that they were disgusted and children should not have been exposed to the dancers.

[Karen] McDuffie, who is on the board of directors of the Friends of Semmes, the group that created the parade, said the Prancing Elites' moves were "vulgar" and "not appropriate for a children's Christmas parade," before apologizing on behalf of the organization.

"I was outraged and appalled," added another resident who attended the event with her daughter.

The Prancing Elites have appeared on The Real and been interviewed on the The Tom Joyner Morning Show. Some of their videos have gone viral across the web. Troupe leader Kentrell Collins said the group was invited to perform and thought the organizers were familiar with their style. Collins makes an excellent point on gender presentation and traditional theories on masculinity.

"We are no different than any team out there dancing. We want people to stop looking at gender and focus on the talent," said the 26-year-old Collins. "It's OK for a woman to put on tights and play football, but when a man wants to put on a leotard and tights, it's a problem."

If they're talking about you they are thinking about you, right? Watch Fox Mobile's report AFTER THE JUMP ...

2013 NYC Black Pride Award

Such a blessing. The 2013 New York City Black Pride Heritage Awards were presented last night at the Schomburg Center in Harlem. The amazing crew at New York City Black Pride honored me with their 2013 Media Award of Excellence. Yaassss!

It quite an honor to be included with my friends Keith Boykin—editor of the award-winning anthology  For Colored Boys Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Still Not Enough—and young filmmaker Amir Dixon, who created the documentary Friend of Essex. The New York City Black Pride Awards also honored veteran travel consultant Laurence Pinckney, fashion icon and activist Audrey Smaltz, former Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields, Harlem United, the House of Labeija, ballroom legend and Paris is Burning co-star Freddie Pendavis, among others.

New York City Black Pride weekend is August 14th - August 18th. Thanks so very much to everyone involved for the 2013 Media Award of Excellence. It's very gratifying and humbling to be recognized—especially when so many people are producing great work across the community. It's been a few years since I moved from New York City but my heart will always remain in the Big Apple. Thank you and much love!

VIDEO: SWERV Launches "Ballroom Couture" Issue at Splash NYC

Last week we previewed the brilliant cover of SWERV's Spring 2013 issue. The "Ballroom Couture" editorial was lensed by celebrity and fashion photographer deluxe Mike Ruiz. The issue features the "legends and icons" of New York City's past, present and future ballroom community.

The launch party was held last Thursday at Splash NYC. The attendees included the Legendary Rayceen Pendavis—who is on the cover—the Legendary Leiomy Prodigy, SWERV Publisher Jamil Fletcher, Demarco Majors, Roxxy Evisu, No Shade's David Brandyn, fashion designer Marco Hall, DBQ Publisher David Bridgeforth and many others. Watch the red carpet fabulousity, one more look at cover and the behind-the-scenes video WHEN YOU JUMP ...

VIDEO: Mike Ruiz's "Ballroom Couture" Cover for SWERV

PHOTO: MIKE RUIZ for SWERV

Your first look at the brilliant cover of SWERV's Spring 2013 issue. The cover editorial was lensed by celebrity and fashion photographer deluxe Mike Ruiz. The "Ballroom Couture" issue features the "legends and icons" of New York City's past, present and future ballroom community—Tracy Africa, Rayceen Pendavis, Leiomy Prodigy, Roxxy Evisu, David Ultima-Xtravaganza and Robbie St. Laurent.

Watch behind-the-scenes video of the making of the cover WHEN YOU JUMP ...

"We do our best to share the stories of the extraordinary people in our community that are often ignored by both Black and mainstream LGBT media," says SWERV Publisher Jamil Fletcher. "Our current issue spotlights the New York City ballroom and it’s influence [on] popular culture. It is such a great honor to bring these stories of the Ballroom icons and legends to our readers."

Perfect "tens" across the board for the feature. Go behind-the-scenes video for the making of the editorial AFTER THE JUMP ...

No Arrests or Suspects After Murder of Chicago Trans Woman Paige Clay

The Chicago Police Department reports no arrests, suspects or leads in the investigation into the brutal killing of Paige Clay, a 23-year-old transgender woman whose body was found exactly one week ago. Clay's body was found on the city's West Side with a gunshot wound to the forehead, reports CBS 2.

Activists are frustrated because the Cook County Medical Examiner will not release her body, reports the Chicago Phoenix.

Brian Turner, who runs a program for transgender women called Women of Many Voices ... said he has contacted numerous officials and investigators and has not been contacted in return. Turner was also turned away from identifying Clay’s body because he was not considered immediate family. Turner describes Clay as an adopted member of his family via his aunt, Denise Turner, who was a foster mother to Clay.

"Why should it matter if I’m not immediate family if my aunt was her foster mother? This is the woman that raised her, who took her into her own home," he said. Cook County has given Turner 90 days to wait to see if any biological family makes a claim, something he finds frustrating and confusing. "She has people who love her who were not her immediate family, but they were family."

Paige Clay became "a ward of the state at age 9 or 10" and later became known in Chicago's ballroom community, writes Kate Sosin at Windy City Times.

Clay walked Runway in the ball scene, and despite her inexperience, friends say she was fast making a name for herself. In part, they say, it was her ingenuity. Clay crafted her outfits with little money, borrowing when necessary, but always creating something unique. "In the ball scene, there wasn't anyone with that kind of passion," said Marlo Moss, a friend of Clay's. Clay traveled from state-to-state and won several competitions.

Clay had come into her own in the past few years. She came out as transgender, became emancipated from the state and moved out into her own apartment, a great point of pride for her. She held jobs at McDonald's, Wendy's and Forever 21 clothing store, among other places.

But she also faced challenges. Like many young trans women of color, Clay was subjected to violence and discrimination, friends say. In addition to working in the service industry, Clay was occasionally involved in sex work, said [friends], noting that she had been subject to violence before.

Activists are planning are planning a "Justice for Paige" rally on Tuesday May 1.

Paige Clay becomes at least the third trans woman killed nationwide in April. Detroit police are also searching for the killer(s) of 35-year-old Coko Williams, who was found slain earlier this month.

Numerous studies have shown that Black and Latina trans women are at the greatest risk of violence and the murders of Black trans women are often unsolved. Black transgender women face "extreme discrimination and poverty", and are more than likely to suffer from violence, physical or sexual abuse, police brutality, HIV/AIDS and bullying, according to a first of its kind survey conducted by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Black Justice Coalition.

VIDEO: BQ Sex Sirens Strip Down, Pump Up and Work the Runway

Face, waist, abs, bulges and bodies. Perfect tens for the BQ Sex Sirens and Catboys of the "What's In A Name Ball" 2011.

Where did Trey Songz  find the inspiration this look ?

Watch AFTER THE JUMP ...

Paris Dupree Dies, Namesake of Film and Ball "Paris is Burning"

Very sad news to report. Paris Dupree has passed. Dupree was one of the legendary names of New York City's ballroom community. Paris was the founding mother of the House of Dupree and her annual grand ball "Paris is Burning" inspired Jennie Livingston's iconic 1990 documentary of the same name.

Details of Dupree’s death remain unconfirmed, but friends and fans began Tweeting “R.I.P. Paris Dupree” on August 15. She was living in New York City at the time of her passing. Dupree made her mark as one of the “big five” House mothers in New York’s ballroom scene. She founded the House of Dupree in the 1970’s alongside her fellow mothers Angie Xtravaganza, Dorian Corey, Avis Pendavis and Pepper LaBeijia.

"The ballroom runway ‘Grand Prize Competition’ in heaven got a bit thicker this week with the passing of Mother Paris Dupree," says famed performer Karl Xtravaganza. "Her death signals the end of an era."

Dupree’s passing also came at a very emotional time for the ballroom community, with two other deaths reported in the last few days, performers Kevin Magnifique Milan and Leo Xtravaganza.

Dupree is seen on the Paris is Burning DVD cover at upper right in the black hat.

Dupree's passing marks the end of an era, notes Monica Roberts. "Dupree was one of the last Big Five founding house mothers who appeared in the documentary still alive. Angie Xtravaganza, Dorian Corey, Avis Pendavis and Pepper LaBeijia [all] preceded Dupree in death."

Dupree was remembered last Saturday at GMHC's Latex Ball, reports Steve Lewis at Blackbook.

Jennie Livingston came to The Latex Ball and said a few words. She also produced a very excellent tribute to Paris Dupree, who was the last of the "great mothers" of the Houses of the Ballroom community. Paris Dupree was missing Saturday night. Her passing and the passing of so many others this year and in recent years set a sad tone at the usually happy gathering. The short documentary captured the essence of a legend. Her attitude for the ages underscored the meaning of the whole affair.

There is a backstory to Dupree and Paris is Burning that many people today do not know. Dupree and several other performers sued Livingston and Miramax Pictures in 1990 for a share of the film's profits. Dupree and others said they were deceived about the film's purpose and wanted compensation. "DuPree sought the largest settlement with $40 million for unauthorized use of her ball, with other performers seeking sums of a few thousand." The suits were eventually settled out of court.

In Paris is Burning, one of the standout moments is when Dupree rips the wig off her head and yells "Butch, Queen!" to the judges. Fierceness 501 from a true ballroom icon. Watch that scene, Dupree on the microphone in her "Paris is Burning 1991" ball and a memorial video AFTER THE JUMP...

NYC Gay Youth Activist Joseph Jefferson Commits Suicide

There is very unfortunate news today as yet another young gay man has taken his own life. Twenty-six-year-old Joseph Jefferson of Brooklyn, New York reportedly committed suicide on Saturday by hanging, friends and associates of the former gay youth activist and HIV peer educator tell Rod 2.0.

By most accounts, Jefferson was a true LGBT youth pioneer. The 2002 graduate of New York City's Harvey Milk High School later worked on HIV prevention and outreach for Gay Men of African Descent (GMAD) and the now-shuttered People of Color in Crisis (POCC), New York City's leading HIV/AIDS groups for Black gay men. More recently, Joseph Jefferson was an assistant to Laurence Pinckney and James Saunders, New York City's popular Black LGBT event promoters, reports Nathan James. Jefferson was also active in New York City's colorful ballroom community.

"Joseph was truly a sweetheart," one friend who knew him well tells R20. "Extremely bright and impassioned about social justice causes... It's such a loss." The friend, who requests anonymity, adds that Joseph Jefferson seemed in good spirits and "showed no indications of being unusually depressed."

Joseph Jefferson becomes only the latest young LGBT person to commit suicide in recent weeks. Jefferson also becomes the third Black LGBT youth to commit suicide in three weeks.

At only 26-years-old, Joseph Jefferson was only beginning his journey in life and seemingly had so much to offer the community and other Black gay youth. Will this ever end? Will there ever be hope for young people such as Joseph Jefferson, Aiyisha Hassan, Raymond Chase and Tyler Clementi?

UPDATE: There will be a tribute tonight to Joseph Jefferson at  the "I Love My Boo" forum at GMHC on West 24th Street in Manhattan.

WATCH: Emanuel Xavier's Fabulous "Legendary (The E-Mix)"

Poet, activist and author Emanuel Xavier debuts the fabulous new music video for "Legendary (The E-Mix)". The track is from Legendary: The Spoken Word Poetry of Emanuel Xavier, the artist's new spoken word/music collaboration album you can downloaded on iTunes.

The music video is a dreamy and surreal love letter to Latino and black LGBT youth, the ballroom community and gender identity and expression.  The lyrics are on-point—"Recognizing their divinity amongst us/She that is God/Him that is goddess/Walking the runway as if it is water"—and accompanied by a fierce throwback house beat. Think "Deep in Vogue" ... with a political twist.

The music video was helmed by French director Arié Ohayon. "I worked with Arié on a previous independent film project and knew he would be the perfect visionary to capture the whole 1990's aesthetic of dance music videos," Emanuel Xavier tells R20. "The track is a tribute to the ballroom scene and, on a not-so-subtle level, it is a celebration of queer people of color and the transgender community. The opportunity to feature some great friends was definitely a special treat, especially when they're shooting overnight at a studio in Williamsburg for you."

Watch it AFTER THE JUMP ...

WATCH: Full Version of Kelly Rowland's "Commander" Video

Here is the much anticipated and official version of the brand new music video for Kelly Rowland's "Commander." The official video is longer and a different edit than the version that leaked overnight. The ferosh David Guetta-produced dancefloor anthem is from Rowland's upcoming self-titled album and is expected to hit the #1 position on the U.S club charts this week.

There are two fabulous sequences in the Masashi Muto-directed and Fatima Robinson-choreographed video that pay tribute to black gay club kids: The runway vogue battle and the duckwalk. Love it. Watch it AFTER THE JUMP ...