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Duane Cramer in "OUT 100"

Celebrated photographer, artist, social marketing guru and R20 friend Duane Cramer makes this year's OUT 100. Cramer created the imagery and messaging in the new national awareness campaign Testing Makes Us Stronger, as well as the Greater Than AIDS campaign.

Cramer calls what he does "artivism" since he employs his talent to illustrate issues around, families, HIV/AIDS and adoption. Cramer's been living with HIV since 1996 and also lost his father from AIDS complications. "One of the reasons that I'm open about my HIV status is that mopst people don't really want to talk about it," Cramer says. "I should utilize my personal power to bring about change."

Bravo and congratulations to my friend Duane, who also made his music video directorial debut this year for "Sparkle" by Ari Gold and featuring the fabulous Sarah Dash. Watch the video AFTER THE JUMP ...

CDC Launches New Testing Campaign Targeting Black Gay Men

Three out of four Americans living with HIV/AIDS do not have their infection under control, according to a study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Black men who have sex with men continue to be the demographic hardest hit by the virus—new infections are rising at an "alarming" rate—and the vast majority are unaware of their status.

To reverse the trend and increase HIV testing rates among Black MSM, CDC launched the new national awareness campaign Testing Makes Us Stronger. The advertising and social marketing campaign debuted this week on Rod 2.0 and VIBE. It rolls out on December 1 in other media. There is also a Facebook platform.

From our two-part web and print series "Reversing the Alarming HIV Increase Among Black Gay Men" for the Black AIDS Institute:

The program will include transit, magazine and online advertising--and outreach across Facebook, Twitter, blogs and "hookup" websites popular with Black MSM. "The young men we are targeting are on these sites," says Daniel Driffin, a 25-year-old prevention specialist at the Atlanta-based National AIDS & Education Services for Minorities. "It makes perfect sense for [the] CDC to be there--especially because the first place many men [my age] get information is [the] Internet."

Kali Lindsey, the 30-year-old senior director of federal policy at Harlem United, was part of a CDC advisory group on the messaging. "The process was refreshing. They brought in about 19 or 20 of us who had expertise in delivering messages to Black gay men," he says.

The campaign was lensed by celebrated photographer and social marketing guru Duane Cramer.

The campaign follows the release of disturbing HIV seroconversion data. New HIV cases among Black gay and bisexual men aged 13-29 rose an estimated 48 percent between 2006-2009, reports CDC. New infections rates are much higher in some cities—such as Milwaukee, where an estimated 42 percent of Black gay/bi men could be infected.

Black MSM are also least likely to be aware of their infection. More than 70 percent of all positive Black MSM under 30-years-old are unaware.

Experts estimate that African Americans make up 56 percent of all "late testers"—people who learn of their positive HIV serostatus so far along in their illness that the disease progresses to AIDS within one year of diagnosis. Of the 20% of HIV positive people in the US who unaware of their status, how many are Black?

Also worth noting: The past two years have seen an aggressive push by state, local and federal agencies to increase HIV testing—especially in Black/Latino communities. Increased testing usually translates into more diagnoses—but who will pay for the expensive life-saving medications?

The rise in new infections and the recession has forced many states to make significant reductions to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. Those in the program are disproportionately black, many of the men are gay or bisexual.

Know your status? Find out HERE

Make Sure You Read ...
"Alarming Increase" in HIV Among Young Black Gay/Bi Men
Early HIV Drug Therapy 'Significantly Reduces' Transmission"
"Reversing the Alarming HIV Increase" and "Part 2"
"What PrEP Could Mean for Black Gay and Bi Men."

Reversing the Alarming HIV Increase Among Black Gay Men

The first of our two-part series for the Black AIDS Institute that is being syndicated across Black owned newspapers , magazines and websites.

As HIV viral loads continue to be "off the charts" among urban and rural networks of Black gay/bi men, the Centers for Disease Controls has launched a new social-marketing campaign to reverse the trend. The report analyzes data that show new HIV infections among young Black gay and bisexual men have increased by almost half. Read HERE. Part Two will drop next week.

Thanks to Phill Wilson, Cornelius Baker, David Malebranche,Harlem United, Kali Lindsey, NBGMAC, Venton Jones, NAESM, Daniel Driffin, Centers for Disease Controls, Kevin Fenton and many others.

Adopt a Black Child Campaign Debuts in San Francisco's Castro

Thanks to Alicia Banks for the heads up: In San Francisco's overwhelmingly vanilla Castro District, a startling oversized billboard debuted several days ago that features a black gay couple and child. It reads: "I Never Knew How Proud I Could Be."

The PROUD campaign is created by Better World Advertising. Critically-acclaimed  San Francisco-based photographer Duane Cramer brought the initiative to life with his vision. The goal is to get is to get black families—whether single parents, or LGBT or straight couples—to adopt black children. the campaign's footprint will be considerable—large billboards, adverts on Muni, BART, coffee sleeves and print ads that will blanket the Bay Area over the next year. Duane Cramer adds: "There will be a large float and contingent in the San Francisco Pride parade."

The debut in the overwhelmingly white Castro was no accident, Duane Cramer tells Rod 2.0. "As you know, the Black population in San Francisco is very low, maybe 6% or 7%.  The ad is of two gay men who just happen to be Black.  We, as black people, are so used to messages and ads featuring whites ... and we have to figure out how we choose to buy into the product, idea or messaging.  This time the opposite will hopefully happen."

Review and Giveaway: "Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom" Soundtrack

If you saw Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom over the weekend—and the chances are very good that many of you did, judging by its strong weekend box office—you were probably dancing in your seats to the energetic soundtrack. Here is very good news for fans of Noah, Ricky, Alex and Chance and their laugh out loud big screen, big wedding adventure: The original motion picture soundtrack is just as enjoyable as the film.

There are some major extras with the Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. The packaging is superb. The CD cover includes fantastic original photography by the ridiculously talented photographer Duane Cramer. There is also an inside jacket that frames a spectacular cast photo. The disc tray is framed by a beautiful photo of Darryl Stephens. The back cover shows much more skin with Jensen Atwood, Darryl Stephens and Christian Vincent posing in underwear.

Most impressive, in addition to the eclectic musical selection, is the presence of liner notes. The real kind that many of us remember from LPs. The notes are written by director Patrik-Ian Polk, who is also the soundtrack executive producer and pulls triple duty as a vocalist on several tracks. The booklet photos and liner notes make this soundtrack a collector's album.

Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is an eclectic and infectious collection. The two lead tracks that get the most attention are, of course, Michelle Williams "We Break the Dawn" and Solange's "Sandcastle Disco." Those anchor the collection with an uptempo vibe but it doesn't stop there. Several tracks lend a retro aesthetic—maybe a tribute to late 80s, early 90s dance music—such as the anthemic"World, Hold On", which was used for that fabulous montage of Noah, Chance and Ricky voguing. There is much more of that vibe in tracks such as "Cable TV" and the Janet Jackson-inspired "Spies." These two are the best tracks of the collection and define the movie.

After the jump, more on the soundtrack and your chance to win a copy.

Behind-the-Scenes Video from "Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom"

Jensen Atwood, Darryl Stephens and Christian Vincent show some skin in this video shot behind-the-scenes at the production of Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom.

Duane Cramer, the ridiculously talented photographer, lenses the still photos and the poster for the much-anticipated theatrical sequel to the cult series. "It's definitely an extraordinary shoot," Cramer says. "You have two black gay men getting married in a full length feature film that will be released nationally. The timing is right. It's all about love. It's all about showing the world ... black same gender loving people deserve to be married like anyone else."

Duane Cramer lensed the final covers of Clik, the new multimedia "Power of Us" public awareness campaign for the National Black Justice Coalition, and, the "Sex Issue" cover editorial of The Advocate that featured Rod 2.0 boyfriend-to-be Daniel Norell.

Noah's Arc: Jumping the Broom is reportedly scheduled for an October release. There has been little press and no national distributor has been announced.

Exclusive: Behind the Scenes Video [After Elton]

You May Have Missed ...
Noah's Arc Has Sailed [R20]
Deal or No Deal? [R20]
Darryl Stephens on the "Out 100" [R20]
Jensen Atwood: The CLIK Interview [R20]
A Very Beautiful Darryl Stephens [R20]
Darryl Stephens in "Boy Culture" [R20]
Darryl's "Boy Culture" [R20]
A Conversation with Darryl Stephens [R20]
Rodney Chester: I'm STILL NOT Gay!" [R20]
Beyond the Sassy Sidekicks? [After Elton]
What Does the Future Hold for Noah's Arc? [After Elton]
TV's Most Influential Gay Sex Scenes [After Elton]
The Many Faces of Rodney Chester [Keith Boykin]
A Conversation with Keith Boykin [R20]
Patrik-Ian Polk in "Genre" [R20]
Hamilton Cobb: Big Deal Playing Gay [R20]
Uno Dos TREY [R20]
"Honey, I'm Home!" [R20]
DVD Review: "Noah's Arc" [R20]
Patrik-Ian Polk in "Genre" [R20]

CLIK Magazine Ends Production

There is very unfortunate news to report. After ten years of publication as the nation's leading magazine for the black gay, lesbian and trans community, CLIK is calling it quits. Saying the magazine has "reached the end of the road", publisher and editor Dwight Powell posted a bittersweet farewell on the magazine's website.

Publishing this magazine has been a dream come true; to honor, recognize, uplift and highlight the Black Gay Experience in America. This magazine came out around a time when black gay men were ashamed, in hiding, and greatly underrepresented. After ten years, all of that has changed. Changed in part to the diligence, tenacity, and drive of our magazine, as we aspired to be the best, command respect, and garner appreciation from the audience we serves and beyond. Today our community is vibrant, out, and proud.

As with everything, all good things must eventually come to an end. Yes, Clik Magazine has reached the end of the road that it’s been traveling since May of 1998. I am elated to say that our job here is done. We’ve inspired, motivated, informed, educated, and entertained, which from day one, have been my objectives. To that end, I’ve succeeded. This is especially evident with the dawn of gay bloggers and e-zines that are taking our experience to another stratosphere, and mush faster. To fast for print magazines to keep-up with, as technology has elevated publishing to everyone simply with the touch of a mouse.

Powell promises the magazine will "return in digital format over the summer." In the meantime, there are no other national black LGBT magazines. Venus, which was targeted toward black lesbians, ended production last year (?) after publisher Charlene Cothran found religion and went "ex-gay."

Clik actually began as "Clikque" in Houston in 1998 as a local, digest-sized nightlife guide. Powell rebranded the publication in the fall 2005 with a larger size and national mission. That issue coincided with the debut of Noah's Arc, and, since then, Clik has been at the forefront of the emerging renaissance in black gay literature, culture, and media visibility. We worked on a number of features for the magazine, including a year in review, features on Karamo, Wilson Cruz, and, a cover profile of Jensen Atwood.

The tenth anniversary and final issue is a tour de force, including eight individual covers and a 16 page photo editorial by famed photographer Duane Cramer. The covers and editorial are part of the new multimedia "Power of Us" public awareness campaign by the National Black Justice Coalition, including Rod 2.0 faves Darryl Stephens and Stanley Bennett Clay, as well as Cramer, Powell, GMHC's Dr. Marjorie Hill, Unity Fellowship's Rev. Dyan McCrary, and, NBJC's H. Alexander Robinson. Several months ago, we were honored to be approached by the NBJC, CLIK and Duane Cramer to take part in this program, but could not make the shoot. That was unfortunate. We could have been part of this brilliant footnote to history.

Going Out With a Bang [CLIK]

More CLIK

Some Background ....
Jensen Atwood: The CLIK Interview [R20]
"Clik" Model Maurice Murrell on Self-Esteem and Being "Flawless" [R20]
January Clik [R20]
For Your Consideration [R20]
Clik Preview [R20]
More Clik [R20]
Exclusive: The Terry McMillan Interview[R20]
January Clikque [R20]
December Clikque [R20]
Fall Clikque [R20]

Do You Disclose Your HIV Status?

Hopefully you do. The question is being asked by a controversial new public service campaign launched by the San Francisco Department of Public Health called "Disclosure" which features the psychedelic photography by Duane Cramer and emphasizes HIV status disclosure as a means of prevention. The Bay Area Reporter:

[The] bus stop and billboard effort is a groundbreaking, community-led prevention method that marks the first time a public health agency has recognized the validity of "serosorting"—a longtime gay community practice where men have a variety of sex, some of it unprotected, with men of the same HIV status.

Critics say the campaign endorses unsafe sex, albeit with persons of the same HIV status. Not so, says the brain behind the campaign. Les Pappas, founder and president of Better World Advertising and a former HIV prevention staffer at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, says many men are not getting tested, or, do not disclose their status. "We know there are people getting infected and we know that some of these people getting infected because they are having unprotected sex with somebody who is positive."

The San Francisco initiative is guaranteed to raise some eyebrows and much-needed discussions. It comes weeks after the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center launched its controversial "HIV is a gay disease." More information available at www.disclosehiv.org. (via Queerty)

HIV Campaigns Spark Debate (Bay Area Reporter)

More Duane Cramer:

"MLK Would Favor" Gay Rights (Rod 2.0) Duane Cramer in "The Advocate" (Rod 2.0) Duane Cramer: Picture This (Rod 2.0 Duane Cramer WORKS (Rod 2.0)

More Controversial HIV Messsages:

Is HIV A Gay Disease? (Keith Boykin) Primetime Reports the Black HIV Epidemic (After Elton) "Out of Control: AIDS in Black America" (Rod 2.0) New CDC Guidelines (Rod 2.0) "The Down Low Exposed" (Rod 2.0) "Fear Tactics" are Best Way to Reach the DL (Rod 2.0) Philly Anti-HIV Campaign Definitely Not a "Hit" (Rod 2.0) Un-Brotherly Love: Black vs Black and Gay (Rod 2.0) The "Invisible" Man Returns (Rod 2.0) 15th Anniversary of Magic's Announcement (Rod 2.0) Baltimore Could Lose Millions in Funding (Rod 2.0) $$$ Rent for NYC Poz on Welfare (Rod 2.0)

News: New Jersey Civil Unions, Visions of Love, Wayne Brady

· New Jersey voters agree gay couples should receive the same rights as straights but they prefer civil unions over marriage. "People in New Jersey are very supportive of equal rights, but the concept of marriage is more complicated," says Mickey Blum, who conducted the survey for The Star-Ledger.

· Duane Cramer, Kurt Brown and Joe Oppedisano are among the photographers presenting their best work in "Visions: Contemporary Male Photography." The coffee table book celebrates the 25th anniversary of publisher Bruno Gmünder.

Wayne Brady makes an appearance as the "brother" of the newly out Neil Patrick Harris and the “hilarious twist has nothing to do with skin color."

· New York City will make gender a personal choice. The New York Times reports the city's Board of Health will allow transgendered persons to alter the gender on their birth certificate even if they have not had sex-change surgery. Under the new rules, applicants must have been born in the city, changed their name, shown that they had lived in their adopted gender for at least two years and submit references from doctors.

· Novelist Fred Smith is seduced by ... bacon? "Weird how the smell of bacon brings back memories of childhood, summer camp, that 'morning after', or of there being nothing else in the house that's cheap or quick to make."

"MLK Would Favor" Gay Rights

There are two great, new interviews with Julian Bond where the civil rights icon makes his most forceful arguments for gay rights. First, in the October 10th issue of The Advocate: The longtime NAACP chairman is photographed by Duane Cramer and interviewed by Christopher Lisotta for a conversation on homophobia and the HIV pandemic.

The Advocate interview is a continuation of Bond's passionate plea that recently began on the op-ed pages of the Washington Post: "Homophobia is one of the major obstacles to black Americans coming to grips with this disease in the ways that we should. It is aawfully disturbing. It's a refutation of what the movement for civil rights stood for. It's disgraceful."

Point and click to Black Voices for another in-depth interview with Bond, this one more focused on gay rights. "I think Martin King would stand as his widow stood—in favor of them. And I think he would be astounded at the behavior of his daughter [Bernice King]."

Julian Bond also confirms the much-whispered reason why he did not attend the funeral of Coretta Scott King that was held at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and officiated by the anti-gay Bishop Eddie L. Long: "I knew her attitude toward gay and lesbian rights. And I just couldn't imagine that she'd want to be in that church with a minister who was a raving homophobe. And I couldn't see myself in my church either."

If you haven't already seen Keith's column on the Julian Bond interviews, he makes a very salient point—noting that the civil rights icon is "even more courageous than many of us who are actually gay or lesbian." If more of us stand up and speak out, we can change that.

Thanks Duane and Katina.

Person to Know: Julian Bond (Advocate)

BV Q&A With Julian Bond (AOL/BV)

Black America Must Confront AIDS (Wash Post)

Duane Cramer Portfolio

Previously:

Live Blog: Coretta Scott King Funeral (Rod 2.0) Platinum Bond (Keith Boykin) Is Bishop Eddie Long Gay? (Jasmyne Cannick) Duane Cramer in "The Advocate" (Rod 2.0) Duane Cramer: Picture This (Rod 2.0 Duane Cramer WORKS (Rod 2.0)