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READ: An Open Letter to Tyler Perry from a Person Living with HIV

Tyler Perry's Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor opened last weekend as the third highest grossing film at the box office. Despite the film's commercial success—like many other Tyler Perry productions—many of the reviews have not been kind. Three characters in the film are HIV positive. Some critics have eviscerated Perry for using HIV/AIDS as a "plot device." And this isn't the first time.

"Less a film than a morality play .. it presents HIV as a 'sinner's disease'," writes Buzzfeed's Louis Peitzman. 

Whether or not one condones cheating on a spouse, the implication that a person deserves HIV is horrifying. What's worse, however, is that Perry has written Temptation as a morality play. ... Viewed in this context, it's not simply that Judith (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) deserves HIV, but that it's a "sinner's disease." HIV — at least, HIV the plot device — is Tyler Perry's punishment for our sins.

This isn't even the first time that Tyler Perry has used HIV to drive a point home. In For Colored Girls, he gave us Jo, played by Janet Jackson. She contracted HIV from her husband's infidelity with other men. I won't even go into the film's homophobia, another recurring issue in Perry's movies, but the basic idea is the same: Jo's husband gets HIV because he cheated on his wife. And Jo herself is apparently culpable, because she knew her husband was gay and chose to ignore it.

Lindy West at Jezebel asks if Perry is "shaming" his audience—many of whom are Black women: "That Perry would have the gall to use HIV as a punitive measure against black women who don't fit his idea of "goodness"—black women, by the way, account for 2/3 of new HIV infections among women—betrays a frightening selfishness and lack of empathy."

The epicenter of the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic is Black America. African-Americans and other Black communities represent only 14% of the nation’s population but account for about 44% of all new HIV infections, report the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Black gay and bisexual men suffer the highest new infection rates in the country. Read more at EBONY: "The State of HIV/AIDS in Black America."

One of the most thoughtful critiques of Perry's shameful HIV narrative was written by R20 frend Chris MacDonald-Dennis, a Minneapolis/St. Paul-based university administrator, writer, and seminary student. He is also a gay man living openly with HIV.

In Temptation, you choose to make HIV be seen as a disease that people "deserve" for cheating on their partner. HIV is understood as a punishment for our sinful behavior. The end of the movie is the most telling: the woman with HIV is lonely and ugly, while the people withoutH IV are beautiful and coupled. You could not have made this movie any more of a so-called morality play.

Mr. Perry, I found out that I was living with HIV in 1996. Do you know my "sin"? Not loving myself enough to demand my partner use acondom. I did not deserve this disease. This was not a punishment formy supposed sinfulness. It is a virus, period.

Contrary to what you think, my life has actually blossomed since I wasdiagnosed 17 years ago. I met my life partner, received my doctorate,married my partner, had two wonderful jobs and begun seminary. HIVactually allowed me to see the beauty in humanity. I have experienced an outpouring of love and support. Is everything perfect? Of course not but my life is full of wonderfulness. HIV has not taken that away.

Chris MacDonald-Dennis' words are so powerful because they are personal and come from almost 20 years of experience.  Within 24 hours, the open letter to Tyler Perry has almost 6000 views. If there is one thing you read tonight, read it HERE or  AFTER THE JUMP ...

WATCH: Vanessa Williams for HRC's New Yorkers for Marriage Equality

The iconic actress and singer Vanessa Williams becomes the latest high-profile New Yorker to speak out for marriage equality for the Human Rights Campaign.

"Five states and the District of Columbia have marriage equality," says the Desperate Housewives star. "It's time for New York to lead."

Williams is a veteran LGBT rights ally. Last summer, the actress was honored by the Trevor Project for her work with LGBT youth. Watch the video AFTER THE JUMP ...

WATCH: Vanessa Williams in "Desperate Housewives" Promo

There is a new sheriff on Wisteria Lane. The Desperate Housewives promotional marketing campaign for Season 7 has clever "Wild West" theme and is built around new cast member Vanessa Williams. The first promo image leaked over the weekend and now there is video, look and watch AFTER THE JUMP ...

WATCH: Vanessa Williams Honored for Working with LGBT Youth

Vanessa Williams was honored at the 10th Annual Trevor Project New York Summer Gala last night. The actress has been a longtime supporter of The Trevor Project, which operates the only nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for LGBT youth.

Says the actress: "Support is what everyone needs in life. Regardless of being fortunate to have parents that are there for you, extended family or mentors."

Dustin Lance Black, B.D. Wong, Jason Mraz and Ally Sheedy were among those present. Sheedy, who co-starred in the now-classic Breakfast Club, announced that her daughter had just come out as lesbian. "So it's personal for me," Sheedy said.

In other Vanessa Williams news: In May, it was announced that Vanessa Williams would be joining the vast of ABC's Desperates Housewives. And last week a few details were leaked about her character, which will apparently be a former rival and now "feuding with Felicity Huffman’s super-fierce mom Lynette Scavo.'

And Ms. Williams is looking ferosh. A few photos and watch FOX 5's report WHEN YOU JUMP ...

News: Janelle Monáe, Saeed Jones, Emanuel Xavier, Lee Daniels

· Vanessa Williams heads to Wisteria Lane.

· Janelle Monáe's The ArchAndroid drops. ArjanWrites: "[It's] a culmination of hard work, her deep love for music and uncompromising ambition to bring enlightenment to the pop charts. The ArchAndroid is equally provoking, stirring and inspiring. This record will move you—it will make you think, it will make you dance."

· Critics: Is Monáe "suited" for mainstream success?

· GQ sells 365 copies of its first iPad edition.

· Facebook: Draft Laura Bush for Dallas Pride.

· Daniel Radcliffe wants Cristiano Ronaldo's abs.

· "It's A Man's World". 

· Saeed Jones' poem “Mississippi Drowning” makes the current issue of The Collagist.  The New Jersey-based poet and author will also present at the Lambda Literary Awards on May 27.

· Gay City News profiles Emanuel Xavier: "One of the most influential players in the spoken word genre and Neo-Nuyorican poetry movement. On June 20, as a testament to Xavier’s continuing influence in the LGBT Latino/a community, El Museo del Barrio will be presenting its first-ever New York City Gay Pride celebration event, "The Legendary Project," a modern dance performance based on Xavier’s spoken word/music collaboration."

· Alicia Banks on Polanski: "Bold. Serial. Pedophile. Rapist."

· Mysterious Skin director Gregg Araki premieres new sexual awakening film Kaboom in Cannes.

· GLAAD Media Awards in San Francisco June 5th to honor Lee Daniels, Cybill Shepherd and newly out country singer Chely Wright.

· Report: BlackBerry to launch 8.9 inch tablet this year. "There are some big differences between BlackBerry’s tablet, the iPad and the now-confirmed Google tablet—most notably a lack of cellular networking. Instead, the device will utilize your existing BlackBerry’s connection, communicating with the device via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth."

· Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center joins growing economic boycott of Arizona: "The center will prohibit staff travel to Arizona for conferences or other professional activities and will take steps to end all relationships with businesses headquartered in Arizona."

VIDEO, PHOTOS: Hundreds Bid Farewell to Icon Lena Horne

Hundreds of mourners paid their final respects to the late Lena Horne on Friday, gathering in a New York City church to celebrate the life of the legendary jazz singer, actress and civil rights icon. The iconic entertainer died Sunday at age 92.

More photos and video from the service WHEN YOU JUMP ...

The funeral mass was at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola on the city's Upper East Side. Ms. Horne, whose signature song was "Stormy Weather," was remembered as a shy girl from Brooklyn who fought racism for decades to emerge as a world-class singer and social activist.

The New York Times:

"In the pews were hundreds of mourners, among them Jessye Norman, Leontyne Price, Dionne Warwick, Lauren Bacall, Chita Rivera, Cicely Tyson (right), Vanessa Williams and Gov. David A. Paterson. Leslie Uggams said that Ms. Horne had been someone to look up to. “When my father reluctantly figured out that I was going to go in show business,” Ms. Uggams recalled outside the church, he said, 'I want you to be like Lena.'

The service began with a cello piece by Bach. Later, Audra McDonald performed an arrangement of 'This Little Light of Mine' and 'Amazing Grace,' and one of four speakers, Representative John Lewis of Georgia, said Ms. Horne had been 'a light, and she did shine. She did not give in. She did not give up. She did not give out.' Mr. Lewis said he had known Ms. Horne since the civil rights demonstrations of the 1960s."

Other trailblazers such as Chita Rivera, Diahann Carroll and Dionne Warwick were present. Their photos and video from the service WHEN YOU JUMP ...

In related news: On Friday, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced a resolution that passed unanimously, recognizing Ms. Horne's legacy as a Hollywood trailblazer and civil rights activist. President Obama's statement on Ms. Horne's passage can be read HERE. And at The Huffington Post: Irene Monroe remembers the icon as "more than skin deep".

Lena Horne: In Her Own Voice is scheduled to air on PBS  through May 23. The documentary also streams online.

Daughter Gail Lumet is above and the family gathers below. More photos and video WHEN YOU JUMP ...

 

Gay Fave "Ugly Betty" Prepares to Leave the Prime Time Catwalk

The critically-acclaimed television series Ugly Betty, once described as "arguably the most queer-friendly program in the history of broadcast television", has been canceled by ABC. The show will end its four-season run in April, reports Variety.

Show still has four episodes left to produce this season—and series exec producer Silvio Horta now plans to use that opportunity to tie up loose ends and wrap things up. "We've mutually come to the difficult decision to make this Ugly Betty's final season, and are announcing now as we want to allow the show ample time to write a satisfying conclusion," Horta and ABC Entertainment Group chairman Steve McPherson said in a joint statement. "We are extremely proud of this groundbreaking series, and felt it was important to give the fans a proper farewell. Decision to end "Ugly Betty's" run doesn't come as a huge surprise; the show narrowly avoided cancellation last year—but was moved from its longtime Thursday home to a rough Friday night berth this fall. More recently, the show has joined ABC's hot Wednesday night lineup, bowing earlier this month in the 10 p.m. slot.

Based on the Columbian telenovela "Yo Soy Betty La Fea", the series stars America Ferrera as Betty Suarez, a fashion-challenged editorial assistant. Out actor Michael Urie is also in the cast, as well as gay faves Pattti Lupone, Judith Light, and Vanessa Williams, who plays the scheming Wilhelmina Slater to delicious perfection. Mark Indelicato was cast as the fashion-obsessed, showtune-singing pre-teen Justin (below), endearing himself to America and promoting LGBT acceptance in Latino communities. Rebecca Romijn plays a transgender character Alexis Meade and her character and sex re-assignment surgery storyline was a breakthrough.

After Elton's Michael Jensen described one typical episode: 

So in one episode, Middle America witnessed a coming-out, two parental rejections based on sexual orientation and transgender issues, a defense of a swishy pre-adolescent, heard the praises sung about one's chosen family, and delivered a message that being honest about who you are is nothing to be ashamed of. You can't get much more queer —or freaking fabulous—than that.

News: Vanessa Williams, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Tom Varndell

· Gay veteran speaks out against "Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" in a Wall Street Journal op-ed.

· Everything you always wanted to know about rugby phenom Tom Varndell but were afraid to ask.

· An Illinois House committee advances a civil unions bill, the Chicago Tribune reports. "If it becomes law, the bill would make Illinois the sixth state to approve civil unions, meant to give same-sex couples the same 'basic rights' as married couples, said sponsoring Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago). 'It appears that people have a concern with the intermingling of religious and civil marriage,' Harris said. 'But a lot of people, the vast majority, believe that all couples deserve basic rights.' Harris said. Harris said he is unsure if he has enough support for the measure to pass the full House."

· San Francisco police arrest 175 anti-Prop 8 protesters.

· Sen. Barbara Boxer on Rachel Maddow: "The California Supreme Court was right the first time they decided on marriage. Ron George, a Republican, wrote this beautiful decision that you have to have the same rules of marriage. We're going to have to go back to the ballot."

· Vanessa Williams talks to Out.com about her new CD The Real Thing and her role as Wilhelmina Slater on Ugly Betty. "I absolutely love her. It’s a ball to work on, and it just gets more and more delicious every season. We are going to be doing a musical episode where everyone is going to sing. I also sang in the season finale this year with Christine Baranski. Every season they give me more and more things to do. I’m playing tennis with Billie Jean King. I’m speaking French. It just seems like Wilhelmina is an expert at everything. The challenge is always looking like everything is effortless."

· There are competing marriage bills in Pennsylvania. "Sen. Daylin Leach (D) announced his marriage equality bill on Wednesday. The bill would provide 'full and equal marriage rights to same-sex couples in Pennsylvania', said Leach. The legislation also would recognize same-sex marriages conducted in other areas where they are legal. Earlier this month, Republican state Sen. John Eichelberger filed a bill to amend the state constitution to limit marriage to opposite-sex couples. The state already has a so-called Defense of Marriage law limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples."

News: Wilson Cruz, Rio Ferdinand, Wall Street, Gay and Straight Voters

· Actor and activist Wilson Cruz (Noah's Arc, Rick & Steve) on the 2008 election: "Wouldn’t it be great if we had a “Leader of the Free World,” that actually led the free world? Someone who understood that tolerance, not arrogance is the only way to lead. Someone who didn’t let their fears dictate their actions. That’s what I want in my president." Read our interview (PDF) with Wilson Cruz for Clik.

· On the same day the Democratic presidential hopefuls address gay audiences, new research show the endorsement of gay rights groups may actually hurt candidates in swing states like Ohio or Florida. Huffington Post über blogger Mike Rogers pens an "Open Letter to Straight America" and asks for their help: "We need you to care enough about parentless children who would be placed in loving homes, but for the misguided fears of politicians placating extremists. We need you to care enough about the plight of people with HIV and AIDS and what these candidates have to say about health care in America."

· British footballer Rio Ferdinand: "Size doesn't matter."

· One day after President George Bush said the U.S. economy is "the envy of the world" with low unemployment and inflation, the Dow Jones plunges 387 points and unemployment claims are actually up.

· After playing a scandal-tainted and sexually adventurous ball player on Dirt, former pro-basketball player Rick Fox returns to the small screen. Popnography has the dirt on Fox's on-screen reunion with ex-wife Vanessa Williams on Ugly Betty.