My Reading At The University of Toronto Has Been Cancelled
I am kind of sad today because I was supposed to have a reading at the University of Toronto this afternoon at the St. George Campus. Dr. George Elliott Clarke teaches a graduate class called African Canadian literature and he invited me last month to read from my poetry collection “You Don’t Know Me”. However, last week Dr. Clarke cancelled my reading he explained that he had booked another writer from Ottawa at the exact same time. Dr. Clarke apologized for the mistake. Dr. Clarke says I might be able to have another reading in February 2008.
Interesting Article About South Asian Gay Men In The Star
Although, I write a lot about the struggles gay black men endure South Asian men also encounter similar battles with oppression. Black gay men in North America, we are visible in popular culture. I feel that the images and representations of black gay men in the media are very stereotypical. South Asian men I noticed are consistently ignored not just by the mainstream but also by North American gay communities.
I read an article on the Toronto Star website, about South Asian gay men. I like the fact the article isn’t pessimistic or negative. The article is about hope,it is about South Asian gay men that desire to connect with other men of their own culture.
I started to think about a close friend of mine, he was born in India, and he is a Canadian citizen. I think he’s lonely sometimes and that he wants to connect with other South Asian gay men. I am black and I don’t speak Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, or other Indo European languages. I feel at times that maybe I am too foreign for my friend? Maybe I am in the way?
I want my friend to have a connection with other South Asian gay men because I really believe it could boost his self esteem. My friend,is shy reserved kind of a person he isn’t outspoken like me. I’ve talked to him about attending various events and groups for South Asian gay men in the Toronto area but he seems indifferent to them. Perhaps he is still shy I don’t know? I am going to ask him about this.
However, he is not out to his family and he also being surreptitiously pressured to marry a woman by his father. I don’t know what that feels like because my parents know I’m gay. I certainly never have been pressured to date the opposite sex because I’m gay and I’m not sexually attracted to women.
Okay, maybe I should take that back. I do have a serious crush on Gabrielle Union!!! If you’ve read my blog you could tell LOL! I also have to admit I find the Williams Sisters to be sexy, and I do think Sanaa Lathan and Kerry Washington are just very sexy and gorgeous! So I cannot say I am totally not attracted to women. But that’s not the purpose of this blog entry so let me get back on track.
My friend, he is comfortable with his sexual orientation and his Indian identity. He tells me that Indian culture is very patriarchal the man is the breadwinner and the male has to follow the status quo. Being gay and from South Asia is still considered socially unacceptable. I began thinking that in popular culture South Asian men have also been treated as though they are invisible by the gay community and by mainstream society. I think it is great that the Toronto Star article is raising awareness about the lives of South Asian gay men.
I agree with the sentiments of the South Asian men in the Toronto Star article, North American gay culture is very “cold” it is true. I mean let me be blunt, Toronto doesn’t just have cold weather the men are cold too people are soulless here. Its the reason I rarely go the gay bars in Toronto. I mean why bother?
Gayblackcanada 