R.I.P. E Lynn Harris Died Last Night In Los Angeles

The  African American gay author E Lynn Harris,  passed away, last night, in Los Angeles.

I am shocked, sadden, and stunned. Harris was so young, he was only fifty four years old.

I remember, when I was a teenager in the 1990s, I read Harris first book “Invisible Life”.

“Invisible Life” was Harris first novel,  and in my opinion his best work.

Harris was bashed by critics for writing predictable romance novels from a black queer perspective.

Harris was very tenacious, he self published “Invisible Life” in 1991 by selling the books at African American beauty salons.

Since “Invisible Life” was such a huge success Harris was able to acquire a major book publisher.

E Lynn Harris has sold over four million books.

I admire E Lynn Harris  because although his novels were fictional, he still brought the lives of black gay men to the masses.

Harris  proved an openly gay black male writer “can” sell millions of copies, and be marketable .

“Invisible Life” helped me to understand that I wasn’t alone as I was coming to terms with my sexual orientation.

In the mid 1990s, the LGBT community was overwhelmingly Eurocentric, there was no reference point for me.

Harris work gave a voice to the life and experiences of gay and bisexual black men.

Harris was so successful he wrote ten books that reached the New York Times best sellers list.

I believe Harris incredible accomplishments opened the door for other gay black male writers to get publishing deals from major publishing

houses.

Harris proved there was a market for novels about the lives and experiences of gay black men.

Gay black men we are no longer invisible. It is very empowering and refreshing  to be able to visit a bookstore or a library and read about

experiences I can relate to.

Harris writing is also very important because his novels deal with black gay men loving each other.

I remember a few years ago I searched E Lynn Harris on google.

I e-mailed Harris once, asking him for some writing advice,  and he responded back to me.

Harris was so kind and generous to me I really appreciated that he listened to me.

I think it is a shame that  Harris wonderful books weren’t  produced into feature films.

The quandary is although Harris was very successful in the literary world, he still dealt with homophobia and racism.

I sometimes call Harris the “gay” Terry McMillan. Terry McMillan she is the very successful black heterosexual female writer.

McMillan’s books have become successful major films such as “Waiting To Exhale”, and “Stella Got Her Groove Back”.

I would love to see one of Harris novels turned into a movie.

Three of Harris novels had been optioned by the studios to be made into feature films.

If you are interested in learning more about E Lynn Harris, I suggest checking out his books at your local public library or bookstore.

I am praying for E Lynn Harris’ family as they grieve during this difficult time.

Link: http://news-briefs.ew.com/2009/07/bestselling-author-e-lynn-harris-has-died.html

Three Sisters & Female Relative Murdered In Montreal! Father, Mother, Brother Charged With First Degree Murder!

According to the Montreal Gazette there is a shocking development in the drowing deaths of three sisters and a female relative.

The Shafia family are  Afghan immigrants.

Zainab Shafia, 19,  Sahar Shafia, 17, Geeti Shafia, 13, and  Rona Amir Mohammed, 50, were found dead in the family car when the vehicle was

discovered under water in the Rideau Canal on June 3oth.

Police have charged the father, Mohammad Shafia, wife Tooba Mohammad Yehya, the brother Hamid Mohammad Shafia, 18,  with four

counts of first-degree murder and four counts of conspiracy to murder.

I am stunned, sadden, and shocked. I can’t believe it!

It is not a surprise the Canadian media have called the murders “honour killings”.  However, the term “honour killings” is a loaded word.

Why do women have to maintain the “honour” of the family?

I just think this is horrible and just absolutely evil. If the alleged crimes are true, how can a father, mother and brother kill their own flesh and

blood? It doesn’t make any sense? I suppose an argument is I am being ethnocentric? Maybe I am? I don’t know?

Something needs to be done about this! The Canadian government has to do something but what?

Link: http://www.montrealgazette.com/Kingston+tragedy+dates+back/1816807/story.html

You Go Girl!!!!

Congratulations to Kelis,  she gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Knight on Tuesday in New York City!

Kelis will also receive spousal support, from her soon to be ex husband, the rapper Nas.

Kelis only wanted $20,000 a month for support, but the judge gave her  $55,000!!!!

The judge also ordered Nas to pay Kelis attorney fees!!!

Nas cheated on Kelis  and she filed for divorce earlier this year.

I am so proud of Kelis, she is really holding it down. You go girl!!!

Link:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iCB_3DRoG_wtrA9EZ69ba3pj2-8gD99KF7E80

DVD Review: New Best Friend One Of the Hottest Lesbian Movies Of The 21st century!!!

Before Toronto native Mia Kirshner, became a superstar on the L Word, she starred in the indie film New Best Friend.

In the movie, Kirshner’s character Alicia is a new girl at private college. Mia’s performance was strong she depicted Alicia’s insecurities

and a wide range of emotions. Alicia is unpopular, and she is deperate to fit in with the other girls.

The beautiful rich girls don’t like Alicia and  she pays a price for being so desperate.

Alicia  overdoes  at a party and Taye Digg’s character, the local cop is attempting to put to solve the case.

I will admit, Diggs performance is probably the weakest link  in the movie. Diggs was listless, his facial expressions were just muted.

He was was out of his element.

I know this will sound sexist, but why was a male character in the movie at all?

The movie is about young women so there really is no need  for a male to even be in this movie.

1990s teen queens Dominique Swain and  Rachel True are also a part of the cast.

The movie is a camp classic!!!

New Best Friend also explores serious issues such as bulimia.

In one shocking scene, Rachel True’s character Julianne Livingston, vomits in plastic containers, and she saves the vomit.

The acting isn’t the best, but I got to admit it was pretty hot seeing  Rachel True and Dominique Swain make out on the movie.

Another sexy scene is told in a flashback sequence. Swain’s character starts hitting on Krishner’s character.

Swain and Krishner go all the way to give the audience exactly what we want to see.

I was a bit shocked at the very erotic lesbian scene it very pretty steamy.

Let’s just say the sex scene between Kishner and Swain definitely got my attention!!

Swain and Kirshner really went for it in the sex scene.

I don’t think the movie is homophobic at all.

I am sure in colleges across the world tons of  young women have lesbian sex.

Yes the actresses in this movie are very attractive, but this Hollywood and the movies are all about fantasy anyway.

Does Alicia’s  almost fatal overdose get solved?  Check out “New Best Friend” and find out for yourself.