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50Faggots is a new documentary web series that’s already creating some major buzz on the Internet. The series follows 10 self-indentifying effeminate gay men in Chicago, Washington DC, and New York City. Anthropologist and executive director Randall Jensen, Editor Meredith Zielke and a 6-member crew followed the lives of the cast members for 3 years in an effort to shatter the myth that being labeled effeminate is wrong – a negative stereotype sometimes fueled by the LGBTQ community.

Through personal storytelling, viewers are introduced to a variety of fun, and yes, flamboyant personalities, including modern dancer extraordinaire Darrell Jones, disability rights attorney David Hale, fashion designer Aaron Gray,  and female impersonator David Sotomayor (Jade), a former contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Randall and some of the cast members crisscross the country to host 50 Faggots screenings and throw release parties usually at local gay venues. Their goal is to expose people to the online documentary series, drum up support and to empower effeminate gay men. And the 50Faggots’ cast members are unapologetic about speaking out and being themselves.

Publicist and promoter Timur Tugberk, from the District, says effeminate gay men are “outspoken and people do listen to us because of that. We don’t censor what we hear or say.” Timur and the other cast members flip the script by using the word “faggot” as a self-affirming word rather than the negative word, used to degrade a man who exhibits effeminate behaviors.

Before I learned more about web series, there was already some opposition to online documentary series in the LGBTQ community. Most of the comments came in response to the 50Faggots website and the first webisode.  Candid comments like Jeff who said, “I have a gut reaction against cross-dressing. If I wanted a woman, I’d get a woman, not a man dressed like a woman.” He goes on to say, “These extreme behaviors strike me as silly excesses.” He also felt that the web series could spark some backlash and “expose us to real dangers.”

Other people, accepting of effeminate gay men, had issues with the website’s phrase, “How Gay Do You Want To Be Today?” They believe that asking that question equates being gay with being effeminate and the documentary is a disservice to the community because it features a cast that mostly portrays gay men as effeminate.  

Clyde, a gay black male, wants better representation of the LGBTQ community. “The gay community is made up of feminine and masculine men. Neither is better or worse. They are just different,” Clyde said.  “However, since gay men tend to be disproportionately represented as effeminate and extremely so, I think balance is in order. More representations of gay masculinity are needed. Once again, it’s important that people know all gay men are not effeminate, and gay and effeminate are not the same thing.”

After hearing the aforementioned viewpoints, I wanted to check out the docu-web series for myself. So I decided to attend a screening of 50Faggots’ second webisode, “I Was Just a Poor Lost Boy Myself,” in Washington, DC. This new episode was different from the first webisode, an quick-edit sizzle reel and introduction to the online series and its cast members. Coming from a TV news background, I was much more engaged with the second webisode because I witnessed the real stories behind a few of the colorful characters – all living their lives out loud with no desire to blend in and assimilate with mainstream society. And yes, for harpsichordist and spiritual director Roger Goodman, that includes gay marriage. Randall succeeds in humanizing these larger-than-life personalities. He adds names and faces to this issue.

During the screening, there were moments when I thought I was watching a gay-version of Bravo’s Housewives franchise. And other times I cringed at Timur’s exaggerated feminine mannerisms and catty wit. While watching, I was going through my own journey dealing with some personal issues with a few of the web series’ characters, despite my feelings to always embrace every sexual orientation in the LGBTQ community. Maybe this is why the documentary was created - self-discovery and reflection. Whatever the goal, the series will be an interesting way for viewers, especially those in the LGBTQ community, to come to terms with their own feelings about effeminate gay men and internal prejudices.

In addition to exposing the community’s prejudices against this sector of the gay community, the newest webisode exposes how being “too gay” affects cast members personally and professionally. In a discussion after the screening Timur and David Sotomayor believe people in the LGBTQ community - rather than the larger community – usually make comments about them being “too gay” because they are effeminate, which usually takes on a negative connotation.

How can you measure the “gayness” of a person? Well, I guess I’ve experienced something similar as an African-American man. For instance, some people have their own impression of what makes a person a “real” African-American, sometimes based on stereotypical black factors. So some people may see me as being “too white” because I’m educated, articulate or because my jeans are not hanging off my ass. Trust me… it happens in the black community, too.

Of course, I’ve grown to learn that I am who I am, and anyone who questions my “blackness” based on those stereotypes needs a serious gut-check. I’ve gone through too much shit in my life to have someone take that label from me. Although, I do admit that being black and gay is not the sum or total of who I am. 

Anyway, 50Faggotsn will continue to raise eyebrows and debate, but the crew and cast members will soldier on. Randall, the executive director, said the second webisode, “I Was Just a Poor Lost Boy Myself,” will be posted on the website in two weeks (week of May 29, 2011). Plans are underway to launch the third webisode in September 2011. The third installment will focus on how the cast members assume the role of activists in their own communities.

So what’s your take on this new web series? Do you think 50Faggots will help people engage in public discourse to discuss some of these hot-button issues or is the web series continuing on a path of perpetuating gay stereotypes that already exist?  I’m curious to know what you think. Comments and intelligent arguments are welcomed. Discuss!

Two new gay reality TV shows could hit the small screen soon.  Tha Life: Atlanta follows six gay black men – Dr. George Smith, J. Will, Will, Al, Dante and Terrance. It’s basically a gay version of the Real Housewives of Atlanta. Check out the sizzle real for yourself.  The plot and subject matter prove why this show hasn’t been picked up by a network yet.  

The hot topic of conversation is how Al makes his money. Apparently, he’s a kept man.  Trust me, I don’t feel compelled to watch a show just because it’s about black gay men.  So please come up with a better concept with a better appeal. I know it’s out there.

Another gay reality show, My Secret Society, follows Deborah and her friends, the Glenn Twins, Lisa, Suga, DJ M and Jaimee. These lesbians come from different backgrounds and work in Atlanta in different capacities. The cast includes a concert promoter, video director/producer, models and a Ballroom Diva. It looks like NeNe, Kim and Derek from RHOA make a quick appearance on this show’s not-so sizzling reel.

My biggest concern about these shows is how much the characters play into stereotypes.  With the black community steeped in religion, these shows don’t do much to rally gay rights supporters. The anti-gay sentiment is clearly demonstrated via the messages left in response to an article post on The Young, Black and Fabulous.

Anonymous posts recite bible passages to “prove” that homosexuality is an abomination.  Really?!  Why haven’t the religious bible thumpers realized that their irrational mission to peddle their “wares” will only increase our GLBT recruitment numbers.  OK, I’m just kidding… a little.

The production company and or producers for both shows are shopping around for a permanent home. No word yet if a willing network will pick either show up for a season.

So what do you think about this new wave of gay reality TV shows? Does it help or hurt the GLBT community’s fight for equal rights?

Big thanks to my kissing cousin, Kissing Kamal, for the news tip!

Kwin Mosby, Delicious Pop
Follow me on Twitter: @kwindpop
Facebook Page: Delicious Pop

In this episode of Househusbands of New York, Ryan decides to have a benefit cocktail party to celebrate his 30th birthday. With some help from his assistant TJ and his event planner Jaime, Ryan picks out a few delicious men to be model servers at the party. The benefit cocktail party is for The Ali Forney Center, an organization that helps homeless LGBT teens. Of course TJ encourages the men to do everything except drop trough so they can size up and select the staff for the A-List party.

Before the party and before he turns the big 3-0, Ryan makes a trip to the dentist, which he claims he visits three times a month. OK, it’s not really the dentist, but a visit to see Dr. Juan, who provides Ryan with a couple Botox injections. As Ryan swoons over the gorgeous doctor, he tells the doctor to bill his visit as a teeth cleaning so his husband Desmond doesn’t find out about his monthly dates with Botox.

That’s the fun part of the show, but there’s always drama or Austin stirring up the hornet’s nest. So Reichen and Austin make plans to have dinner. Of course, no one’s calling it a date, but Austin has put a lot of thought into it. He’s reserves a private room for dinner, which allows Austin to unabashedly flirt with Reichen and interrogate him about his new relationship with Rodiney. The conversation is all over the place. At one point Reichen tells Austin about overdosing on an herbal supplement that causes him to get a boner for 2 hours. By the end of the pseudo date, it’s apparent that Austin is making a play for Reichen, and he has no boundaries.

Meanwhile, Derek meets Rodiney to talk about his modeling career and upcoming photo shoot with Mike. Mike, a photographer, agreed to take photos of Rodiney so he could have more of a NYC feel to his portfolio. However, Derek’s ulterior motive for meeting Rodiney is really to warn him to steer clear of Austin. But wait, the juicy news that Derek learns is that Rodiney is bisexual. Apparently, he had a girlfriend before his relationship with Reichen, And Rodiney has only been in two relationships with men, and his ideal goal is to marry someone with a va-j-j — a woman. The conversation ends with Derek graciously agreeing to oversee Rodiney’s photo shoot with Mike. I’m certain someone had to pick Derek’s jaw up from off the floor after Rodiney reveals that he’s a switch hitter.

Adding more layers to Reichen and Rodiney’s odd relationship, the two guys go apartment hunting. They find a place in Hell’s Kitchen, but it’s clear that Reichen will have to do some adjusting because Rodiney is not clean and tidy. Reichen’s issues with sharing a space become more apparent when he tells Rodiney that he can’t barge into his office space. Reichen says Rodiney must get an invite before he’s allowed anywhere near Reichen’s office.

Reichen’s mom is in New York for a visit. She gets her first look at his new pad. They sit down to talk, and Reichen starts balling because he feels totally stressed out. He says he’s been focusing so much on taking care of Rodiney that he hasn’t really been living his life post-Lance Bass breakup. It’s clear that Reichen has some heart mending to do. Again, it’s not a good sign for Rodiney. 

Well, Derek heads to the South Hamptons for a break. Derek meets Austin — who is also vacationing in the Hamptons — at a local restaurant to really get the dish on Austin’s date with Reichen. Out of nowhere, Austin mentions that Reichen had to wear two pairs of underwear during the play My Big Gay Italian Wedding. Austin proceeds to tell Derek that he’s not sure why Reichen needed to why two pairs — indirectly making a statement about Reichen’s “junk.”

Well if that wasn’t enough for Derek, what happened next would definitely piss him off. A waitress brought Derek the phone to take a call from Erik, the restaurant’s owner. I guess Austin was upset he wasn’t the center of attention. So he purposely tried to hang up the phone while Derek was talking to Erik via speakerphone. So what was Austin’s excuse for being an ass? “I thought it was an Eric I knew, and I didn’t even want to hear his voice.” Really?!

Eventually, Austin apologizes half-heartedly and the boys mend fences, or so we think they do. When Derek is back in the Big Apple he decides to tell Reichen about Austin’s off-handed comments about his “package” and Austin’s goal to get back with him. Reichen is astounded from the news.

The drama really starts to unfold at Ryan’s benefit cocktail party. Austin spends a moment with Rodiney questioning his relationship with Reichen. He asks, “Are you guys like monogamous? If you are, he (Reichen) was telling me some things that were bizarre.” Cut to Derek off-camera who says he warned Rodiney to stay away from Austin – he even said it in broken English so Rodiney could understand.  His words, not mine, but it’s at that point we see Austin’s manipulative ways in action.

During the party, Reichen pulls Austin aside to confront him on the terrace about gossiping to Derek about his male unit. Austin tries to dig himself out of a ditch, but Reichen isn’t having it. He says, “When you’re running with a group of big boys, in an adult world, you’re gonna be held accountable for what you say.”

Well, Derek decides to get Reichen’s back after watching the awkward confrontation from inside. And less than two minutes after Derek joins the conversation, Reichen exits to attend an early play rehearsal, leaving Derek and Austin alone. Oh, but it gets better! The two guys argue it out like two pussies pawing over catnip. Derek puts a halt to the conversation and says, “If we’re going to continue to butt heads then we need to end this now.” Derek walks away and the two may reconvene as friends in 3 months or not. Stay tuned!

- Kwin Mosby, Delicious Pop