Southern Voice Online

We're almost through with, what I call The Dead Zone mdash; that awkward period between Christmas and New Year's Day in which nothing important gets done. Some business are open, some are not. Some of us have to work, some are off, and television really, really sucks.

I don't think I can eat one more morsel of turkey, ham, ribs, greens, candied yams, macaroni cheese, dressing, cranberry sauce, coconut cake, red velvet cake or sweet potato pie. No wonder people go on a diet at the start of the New Year.
I spent Christmas day with the boyfriend and his family in rural Alabama.

He has a large family and it always proves interesting to interact with so many personalities and share in the latest gossip. His mom was especially glad to see me. That's always a nice feeling.

Those of you who haven't come out to your family cannot understand how satisfying it is to have your partner's family embrace you.
I understand the fear and hesitancy to come out to anyone; especially family. Depending on your situation, coming out to your family may seem impossible.

But trust me, if you are over 25 and haven't had a steady love interest of the opposite sex in years, they probably already suspect.
If you're looking for a bit of guidance, consider HRC's to help answer questions that will undoubtedly come up after you share the news. Unfortunately, it doesn't address Which one of you is the man and which one of you is the woman?

You'll have to answer that one, yourself.
The guide points out that coming out is a process. It's almost impossible to come out once because our society assumes everyone is heterosexual until proven otherwise.

In my opinion, it's okay to pick and choose your confidantes. The entire world doesn't need to know your sexual orientation. But going it alone will manifest itself as stress and all kinds of ugly side effects.

Another great resource is The slim book by Daniel A. Helminiak does a good job of filtering through misinterpreted verses so you have better footing when attacked with Bible text.
For example, people often refer to Leviticus 18:22 which states You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.

But they usually neglect to mention that Leviticus also condemns wearing certain clothing and eating seafood. Following this logic, gay folk will be sitting in hell next to every polycotten, blend-wearing Christian who enjoys Red Lobster's all-you-can-eat buffet.
To be honest, you may never hit the comfort level where you sit with mom and dad, drinking mimosas and watching Noah's Arc and The L Word.

But at least you won't have to field anymore questions about your wedding day. That is, until we get rid of that insulting and get the state laws out of our love lives.
In fact, being politically active should be one of our number one goals.

About.com's Ramone Johnson agrees and includes it as one of his along with my favorite mdash; No More Drama:

Gay men and drama go hand in hand; but this new year, queers around the world make a pact to eliminate the nasty rumors, lost friendships and petty arguments that spice up our everyday lives.
Oh, but if it were only true!

J. Brotherlove's blog can be found at www.thebrotherlove.

com.
In the esteemed words of Austin Powers, Allow myself to introduce ..

. myself. My name is J.

Brotherlove and I am a new blogger for this publication. This is my first post here, but I've been blogging long before it was trendy, most notably at .
My passion is discussing pop sub/culture, independent film/music, race, and sexuality from a non-white, non-heterosexual, non-Christian perspective.

Please read that last sentence again. Then ask me why I decided to move to Atlanta, Georgia.
Like most, I've been juggling end-of-year errands.

I don't know about you, but I am ready for 2006 to be over. Been here, done this. And frankly, I'm tired of being spammed by Christmas e-cards, Toys R Us, and Oprah's magazine.

I hate to sound like a grinch. But this time of year brings out the best mdash; and worst mdash; in people. I've had to point more than a couple of friends to a popular page on the Mayo Clinic's website: As the list suggests, take a breather, people.

We're almost at the finish line.
So far, I've attended two holiday parties. That's pretty much my quota for the year.

Because the rush doesn't end with Christmas for me. I have two invitations for Kwanzaa celebrations vying for my RSVP. It's going to take a whole lot of spiked egg nog to make it to New Year's Eve.

One thing I'm definitely not doing for Christmas mdash; Dreamgirls. That's right. At risk of having my gay card revoked, I'm waiting for the hubbub to die down.

I get that Dreamgirls is good. Even raves about the film. But I have no desire to sit in a movie theater full of holi-gays squealing each time Beyonce tries to upstage Jennifer Hudson.

Since receiving five Golden Globe nominations, the Hollywood machine will be hyping Dreamgirls until Oscar nominations are announced. It will probably receive some nods, too. However, Kim Masters at Slate believes its of winning an Academy Award are more difficult to predict.

ldquo;'Dreamgirls' was supposed to march like Sherman heading for the sea, but its legs are wobbly. The movie plays well in theaters mdash;even at the screening for academy members, the audience burst into applause in the middle mdash;but the reviews are not all adoring and the critics' groups have been snubbing it. rdquo;
Critics?

We don't need no stinkin' critics. We just want to see divas. And Ms.

Knowles has been clobbering us over the head since Destiny's Child to accept her as a diva. I agree she's very talented. But I think she forgot it's we who crown the divas, not the women themselves.

All she has to do is check Logo's website. Visitors Whitney Houston as our gay Ultimate Diva. Beyonce didn't even make the Top 10.

Sorry Sasha, looks like you still have a way to go.
Feel free to send me an email and tell me how you liked the film. Or you can just say hello.

J. Brotherlove's blog can be found at .