How do I begin to describe Tuesday evening at Outwrite?
It was grand enough that Franklin Abbott included me in the Features for this quarterly event, along with Craig Washington, and Franklin himself...
A BIG THANK YOU to OUTWRITE BOOKS and owner, Phillip Rafshoon,for letting us participate in the celebration of Community that OUTWRITE BOOKS so embodies!
What made the evening so interesting was the wonderful range and diversity of work--both contained in each writer's selections, and of course, the diversity seen in the three of us, in terms of gender, race, orientation, and background....
Franklin's gentle, soft-spoken delivery and subtle pacing allows the listener to "drink in" his marvelous imagery. Especially lovely were his reminisces on India--especially on the nature of meditation/Buddhism, etc.. --where he recently visited...

I was up to speak, and I opened with "The Orgasm Poems"--with two new Orgasms added from my last Feature at Outwrite...
I then read a somewhat dramatic excerpt about a stripper who has multiple cosmetic surgeries because her husband insists she have them, and then she later discovers her husband is not who she thought he was(this character is one of several strippers I'll portray--or refer to-- in my one-woman "Show & Tell",)...It's based on a true story, kids.I'll give you a hint about this excerpt's "twist" ending: it involves gender-identity!

Craig Washington's evocative musings on Hattie McDaniel were heartbreaking, without being maudlin. The perception he exhibited in terms of what it means to have Ms. McDaniel's "Mammy" as both unwitting icon, and caricature/awful stereotype of African-Americans and the contrast between that character and WHO Ms. McDaniel truly was, was awe-inspiring...
As was his ode to Ms. Audre Lorde--a favorite poet of mine, too, Mr. Washington.
It was a tender tribute to Ms. Lorde and to his own father, that had me blotting my eyes...

Check out Craig Washington at Craig Werks...

Franklin Abbott at:

www.atlantarainbowmuse.com

A shout-out to several young men who came by after the Reading,to tell me what I spoke about in "The Orgasm Poems" was entertaining, and funny.
My PCP doctor showed up--seems he's on the "Outwrite Mailing List" and so knew I was Featuring...Thanks, "Dr. K.", that was really sweet for you to come over & celebrate!!
Other audience members...
One African-American gay man told me "I said now what is this conservative little woman going to say?"
I interrupted him to say,"No, I'm not conservative--not politically, socially, sexually..."
He responded,"I know-- WOW--you put it out there, honey...."

"And was there anything you, a gay, African-American male could relate to, in my experiences as a bi, white woman?"

"Oh, yeah, honey...And once you say these things,it makes it easier to talk like this, you know?"

Yes,indeed, I do....


A final note:

Jerry Falwell, dead at 73...
Like the Gay and Lesbian Task Force stated, early on Tuesday--"Condolences go out to those who were close to you, Mr. Falwell.But you will be remembered by all of us as.."

I'll label it:
A hate-monger. A fearful man, stirring up more fear. A man who called himself Christian, without--in my humble opinion--without ever once considering what true Spirituality means.Your Religiosity had no Grace to offer, no shelter or comfort to give to those wanting...
I'll not jump up and down, thinking "Ding Dong The Witch is dead, the wicked old..."
I'll try to be quiet. And I'll pray for you, Mr. Falwell.But I'll pray even more, for those you hurt.