This isn’t the end of a journey — or even an end for DailyDerrick.com. It’s only a transition. Continue reading »
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Black gay pastor starts church in Chicago Loop
This piece originally appeared as the cover story in the May 15, 2013 print edition of The Windy City Times. Photo credit: Rafi Letzter. If you attempted to count the number of Chicago congregations led by openly gay, Black ministers, you’d probably struggle to get to 10. However, a new church in the South Loop … Continue reading »
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What’s Behind Criticisms of Those Red Equal Signs in Your Facebook Feed?
This piece has also appeared on The Huffington Post Gay Voices, Huffington Post Impact and In Our Words Blog What in the world could be wrong with this picture? It’s all over Facebook and Twitter right now as part of a wider social media campaign for marriage equality. If you’re especially savvy, you’re aware that … Continue reading »
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It’s About Time We ‘Wake Up’ and Listen to Black Youth
We often forget that black youth have important viewpoints and ideas to offer during critical discussions about issues directly affecting their lives. With a narrow focus on the perspectives of the “adults” in the situation, black youth voices are routinely rendered invisible. It’s a dilemma that the documentary feature Woke Up Black addresses head-on. Continue reading »
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What I Learned By Simply Taking a Break (From Writing)
Once I realized that the flow of life (a divine message, the universe, energy, whatever you wish to call it) was essentially asking that I pause for a moment, I had no choice but to listen. And I’m glad that I did. Continue reading »
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Around the Web for Jan. 17
Here’s a brief look at some highlights from around the web today — a mix of four thought-provoking articles and commentary that’ll give you whiplash from shaking your head. Here goes: Te’o Controversy: Where’s the Coverage on ND Football Sexual Assauts? – Salon.com I know many of you are enthralled by the craze surrounding Notre … Continue reading »
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10 Steps to Navigating Your Congregation (If You’re LGBT, or Not)
It’s not easy being a religious queer person. It’s even harder while part of a congregation that spews homophobia in pulpits and prevents LGBT people from attaining positions of leadership. Other churches go as far to deny sacraments like communion or other religious rites because of what they deem as “deviant” and “ungodly” lifestyles. And … Continue reading »
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Timothy Kurek and the Problem of the ‘Straight Savior’: Thoughts on an Unredeeming Social Experiment
Despite attempts to position the book as a story of triumph over homophobia, The Cross and the Closet creates an illusory interpretation of how many gays experience Christian communities and everyday life. Continue reading »
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Five Reasons Mitt Flunked With Women During Tuesday’s Debate
From the “binders full of women” remark to his fumbling of Lorraine Osorio’s name, Mitt Romney’s debate performance was nothing short of terrible when it came to addressing the needs and concerns of women across America. 1) “Binders Full of Women” Really, Now? His answer just screamed, “Hey, I’m not sexist! I had women … Continue reading »
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Sexism and the CTU Strike
This post was also featured at NextGen Journal, prior to their disbanding. Click here to view. It’s hard being a female leader in a male-dominated society. Following the culmination of the Chicago Teachers’ Union strike, I’m sure Karen Lewis would agree. What started as weeks of debate mostly confined within Chicago’s city limits became a … Continue reading »
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From the Archives: Birtherism and White Privilege
While stumping in his home state of Michigan yesterday, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney addressed the crowd and made this cringe inducing statement: “No one’s ever asked to see my birth certificate. They know that this is the place where both of us were born and raised.” Clearly he’s referring to the Birther controversy that … Continue reading »
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Can We Stop Qualifying the Definition of “Rape?”
Rape is rape. No exceptions, no qualifying words, no lengthy diatribes can escape what rape means to everyday people. That’s unless you’re like Congressman Todd Akin (R-Mo.) and vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan. Ever since vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan introduced the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,” these odd distinctions between “rape,” “forcible … Continue reading »
