Human Rights Watch wants St. Vcent to repeal gay sex ban | Miami Herald

Contents:

• HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: ANTI-GAY LAWS PROMOTE VLENCE, DISCRIMATN ST. VCENT
• ACTIVISTS NMN VLENCE AGAST LGBTQ MUNY ST. VCENT, WHERE GAY SEX IS ILLEGAL
• GAY SEX IS STILL ILLEGAL THIS CARIBBEAN ISLAND; HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH WANTS BAN REPEALED
• DON'T TELL ME TO MAKE R&B BEE I'M BLACK: GAY SGER VCT ON CARVG A PATH POP"SCE I WAS LIKE FIVE, I LISTENED TO CELE DN 'TIL I ULDN'T ANYMORE."BY PHILLIP HENRYNOVEMBER 29, 2018/9:50 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:2882PX;WIDTH:4324PX;}TOMMASO BODDI/GETTY IMAG FOR GLAADHOLLYWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 17: VINCINT PERFORMS ONSTAGE AT JT TRANTER AND GLAAD PRENT 'BEYOND' SPIR DAY CONCERT AT THE SAYERS CLUB ON OCTOBER 17, 2018 HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA. (PHOTO BY TOMMASO BODDI/GETTY IMAG FOR GLAAD)BY PHILLIP HENRYNOVEMBER 29, 2018 / 9:50 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"DON'T TELL ME TO MAKE R&B BEE I'M BLACK: GAY SGER VCT ON CARVG A PATH POP","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2018-11-29T14:50:16.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2018-11-29T14:50:16.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"PHILLIP HENRY"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"GO FOR . YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOG TO HAPPEN UNLS YOU GIVE YOUR ALL. IF YOU TRY AND YOU FAIL, THAT'S FE, BUT DON'T LET OPPORTUNI SLIP AWAY BEE YOU'RE AAID THAT MAY NOT WORK OUT." WORDS TO LIVE BY OM SGER-SONGWRER VCT WHOSE LATT SONG, "ME," IS ABOUT JT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE VOL POWERHOE MA HIS WAY TO THE NATNAL STAGE WHEN HE BEME A FALIST ON THE FOUR, AFTER LEAVG AMERIN IDOL DURG HOLLYWOOD WEEK TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNY. A YEAR LATER, THE POP SGER HAS STEPPED OUT AND RELEASED SOME IMPRSIVE BOPS OF HIS OWN THAT NTUE TO WOW HIS GROWG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BLACK AND OPENLY GAY, VCT IS CREATG AND MAKG SPACE FOR HIMSELF AND OTHERS SPAC HE WOULD OTHERWISE BE NIED OR TOLD HE ULDN'T SUCCEED . A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WH, VCT DON'T FD HIMSELF HIBED BY WHAT OTHERS BELIEVE HE N'T OR SHOULDN’T DO. THE SGER SAT DOWN WH NEWNOWNEXT TO TALK ABOUT HIS SONGWRG, AMBNS, AND HIS PLANS FOR THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"ME" IS AN ABSOLUTE BOP. WHERE DID YOU DRAW THE SPIRATN OM?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE WASN'T A PERSON PARTICULAR. I HAVE JT NOTICED THAT TIME AND TIME AGA THROUGH IENDS THAT THEY SORT OF LET OPPORTUNI THAT VOLVE BEG LOVE AND BEG WH SOMEONE SLIP AWAY OM THEM OUT OF FEAR BY NOT GOG FOR . I WANTED TO PUT THAT SONG FOR WHERE I N SAY: "OKAY, DON’T LET THAT PERSON WALK AWAY BEE THE TIMG MAY BE BAD OR YOU MAY BE REJECTED. JT TELL THEM THAT YOU WANT THEM TO BE YOURS AND THAT'S ."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}YOU WRE ALL YOUR OWN SONGS. DO YOU ALWAYS WRE OM A PLACE THAT'S OBSERVATNAL OR TROSPECTIVE? MAYBE BOTH?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I THK 'S VERY MUCH A B OF BOTH. I N'T WRE A SONG THAT I N'T RELATE TO. I'VE HAD MOMENTS MY LIFE WHERE "ME" FELY RELAT TO ME, BUT I'M SO OBSERVATNAL WH MY IENDS AND PEOPLE AROUND ME THAT I TAKE A LOT OF WHAT I SEE AND E THAT. MY IENDS PROBABLY DON'T LOVE THAT SO MUCH, BEE I'M WRG ABOUT THEIR LIV, BUT 'S NEVER ROGATORY. IT'S ALWAYS A POSIVE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS A SONGWRER, WHAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU HEARD SONGWRG THAT REALLY WOWED YOU?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT HAD TO BE WHEN I HEARD THE SONG "WHEN IT DON’T COME EASY" BY PATTY GRIFF. IT'S ONE OF THE MOST BETIFUL LOVE SONGS. SHE TALKS ABOUT HOW WHEN EVERYTHG ELSE DON'T SEEM LIKE 'S WORKG OUT, I WILL BE THERE. I THOUGHT WAS ONE OF THE MOST ELEGANT WAYS TO SAY "I LOVE YOU AND WON'T GIVE UP ON YOU." IT WILL MAKE YOU CRY. BRACE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HAVE YOU ALWAYS FELT FORTABLE WRG MIC THAT IS PLETELY EXPRSIVE OF YOUR SEXUALY AND WHO YOU ARE?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALWAYS. THE THG ABOUT ME IS, THAT I'M A LTLE STRANGE THE SENSE THAT NEVER DAWNED ON ME THAT WHO I WAS OR THAT BEG AN OUTSIR WAS STRANGE. I JT THOUGHT WHO I WAS WAS FE. OF URSE WE ALL LIVE A WORLD WHERE WE ARE NSTANTLY BEG TOLD THAT WHO WE ARE IS WRONG AND THE WAY WE LIVE IS BAD. I JT BSH OFF MY SHOULR BEE I THK 'S BULLSH. I DON'T WANT TO LET OTHER PEOPLE'S OPNS OF WHO I AM AND THE WAY I LIVE MY LIFE TO DISPT WHAT I DO AND THE WAY THAT I CREATE MY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS FAR AS CREATIVY GO AND CREATG ART WAYS THAT PEOPLE WOULD SAY ISN’T FOR YOU, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT OTHER PEOPLE TERTED TO KNOW?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I WOULD WANT TO SAY TO ANYONE AND PECIALLY YOUNGER QUEER BLACK BOYS WHO WANT TO BE POP STARS, YOU N WRE WHATEVER YOU WANT TO. IT DON'T MATTER WHAT YOUR SK LOR IS OR WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE. YOU N MAKE WHATEVER YOU WANT TO. THERE’S NO BOX. YOU DON’T NEED TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE TELLG YOU OTHERWISE. YOU'LL SLEEP BETTER LIVG THAT WAY, AND PEOPLE WILL RPECT YOU FOR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHAT GIFT HAS LIVG THAT WAY GIVEN YOU?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT'S GIVEN ME EEDOM. IT HAS GIVEN ME THE OPPORTUNY TO BE HONT WH MYSELF AND TO DO WHAT I LIKE. I WAS TOLD FOR THE LONGT TIME THAT I HAD TO MAKE R&B MIC BEE I’M BLACK. AND I WAS LIKE, "I DON'T LIKE R&B, I DON'T WANNA MAKE R&B. I WANNA MAKE POP MIC." SCE I WAS LIKE FIVE, I LISTENED TO CELE DN 'TIL I ULDN'T ANYMORE. I LISTENED TO ROBYN AND MADONNA AND BJORK. THAT'S WHO I LOVE TO LISTEN TO AND, FOR ME, GAVE ME SUCH A EEDOM TO UNRSTAND WHAT I WANTED AND WHO I WANTED TO BE. AS LONG AS WAS THENTIC, THAT'S ALL THAT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT GAVE ME NFINCE, LIKE BODY ARMOR, TO NAVIGATE THE [LGBTQ] MUNY. BEG BLACK AND GAY, WE'RE LIKE A SUB-LEVEL OF THE MUNY, BUT WHAT I UNRSTAND IS THAT I DON’T HAVE TO FEEL THAT WAY JT BEE PEOPLE TRY AND TREAT ME THAT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;} I LOVE A NO-NONSENSE GIRL. WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}RIGHT NOW, I'M RERDG MY EP. IT'S SCHLED TO E OUT FEBARY. I'VE ALREADY RERD ABOUT 19 SONGS, SO SOME CUTS ARE GONNA NEED TO BE MA. I'M VERY EXCED. WE'RE DOG THE EP, VIOS, AND THE WHOLE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
• STONEWALL 1979: GAYS HOLLYWOOD
• VCENT GAY
• DIJON GAY SNAS

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: ANTI-GAY LAWS PROMOTE VLENCE, DISCRIMATN ST. VCENT

Vcent to overturn anti-gay laws om the lonial era that have led to a recent wave of vlence and genr discrimatn on the small Caribbean island. Homosexualy ntu to be crimalized the former Brish lony after many hundreds of years, leavg LGBTQ dividuals wh ltle if any legal protectns while vlent crim were beg mted wh impuny, the report said. Standg crimal s on the island put nsensual gay sex the same tegory as crim like rape, ct, and sexual asslt, although there have been no recent nvictns unr the law.

Gay people have been targeted by fay members, neighbors, -workers, classmat and teachers -- as well as police officers, the report said. Many of the terviewe said job hirgs and firgs were beg largely termed by sexual orientatn, while other gay people lucky to have jobs faced sexual harassment the workplace.

"The crimalizatn of gay sex giv tac state sanctn to the discrimatn and vlence that LGBT people experience their daily liv and pels many to look abroad to live eely and fulfill their dreams, " said Cristian González Cabrera, gay rights rearcher at Human Rights Watch. Six other Wtern natns -- cludg Domi, Grenada, Guyana, Jamai, and Sat Lucia -- ntue to crimalize gay sex, wh penalti as weighty as a prison for "gross cency wh another person of the same sex. Vcent and the Grenad, where gay sex is still homelsns to ongog physil and verbal abe, the gay muny the small natn of some 100, 000 people says is unr nstant threat.

ACTIVISTS NMN VLENCE AGAST LGBTQ MUNY ST. VCENT, WHERE GAY SEX IS ILLEGAL

Vcent, anal sex is punishable by up to 10 years prison, while “gross cency” wh another person of the same sex is punishable by up to five years, acrdg to lonial-era laws that are mon the socially nservative Caribbean rarely voked, the rights group and a lol activist said the laws help legimize hostily and abe agast gay people.

”Human Rights Watch terviewed more than 20 members of the island’s LGBTQ muny who shared their stori but were not intified to protect them, notg that lol police are often openly discrimatory toward gay people who seek help. Several reported that their fai are homophobic and physilly and verbally abed them, g them to bee homels and promptg some to nsir also stggle to fd jobs amid a high unemployment rate and said they face discrimatn, cludg a 19-year-old gay man who said he has rorted to beggg: “Sometim I am so hungry.

GAY SEX IS STILL ILLEGAL THIS CARIBBEAN ISLAND; HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH WANTS BAN REPEALED

”González wh Human Rights Watch noted that 2019, the ernment held a workshop for public employe on the importance of rpectg gay rights, a rare move for a nservative Caribbean natn. Several reported that their fai are homophobic and physilly and verbally abed them, g them to bee homels and promptg some to nsir suici. Many also stggle to fd jobs amid a high unemployment rate and said they face discrimatn, cludg a 19-year-old gay man who said he has rorted to beggg: “Sometim I am so hungry.

Vcent and the Grenad is known for s volnic terra, spectacular ral reefs and yacht-filled the ty Eastern Caribbean untry loted the Lser Antill also has a dub reputatn when to the treatment of lbian, gay, bisexual and transgenr people: Its lonial-era gay sex ban.

DON'T TELL ME TO MAKE R&B BEE I'M BLACK: GAY SGER VCT ON CARVG A PATH POP"SCE I WAS LIKE FIVE, I LISTENED TO CELE DN 'TIL I ULDN'T ANYMORE."BY PHILLIP HENRYNOVEMBER 29, 2018/9:50 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:2882PX;WIDTH:4324PX;}TOMMASO BODDI/GETTY IMAG FOR GLAADHOLLYWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 17: VINCINT PERFORMS ONSTAGE AT JT TRANTER AND GLAAD PRENT 'BEYOND' SPIR DAY CONCERT AT THE SAYERS CLUB ON OCTOBER 17, 2018 HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA. (PHOTO BY TOMMASO BODDI/GETTY IMAG FOR GLAAD)BY PHILLIP HENRYNOVEMBER 29, 2018 / 9:50 AM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"DON'T TELL ME TO MAKE R&B BEE I'M BLACK: GAY SGER VCT ON CARVG A PATH POP","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2018-11-29T14:50:16.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2018-11-29T14:50:16.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"LOGO TV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"LOGO TV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT"}},"CREATOR":"PHILLIP HENRY"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"GO FOR . YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOG TO HAPPEN UNLS YOU GIVE YOUR ALL. IF YOU TRY AND YOU FAIL, THAT'S FE, BUT DON'T LET OPPORTUNI SLIP AWAY BEE YOU'RE AAID THAT MAY NOT WORK OUT." WORDS TO LIVE BY OM SGER-SONGWRER VCT WHOSE LATT SONG, "ME," IS ABOUT JT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE VOL POWERHOE MA HIS WAY TO THE NATNAL STAGE WHEN HE BEME A FALIST ON THE FOUR, AFTER LEAVG AMERIN IDOL DURG HOLLYWOOD WEEK TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNY. A YEAR LATER, THE POP SGER HAS STEPPED OUT AND RELEASED SOME IMPRSIVE BOPS OF HIS OWN THAT NTUE TO WOW HIS GROWG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BLACK AND OPENLY GAY, VCT IS CREATG AND MAKG SPACE FOR HIMSELF AND OTHERS SPAC HE WOULD OTHERWISE BE NIED OR TOLD HE ULDN'T SUCCEED . A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WH, VCT DON'T FD HIMSELF HIBED BY WHAT OTHERS BELIEVE HE N'T OR SHOULDN’T DO. THE SGER SAT DOWN WH NEWNOWNEXT TO TALK ABOUT HIS SONGWRG, AMBNS, AND HIS PLANS FOR THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}"ME" IS AN ABSOLUTE BOP. WHERE DID YOU DRAW THE SPIRATN OM?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE WASN'T A PERSON PARTICULAR. I HAVE JT NOTICED THAT TIME AND TIME AGA THROUGH IENDS THAT THEY SORT OF LET OPPORTUNI THAT VOLVE BEG LOVE AND BEG WH SOMEONE SLIP AWAY OM THEM OUT OF FEAR BY NOT GOG FOR . I WANTED TO PUT THAT SONG FOR WHERE I N SAY: "OKAY, DON’T LET THAT PERSON WALK AWAY BEE THE TIMG MAY BE BAD OR YOU MAY BE REJECTED. JT TELL THEM THAT YOU WANT THEM TO BE YOURS AND THAT'S ."{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}YOU WRE ALL YOUR OWN SONGS. DO YOU ALWAYS WRE OM A PLACE THAT'S OBSERVATNAL OR TROSPECTIVE? MAYBE BOTH?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I THK 'S VERY MUCH A B OF BOTH. I N'T WRE A SONG THAT I N'T RELATE TO. I'VE HAD MOMENTS MY LIFE WHERE "ME" FELY RELAT TO ME, BUT I'M SO OBSERVATNAL WH MY IENDS AND PEOPLE AROUND ME THAT I TAKE A LOT OF WHAT I SEE AND E THAT. MY IENDS PROBABLY DON'T LOVE THAT SO MUCH, BEE I'M WRG ABOUT THEIR LIV, BUT 'S NEVER ROGATORY. IT'S ALWAYS A POSIVE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS A SONGWRER, WHAT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT YOU HEARD SONGWRG THAT REALLY WOWED YOU?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT HAD TO BE WHEN I HEARD THE SONG "WHEN IT DON’T COME EASY" BY PATTY GRIFF. IT'S ONE OF THE MOST BETIFUL LOVE SONGS. SHE TALKS ABOUT HOW WHEN EVERYTHG ELSE DON'T SEEM LIKE 'S WORKG OUT, I WILL BE THERE. I THOUGHT WAS ONE OF THE MOST ELEGANT WAYS TO SAY "I LOVE YOU AND WON'T GIVE UP ON YOU." IT WILL MAKE YOU CRY. BRACE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HAVE YOU ALWAYS FELT FORTABLE WRG MIC THAT IS PLETELY EXPRSIVE OF YOUR SEXUALY AND WHO YOU ARE?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ALWAYS. THE THG ABOUT ME IS, THAT I'M A LTLE STRANGE THE SENSE THAT NEVER DAWNED ON ME THAT WHO I WAS OR THAT BEG AN OUTSIR WAS STRANGE. I JT THOUGHT WHO I WAS WAS FE. OF URSE WE ALL LIVE A WORLD WHERE WE ARE NSTANTLY BEG TOLD THAT WHO WE ARE IS WRONG AND THE WAY WE LIVE IS BAD. I JT BSH OFF MY SHOULR BEE I THK 'S BULLSH. I DON'T WANT TO LET OTHER PEOPLE'S OPNS OF WHO I AM AND THE WAY I LIVE MY LIFE TO DISPT WHAT I DO AND THE WAY THAT I CREATE MY {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS FAR AS CREATIVY GO AND CREATG ART WAYS THAT PEOPLE WOULD SAY ISN’T FOR YOU, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT OTHER PEOPLE TERTED TO KNOW?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}I WOULD WANT TO SAY TO ANYONE AND PECIALLY YOUNGER QUEER BLACK BOYS WHO WANT TO BE POP STARS, YOU N WRE WHATEVER YOU WANT TO. IT DON'T MATTER WHAT YOUR SK LOR IS OR WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE. YOU N MAKE WHATEVER YOU WANT TO. THERE’S NO BOX. YOU DON’T NEED TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE TELLG YOU OTHERWISE. YOU'LL SLEEP BETTER LIVG THAT WAY, AND PEOPLE WILL RPECT YOU FOR {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;POSN:RELATIVE;PADDG-BOTTOM:56.49999999999999%;} .TWTER-TWEET-RENRED, {M-WIDTH:65%;WIDTH:TO !IMPORTANT;} {WIDTH:100%;} {MARG-LEFT:TO !IMPORTANT;MARG-RIGHT:TO !IMPORTANT;} IMG{MAX-WIDTH:100%;WIDTH:100%;} > IAME{BORR:NONE;MAX-WIDTH:100%;} > *{MAX-WIDTH:NONE !IMPORTANT;POSN:ABSOLUTE;HEIGHT:100% !IMPORTANT;WIDTH:100% !IMPORTANT;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}WHAT GIFT HAS LIVG THAT WAY GIVEN YOU?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT'S GIVEN ME EEDOM. IT HAS GIVEN ME THE OPPORTUNY TO BE HONT WH MYSELF AND TO DO WHAT I LIKE. I WAS TOLD FOR THE LONGT TIME THAT I HAD TO MAKE R&B MIC BEE I’M BLACK. AND I WAS LIKE, "I DON'T LIKE R&B, I DON'T WANNA MAKE R&B. I WANNA MAKE POP MIC." SCE I WAS LIKE FIVE, I LISTENED TO CELE DN 'TIL I ULDN'T ANYMORE. I LISTENED TO ROBYN AND MADONNA AND BJORK. THAT'S WHO I LOVE TO LISTEN TO AND, FOR ME, GAVE ME SUCH A EEDOM TO UNRSTAND WHAT I WANTED AND WHO I WANTED TO BE. AS LONG AS WAS THENTIC, THAT'S ALL THAT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}IT GAVE ME NFINCE, LIKE BODY ARMOR, TO NAVIGATE THE [LGBTQ] MUNY. BEG BLACK AND GAY, WE'RE LIKE A SUB-LEVEL OF THE MUNY, BUT WHAT I UNRSTAND IS THAT I DON’T HAVE TO FEEL THAT WAY JT BEE PEOPLE TRY AND TREAT ME THAT {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;} I LOVE A NO-NONSENSE GIRL. WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOU?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#354A4E;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}RIGHT NOW, I'M RERDG MY EP. IT'S SCHLED TO E OUT FEBARY. I'VE ALREADY RERD ABOUT 19 SONGS, SO SOME CUTS ARE GONNA NEED TO BE MA. I'M VERY EXCED. WE'RE DOG THE EP, VIOS, AND THE WHOLE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

“The laws sgle out nsensual gay sex the ‘sexual offens’ sectn of the crimal that is otherwise rerved for crim like rape, ct and sexual asslt, ” the report said.

Vcent and the Grenad, the level of homophobia the untry and ntued effect of s archaic law on rights of LGBT dividuals warranted report’s release while there is currently a trial si St. Vcent and the Grenad should repeal the gay-sex provisns s crimal and pass prehensive civil anti-discrimatn legislatn that clus protectns based on sexual orientatn and genr inty. “Every LGBT person terviewed said they wished to leave the untry and envisned their future abroad due, part, to the homophobic or transphobic vlence and discrimatn the untry, ” the report said.

González said the crimalizatn of gay sex giv “tac state sanctn to the discrimatn and vlence that LGBT people experience their daily liv and pels many to look abroad to live eely and fulfill their dreams.

STONEWALL 1979: GAYS HOLLYWOOD

A year later, the pop sger has stepped out and released some imprsive bops of his own that ntue to wow his growg and openly gay, Vct is creatg and makg space for himself and others spac he would otherwise be nied or told he uldn't succeed . Beg black and gay, we're like a sub-level of the muny, but what I unrstand is that I don’t have to feel that way jt bee people try and treat me that way. (New York) – Lbian, gay, bisexual, and transgenr (LGBT) people Sat Vcent and the Grenad face bias-motivated vlence and discrimatn their daily life, Human Rights Watch said a report released today.

VCENT GAY

“The crimalizatn of gay sex giv tac state sanctn to the discrimatn and vlence that LGBT people experience their daily liv and pels many to look abroad to live eely and fulfill their dreams, ” said Cristian González Cabrera, LGBT rights rearcher at Human Rights Watch. The laws sgle out nsensual gay sex the “sexual offenc” sectn of the crimal that is otherwise rerved for crim like rape, ct, and sexual asslt. While there have been no recent reported nvictns on the basis of the crimal provisns for nsensual gay sex, the laws stigmatize LGBT people and create an obstacle to full equaly.

Some said that fay rejectn was often uched moralistic terms, echog the homophobic rhetoric preached some church, which are a rnerstone of social life and shape social attus Sat Vcent and the Grenad. Every LGBT person terviewed said they wished to leave the untry and envisned their future abroad due, part, to the homophobic or transphobic vlence and discrimatn the untry.

It was the year of The Boys the Band, the culmatn of a which Hollywood seized upon homosexualy as a seamier si of the Amerin dream. Homosexuals were prime spects The Boston Strangler, rapists Rt, and hairdrsers or queens No Way to Treat a Lady and Valley of the Dolls. ” The ethic of the closet is also advanced The Boys the Band, which cid neatly wh the birth of the activist gay movement Ameri.

DIJON GAY SNAS

Durg the ’70s, gays died vlent aths Diamonds Are Forever, The Day of the Jackal, Freebie and the Bean, The Eiger Sanctn, Swashbuckler and even Tfft’s Day for Night. The story of a mother who mt e to terms wh her son’s homosexualy “was turned down by all the major studs wh enormo promptns, ” acrdg to the thor.

When Perry Kg was about to accept the role of a gay man A Different Story, he was warned by his iend Sylvter Stallone, “Don’t play no faggots.