THE OVERTONES sger Timmy Matley has died. Watch him and the band at their happit and most fun discsg beg gay, nghty pictur and their amazg fans our exclive terview.
Contents:
- THE ENDURG QUEER APPEAL OF “LIVG SGLE”OUR HOMEGIRLS HAVE BEEN STAND’ TO OUR LEFT AND OUR RIGHT FOR 25 YEARS. {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}TVBY LTER FABIAN BRATHWAEAUGT 22, 2018/3:45 {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:1800PX;WIDTH:2700PX;}WARNER BROTHERS/URTY EVERETT COLLECTNLIVING SINGLE, ERIKA ALEXANR, QUEEN LATIFAH, KIM FIELDS, KIM COL, 1993-1998, (C) WARNER BROTHERS/URTY EVERETT COLLECTNBY LTER FABIAN BRATHWAEAUGT 22, 2018 / 3:45 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"THE ENDURG QUEER APPEAL OF “LIVG SGLE”","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2018-08-22T19:45:32.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2018-08-22T19:45:32.000+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":"LTER FABIAN BRATHWAE","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{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;}LIVG SGLE PREMIERED ON FOX 25 YEARS AGO TODAY ON AUGT 22, 1993—A TIME WHEN MEDIA PICTNS OF BLACK FOLK WERE MYRIAD AND PLEX. BRIDGG THE GENERATNAL GAP BETWEEN THE COSBY SHOW AND A DIFFERENT WORLD, LIVG SGLE FOLLOWED THE LIV OF SIX TWENTY-SOMETHG PROFSNALS LIVG THEIR BT LIV BROOKLYN: KHADIJAH JAM (QUEEN LATIFAH), THE FOUNR AND EDOR OF URBAN MAG FLAVOR; HER SYNCLAIRE (KIM COL), HER ASSISTANT AND, EVENTUALLY, AN ASPIRG ACTRS; REGE HUNTER (KIM FIELDS), THEIR CHILDHOOD IEND AND ROOMMATE WH A FONDNS FOR WIGS AND WEALTHY MEN; MAXE SHAW (ERIKA ALEXANR), ATTORNEY AT LAW, AND THEIR OMNIPRENT NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR; OVERTON WAKEFIELD JON (JOHN HENTON), THE HANDYMAN OF THE BROWNSTONE WHICH THE WOMEN LIVE AND SYNCLAIRE’S BE; AND HIS ROOMMATE KYLE BARKER (T.C. CARSON), A SUAVE AND SAVVY STOCKBROKER VICTIMIZED BY AN ON-AGA/OFF-AGA ROMANCE WH {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;}TRADNALLY, FEMALE-CENTRIC SS HAVE OFTEN FOUND A HOME AMONG QUEER DIENC (YOUR GOLN GIRLS, YOUR DIGNG WOMENS, YOUR SEX AND THE CYS) BUT LIVG SGLE WAS THE FIRST TIME THOSE WOMEN WERE YOUNG, SGLE, AND BLACK. AND LIKE THOSE OTHER FEMALE-CENTRIC SS, LIVG SGLE’S QUEER APPEAL WENT BEYOND THE NOVELTY OF A GROUP OF SISTERS DOG FOR THEIR GODDAMN SELV, EXTENDG TO THE WAY THEIR CHARACTERS TERACTED WH EACH OTHER AND THE WORLD AROUND THEM. IN THE SE OF LIVG SGLE, S FOUR FEMALE PROTAGONISTS DIDN’T SIMPLY HAVE QUEER SENSIBILI BUT ALSO QUEER-INTIFYG MARKERS THAT, TO QUEER DIENC OF LOR, WERE LIKE MANNA OM HEAVEN '90S TELEVISN’S OTHERWISE ARID SERT OF {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;}TAKE KHADIJAH. QUEEN LATIFAH—LONG ASSOCIATED WH LBIAN EMPOWERMENT, OM “LADI FIRST” TO SET IT OFF TO BSIE—WAS NEVER YOUR TYPIL LEADG LADY. INSTEAD, SHE MA KHADIJAH HER OWN; A TOMBOY MORE AT EASE A BAGGY PAIR OF JEANS AND TIMS THAN A DRS AND HEELS. THAT SHE WAS ROMANTILLY TERTED MEN WASN’T A MAJOR PART OF HER CHARACTER; RATHER, SHE WAS FED BY HER AMBN, AND THE MEN SHE DID DATE HAD TO GET ON HER LEVEL FOR HER TO EVEN FEIGN {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;}DIAMETRILLY OPPOSED TO HER, REGE WAS ULTRA-FEME, TO THE POT OF PARODY. WH HER LLECTN OF WIGS AND OUTSIZE MANNERISMS (“SMOOCH!”) THIS SELF-SCRIBED DIVA CLEARLY FOUND KSHIP WH DRAG QUEENS, WHICH IS WHY SHE WAS THE ONE TO LEAD THE WOMEN TO A GAY BAR THE FOURTH SEASON EPISO, “SWG OUT SISTERS.” I WAS ALWAYS A MIX OF HANT AND EXCED WHENEVER A S VISED A GAY BAR THE ’90S. AS A KID, THIS MEANT THAT I ULD GA ACCS TO A WORLD THAT I HAD YET TO KNOW, BUT WAS THE ’90S, AFTER ALL, AND A GAY BAR ALSO OPENED THE DOORS TO ANY NUMBER OF STEREOTYP AND CHEAP, OFFENSIVE HUMOR. LUCKILY, THIS EPISO IS ONE OF THE BETTER EXAMPL OF THIS PARTICULAR {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;}WANTG TO EXHALE AND CELEBRATE THEIR RPECTIVE SUCCS WHOUT THE FAWNG ATTENTN OF MEN, REGE TAK THE GIRLS TO CLUB NEX, WHERE THEY IMMEDIATELY FD KHADIJAH’S MIC CRIC, RSELL (A LASCIV JAMAIN WH A PERPETUAL EYE FOR REGE) TENDG BAR. “THE FOLKS ARE GREAT TIPPERS,” HE EXPLAS. “ESPECIALLY WHEN I FLASH MY WNG SE.” AFTER MONSTRATG THOSE VICTOR PEARLY WH TO A PATRON, RSELL TAK TO THE DANCEFLOOR WHERE HE IS SURROUND BY ADORG GAY MEN, WHICH, OF URSE, MAK REGE JEALO. IT’S A CUTE BUT PLETELY UNEXPECTED SCENE. GROWG UP A GUYANE HOEHOLD AND AMONG MEN OF WT INDIAN SCENT, I WAS MORE THAN FAIAR WH THEIR AGILE MASCULY AND PERVASIVE HOMOPHOBIA. AT 10 YEARS OLD, TO SEE RSELL (AND I HAVE KNOWN SEVERAL RSELLS MY LIFE) SO OPEN AND EE AMONG ALL THE GAY MEN WAS QUIETLY {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;}ELSEWHERE, THE ALWAYS-OPEN-MD AND BIG-HEARTED SYNCLAIRE FORTS A SAD GAY WHO’S HAVG TROUBLE WH HIS HANDYMAN BOYIEND (SHE N OBVLY RELATE) AND KHADIJAH BREAKS HANK’S RERD ON A BASKETBALL AR MACHE, LEADG TO A SHOOT-OFF. HANK, TURNS OUT, IS A SIX-FOOT-PL BLACK MAN SERVG BANJEE GIRL REALNS. IN AN AGE BEFORE POLILLY-RRECT, AMILLY-RMED LABELS, HANK ULD JT HAVE BEEN A GAG, AND AN EASY TARGET FOR SOME SUAL HOMOPHOBIA, YET HERE AGA, THE SHOW FI {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;}WHEN KHADIJAH WS THE SHOOT-OFF BY POTG OUT A N HANK’S STOCKG, HE PLAS, “THAT’S NOT FAIR,” LEADG KHADIJAH TO RPOND WH AN ACTUAL READ: “WELL NEHER IS THE WAY YOU’RE STRETCHG OUT THAT SKIRT!” THE JOKE ISN’T ABOUT BEG A DRAG QUEEN, AS WOULD OFTEN BE WHEN SULTS FLY OM THE STRAIGHT TO THE QUEER MUNY; STEAD OF BEG, AS DORIAN COREY PUT , “A VIC SLUR FIGHT,” KHADIJAH “FOUND A FLAW AND EXAGGERATED ,” DITG THAT BOTH SHE AND HANK ARE “OF THE SAME THG."{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 EPISO NTU TO PLAY WH GENR A REALLY TERTG WAY WHEN MAX, EVER THE BUTCH, GETS MISTAKEN FOR A MAN. “LISTEN, PAL, I AM A NATURAL BORN WOMAN,” SHE SAYS FIANTLY. “NEVER HAD A JOCKSTRAP. NEVER GOT A PROSTATE EXAM. IN FACT, I’M OVULATG AS WE SPEAK.” HER WOULD-BE SUOR IS DISGTED THAT HE’S BEEN HTG ON A CISGENR WOMAN, PROVG ONCE AGA THAT THE ’90S, GOD BLS ’EM, WERE PROBLEMATIC AF. BUT MAX IS PERHAPS THE MOST TERTGLY QUEER CHARACTER AMONG THE FOUR {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;}IN THE SEASON THREE EPISO, “WOMAN TO WOMAN,” HER RECENTLY ENGAGED LLEGE ROOMMATE SHAYLA (PLAYED BY ERIKA ALEXANR-AKA-PAM’S COSBY SHOW BFF CHARMAE, KAREN MALA WHE) TO VIS. MAX LEARNS THAT NOT ONLY IS SHAYLA A LBIAN AND THAT SHE’S ENGAGED TO A WOMAN (E ON, 1996!) BUT THAT MAX IS BASILLY THE LAST PERSON TO FD OUT, AS SHAYLA ME OUT TO KHADIJAH (AGA, “OF THE SAME THG”) JUNR YEAR. MAX THEN BEGS TO QUTN HER RELATNSHIP WH SHAYLA, NOT BEE SHE’S A LBIAN, BUT BEE SHE WAED SO LONG TO TELL HER; THE REASON, SHAYLA EVENTUALLY EXPLAS, IS THAT SHE WAS LOVE WH MAX: “WHEN WE FIRST MET AT THE DORM AND YOU TRODUCED YOURSELF AS MAX THE MAVERICK, I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF 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;}“BUT YOU KNEW I WAS STRAIGHT RIGHT?” MAX ASKS. “WELL, I DID WONR,” SHAYLA SAYS, CG MAX’S EQUENT SULTS TO AND ABOUT {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;}MAX IS BOTH AVOWED “MAN-HATER” AND MAN-EATER, PLOWG THROUGH BEX OF THE WEEK WH THE SAME KD OF BRAGGADOC NFINCE SAMANTHA JON WOULD LATER EXHIB ON SEX AND THE CY. HER AGGRSIVE SEXUAL APPETE AND HER VERY MASCULE ENERGY WERE TRSIC TO A CHARACTER UNLIKE ANY I HAD SEEN ON TELEVISN UP TO THAT POT: A POWERFUL BLACK WOMAN FULL POSSSN OF HERSELF AND HER BODY WHO SEEMED TO STRADDLE GENRS WH EASE AND AN ENVIABLE {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;}ONCE HER GIRLS POT OUT TO MAX JT HOW MUCH THEIR IENDSHIP OBVLY MATTERED TO SHAYLA, AND MATTERS TO HER STILL, MAX APOLOGIZ TO HER OLD ROOMMATE AND EXPLAS THAT IF SHAYLA HAD E OUT TO HER LLEGE, SHE MAY HAVE “EAKED” BUT SHE AT LEAST WANTED “THE CHANCE TO RISE TO THE OCSN.”{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;}LIVG SGLE ALWAYS CENTERED THE IMPORTANCE OF FEMALE IENDSHIP, PECIALLY BLACK FEMALE IENDSHIP, BUT THIS TIME TOOK CCIAL NSIRATN OF SEXUAL ORIENTATN. IT WOULD BE YEARS BEFORE I SAW THAT KD OF POSIVE AND AFFIRMG REPRENTATN OF QUEER PEOPLE OF LOR, BUT LIVG SGLE WAS DOG AND DOG AND DOG WELL BEFORE NOAH’S ARC, KIMMY SCHMIDT AND DEAR WHE PEOPLE. IN A ’90S (AND A 2018) KD OF WORLD, I’M SO GLAD I HAD MY {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;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
- OVERTON SGER AD: TIMMY MATLEY CLASSIC TERVIEW 'I'M PROUD OF BEG GAY' (WATCH)
THE ENDURG QUEER APPEAL OF “LIVG SGLE”OUR HOMEGIRLS HAVE BEEN STAND’ TO OUR LEFT AND OUR RIGHT FOR 25 YEARS. {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.2 "D BOLD",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NORMAL;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#89308A;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}TVBY LTER FABIAN BRATHWAEAUGT 22, 2018/3:45 {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:1800PX;WIDTH:2700PX;}WARNER BROTHERS/URTY EVERETT COLLECTNLIVING SINGLE, ERIKA ALEXANR, QUEEN LATIFAH, KIM FIELDS, KIM COL, 1993-1998, (C) WARNER BROTHERS/URTY EVERETT COLLECTNBY LTER FABIAN BRATHWAEAUGT 22, 2018 / 3:45 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"THE ENDURG QUEER APPEAL OF “LIVG SGLE”","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2018-08-22T19:45:32.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2018-08-22T19:45:32.000+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":"LTER FABIAN BRATHWAE","ARTICLESECTN":"TV"}{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;}LIVG SGLE PREMIERED ON FOX 25 YEARS AGO TODAY ON AUGT 22, 1993—A TIME WHEN MEDIA PICTNS OF BLACK FOLK WERE MYRIAD AND PLEX. BRIDGG THE GENERATNAL GAP BETWEEN THE COSBY SHOW AND A DIFFERENT WORLD, LIVG SGLE FOLLOWED THE LIV OF SIX TWENTY-SOMETHG PROFSNALS LIVG THEIR BT LIV BROOKLYN: KHADIJAH JAM (QUEEN LATIFAH), THE FOUNR AND EDOR OF URBAN MAG FLAVOR; HER SYNCLAIRE (KIM COL), HER ASSISTANT AND, EVENTUALLY, AN ASPIRG ACTRS; REGE HUNTER (KIM FIELDS), THEIR CHILDHOOD IEND AND ROOMMATE WH A FONDNS FOR WIGS AND WEALTHY MEN; MAXE SHAW (ERIKA ALEXANR), ATTORNEY AT LAW, AND THEIR OMNIPRENT NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR; OVERTON WAKEFIELD JON (JOHN HENTON), THE HANDYMAN OF THE BROWNSTONE WHICH THE WOMEN LIVE AND SYNCLAIRE’S BE; AND HIS ROOMMATE KYLE BARKER (T.C. CARSON), A SUAVE AND SAVVY STOCKBROKER VICTIMIZED BY AN ON-AGA/OFF-AGA ROMANCE WH {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;}TRADNALLY, FEMALE-CENTRIC SS HAVE OFTEN FOUND A HOME AMONG QUEER DIENC (YOUR GOLN GIRLS, YOUR DIGNG WOMENS, YOUR SEX AND THE CYS) BUT LIVG SGLE WAS THE FIRST TIME THOSE WOMEN WERE YOUNG, SGLE, AND BLACK. AND LIKE THOSE OTHER FEMALE-CENTRIC SS, LIVG SGLE’S QUEER APPEAL WENT BEYOND THE NOVELTY OF A GROUP OF SISTERS DOG FOR THEIR GODDAMN SELV, EXTENDG TO THE WAY THEIR CHARACTERS TERACTED WH EACH OTHER AND THE WORLD AROUND THEM. IN THE SE OF LIVG SGLE, S FOUR FEMALE PROTAGONISTS DIDN’T SIMPLY HAVE QUEER SENSIBILI BUT ALSO QUEER-INTIFYG MARKERS THAT, TO QUEER DIENC OF LOR, WERE LIKE MANNA OM HEAVEN '90S TELEVISN’S OTHERWISE ARID SERT OF {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;}TAKE KHADIJAH. QUEEN LATIFAH—LONG ASSOCIATED WH LBIAN EMPOWERMENT, OM “LADI FIRST” TO SET IT OFF TO BSIE—WAS NEVER YOUR TYPIL LEADG LADY. INSTEAD, SHE MA KHADIJAH HER OWN; A TOMBOY MORE AT EASE A BAGGY PAIR OF JEANS AND TIMS THAN A DRS AND HEELS. THAT SHE WAS ROMANTILLY TERTED MEN WASN’T A MAJOR PART OF HER CHARACTER; RATHER, SHE WAS FED BY HER AMBN, AND THE MEN SHE DID DATE HAD TO GET ON HER LEVEL FOR HER TO EVEN FEIGN {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;}DIAMETRILLY OPPOSED TO HER, REGE WAS ULTRA-FEME, TO THE POT OF PARODY. WH HER LLECTN OF WIGS AND OUTSIZE MANNERISMS (“SMOOCH!”) THIS SELF-SCRIBED DIVA CLEARLY FOUND KSHIP WH DRAG QUEENS, WHICH IS WHY SHE WAS THE ONE TO LEAD THE WOMEN TO A GAY BAR THE FOURTH SEASON EPISO, “SWG OUT SISTERS.” I WAS ALWAYS A MIX OF HANT AND EXCED WHENEVER A S VISED A GAY BAR THE ’90S. AS A KID, THIS MEANT THAT I ULD GA ACCS TO A WORLD THAT I HAD YET TO KNOW, BUT WAS THE ’90S, AFTER ALL, AND A GAY BAR ALSO OPENED THE DOORS TO ANY NUMBER OF STEREOTYP AND CHEAP, OFFENSIVE HUMOR. LUCKILY, THIS EPISO IS ONE OF THE BETTER EXAMPL OF THIS PARTICULAR {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;}WANTG TO EXHALE AND CELEBRATE THEIR RPECTIVE SUCCS WHOUT THE FAWNG ATTENTN OF MEN, REGE TAK THE GIRLS TO CLUB NEX, WHERE THEY IMMEDIATELY FD KHADIJAH’S MIC CRIC, RSELL (A LASCIV JAMAIN WH A PERPETUAL EYE FOR REGE) TENDG BAR. “THE FOLKS ARE GREAT TIPPERS,” HE EXPLAS. “ESPECIALLY WHEN I FLASH MY WNG SE.” AFTER MONSTRATG THOSE VICTOR PEARLY WH TO A PATRON, RSELL TAK TO THE DANCEFLOOR WHERE HE IS SURROUND BY ADORG GAY MEN, WHICH, OF URSE, MAK REGE JEALO. IT’S A CUTE BUT PLETELY UNEXPECTED SCENE. GROWG UP A GUYANE HOEHOLD AND AMONG MEN OF WT INDIAN SCENT, I WAS MORE THAN FAIAR WH THEIR AGILE MASCULY AND PERVASIVE HOMOPHOBIA. AT 10 YEARS OLD, TO SEE RSELL (AND I HAVE KNOWN SEVERAL RSELLS MY LIFE) SO OPEN AND EE AMONG ALL THE GAY MEN WAS QUIETLY {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;}ELSEWHERE, THE ALWAYS-OPEN-MD AND BIG-HEARTED SYNCLAIRE FORTS A SAD GAY WHO’S HAVG TROUBLE WH HIS HANDYMAN BOYIEND (SHE N OBVLY RELATE) AND KHADIJAH BREAKS HANK’S RERD ON A BASKETBALL AR MACHE, LEADG TO A SHOOT-OFF. HANK, TURNS OUT, IS A SIX-FOOT-PL BLACK MAN SERVG BANJEE GIRL REALNS. IN AN AGE BEFORE POLILLY-RRECT, AMILLY-RMED LABELS, HANK ULD JT HAVE BEEN A GAG, AND AN EASY TARGET FOR SOME SUAL HOMOPHOBIA, YET HERE AGA, THE SHOW FI {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;}WHEN KHADIJAH WS THE SHOOT-OFF BY POTG OUT A N HANK’S STOCKG, HE PLAS, “THAT’S NOT FAIR,” LEADG KHADIJAH TO RPOND WH AN ACTUAL READ: “WELL NEHER IS THE WAY YOU’RE STRETCHG OUT THAT SKIRT!” THE JOKE ISN’T ABOUT BEG A DRAG QUEEN, AS WOULD OFTEN BE WHEN SULTS FLY OM THE STRAIGHT TO THE QUEER MUNY; STEAD OF BEG, AS DORIAN COREY PUT , “A VIC SLUR FIGHT,” KHADIJAH “FOUND A FLAW AND EXAGGERATED ,” DITG THAT BOTH SHE AND HANK ARE “OF THE SAME THG."{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 EPISO NTU TO PLAY WH GENR A REALLY TERTG WAY WHEN MAX, EVER THE BUTCH, GETS MISTAKEN FOR A MAN. “LISTEN, PAL, I AM A NATURAL BORN WOMAN,” SHE SAYS FIANTLY. “NEVER HAD A JOCKSTRAP. NEVER GOT A PROSTATE EXAM. IN FACT, I’M OVULATG AS WE SPEAK.” HER WOULD-BE SUOR IS DISGTED THAT HE’S BEEN HTG ON A CISGENR WOMAN, PROVG ONCE AGA THAT THE ’90S, GOD BLS ’EM, WERE PROBLEMATIC AF. BUT MAX IS PERHAPS THE MOST TERTGLY QUEER CHARACTER AMONG THE FOUR {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;}IN THE SEASON THREE EPISO, “WOMAN TO WOMAN,” HER RECENTLY ENGAGED LLEGE ROOMMATE SHAYLA (PLAYED BY ERIKA ALEXANR-AKA-PAM’S COSBY SHOW BFF CHARMAE, KAREN MALA WHE) TO VIS. MAX LEARNS THAT NOT ONLY IS SHAYLA A LBIAN AND THAT SHE’S ENGAGED TO A WOMAN (E ON, 1996!) BUT THAT MAX IS BASILLY THE LAST PERSON TO FD OUT, AS SHAYLA ME OUT TO KHADIJAH (AGA, “OF THE SAME THG”) JUNR YEAR. MAX THEN BEGS TO QUTN HER RELATNSHIP WH SHAYLA, NOT BEE SHE’S A LBIAN, BUT BEE SHE WAED SO LONG TO TELL HER; THE REASON, SHAYLA EVENTUALLY EXPLAS, IS THAT SHE WAS LOVE WH MAX: “WHEN WE FIRST MET AT THE DORM AND YOU TRODUCED YOURSELF AS MAX THE MAVERICK, I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO MAKE OF 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;}“BUT YOU KNEW I WAS STRAIGHT RIGHT?” MAX ASKS. “WELL, I DID WONR,” SHAYLA SAYS, CG MAX’S EQUENT SULTS TO AND ABOUT {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;}MAX IS BOTH AVOWED “MAN-HATER” AND MAN-EATER, PLOWG THROUGH BEX OF THE WEEK WH THE SAME KD OF BRAGGADOC NFINCE SAMANTHA JON WOULD LATER EXHIB ON SEX AND THE CY. HER AGGRSIVE SEXUAL APPETE AND HER VERY MASCULE ENERGY WERE TRSIC TO A CHARACTER UNLIKE ANY I HAD SEEN ON TELEVISN UP TO THAT POT: A POWERFUL BLACK WOMAN FULL POSSSN OF HERSELF AND HER BODY WHO SEEMED TO STRADDLE GENRS WH EASE AND AN ENVIABLE {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;}ONCE HER GIRLS POT OUT TO MAX JT HOW MUCH THEIR IENDSHIP OBVLY MATTERED TO SHAYLA, AND MATTERS TO HER STILL, MAX APOLOGIZ TO HER OLD ROOMMATE AND EXPLAS THAT IF SHAYLA HAD E OUT TO HER LLEGE, SHE MAY HAVE “EAKED” BUT SHE AT LEAST WANTED “THE CHANCE TO RISE TO THE OCSN.”{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;}LIVG SGLE ALWAYS CENTERED THE IMPORTANCE OF FEMALE IENDSHIP, PECIALLY BLACK FEMALE IENDSHIP, BUT THIS TIME TOOK CCIAL NSIRATN OF SEXUAL ORIENTATN. IT WOULD BE YEARS BEFORE I SAW THAT KD OF POSIVE AND AFFIRMG REPRENTATN OF QUEER PEOPLE OF LOR, BUT LIVG SGLE WAS DOG AND DOG AND DOG WELL BEFORE NOAH’S ARC, KIMMY SCHMIDT AND DEAR WHE PEOPLE. IN A ’90S (AND A 2018) KD OF WORLD, I’M SO GLAD I HAD MY {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;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
”) this self-scribed diva clearly found kship wh drag queens, which is why she was the one to lead the women to a gay bar the fourth season episo, “Swg Out Sisters. ” I was always a mix of hant and exced whenever a s vised a gay bar the ’90s. As a kid, this meant that I uld ga accs to a world that I had yet to know, but was the ’90s, after all, and a gay bar also opened the doors to any number of stereotyp and cheap, offensive humor.
OVERTON SGER AD: TIMMY MATLEY CLASSIC TERVIEW 'I'M PROUD OF BEG GAY' (WATCH)
” After monstratg those victor pearly wh to a patron, Rsell tak to the dancefloor where he is surround by adorg gay men, which, of urse, mak Rege jealo. Growg up a Guyane hoehold and among men of Wt Indian scent, I was more than faiar wh their agile masculy and pervasive homophobia. At 10 years old, to see Rsell (and I have known several Rsells my life) so open and ee among all the gay men was quietly revolutnary.
Elsewhere, the always-open-md and big-hearted Synclaire forts a sad gay who’s havg trouble wh his handyman boyiend (she n obvly relate) and Khadijah breaks Hank’s rerd on a basketball ar mache, leadg to a shoot-off. In an age before polilly-rrect, amilly-rmed labels, Hank uld jt have been a gag, and an easy target for some sual homophobia, yet here aga, the show fi Khadijah ws the shoot-off by potg out a n Hank’s stockg, he plas, “That’s not fair, ” leadg Khadijah to rpond wh an actual read: “Well neher is the way you’re stretchg out that skirt!