The & Show: South Africa here we come!

------- Episode 14 - The Operation

The & Show: Black Women & Gay Men

------- Episode 13 Can you fix it?

The & Show: He BIT me!

------- Episode 12 - Meet BOYE

The & Show: DJ from da doo-dirty show

------- Episode 11 - Gurl's Magic Mirror

The & Show: Faggot, HOMO, b*tch, sissy

It's time for a Spring Fling!

Can you believe it? Spring is finally here! The weather still hasn't quite settled on a temperature but we made it through another winter. As the weather warms up people are itching to get out and show off those bodies that they've worked on all winter. There are new outfits to be shown off. What will this spring's look be?

One thing I love about the springtime is a good party. There are quite a few parties going on this month. Naturally you cannot miss New York City's BEST Tuesday night party OCEAN at SPLASH. On April 8th, come to MARS: The Invasion at Webster Hall. Our last party was crazy! Don't miss it!

The year is only 4 months old, but it's been great! Actually it's been pretty flawless from my perspective. Speaking of FLAWLESS, April's model, Pharon Ford lures you with his sultry eyes, and welcomes you to his playground. Get out there and have a Spring Fling! Declare this your season to find your partner. Share your summer with someone and have a blast!

In this issue check out Jonathan Perry. I caught up with Jonathan online where we had a candid conversation. Also, check out The & Show, if you haven't then where have you been? We are on YouTube every Monday so don't miss another episode. If you have ever had a secret and everyone has secrets, then you will enjoy Confessions with Erika J. Kendrick. Meet her this Wednesday at the N Store in Harlem. Check out J. Dot's EXCLUSIVE with Erika below.

Black gay magazines, do we need more than one or could one serve us all? Find out how The Shadow feels about it. Lastly, if you like comic strips then you have to check out my latest project, Larger than Life. This comic strip had been bottled up inside me for almost 2 years. I finally decided to release it to the universe and share it with you. I hope it keeps you laughing. Tell a friend about it, there are not very many African American comic strips so this could be something pretty big with a good dose of support from you. So feel free to forward the website to your friends so that they too can enjoy a laugh or two.

interview with Jonathan Perry

The 7 Magazine: Good Morning Mr. Perry. How are you today?
Jonathan: I am well and yourself?
The 7 Magazine: I’m doing great! It's a lovely day here in New York City, I can't complain. Just putting the finishing touches on the APRIL issue of 7.
Jonathan: That's definitely what's up. I like your magazine a lot. I use some of your pictures and photos as my wall paper sometimes.
The 7 Magazine: So, where are you right now? Are you in Atlanta or is your laptop plugged into an outlet in another city, I know you travel doing speaking engagements.
Jonathan: Well, lucky for me I am at home in the safety of my own room. I am lying at the foot of my bed watching the History channel, drinking soy milk looking out my window and chatting with you. My windows are open and the pollinated breeze is blowing in my room. In two weeks I will be doing a talk at East Carolina University in Greenville NC. I am excited because it is 45 minutes from my home town (Goldsboro NC) and my granny will be there and a close friend of mine from California will be there...so I am looking forward to it. I will be talking about "our best hope." Which is a non-profit I am starting whose sole focus is to restore to our Black community...I will also be sharing bits of my life with them.
The 7 Magazine: So you are taking on being a leader in the Black community (brave man). How does one go about restoring the Black community? What's missing?
Jonathan: Restoring hope will take time but it is certainly possible. I realize that it has to start somewhere, so why not with me. I cleave to the words of nelson Mandela, "As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others!” That's where I start. http://Jonathan.com/journal/2007/3/29/you-saved-my-life.html
The 7 Magazine: So let's talk about South Africa... I hear you are going in September.
Jonathan: YEAH, let's do that. I wonder where you heard that...lol. We wouldn't be going together would we?
The 7 Magazine: Well I guess the cat is out of the bag now. Yes Jared & I were talking one day and decided that we would take on south Africa for 3 weeks in September. I did a volunteer program in Brazil through an organization called Cross Cultural Solutions (www.crossculturalsolutions.org) 2 years ago and it was the most life changing experience for me so now it's on to the Motherland.
Jonathan: I know. Then Jared asked me to come...I got so excited I almost did a grown up thing in my pants...lol
The 7 Magazine: This trip is very important to me. I was watching the Oprah special about her leadership academy and it was confirmed for me that I needed to go there and do it THIS YEAR.
The 7 Magazine: Jared said you would be perfect for this project. I figured I would bypass the Gay Pride events hosted in other cities and save my money to do something that will actually make a difference.
Jonathan: I wanted to go with her to Africa when she went last year.
Jonathan: I don't do "prides" so much.
The 7 Magazine: Well once you've done one you've done the others, honestly. I guess after years of going I just don't feel it anymore. I would love to inspire at least 10 other people to go on this trip with us. I think it would be one life changing experience. That's PRIDE to me.
Jonathan: I agree, they all do the same thing...and I got better things to do...like sleep.
The 7 Magazine: What would you like to accomplish from taking this voyage to the Motherland?
Jonathan: I think we can inspire 10 people to go with us. I am so excited. I am a sponge man...I want to soak up everything I can and leave them with the best part of me. I am going to bring something back to the US that will continue to inspire others to be better and do better than they have done in the past.
The 7 Magazine: I had a dream that this trip made us all famous and we all ended up getting to do some really cool stuff. Is fame something that you see in your future?
Jonathan: Well, I am already pretty well known thanks to Oprah, Advocate, OUT, CNN, ABC, CBS, and justbthat.com. I think I would like less to be famous and more to be remembered when I am gone...the legacy that I want to leave behind is HOPE.
The 7 Magazine: Well continue being the leader that you are and I’m pretty sure you will get what you wish for. I like having positive movers and shakers around me. it keeps me on my toes and striving for what I want to achieve in life.
The 7 Magazine: Is there someone special that you are able to share your joys and victories as well as your not so good moments with?
Jonathan: At the moment I am as single as a dollar bill. I have been single for nearly 5 yrs now. I have dated but currently I am not dating or seeing anyone... it gets lonely but hey...I'm still here...
Jonathan: I would love to meet someone who is not intimidated by me and who will love me beyond my past. Someone who will love me in spite of how I got to where I am right now. I want someone to hold me and hear me, honored and respected.

The 7 Magazine: How important is it for someone to know how you got to where you? do you feel that you are constantly having to explain yourself to people you date?
Jonathan: I think it is important, because there may be times when others throw your past back at you. No I do not feel like I have to explain myself to the people I date. Everyone comes with a past and I only feel obligated to divulge aspects of past when I feel it may impact us having a future.
The 7 Magazine: So do you have plans to visit the Big Apple anytime soon?
Jonathan: I love NY but I don't have any plans on coming there until I have to catch my flight with you guys to leave for South Africa.
The 7 Magazine: Well I will definitely see you online. Ciao for now!

an EXCLUSIVE with Erika J. Kendrick

Confessions of a Rookie Who? Another super-head tell-all book? NOOOO!!! The newest book to hit the literary scene that's creating such a huge buzz is called "Confessions of a Rookie Cheerleader" written by NABFEME President, Erika J. Kendrick. She's that sweet, saucy and curvaceous chick that's about to take over New York and the rest of the world.

Erika J. Kendrick, a Chicago native, rocks out in the middle of Manhattan with her Himalayan hottie, Cody. She graduated from Stanford University with a BA in Psych and after a few bouts of indentured servitude at Ogilvy PR Worldwide and J Records, Erika completed her MBA and escaped to New York City. She snagged both her luggage and a coveted gig (read: “…and you’ll be sharing office space with the warm sodas in the utility closet…”) at the ultra-chic record label, Island Def Jam.

Kendrick quickly took a first class flight out of her minstrel mind, clicked her Henri Bendel heels three times, and stubbornly left the music game behind. She switched stilettos and hopped on a publishing plane after inking a 2-book deal in the reputable Random House literary game. Her first born, CONFESSIONS OF A ROOKIE CHEERLEADER: A NOVEL, dropped on February 27th, the second, APPETITE, in ’08, following cleverly close behind. Erika felt that after cheering with the Chicago Bulls’ Luva-Bulls… well, to not dish would just be irresponsibly insane!

In addition to working on her second sneak peak read, Kendrick is currently hosting GIRLTALK: WHERE DIVAS DISH, a weekly online radio show at www.newradiohits.com and is the resident host of WOMEN WHO JAM, a monthly music showcase at Ashford & Simpson’s Sugar Bar in New York City.

Kendrick is the President of Erika Benjamin Inc. and the President of the New York chapter of NABFEME - the National Association of Black Female Executives in Music and Entertainment (NABFEME.org). Erika is a member of the Stanford Alumni Association, the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Black MBA Association and a recipient of several “Who’s Who” honors. And proudly, her heart perpetually pumps to the oh-so-fabuloso crimson-and-cream stomps of Delta Sigma Theta!

CONFESSIONS OF A ROOKIE CHEERLEADER is in bookstores nationwide!! The book has received rave reviews from Upscale, Black Beat, Ebony and even the DYME WHO BRINGS THE HEAT, Wendy Williams, loved the book so much that she chose Confessions of a Rookie Cheerleader to be the March Book Club Pick of the Month! While on the second leg of her book tour, Erika recently stopped by the Wendy Williams Experience for a quick and straight to the point interview with Wendy. Missed the interview? You can check it out here: www.myspace.com/jdotpr

Pick up your copy of “Confessions of a Rookie Cheerleader” right now! And don’t forget to check out Erika’s blog, “E-Listed with Erika,” on her site where she can also be contacted at www.erikakendrick.com or through her publicist, J Dot., at jdotpr@gmail.com.

FLAWLESS - April 2007 - Pharon Ford

1. Tell me a bit about you. where are you from? Do you have siblings? What is your relationship like with your family? Well, I grew up in Newark, NJ. I am the middle child between an older brother and a little sister. Though I am the middle child, my mom would always make me feel special by calling me her baby boy. My relationship with my family is very interesting because it had to evolve to its current state of unconditional love, support, and understanding. It's taken some time but it's a process and I love them so much and so grateful that we have grown because so many people don't get to the place where they have that love as a family.

2. What is your favorite season? My favorite season is SPRING!!!! Spring for me is like coming out of hibernation. I get to feel the sun on my skin, the layers of clothes come off one by one, everything is being restored and the temperature is perfect for.... you know....

3. I understand that you are into singing. Tell me what thrills you about being on stage? Being on stage is a chance to command attention and get people to hear what it is you have to share with them. The whole thing for me is about conveying the magnitude of passion that is deep inside my soul, passion that I have to get out. I love to share that art of me and connect with people that way.

4. What are your favorite cartoons? The cartoons that I love are more adult like and funny as HELL!! I love Family Guy and King of the Hill. I can sit at home with a whole plate of food and laugh my ass off.

5. What are your future goals and aspirations? Wow, well I have some pretty lofty goals. I definitely am working on my art and establishing myself as an artist right now. It is extremely important to me to create a life that reflects my visions. I have always in my heart of hearts wanted to perform. That is what I have been working on and will continue to work on because I love it. It is my passion. I have always longed to see the world and experience the different cultures and beautiful countries. In the future, I really want to have a family. I don't know exactly how that is going to happen or what it would look like but I imagine it would include my spouse, kids, animals, and my closest friends.

6. Are you an eligible bachelor? What type of person are you looking to be with? Yes, I am an eligible bachelor!!! I can't say there's a type because I don't really have a type in my mind. I just try to be open and take it from there. What I do know is that they are a very special person who is unconventional and has unorthodox views, definitely with their own mind. I want a person who loves me unconditionally, and who has a really good heart and understands me.

7. If you had to choose between flying to the moon or deep sea diving which would you choose and why? That's hard because I love both!!!! But if I had to choose I would say the Moon. I love the night. And the moon just seems so peaceful but with a lot of mystical qualities to it. I like the view from the top of things or high above them so being on the moon would allow me to look down on the earth and see it from a totally different perspective.

The SHADOW: On Black Gay Magazines

recently, i've been introduced to a few different magazines targeted to the urban gay community- UNeQ, bleu and clik. after browsing through them all, i concluded that, in this case, art really does imitate life. what i mean by this is that when one takes a close look at the black gay community (at least here in new york - and, this could very well be just my opinion), he or she finds a consistent amount of shade, and an even larger amount of competition. as a community, we have not yet gotten to the point of being able to support one another and truly help each other out without asking first, "what's in it for me…"

all of the aforementioned magazines have everything in common with the exception of one thing- their names (i'll get to that later). the look and feel may be different, however all of the content is the same. i asked around to find out a little more information about the creators of these magazines, and was not so surprised to come to learn (in a subtle way) that each magazine was created as a response to the other simply existing in the first place. this begs the question, "why in the hell are we competing against each other?" seriously… money and "fame" aside, is there some prize to be won for having "the best" urban gay publication out there? i doubt it.

now, i'm not asserting that these magazines are insignificant and have no voice. in reality, they have more of a potential voice in the media than many of the urban (period) publications on the stands today. for the most part, the content is actually good. but, in my opinion, what is keeping these publications from reaching the mass success everyone is apparently looking for is the fact that all of them have the exact same message; and so why then is there any reason to read either one of them?

i think all of these guys should get together and create one incredible, fierce, provocative and entertaining magazine. imagine what would be possible if all of these people (who are supposedly friends anyway) got together and set a standard for what an urban gay magazine should be. there is so much talent between the 3 of them, but each one is looking to take control of the spotlight. there is nothing wrong with creating something new and fresh together. do it for education. do it for acknowledgement. do it for timelessness. but do it right!

i look forward to reading your joined publication effort in the near future.

…and as for the name of this new publication - can you, you know… spell it correctly? we might be of a different mind, attitude and , but we're not stupid nor ignorant!

PARTIES - MARS: The Invasion & The Phirm Party