The Death of DC Avant Garde
This post was submitted by Joey Bahamas, who describes himself as a 22-year-old black, gay, Bahamian, Marxist, Aquarian, activist, writer, scholar, sartorialist, bohemian, and drunkard living in DC.
The critics have decided: DC's black gay party scene is dead. This isn't because there is a shortage of parties, as new events have popped up all over the city in the last few months. It also isn't because people aren't attending them, since the clubs are still packed every night of the weekend. What has seemingly drained the life from the DC scene is the asphyxiation of everything original and creative. The new parties are just like old parties and the people attending them all look alike.
The fact is that many of us in the black gay scene are so busy trying to look like straight boys at the club that we don't have the time to have any fun. It hasn't always been like this. And from the stories I've heard, going out was as much an exercise in individuality as it was in finding someone to go home with when the clubs close. How did we even get here? How is it that in DC we've allowed the avant garde to die?
Read the full post with more details and insights on Joey Bahamas blog.
2 comments:
First, let me just say that I am so proud of you. Secondly, we have discussed this topic before. If I see one more queen try to mask their sexuality under a fitted cap, I'm gonna scream. Everything in this city lacks individuality. NEXT!
My experience goes only so far, but perhaps times have changed in the "black gay party scene".
You say a lot of guys are trying to look like straight boys. How exactly? If it's just a fashion thing, that's a healthy generalization since there are plenty of guys who probably like wearing fitted caps and khakis or whatever that aren't attempting to mask their sexuality (E.G. moi). I'm not sure straight guys have cornered the market on looking bland...nevermind.
My suggestions is this. Try organizing, or floating the idea of a serious over the top glam extravaganza for the people in your scene, or better yet, use TNG to get the word out to everyone....and tell them no fitted caps allowed; only head coverings that sparkle or otherwise light up are allowed. Maybe throw a costume ball or something. It's nearing Halloween, perhaps some people will be more amenable to the idea. Hell I dunno, that's all I can think of for now.
By the by, if you've ever scene "Phantom of the Opera" (yeah yeah, I know, stop laughing at me), the masquerade ball is what I'm thinking of. A party like that would be awesome.
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