Standing Up as a Black Gay Man is Not For Sissies!!!!!

I don't know where this term ``Sissy'' came from, but it certainly doesn't describe me and many other Black Gay Men I know like Tyrone Smith, Ricardo Bostic, Bruce Harvey, Michael Hinson and some others I could mention who have been Stand Up leaders in the Black Community in Philadelphia for years.

This whole Black Leadership thing is NOT for Sissies, but Black Gay Men who are forthright, commanding of strength from the community, directed, goal oriented, motivated, focused, and who authentically love our people, are doing well with their mantle of leadership.

I am, however, very concerned that I don't see a new cadre of young Black Gay leaders in the forefront of the new Black gentry in Philadelphia.  I know there must be a few and I am not as connected to what is going on among young Black Gay men because I'm older [56], but I need to see some younger Black Gay Men on the horizon who I can hand the Raine's of power over to and help train.

Last year, the Colours Organization held two separate meetings to get young men and older men from the Black Gay sector to talk about how to pass on this important mantle of leadership and what we older gentlemen have achieved.  The meeting I went to was very effective in getting people to come out and talk about issues many of us related to.  I applaud The Colours Organization for their work on this issue and I look forward to working with them in the future.