Out of isolation: Black gay men and depression

Benefit for You Are Not Alone hosted by Project DBGM

Saturday, November 19

Award-winning journalist and founder of Project DBGM (Depressed Black Gay Men) Antoine Craigwell together with a team are hosting a benefit I’m Not Alone @ The Table to raise additional funds and public awareness for the completion of his upcoming documentary, You Are Not Alone, which focuses on the struggles and suffering in silence of Black gay men dealing with depression. 

According to the American Association of Suicidology, between the '80s to early '90s, the rate of suicide among Black men ages 15-24 increased 83 percent. Although the rate dropped to 67 percent, it is still the third leading cause of death among young Black men, and 4.3 times higher than Black women. 

“We are shattering the taboo, that unspoken rule with protective roots in Black history, which says ‘you don't talk your business to strangers’.” say Craigwell. “That silence which ignores the hurts, abuses, and betrayals Black gay men experience, contributes to their downward spiral into depression and we want to let folks know they are not alone at the table.”

Antoine Craigwell

The program will include nationally-renowned comedienne Tammy Peay as the evening’s MC along with DJs Fred Pierce and Cameron Fitzpatrick on the 1’s & 2’s. The evening will feature wine tastings, networking, a cocktail bar, special performances and a silent auction of items from several businesses and individuals including: Kate Clinton, The Jeremy Kyle Show, Charly Dominguez, Lawrence Graham-Brown, Jon Lucas, and many others. Kaz Mitchell, Circle of Voices, Inc. is leading the auction.  To contribute or donate items the auction, please contact Kaz Mitchell here.

Doors open 7pm

Program begins 7:30pm

Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture

53 Prospect Park West, Brooklyn

(directions)

Get tickets (available only online)

More information on Project DBGM

A special screening of "Pariah"

Back in March, I posted my review of Pariah, a wonderful new film by Dee Rees about the life of a young Black lesbian. Now here's an invitation to join the Brooklyn-based Black and Women of Color lesbian organization Circle of Voices for a special screening in support of this important film:

Wednesday, October 5 at 8pm

Universal Screening Room
666 5th Avenue
(between 5th and 6th Avenues; entrance on West 53rd Street; 6th Floor) Manhattan (map)

A world premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, the contemporary drama Pariah is the feature-length expansion of writer/director Dee Rees' award-winning 2007 short film Pariah. Spike Lee is among the feature's executive producers.

Adepero Oduye, who had earlier starred in the short film, portrays Alike (pronounced ah-lee-kay), a 17-year-old African-American woman who lives with her parents Audrey and Arthur (Kim Wayans and Charles Parnell) and younger sister Sharonda (Sahra Mellesse) in Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood. She has a flair for poetry, and is a good student at her local high school. Alike is quietly but firmly embracing her identity as a lesbian. With the sometimes boisterous support of her best friend, out lesbian Laura (Pernell Walker), Alike is especially eager to find a girlfriend. At home, her parents' marriage is strained and there is further tension in the household whenever Alike's development becomes a topic of discussion. Pressed by her mother into making the acquaintance of a colleague's daughter, Bina (Aasha Davis), Alike finds Bina to be unexpectedly refreshing to socialize with. Wondering how much she can confide in her family, Alike strives to get through adolescence with grace, humor, and tenacity--sometimes succeeding, sometimes not, but always moving forward.

Check out the trailer.

To attend the screening, you must RSVP to Wellington Love at wellingtonlove@15minutespr.com.

IMPORTANT: Be sure to type this code--Circle of Voices--in your Subject line.

Circle of Voices explores "Issues Through Art"

Circle of Voices Inc. presents

"Issues Through Art"

An evening of Social Expressionism:

Community Artists Addressing Community Issues

Pre-Holiday Benefit. Market Place. Gallery (with Silent Auction)

Poetry. Singing. Book Readings. And more!

Saturday, November 21, 7pm-10pm

The LGBT Community Center

208 West 13th Street, Manhattan (3rd Floor)

Program features: 

G. Winston James--Author of Shaming the Devil
Renair--Spoken Word Artist
Mildred--Artist formally know as "Dred"
Devin Christy--Vocalist
Stefon Royce--Impersonator and more 
Charly Dominguez and John Hanning--Gallery Artists

Vendors and exhibitors wanted now. $40 special Early Bird Rate expires November 10 after 12am. For information, call 718-975-0141 or email info@covinc.org 

Ticketing information

Advance:  $10
Online:    $12.05 (includes processing/service fees)
Door:      $15

Group ticket special: Buy 10/Get 1 free! Available only through email order. Offer expires November 10, 12am.

For complete information, visit the Circle of Voices Web site here.

Circle of Voices, Inc. is a public charity (501c(3) that offers opportunities to foster a collaborative and supportive environment where Womyn artists and friends of the community can have the opportunity to increase their appreciation of the arts through performances, seminars and workshops given by Womyn of African Descent and Womyn of Color.  We believe in utilizing art as a means of expression for a variety of community concerns such as the importance of recycling, the green environment initiative, HIV/AIDS, and more.   Performers affiliated with Circle of Voices, Inc. use their art forms to convey issues of significance that speak to the souls of the community at large.