WHO is the black gay professional? Black Enterprise magazine asks the question and attempts an answer in their new issue which hits the stands Tuesday, July 19. For the remainder of this month, the magazine will also be following "Black LGBT" issues at their website www.BlackEnterprise.com/BlackLGBT .
Seven years ago, I left Corporate America or more precisely - got kicked out of it - and haven't looked back since! It would be nice if the company I used to work for made it on the magazine's 40 Best Companies for Diversity list? We shall see!
Well, I think Gays in general in large urban centers like DC, Chicago & New York are a hot commodity. Especially now that Marriage Equality is no longer an issue in some of these prosperous capitals. And when I say Gays in general you can read into that whatever you want, and I THINK YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN!
Here in NYC the bakeries, event spaces, event planners, etc. are lined up waiting to take Gay dollars for the expected deluge of gay nuptial, gay engagement parties, rehearsal dinners, etc.
Gays in large urban centers have always been known to have a significant amount of disposable income to spend and now, that knowledge will be exploited to the nth degree. Harlem was gentrified by gays & artists initially, so it will be very interesting to see what will happen here, especially with the housing stock. Because, certainly not long after these folks marry they will want to adopt children and need the capacious apts and townhouses that Harlem is known for. So I expect if we get the large numbers of gay marriages in NYC and many of them are Harlemites albeit New Harlemites then the housing marking will really take off. Also, this gay marriage thing will probably generate new businesses as well as give an economic boost to the old line businesses.
Now where does that leave the Black SGL among us? Well, certainly 'some' will jump on the marriage bandwagon but I think only a very few Black SGL couples will join that bandwagon. Its the ones in interracial relationships that will be quite visible.
Ya' know Corey, in terms of entertainment venues here is Harlem, its strange, but we don't have a gay bar in Harlem? We used to have 2 gay bars right on 125th Street and one gay-friendly bar. And you would think that with all the gentrifying and having had 2 Harlem Prides already, some lovely, young well to do Black gay man would put a gay bar in Harlem. But thus far it hasn't happened. We certainly have a couple of gay-friendly & gay well attended restaurants, but nothing the likes of Andres, Jays or Celebrity Club of the 70's and 80's. Its just odd. I think alot of people drank the civil rights Kool-Aid and went downtown and that didn't really work all that well, look at Chi-Chiz!
OK Help me down off this cross now!LOL
Posted by: Greg | July 13, 2011 at 10:57 AM
"... we don't have a gay bar in Harlem ... we used to ... you would think that with all the gentrifying ... its just odd ... I think alot of people drank the civil rights Kool-Aid and went downtown ... well, look at Chi-Chiz!"
YOU'LL HAVE TO STAY ON THAT CROSS A LITTLE WHILE LONGER!
Posted by: Corey | July 13, 2011 at 12:55 PM
Pourquoi?
Posted by: Greg | July 13, 2011 at 05:54 PM
@Greg, it doesn't look like it's going to end any time soon. Wherever there's "gentrification" it's the same old story! Suffer a little while longer! LOL!
Posted by: Corey | July 13, 2011 at 05:59 PM
I finally discovered your blog, Corey. I was Googling Ava Gardner (to find out more about her mixed race status), and I ran into your wonderful article about Ava's friendship with Lena Horne.
I absolutely love ths blog and your writing. Thanks!
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | July 14, 2011 at 03:22 PM
@THANK YOU, Derrick! Trust me, I'm elated that you've discovered my blog and that you thought enough to leave such a nice comment! For awhile, I thought I might be doing something wrong because we all know that "Derrick from Philly" is one of the most FIERCE commentors in the whole blogosphere! WELCOME, brother!
Posted by: Corey | July 14, 2011 at 03:56 PM