You did exactly what we all should do when frustrated with outlets for our expression; create our own.

Traditional black media and white gay media do not value our collective experience unless we're posed shirtless and waving our Mandingo love muscles in their face.

I agree with j.brotherlove. It's vitally important that we create, grow and maintain spaces on our own, put out the images we want to project about our lives, goals, dreams, disappointments, celebrations... anything and everything.

Leaving it up to main stream media will only disappoint- be it gay or straight. Surprisingly, once you put it out there, you'll discover a larger audience with many of the same thoughts and issues and concerns. Your blog, and many others, are important pieces in the puzzle of what makes us who we are, and where we're going.

One last thing, while there are many hands extended to help you when you need it, I learned many years ago... no one's gonna save you. You have to save yourself.

Bernie, this was a superb series, and it was a joy to participate. I can also see it as the centerpiece of a larger book, of essays, reflections, short stories, poems.... Again, thanks for envisioning and realizing it here!

'I said to myself, “I have a blog. Let me write my own damn story.”'

I'm glad you did. Here's to encouraging many others to continue the conversation and to tell their own stories, too!

Title for anthology: "Through the Fire"; although that might be a little too much. Now, if only some enterprising not-yet-middle-age blogger could be inspired (or pressured) to run a similar series.

Thanks for the series. I suspect it might show up in unexpected places (college classrooms, well, at least mine).

I thought is was one of the most interesting and insightful things I have ever seen in blogworld.

Thanks to you and your participants for the very candid and concise answers. I understand so much more about the lives of some of my closest friends now.

One thing I know to do more and more is to tell them how much I love, respect and admire them UNCONDITIONALLY.

Thank you very much, CreoleInDC. I think that's all anyone really wants.

Its time to do what Essex Hemphill, Marlon Riggs , Craig G. Woordrow, Marvin White, E. Lynn Harris, Pooquie and Rasheems creater (he's gonna lill me that I forgot his name) and the nameless other have done and "Put It On Paper." Maybe a college press or get some kind of funding from some philanthropic foundation or organization who is concerned about some of these issues would see it's value.
I am honored to have participated this series and to have been a part of a kind of "history" in the making! Its diversity was brillant! The writers put their hearts and souls into it! I found myself inspired by their words and their realism.

I actually tried getting a younger guy I know to read it-but he seemed abject to the idea about what someone "my age" might be thinking-[unless they are ripped and tall and dark and hung.]

I tell everyone who is willing to listen about it.

Thanks again to all the writers!

And thank you Bernie for the concept and the inspiration. Keep it up! [No pun intended-well, maybe a little one? [oopppss..there I go again!]

Love,
Cordell

The series was absolutely wonderful. Thank you so much for this. It's not everyday that you get to hear or read about gay black men's experiences in such a candid way. Their stories, insight, and advice were greatly appreciated. As a young brotha who recently began his coming out process, this has been quite beneficial to me. I've always been one to look for role models in aspects of my life where I feel I need more guidance and assistance. And finding that hasn't been easy. But reading this series gives me a great deal of encouragement, hope, and inspiration. Thank you again for using this outlet to share our stories.