(Indeed, I must second that notion on "Paris is Burning"! ) Read the entire interview at the Washington Blade. P.S. Serve FACE in that picture, Joey! OWW! [Photo: Washington Blade/Henry Lisner.]How long have you been out and who was the hardest person to tell?
Coming out for me is not so much an event as it is a process. Growing up in the Caribbean and being gay is not easy. I’ve told some family members and friends and I’ve completely avoided the conversation with others. In some cases it’s just better and even safer to just let things be.
Who’s your gay hero?
There are so many LGBT people that I look up to and admire. There are the historical giants like Alain Locke, Bayard Rustin, Bruce Nugent and Langston Hughes. There are also the pop icons like Tom Ford, Karl Lagerfeld and Rachel Maddow. But it’s the LGBT people I see every day who are working and surviving — my coworkers, the students I encounter, my gay family and friends — that give me inspiration to do great things.
...What has been the most memorable pop culture moment of your lifetime?
It would have to be the election of President Barack Obama.
On what reality TV show would you fare best?It would probably be the first male housewife on “The Real Housewives of New York.”
What is the best gay film ever made?“Paris is Burning” changed my life!
...
What’s your advice for gay teens?
Don’t rush into anything. Always protect yourself during sex — it’s no one’s responsibility but yours. Be proud of who you are. Follow your passion. Never underestimate the importance of an education. Find a mentor that you trust and who has your best interest at heart. See the world and don’t forget to have fun!
HRC’s Joseph Gaskins spills the tea…
January 30, 2009
LOVE IT, LOVE IT: Our inimitable Joseph Gaskins, a key member of HRC's diversity department, gets his long-overdue moment in the spotlight this week, courtesy of a Q&A with our talented phenom in this week's Washington Blade. True to form, Joey keeps it REAL :
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