The Place: The Market 5 Gallery in Washington, D.C. The Time: July, 1980. The Event: A reading by filmmaker/poet Michelle Parkerson and Alexis De Veaux, then poetry editor at Essence, to benefit Nethula Journal, a new publication for 3rd World writers and artists, edited by poet Essex Hemphill. In the audience, photographer Sharon Farmer, who would later work in the Clinton White House. Evelyn Harris, a member of Sweet Honey in the Rock. Papaya Mann, who later head several AIDS organizations and writer Chi Hughes. 
Bisexuality, the true norm? A newborn baby does not distinguish between a male or female stimulus; it will simply respond if the stimulus is a pleasurable one. If that newborn was never taught to distinguish between the two, as it most certainly will be, would he or she remain open throughout its life, only judging the quality of the stimulus but not the provider of the stimulus? What part would nature play?—By David Richardson
Birthright: To Dance The relationships among Black Gay men come closest to approximating those of African men. In fact, if one focuses only on the non-sexual aspects, Gay men could very well be the vanguard in the march of American men toward a greater understanding, appreciation and love of each other.—By g.r. adams .
A Negro for the '80's Ben Vereen, his face blacker than usual, lips painted thick and "plantation white," let everyone know just what he thought Black America's role in the 1980's should be. Under the pretext of paying homage to Bert Williams, Mr. Vereen "shucked and jived" until surely Martin Luther King, Jr. was spinning in his grave.—By Adrian Stanford