No shame in his game: Quentin Harris

Photo by Joe Opperdisiano

Last time we wrote about Quentin Harris we were wondering if his Japanese-only import "No Politics" would be ever released in the United States. Hm... We're still waiting.

Still the man has been busy. Late last year, Quentin launched the hugely successful NRK records Coast2Coast series (Kerri Chandler, Ron Trent and Ame have followed) while, closer to home, he recently became the resident DJ at kissmyblackass, a monthly house music dance club party. That's in between all the touring he has been doing in Europe and the United States.

The man, who has remixed hits by Shakira, India Arie, Patti Labelle, Sting, Alicia Keys, Usher, Jill Scott, Mariah Carey, Leela James, Floetry and Femi Kuti has recently had a couple of his own cuts burn down the dancefloors throughout the world: "Hate Won't Change Me" featuring Byron Stingly and, more recently, "What it Feels Like" featuring the amazing Joi Cardwell (you can listen to both on the "audio console" at Quentin's official website).

In the meantime I have to admit that even I was a little shocked by how prominent Quentin has been on a different endeavor [Warning: NSFW].

Not that there aren't other out DJ's out there (Junior Vazquez, Frankie Knuckles, Tom Stephan a/k/a Superchumbo and Danny Tenaglia, among others) but spinning records as a gay DJ is something and actually putting your sexuality front and center as an integral part of an HIV prevention campaign targeting gay men of color is quite another (oh, and did I mention that it's all about gay men of color who are active in the leather and s&m communities?).

As the site says Safer+Saner "provides safer sex outreach targeting the leather and kink communities" and was founded in 2005 by Blackkat, Mr. American Leatherman 2005. Since its foundation, Safer+Saner has organized a few events and Quentin has gladly provided his, ehem, DJ services.

It's refreshing to see one of the most promising DJ's out there be so engaged in the community. But, still, I wanted to ask Quentin whether it was OK to write about it on this blog. His response?

"You can blog about whatever dude i have no shame!...LOL."

So for having no shame in his game, Quentin Harris becomes my second hero of the week! And, mind you, I don't necessarily take bestowing "hero" status lightly.

Links:

• Quentin Harris official website here
• Quentin Harris MySpace page here
• Safer+Saner here [Warning: NSFW]