Sept 13, 2009: 16th Annual Clubhouse Jamboree

It's already September and that only means one thing: This year's installment of the annual Clubhouse Jamboree is just around the corner. Sunday, September 13th, 2009, from noon to 6pm, at Brooklyn's Prostpect Park, to be more exact.

I rarely promote events on this blog but always make an exception for the Jamboree because it's always such an amazing outdoor party. It also remains a bit of an undiscovered gem, even on this, it's 16th incarnation.

This year's guests include a couple of folk who have performed at past Jamboree events.


There's Spinna, for one, spinning Li'l Louis & The World's "Club Lonely" (feat. Joi Cardwell) above, at the 13th Jamboree. He'll be back this year.


There's Karizma, spinning an unreleased mash-up of Frankie Knuckles/Satoshii Tomiie classic "Tears" with the vocal from Jazmina's "Rain". He'll be back this year.


The vibe? The sound might not be pretty, but catch a wiff above as Brian Coxx from Soulgasm spins a remix of Jill Scott's "Hate on Me" (unfortunately, Brian will not make an appearance this year).

Lastly, the event is free and put together by the great Li'l Ray who, year after year, pulls this thing together with the help of dozens of househeads and volunteers. Last year I lost my cell phone at the event and the man drove all the way to Manhattan to return it to me when someone found it and left it with him. Amazing, no? So, if you are up for it in a couple of weeks, please try to make it. I promise it will be unforgettable.

Photos: José Sucuzhañay vigil in Brooklyn

I have been spending some time in the West Coast as of late which means that I was unable to attend yesterday's vigil in Bushwick in honor of José Sucuzhañay. Mr. Sucuzhañay passed away on Friday from traumatic injuries he sustained during what is being investigated as a hate crime that took place last weekend.

Some friends did attend the vigil and have graciously allowed me to share the following with Blabbeando readers.

Blogger Joe.My.God. took the photo above and reports that hundreds showed up for the vigil ("Hundreds Turn Out At Brooklyn Vigil For Jose Sucuzhanay, Murdered Victim Of Anti-Latino, Anti-Gay Hate Crime"). He writes:

Among those that spoke to the crowd were NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn, openly gay NY State Sen. Tom Duane, U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, Kings County (Brooklyn) District Attorney Charles Hynes, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, and leaders from a broad array of LGBT, Latino, and immigrant activist groups. The message underscored over and over again, in both English and Spanish, was that hate speech has consequences - and that the murder of José Sucuzhañay was the inevitable and tragic result of the nonstop villainization of LGBT and immigrant communities by the right wing of this country.

Journalist Mike Lavers, a/k/a blogger Boy in Bushwick also covered the vigil ("Bushwick pays tribute to José Sucuzhañay") and says that City Councilwoman Diana Reyna [D-Bushwick], Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez, and New York City Comptroller Bill Thompson were also in the crowd. Mike also has an array of photographs as well as some video on his blog (click on the link above) including the photo of City Council Speaker Christine Quinn above.

Finally, my good friend and journalist José Bayona, who amazingly does not blog, captured some great photos as well, including those below...
Related:

• Hundreds gather in Brooklyn to March against hate crimes (EDGE)
  

Previously:

• Human Rights Campaign stands up for straight immigrant in gay bashing (Dec. 14, 2008)
  
• José O. Sucuzhañay has passed away (Dec. 14, 2008)
  
• Two Sunday vigils in response to Buswick hate crime (Dec. 11, 2008)
• Bushwick attack: Were anti-gay slurs shouted by assailants? Does it make it less of a heinous crime if the answer is 'no'? (Dec. 11, 2008)
• More on Bushwick attack against Ecuadorean brothers (Dec. 8, 2008)
• Breaking: Anti-gay, anti-Latino slurs shouted at Ecuadorean men during beating in Brooklyn (Dec. 8, 2008)

Update: Jose O. Sucuzhañay has passed away

The New York Times is reporting that José Osvaldo Sucuzhañay, the Ecuadorean immigrant who was beaten up a week ago in an attack that is being investigated as a homophobic and xenophobic hate crime was declared dead after his heart stopped beating on Friday. Mr. Sucuzhañay, who was 31 years old and a father of two, had been declared brain-dead earlier in the week and never regained consciousness after the violent beating.

None of the three assailants who were seen at the scene of the attack have been caught but police released a description of one of the men and announced a $22,000 reward for information leading to their capture.

Mr. Sucuzhañay's mother, who received a special humanitarian visa to travel to the United States from Ecuador, arrived in the city on Friday but by then her son had already lost his life.

Two vigils had been previously announced to take place today in Brooklyn beginning at 2pm in Bushwick (click on link for more information). In addition, the Times says that Mr. Sucuzhañay's family are planning to hold a press conference today at 1pm in front of Elmhurst Hospital in Jackson Heights, Queens. A source lose to the family says that the family will then head to the vigils in Brooklyn.

Related:

• A rally cry for Latino immigrant killed in hate crime (Albor Ruiz, The New York Daily News)

Update:

• Human Rights Campaign stands up for straight immigrant killed in gay bashing (Dec.14, 2008)

Previously:

• Two Sunday vigils in response to Buswick hate crime (Dec. 11, 2008)
• Bushwick attack: Were anti-gay slurs shouted by assailants? Does it make it less of a heinous crime if the answer is 'no'? (Dec. 11, 2008)
• More on Bushwick attack against Ecuadorean brothers (Dec. 8, 2008)
• Breaking: Anti-gay, anti-Latino slurs shouted at Ecuadorean men during beating in Brooklyn (Dec. 8, 2008)

Two Sunday vigils in response to Bushwick hate crime

From a Facebook group page set up to announce a candlelight vigil taking place this Sunday in Brooklyn [h/t Joe.My.God] - click on image to make it bigger:

Early Sunday morning, two brothers from Ecuador were walking to their homes in Bushwick arm in arm. They were attacked by three men who shouted anti-gay and anti-Hispanic insults as they beat the brothers with an aluminum baseball bat and a broken bottle. Jose Sucuzhanay died Tuesday morning from extensive brain damage and skull fractures.

WHEN: 2PM

WHERE: Gather at 2PM at the corner of Myrtle Avenue and Grove Street (Take the L to Myrtle/Wyckoff).

We will then walk to the site of the attack (Bushwick Avenue and Kossuth Place) for a vigil at 4pm.

THE PREVIOUSLY PLANNED WALK AT 7PM STARTING IN FRONT OF THE ARCHIVE WILL NO LONGER BE HAPPENING. We hope you will join with us at the march and vigil organized by Make the Road. Thanks!

BRING: your friends. Spread the word! Let's all show our support for Jose's family in this tragic and difficult time.

I'm not sure if this vigil is allied with a second call for a vigil this Sunday but Boy in Bushwick reports that community organizations such as Make the Road By Walking and the New York City Anti-Violence Project have also sent out info about a vigil starting at the same intersection at the and at same time (see flyer above, click on it to make it bigger). From his blog:

As law enforcement officials continue to search for the men who allegedly left a Bushwick man brain dead in what they describe as an anti-gay and anti-Latino hate crime early Sunday morning, the Anti-Violence Project, Make the Road New York and a coalition of other community and activist groups have organized a march and vigil on Sunday, Dec. 14.

The vigil will take place at Make the Road's park on the corner of Grove Street and Myrtle Avenue in Bushwick at 2 p.m. Marchers will then proceed to Bushwick Avenue and Kossuth Place--the corner where police say a group of four men viciously beat Jose Sucuzhanay with a baseball bat and bottles and kicked him while his brother ran for help.

Alternatively, I also had gotten notice of a 2nd vigil taking place Sunday night:

Candlelight Vigil Planned in Response to Bushwick Hate Crime

As you've probably heard, last week two men were attacked and brutally beaten in Bushwick by men who yelled anti-gay and anti-Hispanic insults. One of them has since died of injuries from the attack. It's being investigated as a hate crime.

Local artist Meg Hitchcock has organized a vigil for Sunday, December 14th at 7 pm. They are meeting up at the Archive Cafe (49 Bogart Street, right by the Morgan stop on the L) and walking to the scene of the crime a few blocks away. They ask that people bring candles and "come show your support in protesting this horrible attack on a member of our community.

More on Bushwick bias crime against Ecuadorean brothers

Mike Lavers from EDGE covered today's press conference ("Brooklyn hate crime leaves man in critical condition"). From the article:

A 31-year-old Ecuadorian man remains in critical condition at Elmhurst Hospital after four men allegedly attacked him and his brother with baseball bats and bottles near their Bushwick home early Sunday morning in what police are investigating as a anti-gay and anti-Latino hate crime

...This attack comes a month after a group of seven Long Island teenagers allegedly attacked Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero in Patchogue. Local authorities have charged Jeffrey Conroy with second-degree murder as a hate crime for allegedly fatally stabbing Lucero in the chest on Nov. 8. They also charged him and his alleged co-conspirators with hate crime and conspiracy counts.

The New York Times City Room blog has additional details ("Bushwick beating investigated as a hate crime"):

A law enforcement official said that at about 3:30 a.m. on Sunday, the man and his brother, described by officials as Ecuadorian immigrants, were walking at Kossuth Place and Bushwick Avenue when a carload of men pulled up nearby. The brothers, who had been drinking, were walking “arm-in-arm” to support each other, the official said.

A man who got out of the car yelled anti-gay and anti-Latino epithets at the brothers, then broke a bottle over the 31-year-old man’s head, the official said.

His brother ran, and at least three other men who were in the car set upon the 31-year-old, beating him with a baseball bat and kicking him, the official said. The beating stopped when the brother returned, holding his cellphone, and told the attackers he had just called the police, the official said. All the attackers were black, the official said.

UPDATE: The local ABC news station says the following video report [h/t NG]

• The two brothers were a block away from reaching home when they were attacked
  
• Their family lives in Ecuador and has been notified about the attack, they must now decide whether one of their sons, who is at Elmhurst Hospital, will be kept on life support.
• At today's press conference, Councilmember Diana Reyna said that the family has decided to not allow him to suffer"
• There is a vigil planned for tomorrow evening set to begin outside Elmhurst Hospital

UPDATE 2: The Times now has a full report online ("Attack on Ecuadorean Brothers Investigated as Hate Crime"). It identifies the brother who is in life-support tonight as Jose Sucuzhanay (above), the owner of a real estate agency.

UPDATE 3: On December 9th, there were reports that the most seriously injured of the brothers had died victims had died but those reports have now been retracted.

Breaking: Anti-gay, anti-Latino slurs shouted at Ecuadorean men during beating in Brooklyn

UPDATE: Namely, the two brothers were drunk and holding each other as they were helping each other to get home, the assailants apparently deduced that they were a gay couple when they noticed the two men. Additional info at "More on Bushwick bias crime against Ecuadorean brothers"
---

This morning I got a press conference announcement from City Council Speaker Christine Quinn's office which read, in part, as follows.

Statement by Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn

Re: Alleged Hate Crime in Brooklyn

I was outraged to learn this morning that two men were assaulted at Kossuth Place and Bushwick Avenue in Brooklyn, and especially horrified to learn that anti-LGBT and anti-Latino slurs were used by one or more of the assailants - raising this event to the level of a hate crime.

My office is in touch with the family of the victims and offers our prayers. We have also been in touch with the NYPD's Hate Crimes Task Force, and thank them for their immediate response and hard work. We are confident that those who committed this crime will be apprehended. Together we are calling on all who might have any information about this crime to come forward immediately to the NYPD.

Those who perpetrated this crime must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This cowardly display of hate against two innocent men only re-enforces the need to continue to inform and educate the public about the destruction that hate can cause.

We all must open our eyes to the hate that exists around us and work together to fight against those that demonize others and allow stereotypes to lead them to acts of unconscionable violence. We are all partners against hate. When we come together, to stand up, every time we witness an act motivated by hate, we will send the message that we will not stand for the destruction that comes along with it.

Members of the City Council, community leaders, clergy, and I will hold a press conference December 8th at 12:30 pm on the steps of City Hall to continue to stand up for the victims and to speak out against this vicious crime and all crimes perpetrated by hate.

I sought information online and just found this from ABC News:

Two Ecuadorian brothers were beaten, one critically, during an apparently unprovoked attack in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn Sunday morning that may be a bias crime.

The victims were walking home from a bar when they were attacked by three or four men, who jumped out of an SUV, at the intersection of Kossuth Place and Bushwick Avenue at around 3:30 a.m.

The alleged suspects did not say anything as they began attacking the two brothers.

But during the attack, the suspects used anti-Latino and other racial slurs as they beat the Ecuadorian brothers.

There'll probably be more information available in the next few hours.

Gay Brazilian priest found strangled in Brooklyn, Daily News online readers leave offensive comments

Ever since I read about it this morning, I've been deeply disturbed by a story from the New York Daily News ("Slain priest Jose Ricardo Ferreira de Souza killed helping others?").

From the article:

Struggling to understand his violent death, friends of a Brazilian priest found strangled on the Brooklyn shore said Monday he may have been a victim of his own kindness. Jose Ricardo Ferreira de Souza, 31, whose body was discovered on Brighton Beach on Wednesday, helped fellow Brazilians with immigration paperwork and aided homeless people...

Witnesses saw two or three men beating a man who fit de Souza's description and pull him down to the water's edge about 1 a.m., police sources said...

De Souza's body was discovered about an hour later, clad only in his shirt and socks. Relatives in Brazil have said his cell phone and wallet were missing.

His family told NYPD detectives that de Souza, a bishop in the breakaway Vetero Catholic Church, was gay. Friends, however, said he did not proposition strangers, and it was unlikely that was what triggered a beating.

This reminds me of the 2006 homicide of Michael J. Sandy which also took place late at night by the Brooklyn shore even though I don't know Brooklyn well enough to know if both incidents happened nearby. A gay man's life is gone but don't tell that to Daily News readers who don't seem to care and are already blaming the victim. A sampling:

• How do they know a bunch of angry Russkies didn't kick his arse because he was making gay passes at them?
• Well he IS dressed like Liberace in the picture. How do we know gay men don't join the priesthood for the fashion? You think those guys had Sex and the City nights following Sunday evening mass when the show was on HBO?
• De Sousa was a 31 year old Catholic gay Priest. He wasnot out there at 1am to assist anyone with paperwork. Pedophilia and homosexuality has long been a problem among Catholic clergy.
• Was he out counseling someone at 1 in the morning? Or was he cruising and got caught by some drunken gay bashers who didnt realize he was a priest and got ****** when he tried to cruise them? OR, was this the standard case of a couple of dudes that saw the opportunity to get their "tally-whacked" then beat the f-a-g to make sure he doesnt tell anyone? People, dont let the fact that this dude was a priest deter the common sense factor here.

Supposedly the Daily News has a link that allows people to flag offensive replies but these - others - have been up all day long. Imagine you being his family and having to read such trash.

De Souza's body will be flown to Brazil to his family. Friends in Brooklyn held a small memorial yesterday at his apartment.

Musica: Clubhouse Jamboree forever!

I keep saying this is the best party of the year and people still do not believe me. Sunday saw me trekking to Prospect Park in Brooklyn for Li'l Ray's 15th annual Clubhouse Jamboree in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.

Chicago DJ Jamie 3:26 (above) performed and really got the crowd worked up (see video here, here, here and here).

Then came the legendary DJ Spinna (above) who had a truly inspired set (check it out here).

Seen: Former Jamboree headliner Brian Coxx from Soulgasm (above, in the cool sneakers). More of him here. And...

Supah'star Karizma who headlined in 2006 (more here).

Best thing? Li'l Ray! Who puts these things together year after year after year and promises to do it for 15 more years! For free! Which is amazing because he avoids and hates self-promotion. Still, the guy was great enough to keep my cell phone after I lost it (!) and returned it to me yesterday even though he had to drive from Long Island to Manhattan to do the deed. Talk about a great guy!

One of the many reasons I truly believe the Clubhouse Jamboree is my favorite event of the summer.

Previously:

• I guess you had to be there (Sept. 10, 2007)
• Karizma blows up the joint (Sept. 12, 2006)
• Beautiful people (Sept. 19, 2005)

Musica: 15th Annual Clubhouse Jamboree is coming up!

Year after year after year we keep going back: This year is no different as DJ Li'l Ray brings us yet another Clubhouse Jamboree at Brooklyn's Prospect Park scheduled for Sunday, September 14th.

This year marks the 15th such event and features Chicago house music producer Glenn Underground, Chicago's Jaime 3:26, Dede, Soul Finger Jam and, of course, DJ Spinna.

A highlight from past years? Karizma spinning the rare mash-up of Jazmina's "Rain Come Down" with Frankie Knuckles and Satoshie Tommie's "Tears" at the 13th Annual Jamboree. Classic!

Musica: I guess you just had to be there...

Yesterday we made our annual pilgrimage to Brooklyn for - yes - the 14th annual Prospect Park Clubhouse Jamboree (and a damn pilgrimage it was - the trains were a mess).

Aside from DJ Spinna, who always makes an effort to be there, the star attraction was the up and coming Martinez Bothers from the Bronx who showed up with their, em, dad, as they have yet to turn twenty but are certainly getting some major attention.

For my money (and I guess that's pretty cheap because the event is always free and you also get a free plateful of really good food), the star of the afternoon was DJ Brian Coxx of Soulgasm. He just had an amazing set and was pretty damn sexy to boot! In any case, I took a few video snippets so I could show you some of the fun.

First up, Brian Coxx showing that a DJ can actually really get into his sets:

Then we have proof that if a DJ gets into his sets, the crowd might follow:

Then we have another groovy encounter with Afro Mosaic Soul who did something special with a Thom Yorke ditty:

We nearly missed the Martinez Brothers because we were standing in the long-ass line to get food but we did get DJ Spinna dropping a classic:

And, because there is no such thing as too little dancing, well, here's more dancing:

Props to DJ Li'l Ray and his crew of volunteers who always manage to make this one of the most enjoyable summer experiences!

• More vids here
• More photos here

Pinups

I sorta stumbled upon Pinups Magazine yesterday and thought it was cute. Furry Brooklynite photo-artist Christopher Schulz (not the furry Brooklynite on the cover of Issue 3, mind you, but still furry nevertheless) puts it out and it's supposed to fold out so that you get a nice groovy poster you can hang just above your bed.

With a run of 200, the hot-sheets sell like pancakes at $20 bucks a pop (plus $2 for shipping AND handling) so get sum. Issue 3 is out in September.

Starfucker also has a write-up over on his blog.

My New York: The 25th Annual Mermaid Parade

On my birthday a few weeks ago, hubby Raul and William tried to get me to Coney Island on time for the sunset. Instead we ended up stuck in traffic and taking an early exit out in Brooklyn where we had some delicious birthday grub along with my BLFFE (best lesbian friend for-evah) Diana.

With a series of officially announced "impending" renovations at Coney Island's famed amusement parks (home to the world renowned Cyclone roller-coaster and the Wonder-Wheel ferris wheel, above) our fears that it would never be the same took over and we decided to check-out the annual Mermaid Parade on Saturday. And, by golly!, we made it!

It could not have been a better day weatherwise. So, without further ado, the 25th annual Mermaid Parade in images!
The Mermaid Parade is all about... Red (hairy) Lobsters!
The Mermaid Parade is all about... "I wouldn't f*ck you for practice" Pooh Bear bikers...
The Mermaid Parade is all about... Some scary ass rides...
The Mermaid Parade is all about... Cute kids watching the parade go by...
The Mermaid Parade is all about... Ironically and cynically (?) hip topless redneck girls...

There were mermaids too but it would be unoriginal to post pics here, don't you think?

Hm, more pics of everything here. Also, seems I'm not the only one in the gay blogosphere to have made it to the parade for the first time this year?

Musica: Might. Just. Make It (Jon Cutler & Matthias Heilbronn)

Beautiful weather, Brooklyn's own Jon Cutler and Matthias Heilbronn, free noon to sunset shindig... in Hell's Kithcen! Sounds too good to pass up. Might see you there....

Musica: Karizma at Langston's in Brooklyn this Friday

Not sure I'll make it but for those of you that can, I'm sure you'll have a blast. It's a Lil Ray joint featuring Baltimore's incomparable Karizma. A preview here.

Two years later, another vigil in honor of Rashawn Brazell

On Friday evening it took the boyfriend and I nearly an hour and a half to make our way through the subway system, which took us from Queens through Manhattan into Brooklyn, to get to the Nostrand Avenue stop on the A train, where we finally emerged into the frigid night.

We were late and probably there for only twenty minutes, but we still caught the few words that the Reverend Zachary Jones and Desire Brazell had for the small crowd that had assembled just outside the train station. It was the 2nd year anniversary since the unsolved murder of Ms. Brazell's son, Rashawn, and his family and friends had called for a candlelight vigil in his honor, just as they did last year (Ms. Brazell spoke about her son to the New York Daily News just last week on the eve of the vigil)

Despite the Daily News article and the case having been featured in America's Most Wanted, it's safe to say that Rashawn's murder is long gone from the City's general consciousness, so it didn't surprise me that the gathering was rather small. But as I looked around I couldn't help but feel glad that a large number of those who showed up were gay and same gender loving black men standing up for one of their own. Not that they haven't been there in the past, but for some reason on Friday, I just felt in the midst of beauty.

Perhaps the tone was set by Ms. Brazell herself. At last year's vigil, she spoke in anger at the lack of media and at the absence of political leaders at the event. In contrast, this year she seemed to draw strength from the crowd and had nothing but love to express to gatherers. Rashawn's father was also present as well as some close family members and past friends, but at least for the night, everyone seemed to be family. I made sure that I made my way to Ms. Brazell and was able to give her a hug as the gathering started to go their separate ways.

One key difference was the official presence of the New York Police Department, not only to provide security detail, but as part of those paying honor to her son. It might have been a public relations move, but I saw a few of the openly gay officers who have been so helpful to me in regards to hate crimes in the community, including Officer Thomas Verni, the Department's LGBT community liaison. Members of the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project were handing out "information wanted" flyers and post-cards to passers by. A few people were set to visit some Brooklyn gay bars after the vigil to spread news about the $22,000 reward for leads in the crime.

I saw a few people I knew, including Dr. Marjorie Hill, Executive Director of Gay Men's Health Crisis, and long time activist Kevin McGruder. Blogger Donald Andrew Agarrat took a few pics which you can see here (by the way, his new blog, NOW, has just been added to my personal links at the right). Larry Lyons II, who set up the Rashawn Brazell Memorial Fund two years ago (and whose blog is also listed in my links) was also there but I wan't able to say hi. Ocean of Brothaluva Cafe has additional photos here.

In the meantime, we are grateful to Melanie for the nice words.

Also, considering the gruesome details in Rashawn's murder, I couldn't help but think of him when this article was posted in yesterday's New York Times.

Update: Michael J. Sandy and Edgar Garzon murder hearings underway

Today's Gay City News has articles on two ongoing hearings related to the local murders of two gay men.

As we have previously reported, Gay City News says that bail has been denied for one of the men accused of being involved in a hate crime against Michael J. Sandy last October in Brooklyn. The New York Times also had something to say.

Interestingly, Gay City News editor Duncan Osbourne also reports on a preliminary hearing for the accused murderer of a personal friend of mine, Eddie Garzon. I knew that the hearing was imminent but had not heard a word until now.

Among the new revelations:

• 38 year old John McGhee, the accused murderer, has a wife and son who live in London.
• A witness identified as "Ya Ya'' seems to be the lead witness and perhaps the person who was driving the car the night that Eddie was attacked. Gay City News identifies "Ya Ya" as the lead witness even though his identity has not been revealed.
• Police say that when they caught up to McGhee once he was deported from the UK last year after being denied citizenship in the UK, his first comments were "What am I looking at? Three, four, five years?"

Let's see what happens down the line. Hopefully justice will be served.

Remember Rashawn? Perhaps you should... (and update on Michael Sandy)

Rashawn Brazell's family is organizing a 2nd anniversary vigil since the gruesome murder of the 19 year old man. His mother, Desire, is asking the community to join her in making a public statement that her son's life will not be forgotten.

"We will not allow this tragedy to be forgotten," she says in a statement, "Gather with us as we pray that this never happens to anyone else and that no more families have to suffer this kind of loss."

The Vigil will take place on Saturday, February 17, 2007 from 7pm to 8pm. The gathering spot will be just outside the Nostrand Avenue subway station on the A/C train lines in Brooklyn. Photo above from last year's vigil. Please join us!

For some background:

• "Rashawn Brazell's Story - Part 1" (America's Most Wanted)
• "Rashawn Brazell's Story - Part 2" (America's Most Wanted)

In a somewhat related story, today's Gay City News reports that the family of one of four defendants in the recent killing of another black gay man, Michael J. Sandy, is ready to post $1.3 million dollars in bail to free Anthony Fortunato while he goes to court.

Clarence Patton, Executive Director of the New York City Anti-Violence Project, says that the agency has begun a letter-writing campaign to the judge who will oversee the bail hearing on February 7th asking him not to grant bail for Fortunato.

UPDATE: According to a post on the Michael Sandy memorial MySpace board, his mother is also asking for support in opposing bail. A group calling themselves The Michael Sandy Foundation is asking those interested to rally at 11am his Wednesday, February 7th at the Brooklyn Supreme Court (320 Jay Street) which is near the Jay St/Borough Hall train station. The bail hearing will take place at 11am.

Gay City News on the death of Michael Sandy

On the latest issue of Gay City News:

"Several dozen activists, most of them leaders in the black gay community, turned out Monday on the steps of City Hall for a press conference that was intended as a show of community solidarity and brotherhood in the face of the latest in a long line of vicious attacks on gay men of African descent in New York City..." (to read more click on "A Focus on Community, Change, Non-Violence and Love" by Gay City News Editor Paul Schindler).

"There are no flowers at the site where Michael J. Sandy was murdered. There is no handwritten sign expressing love for him or sorrow at his death, no teddy bear, no candles, none of the elements that are usually part of the impromptu memorials that mark the sites of homicides or traffic accidents..." (to read more click on "Grappling to Respond to Murder" by Gay City News Associate Editor Duncan Osborne).

My New York: Karizma blows up the joint

If you've been here recently, then you know that I had been plugging Saturday's 13th Annual Clubhouse Jamboree at Prospect Park ever since I had a blast last year at the 12th.

It might not have been as gloriously sunny as last year, but it didn't rain either and the temperature was just right. Diamond Temple and the Temple Dynasty did their soulful choir thing and took the whole throng to the heavens and back and Brooklyn's own Afro Mosaic Soul Dance Company dedicated their dance performance to Willi Ninja and Robert, who they described as an 18 year old dancer who had been following on Willi's steps who had also passed away last week.

DJ Soto did a groovy mix of the current crop of discofied R&B and Carlos Sanchez followed with a funkier groove. DJ Spinna closed the day with his usual uplifting grooves.

Still, the man who stole the show was Baltimore's own Karizma (pictured above) who just blew the place up with his set, which mixed chunky-dubs and extra bass over already pumping tracks and demonstrated his amazing mixing skills. As the organizer, liL Ray said, "hear my words, he's a DJ to watch."

Not that in any way, shape or form does this capture the amazing vibe (the sound quality sucks for one) but I thought some video might show you what I mean. So jump-on over and check these out and tell me that the man was not on fire:

• Karizma letting the Rain Come Down
• Karizma dropping some Rej by Ame
• Karizma invokes Beyonice's Deja Vu as DJ Spinna prepares to go on deck

Just simply, magic.

My New York: A couple of reminders

Funeral services for Willi Ninja are tonight at the Roy L. Gitmore Funeral Home in St. Alban's, Queens. Gay City News ran their obituary yesterday.

The truly unique 13th Annual Clubhouse Jamboree takes place this Sunday at Prospect Park in Brooklyn. For more info, visit DJ lil Ray. (yup, that's DJ Spinna above spinning records at last year's event, he's on the bill again this year). Other DJ's on this year's line up include Karisma ("4 the Love"), Carlos Sanchez, DJ Soto. There will also be a performances by the Diamond Temple & The Temple Dynasty and Afro Mosaic Soul Dance Company.

For the politically inclined, there'll be lots of pavement pounding by those running for political office and those they are challenging as they brace for Tuesday's primary. My suggestion is that if you decide to volunteer, you stay away from the larger and better-funded campaigns, and devote a couple of hours to a local campaign that you like in your district.