Herndon
Davis Reportson Black Gay America by Christopher Stone, July 18, 2005
Religious
Black America has barely smoothed its feathers, ruffled
badly last year by the publication of Herndon L. Davis’ controversial
book Black, Gay, & Christian (Davis, Lett & Associates,
2004). Conservative African America, you’d better hold onto
your plumage! Herndon Davis is about to launch his second salvo
against black gay/lesbian intolerance--but this time, on television.
The handsome 34-year-old black, openly gay author-lecturer is bringing
his message of “affirmation, love, and understanding”
of black gay/lesbian America to the tube with the July 18 debut
of The Herndon Davis Reports, the world’s first black
gay/lesbian TV news-talk show hosted by its edgy creator and namesake.
Initially
reaching viewers via Comcast Cable TV 101 in Southern California,
every Monday, 7-8am, the program's reach is starting small,
but will soon expand. Originally scheduled to debut simultaneously
on Comcast Cable and DirecTV, The Herndon Davis Reports
lost DirecTV just days before its debut. Herndon Davis told
AfterEllen.com, “The show will not air on DirecTV as planned
because of a glitch in my promotions and advertising of the
program which caused a conflict of interest with DirecTV’s
policy of creative content versus paid programming.”
But, he continued, “The show will air nationally, and
in primetime, on The Dish Network’s Healthy Living Channel,
beginning the first week of September.”
Herndon Davis describes his landmark series
as “a one-hour long, black gay/lesbian focused, empowerment
news program--a cross between The Chris Matthews Show
and The Oprah Winfrey Show.
“The Herndon Davis Reports aggressively tackles
a variety of socioeconomic and political issues impacting the
gay/lesbian community, but from a distinctly black gay/lesbian
affirming perspective.” Davis adds, “I’m very
excited about the opportunity to spotlight the accomplishments
and the challenges of the black gay/lesbian community.”
He goes on to say, “From understanding the DL down low
phenomena, to fighting for gay marriage rights, to the challenges
of embracing spirituality, raising children, and coping with
depression and homophobia, The Herndon Davis Reports
will deeply explore the vibrant and diverse lives of the entire
black gay/lesbian community, past, present, and future.”
As in his book, Herndon’s television series will address
equally the concerns of black gay men and black lesbian women,
but in the fifth episode, Herndon will narrow his focus exclusively
to black lesbians.
He explains, “On the concentrated black lesbian episode,
we explore the emotional issues of femininity and lesbianism,
the differences of parenthood from a same-gender female perspective
versus a same-gender male perspective, and whether they feel
as if their plight is greater or less than the black gay man.”
It doesn’t take a Freudian or Jungian to see that the
affirming, positive, high profile voice that Herndon Davis brings
to black, gay/lesbians is one that he craved in his own life.
Originally from the outskirts of Mobile, Alabama,
Herndon’s father, now 80, was pastor of a Baptist Church
one-hour away in Mississippi. His mother is a retired librarian.
Herndon says, “They’ve both extended to me unconditional
love, although they’ve made it clear they do not agree
with me being gay.”
Earlier this year, Davis revealed to nghosibooks.com, “I’ve
always had an attraction for men in a non-traditional Christian
way. And I didn’t know it was supposedly wrong until I
was growing up and started hearing about it, and started being
teased about it in school. I wasn’t able to truly grow
until I moved away from home, and to a new city. Then I was
able to understand my sexuality better.”
This son of a preacher man’s new city of discovery and
understanding was Tuscaloosa, where he attended the University
of Alabama, graduating with a B.S. in Finance. He returned to
Mobile for more than three years before re-locating to Atlanta,
where he earned an Executive MNBA from Kennesaw State University.
For more than seven years he thrived in Atlanta’s financial
world. Then a chilling incident led to an epiphany, which eventually
compelled him to write Black, Gay & Christian.