Quote of the Day

. . . I want to thank you, Mr. Frank Ocean, for your courageousness. It takes a brave soul to come forth in truth, and in love, despite what the rest of the world is doing or feeling as “flavor of the week,” as legendary soul singer, Maze, recently said in a speech at the 2012 BET Awards.

The mirror image you’re reflecting to the world gives us a new vision to aspire to. Your grace and ability to stand in your truth, and BE who you are called to BE, give others the courage and strength to be unafraid and be FREE. Thank you for not playing small, or even allowing yourself to be small. You’re too BIG, and nothing can contain your SPIRIT for it is your CALLing to give us this moment. Right here. Right now.

There are many young people, even mature people, who are struggling with their sexual identity, and are afraid to step out of the shadows for fear of being judged, criticized, or ridiculed. Every day the fear grips and chokes them, just as it once did to you. So, please know that they are watching, reading, and listening to you, and the declaration you’re making. A black man in Hip Hop, who looks like them, speaks like them, and realized his dreams despite the backlash or BS others tend to hold on to because of their own prejudices against same-gender loving people. You boldly refuse to be bound by others, and in that declaration you are giving others hope and courage to be their authentic selves.

Being black and gay so many times we hear, “No,” and “You can’t,” or, “It’s impossible.” Yet, your music and voice is heard around the world on radio channels, you’ve performed in stadiums before hundreds and thousands of people, and club DJs bang your songs while men and women, straight, gay, and bi, bop their heads and two-step to YOUR GROOVE. Yes, that is POWER-FULL! . . .

– Terrance Dean
Excerpted from "An Open Letter to Frank Ocean"
HelloBeautiful.com
July 5, 2012

Following is the track "Pyramids," from Frank Ocean's album Channel Orange, scheduled for release July 17.





Recommended Off-site Links:
Frank Ocean, R&B Singer, Comes Out – The Huffington Post (July 5, 2012).
Frank Ocean Admits Love for a Man Following Gay Rumors, No Longer Has 'Secrets' – Georgette Cline (The Boombox, July 4, 2004).
Creating His Own Gravity – Jon Caramanica (New York Times, July 4, 2012).

See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• Homophobia? It's So Gay
• The Raising of Lazarus and the Gay Experience of Coming Out
• Coming Out: An Act of Holiness
• A Girl Named Sara: A "Person of the Resurrection"
• A Gay Catholic Man's Testimony of Courage and Grace: "God Made Me and Loves Me Just As I Am"
• "I Can No Longer Fight Who I Am"
• A Message of Hope (and a Call to Action) from the Land Down-Under
• Ian McKellen's Two Great Achievements: Playing Gandalf and Coming Out
• It Shouldn't Matter. Except it Does
• Coming Out in Africa and the Middle East
• In the Footsteps of Spring
• Soul Deep

Image: Kevin Scanlon (New York Times)