By Edward Wyckoff Williams
11:32 PM on 11/05/2011
READ MORE: Clay Cane, Radio, Gay Rights, Homosexuality, LGBT,
Broadcasting
Clay Cane (photo by Dax Alexander)
"I am not tragically colored. And I am not tragically gay." So says
Clay Cane, channeling the words of legendary author Zora Neale
Hurston. "When you are black and gay there is a particular duality
that you live in. In my case, that double consciousness has allowed me
to be as open and cosmopolitan as possible."
Wise words from a relatively young man, and someone you are certain to
be hearing a great deal more from. Cane is the new host of New York
radio's WWRL 1600AM show, Clay Cane Live. WWRL, a progressive talk
radio station with well-renowned hosts like MSNBC's Ed Shultz and Rev.
Al Sharpton, has traditionally appealed to an African-American
audience.
Last month they announced a new line-up of hosts to comprise their
Equality Pride Radio which aims to provide programming for the greater
LGBT community in New York City.
Surprisingly, this is the first of its kind in what is arguably the
world's most famous and progressive metropolitan. In spite of the fact
that gays and lesbians were afforded the right to marry in New York
state earlier this year, and television programs nationally often
reflect gay life of all colors and hues in NYC, their presence on the
airwaves has been lacking at best, and nonexistent at worse.
Cane is the sole African-American host of the new Equality Pride line-
up, and he has chosen to represent his inherent dualities with
indiscriminate pride.
Clay, a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Rutgers University, has spent the
past decade honing his skills as a journalist, writer and speaker. The
34-year old is currently Entertainment Editor for BET.com and is a
regular contributor to BET, TV One, theGrio and the Washington Post
online magazine, theRoot.
Cane has interviewed a number of African-American icons, from Beyoncé
Knowles and Janet Jackson to Denzel Washington, Nicki Minaj and 50
Cent. He has also written for mainstream gay publications, Instinct
magazine and The Advocate.
Though his resume is impressive and his drive and achievement speak
for itself, this young man has only just begun. At a time of great
social progress in the area of gay and human rights, Clay represents a
face of black America often left to the sidelines or shrouded in the
shadows. Gay life in the black community isn't always a story of
struggle and religious disenchantment but it is also wonderfully
progressive. African-American gays and lesbians are achieving
unprecedented success in life and love, representing our highest
ideals: family, community and empowerment.
Clay Cane Live, debuting this week, will air every Thursday at 11pm
EST on WWRL 1600AM, and stream worldwide on wwrl1600.com. Clay has
chosen a relaxed and open approach, which is sure to appeal to a
straight, gay and mainstream audience. His first guest was Simone
Battle, X Factor contestant and singer of the LGBT-themed pop song "He
Likes Boys".
In the coming weeks Clay will interview the celebrated Jennifer
Holliday, and Lalah Hathaway, daughter of Donny Hathaway and often
coined the first daughter of Soul. The conversation will sway from
music to pop culture, and social issues in African-American life.
I spoke with Clay Cane to learn more about his latest venture at
Equality Pride Radio. He delightfully introduced me to his world: one
in which being gay, being black and being a man are never at odds and
always looking for a new story to tell.
theGrio: Your new radio program is impressive, largely because it is
forging new ground. Given that WWRL has traditionally appealed to an
older, African-American audience, how do you expect to bring LGBT
issues to the forefront and reach across demographics?
Clay Cane: Hopefully, I can convey a sentiment of non-judgement while
transcending all labels. My plan to do that? Being prepared,
consistent and, quite simply, just being my authentic self. If I were
trying to be anything or anyone else, my career would've stalled years
ago.
When I quote Zora Neale Hurston's "I am not tragically colored" it
reflects how I feel about being both black and gay. I love being all
of who I am. I see it all as a blessing. And in my career I have
chosen to never lie and to never hide. With that in mind, I do my best
to approach everything and everyone with a non-judgmental attitude.
When I interview someone -- whether it is a celebrity, politician or
even Jasmine Manolo-Blahnik, a transsexual who was once a prostitute,
but eventually earned a Master's degree from Fordham University -- I
do my best to listen with no judgement because that is how you get to
someone's heart.
As you plan programming for an African-American gay and lesbian
audience, will you have a particular angle? What will be the focus of
your interviews and stories?
Overall, I am a hybrid of politics and pop culture. I can discuss Kim
Kardashian and Herman Cain in the same conversation (both are equally
foolish!) and engage others. I aspire to be a James Baldwin with a pop
culture twist!
In your opinion what are the most important issues confronting gays
and lesbians nationally? And in the African-American community in
particular?
I believe for the LGBT and African-American communities the most
important issue is equality -- whether it is economically, health
care, or civil rights. Sometimes there is a disconnect between the gay
community and blacks. Some African-Americans think the gay community
are all white men. Some gays think that all black people are
homophobic. Then there is this ridiculous argument of who "suffers"
more: which essentially amounts to"oppression Olympics". I wish we
wouldn't fall for that.
Your first three guests are strong black women in the music industry.
Is that coincidental, or do you think black woman have served a
special place in gay American life and the social lexicon in
particular?
I didn't think about them being black women when I booked them for the
show. But I did think about them being supportive of the gay
community. Broadway icon Jennifer Holliday has been supportive of LGBT
rights from the start of her career. Nowadays everyone wants a gay
following.
When I interviewed Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle and so many others, they
talked about the loyalty of their gay fans. Chaka stressed it has been
her most solid fanbase. The gay community will support you when there
is no hit single, no record label, and your movies are bombing at the
box office. Scandal-after-scandal, when you start to age, and even
when you can't hit the same notes.
Using this new radio platform, how do you hope to inspire and inform?
I can only hope that by being myself, no matter who the listeners are,
they will be inspired. I have no agenda that I am trying to push down
people's throat. I don't believe people should think like me. All I
can do is tell my truth, give my point of view -- with some humor of
course -- and let others give theirs. On my show, people can
respectfully agree to disagree. And I am sure I will be the one
inspired and informed -- by the listeners.
Edward Wyckoff Williams is an author, columnist, political and
economic analyst, and a former investment banker. Follow him on
Twitter and on Facebook.
Clay Cane Live will air every Thursday and can be found online (http://
www.wwrl1600.com/). You can also learn more about Clay Cane at (http://
www.claycane.net) and follow his work at (http://twitter.com/claycane).
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