Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

The gang and I attended the Feast of St.Micheal yesterday afternoon and it was amazing. These celebrations are held all over the city, the one we attended was in a park up the street from Arena. The Feast of St.Michael celebrates the archangel, St. Michael who defeated the devil. The people in DR who worship witchcraft also celebrate the day. Everyone must wear red to scare off the devil and other spirits. While this event was colorful and exciting, the flip side was much more interesting.

There were over 600 people jammed into that park and at least 50% were gay or on the DL. These boys were fine as shit. I'm talking about big muscular boys in t-shirts or no shirts and tight-tight jeans. They were drinking and cruising the entire park. When you heard the drums beating and the trumpets blow, their were usually 3 or 4 skinny gays boys with their fag hags shaking and shimmying everything they have. This party was like JD's on a Saturday night(before Rouge opened). You could barely make through the crowd. You were pressed up against a hot sweaty man, whose tight and ripped body was clinging to you as you moved by, whew!

This was really cool because the crowd was also filled with mothers, children, families and church ladies. This was the strangest mix of people I have ever seen in the DR. Our crew drank, danced and mingled with the crowd. I even lit up my first Dominican cigar! Everybody knew somebody at this party. The celebration started Thursday and continued into Friday night. We left around 8 to head home, when we spotted another party on Calle Canela, up the street from Casa New Yorker. We stopped in of course. We saw some of the same people from the other party. This celebration however, was in someone's home. They put up a tent and invited everyone to come in and celebrate, of course we did. They also had a live band under a tent that played bachatta and other beats that kept the party lively and moving.

This was one of the best celebrations I have ever been to, because it was so surreal to see people dance as they were possessed by the devil. To actually see the spirit enter and leave someone's body was mind blowing. I was really overjoyed to see people celebrate their beliefs and of course, see those hot Dominican papis.

Colors of the Wind

I was lucky to grow up in the American south with 2 gay best friends. We insulated ourselves from outside barbs and rejection by getting good grades, running student government and Model United Nations. We all graduated college and are off now doing our own thing. I thought about them recently as I sat at Paco's having an afternoon cocktail. They crossed my mind because I noticed 3 older white American gentlemen sitting with 2 lovely Dominican young men. Now normally I would look at this situation and just chalk it up to a group having drinks before they have sex and the young men are paid for their services.

This time the faces of the young Dominican men were replaced by my two friends. You see, my friends, I'll call them Alex and Bobby, have never, I mean never have been with, sexually or romantically, with a man of color. I mean black, brown, yellow or taupe. They both have only been with white men. On many occasions we have had discussions about this topic and they both say, "well they are just the men we are attracted to." I still can't believe that. I just don't understand how you can be gay and go 15 -17 years only having sex with one race. Maybe that's just me. After reading several articles on the subject, I assumed Alex and Booby were suffering from some type of gay black self hatred, they wanted to be white so they only slept with white men. This did not hold water because they were very versed on African American cultural issues, very socially conscious and both pledged African American fraternities. They are both in stable relationships with white men and are very happy---I still don't understand the lack of variety, but that's just me.

OK back to Paco's. After my "wonderment" about Bobby and Alex. My attention turned to the American men. I wondered if they were here just to sleep with the, "dark skinned boys with the big dicks", (a reference I will explain later). I also wondered if they slept with black or brown men, when they were at home. Or more importantly do they acknowledge the very existence of young "colored" men (black,brown taupe), when they are home. Or do they just fawn over the boys when they come here or other hotspots around the globe. I would hope these men have depth of character and display kindness and generosity even when they don't have to pay for it.

I have a light brown skinned Dominican friend. He loves dark skinned men. He talks about them like they are gods, but his boyfriend is as light skinned as he is---I ask why he does not have a dark-skinned boyfriend, he says, "dark skinned men are great in bed, but for boyfriends, they aren't shit". I was stunned. I asked have you been fucked by every dark skinned man in DR to make that determination. He says he has done a random sampling over the years, and every dark skinned boyfriend has done him wrong. As my mother told me, you can't judge the many, by the few. My friend continues to lust after every mahogany skinned man he sees. His catch-phrase is "dark skinned boys with the big dicks do it better".

I have never been one to care about color. I have always been attracted to beautiful eyes and a killer smile, those two qualities can come in any color. My friends call me the United Nations because I have had boyfriends, lovers and, one night stands that range from eastern Europe to Africa, from the Philippians to Brazil. I don't discriminate. I just enjoy the community of nations and all they have to offer. Dominican men come in beautiful shapes, sizes, and yes colors. I appreciate all of them. One Dominican man in particular.

I have concluded after much debate, that you should do what makes you happy. You should sleep with the person who makes your dick hard, regardless of color. Enjoy life and just do you.

Shut Your Trap

The comment on the previous enrty about Leon was absolutely correct. I have have no business reporting on gossip and rumors. I know how it feels to have people spread misinformation, so I will not do it anymore. I apologize to Leon and wish him the best. I will only report on things I know for sure and are in the best interest of my readers. I would not want anyone writing untrue crap about me, so I am not going to do it about a fellow member of the tribe. I will keep my trap shut.

Questions

A blogger left the following questions last night, here is what I know.

How is your new job going in Santo Domingo? Do you know anything about Bar Friends? I hear that Leon is no longer in the country. Is the bar still open? Did he leave voluntarily? Why are all the bars closing in SD? I hear Parios and The Sports Bar are also closed. Can you update us on the current situation in the gay community?

Work is going great. I am adjusting to the work schedule. I work on Saturday and Sunday, but I have two days off during the week. The schedule interferes with time with my fella, but we both will adjust. I enjoy meeting Dominican-Americans and sharing our New York stories.

On to the Pink Dirt!
Bar Friends is open and doing well. Now mind you,I have NEVER been to Bar Friends or met Dr./Nurse Leon, these are things I have heard through the grapevine. Leon was on vacation somewhere, Brazil maybe, and was headed back to DR when he was detained in Miami on some type of charges. I don't know this for sure, only what I heard.

Parios and The Sports Bar are closed simply because they were not making any money. Business here is really hard. Most gay businesses here depend on tourism for 90% of their business and the ebb and flow of the pink dollar has been really low lately. I know David Lee wanted to make improvements to the Sports Bar, but simply didn't have the money. David is an awesome person and a super human being, I hope he comes back strong with another business venture. Parios just never had any foot traffic. I think people only went because they were headed to JDs. Parios just never had a hook or charisma.

September was a steady month for tourism here. Scotch at Casa New Yorker told me the first part of Septermber has been really good, but the end of Sept into Oct looks bleak. If you are coming to town, please stay at the New Yorker,www.casanewyorker.com. On my days off, I have been going to this cute little bar called, Eight Doors. It's a cool little bar that reminds me of New Orleans, it is off the main drag of Conde and is quite and pleasant. The interior is truly Caribbean and laid back. Uncle Marvin and I had drinks in the middle of the afternoon last week and discussed world affairs, OK so we talked about his many new boyfriends. We also met some wonderful older ladies from Florida, who taught us how to drink Scotch. Three fingers and splash of water!

Until next time...