Pomo Afro Homos

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Pomo Afro Homos (1990-1995), short for postmodern African American homosexuals, was an African-American gay theater troupe founded in San Francisco by choreographer-dancer Djola Bernard Branner, actor Brian Freeman, and singer, dancer, and actor Eric Gupton. Later, Marvin K. White joined the group. They presented the black gay male experience. Their pieces include: Fierce Love: Stories From Black Gay Life and Dark Fruit.[1][2][3]

[edit] Fame and controversy

The group performed at Lincoln Center and elsewhere nationally.[3][4]

In 1991, the National Black Theatre Festival (North Carolina) banned the group.[3][5]

In 1993, Out North, a theater company in Anchorage, Alaska, invited them to perform in Anchorage. Out North attempted to purchase advertising from the city bus company for "Fierce Love." The bus company, backed by then-mayor Tom Fink, rejected the ads. Later, the major attempted to cancel Out North's municipal funding. The city council overrode the Mayor's veto.[2][5]

Brown University continues to offer a course titled Black Lavender: A Study of Black Gay and Lesbian Plays, and Dramatic Constructions in the American Theatre which studied the works of Pomo Afro Homos among others. The next offering is in 2008.[6][7]

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Pomo Afro Homos" retrieved 2007-08-09
  2. ^ a b Pomo Afro Homos in Anchorage, retrieved 2007-08-09
  3. ^ a b c Pomo Afro Homos co-founder dies at 43 retrieved 2007-08-09
  4. ^ Black LGBT Theater, passin' it on..., retrieved 2007-08-09
  5. ^ a b Hurwitt, Robert, Eric Gupton -- Afro Pomo Homos troupe co-founder, San Francisco Chronicle, 2003-05-03, retrieved 2007-08-09
  6. ^ Goldberg, Jonah, Black History Month: Why? And the Ivy League’s misplaced emphasis, National Review, 2001-02-15, retrieved 2007-08-09
  7. ^ Brown University course offierings: Black Lavender: Black Gay/Lesbian Plays/Dramatic Constructions in the American Theatre AFRI 0990 - S01, retrieved 2007-08-09
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