The topic for the week is models and modeling.

I spoke 2 someone last nite who is interested in being in the Hard Candy Calendar. She, like many others, told me that she was not a model. I get that a lot. In fact, MOST of the womyn in the Hard Candy Calendar have never modeled before and don’t plan on taking up modeling as a career. So why r they doing this project? For one thing, cuz they can! And that’s the perfect woman for Hard Candy.

I also get asked about what my requirements are for models. I don’t personally have any. However, a woman who believes in the cause and wants to help is ideal. Hard Candy Calendar has never turned a volunteer model away. Well, that’s a lie. We did once many years ago when we found out a gyrl was underage. We told her to call us back when she turned 18. But other than that, if u want 2 model, u can.

Volunteering to model for a charity makes u deserving of having your picture taken for all 2 c. U are showing the world that u are more than 2 dimensional. Sure, the beautiful ones come out 2 show us what they got. I ain’t mad at them. Sure, everyone cares about what they wear and how they’re presented. That’s how it should be. But that takes a back seat to who a person really is. I ask that all the models bring themselves first. Be yourself and present yourself at your best. Because it’s all about u. “Bringing the Dominant Woman to the Forefront” is our motto and main objective.

By making an effort to be a part of something that matters automatically makes u a model. A role model. You’re about something and making moves. You’re a success at whatever it is that u do. You are a leader and not a follower. A trendsetter. A free thinker. A queen. So relax it’s time 4 u 2 shine!

the other day i got a note asking 4 advice about studs. sure, i am the self proclaimed #1 stud lover but i never thought that it made me an expert. or does it?

hmmmmm….. like the famous zoologist, Dian Fossey studying her gorillas, i study the stud. i hang out with them, photographing them and even chose one 2 live with so that i might observe her in her natural habitat. the elusive studicus urbanus is easy 2 snare (given that they are prone 2 becoming mesmorized by round asses and shiny lips) yet they are extremely difficult to keep in captivity. can these wild beasts be contained, tamed and kept as domestic pets? i have been successfully holding one and have affectionaely named her ‘D’. training her for the past seven years in the ways of the human woman. it’s been a long and arduous journey but has yeilded some great results.

i have yet 2 know all of the stud species: the tomboyus musculus, the androgynopod principalis and the butchtica are just a few. i realize that i have many more years of study ahead of me. Dian lived with the gorillas for 18 years. i’ve only had a few and i’ve yet to scratch the surface of this mysterious bunch. i push on. i should be starting a thesis or something, right? LOL

but seriously tho, i have gotten many notes and emails over the years from many of these type of womyn thanking me 4 my project. many that have said that they had no idea that they could’ve been models. they are encouraged 2 pursure a career that they thought was off limits 2 them.

these letters encourage me to keep going. keep studying, keep photographing and to keep creating. thanx ladies. you are my sisters. this is about you. and i won’t stop doin it.

this past Sunday, Hard Candy Calendar had it’s first meet & greet for the models for the upcoming 2011 calendar. in our conversations, we got the basics: name. age. zodiac sign. but then the question was asked: “what’s your story?” we learned of students, actresses, models (of course), corrections officers and artists. then these beautiful womyn shared themselves and their stories of their connection with the Hard Candy cause: breast cancer. they spoke of family members, lovers and even first hand experience of surviving the disease. the entire meet was then transformed into a meeting of spirits. i became even more inspired, even more encouraged and even more motivated to work on this project. i must confess with my personal stresses, my motivation got a little muddy. over the years in talking about the project, i’ve presented numerous reasons for putting the calendar together. each year i added a new reason. but this year got a little dark. rumours and hate, money concerns, death and illness sent me 2 a bad place and i couldn’t create. my artistic vision became invisible. it was still there, i just couldn’t see it anymore. i was paralyzed by negativity. the project moved forward (thanx 2 Brandee) even as i stalled and held back. then the Universe stepped in (as always) and sent an amazing group of womyn 2 help me with my latest journey. i couldn’t believe how blessed i was to have these beautiful souls come together for this project.

in the past i never bothered to ask the models why they wanted 2 b a part of the calendar until this year. well, actually that was my faithful assistant’s idea (thanx Brandee, again). it’s not that i never cared b4, i just didn’t think so many would share my passion. actually, i just didn’t think. and because i didn’t think, we lost our reason for doing it last year. lost that focus. what was our motivation? was it just something to do? i didn’t realize the malaise that i had fallen into until i met these 2011 Future Studs (and femmes;)

my motivation has returned in full force. now i’m overflowing, almost overwhelmed with motivation and determination. i want so badly 2 serve these womyn well and present them in a way that truly represents their real beauty, grace and strength. they are fun, thoughtful, intelligent and creative bunch and i look forward to bringing our energies together to create another year of celebrating the stud.

Hard Candy is here for all the womyn who have been touched by breast cancer. we always have been and always will be. i can’t wait 2 start shooting these womyn. i am motivated 2 create this calendar by the battle with breast cancer. what’s your motivation 4 doin what u do?

some gay opponents argue that we don’t really get discriminated against (like blacks) cuz we could hide our “gayness” but we can’t hide our blackness. i disagree.

gaydar is evidence that gay is intrinsic. it’s an energy that can’t be hidden…or ignored. u r what u r and people sense it even if they can’t see it. u feel it. even a child knows when someone is gay.

so for shits and giggles, i gathered a small list of celebs that set of my stud-dar. their swagger is so thick that i just can’t help but think “what if…”. now, i must say that i respect people’s personal space with regards 2 their sexuality. so this piece is in no way accusing or outing anyone. it’s just a feeling that I get. maybe others share the feelings. maybe not. following is my list of maybe studs. now mind u, this is based on the most basic stereotypes of what studs are as well as gut intuition..

THE OBVIOUS: Queen Latifah
she’s not a delicate flower and definitely not 2 b fucked with. her rap put ladies first and her role in Set It Off pretty much solidified everyone’s suspicion. she’d pretty much have 2 get married (2 a man) and pop out a couple o’ babies 2 convince anyone otherwise. and even still, i’m sure many would just accuse her of being in denial. she’s clearly standing in a glass closet.

RUNNERS UP: Da Brat, Missy Elliot & MC Lyte.<the genre of music itself seems to require a bit of hardness aboutcha. as a woman, if u’r not rapping about how ill your na na is then u’r automatically put into the “masculine” category. i sometimes think that’s why some female rappers are so over sexualized. just over compensating. but that’s another conversation 4 another blog. anyway, these three tried 2 rectify their image dilemma by slapping lipstick on their not so feminine appearances. but all it did was sort of produce a drag affect. with Da Brat and her woman problems, Missy and her “dancers” that follow her around wherever she goes (y’all remember that? on her Road to Stardom show?) and MC Lyte who stays under the radar, it’s easy 2 believe that these three dominate the ladies behind closed doors as much as they dominated the rap game.

SIMPLE: Peppermint Patty
i know. she’s a cartoon. but still. with her Birkenstocks and what i’m sure are clothes made of hemp, she is representing the hippy side of the butch spectrum. and her gyrlfriend…er… sidekick Marcie calling her “sir” all the time doesn’t help. sometimes she acted like she liked Chuck but i think he was just her homie.

LONG SHOTS: Alicia Keys and Jada Pinkette
meh, iono. something about these two…. they could be tombois or maybe super aggressive femmes. but i definitely and picking up some studish vibes. their physical softness competes with their dominant personalities. when Keys first hit the scene, i distinctly heard her say on David Letterman that she don’t do skirts and wouldn’t. i thought that was great. and not cuz i’m the self proclaimed #1 stud lover but i thought it was refreshing 2 see a woman being different from the rest and doing her thang. well, someone straightened that shit out. didn’t they? or maybe she grew up. *shrug*
and Jada. she had me at ‘hello’ as the too rough around the edges Lena on a Different World. yeah, these two are up in the air for me. i know what i see and i know what i hear and that’s my lez alarm ringing in my ears.

WAITING 4 THE ANNOUNCEMENT Michelle Rodriguez Just see this chick in Girlfight, Avatar and Swat. enough said.

I WISH Laila Ali lookin like a slightly softer version of her daddy only with a slightly deeper voice. this pugilist could knock any woman over without throwing a punch. her swagger shines thru the pumps and blush she wears. i’m actually quite sure she’s not gay. but dammit, she could front and none would b the wiser.

maybe I have an over active imagination. maybe my stud-dar is off. or maybe they’re studs..

beautiful stud and femme models will showcase talented designers’ garments in this highly anticipated event. amongst the myriad of prizes, the models will also be featured in Hard Candy Calendar.

i have had the pleasure of meeting a few of the models in the show. they are a great group of womyn and there’s no way 2 even tell who will come out on top. even though one past Hard Candy Calendar model is in the show (VJay) ;) i must remain neutral and not have a favourite. my excitement is high to see which model that the judges will choose. the suspense is killing. me. :)

TAKING OVER THE RUNWAY is Saturday, July 3, 2010 at 7pm at the DuSable Museum. 740 E. 56th Place, Chicago IL. Don’t Miss IT

coming up in this blog will be interviews with some of the models and designers as well as the creator of the event, Milon herself.

GENDERBLIND IN SIGHT
by Brandee Young

Continuing to share Hard Candy Calendar’s exclusive interview with the stars of the movie Genderblind which debuts today at the Portage Theater…

Danielle’s Interview:
HCC: Hey D, how are you today? Let me first just say we are so proud of you here at HardCandy and that we love you so much. Danielle: The pleasure is all mine and I love you guys as well.

HCC: Tell us a little bit about your character in Genderblind? Danielle: I play Grace in the movie who is an Independent Business Woman who owns her own home that has plenty of personal and family issues that falls in love with a young lady name Sincere.

HCC: Now Danielle let me ask you are there any similarities between you and the character you play in the movie? Danielle: Yes, Grace and I have a few (similar) personality traits. She is a little quirky, she easily falls in love and so do I. Grace also has a very strong defensive wall that she has placed up, and I could say that my defensive wall is pretty high as well. She is very soft but she won’t be broken, and in that I mean she is a very giving person that can easily be taken advantage of ,but is very strong willed and assertive, all traits that I also have.

HCC: I know that were some scenes in the movie that both you and Robyn had to be intimate how comfortable were you in those scenes?Danielle: I personally was comfortable. We had to make the love scenes look realistic but I will say that Robyn took direction well and she is a very good actress and I believe we made the scenes work and I hope that everyone enjoys them as much as we enjoyed making them.**wink**

HCC: Danielle in the movie there was a scene where you had to wear make up and a dress, but of course in the Calendar you are portrayed as a Stud/TomBoi . Do you think that the community would view your role differently once they have seen this movie?Danielle: No, cause I look awkward in a dress and with makeup on and off the set, and those who know me know that I am not comfortable with those things, funny thing is during rehearsal I would forget that I had a dress on from time to time, and well let’s just say the tom boi in me would come out…(LOL)

HCC: What advice would you give to someone that wanted to follow in your footsteps? Danielle: Be diligent about whatever is that you want to do and take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.

HCC: Do you have any affiliation to the gay community other than doing a movie about a gay related issue?Danielle: Yes I am a lesbian and I have been out and proud for 21 years. My involvement with the community is to make sure that I as a lesbian woman promote a positive image of our community.

HCC: Danielle what is your classification are you Stud/Butch:Danielle: I don’t really subscribe to labels.

HCC: Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with me I know your schedule has been a little hectic so I really appreciate this.

I am looking forward to all of the Rainbow events this month. Come back and check me out for my exclusive interview with some more of our HardCandy hotties as I interview Milon (Mr. March in the Calendar), and some of the models from Taking Over The Runway. **Ladies you won’t want to miss this** muah** you guys be safe and have a wonderful Pride Weekend..

GENDERBLIND: starring Robyn Daniels and Danielle Jones, written and directed by Lanita Joseph will premier tomorrow at the Portage Theater 4050 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL, 60641 (773) 736-4050 For more information: visit www.genderblindmovie.webs.com

Brandee Young is a recurrent Hard Candy Calendar model and correspondent. For more information write: brandeeyoung@hardcandycalendar.com or call 773.678.5464

Hello Hard Candy fans as you know this month is GAY Pride and everything is coming up rainbows for the next few weeks. There is so much that is going on for both Hard Candy and our models. This month we are so blessed and pleased to announce that Danielle our inspiration behind the creation of Hard Candy is starring in her very first movie called Genderblind, and I had the pleasure of speaking with her, her co-star Robyn Daniels as well as the producer, director and film writer Ms. Lanita Joseph. They gave me some Hard Candy exclusives, but of course I could not keep them for myself so I decided to share them with you.. Only because I love you.. muah!

Robyn Daniels, stars as Sincere in the movie Genderblind

HCC: Tell us a little bit about your character in Genderblind?Robyn: My character is the dancer Sincere. She is a character who is very strong in her beliefs of her religion. She was raised in the church and has a very myopic view of the world for a majority of her life. It’s when she meets Grace that she gradually begins to understand that the world is not just black and white that there are several gray areas as well and that it is okay that the world is the way it is and that she is a part of it.

HCC: What sparked your interest in auditioning for a part in the movie?Robyn: Actually when I saw the ad, I was intrigued by the fact that it was a feature length movie in Chicago. Mostly I get a lot of castings for shorts or just pieces being filmed in Chicago. Full length films are few and far between, and then when I learned more about the content- there was just no way that I couldn’t audition. I mean, how many artists have felt like they have almost had to sell their soul for their art? How many people have never fallen in love and been confused by it? Who can’t relate to this film?

HCC: Are there any similarities in the character you play in the movie with your own personality?Robyn: There are a few similarities, we are both devout Christians and at one point of my life I held very stringent beliefs about love and sexuality. However, like Sincere, my own life experiences helped to open my eyes.

HCC: So now that movie is completed, what other projects can we expect from you?Robyn: Well, right now I am working on finishing a television pilot that’s also shot locally called Engaged.. I’ll also be doing Writer’s Block in LA and Mental Escape in Paris. Both are slated to be worked on throughout late summer and into Fall.

HCC: Do you have any affiliation to the gay community other than doing a movie about a gay related issue? Robyn: I can’t say that I do, other than just support for equal rights etc. and fair treatment. Basic civil human liberties things

HCC: Are you a Hard Candy Calendar fan? Robyn: I wasn’t but I certainly will be now.

HCC: I know that were some scenes in the movie that both you and Danielle had to be intimate how comfortable were you in those scenes? Robyn: I was actually okay. The thing about those scenes and really any type of love, intimate, intense scene is that it’s not you who’s there per se; it’s the character. It’s the character’s journey that’s being portrayed. But on a total personal level I was fine, had fun, we joked around a lot too. Kind of hard to keep a straight face working with Danielle, she kept making me laugh.

HCC: Yes I agree with you Robyn, Danielle will keep you in stitches. So with that being said we are now going to speak to the woman of the hour Ms. Lanita Joseph.. Lanita how are you today…Girl you are doing some great things in the community I know that Genderblind was a project of blood sweat tears and passion. Can you tell us a little bit about the concept of Genderblind?Lanita: Genderblind is the term for an individual who is attracted to a spirit as opposed to the body. So it is less about sexual attraction and more about energy attraction.

HCC: What inspired the storyline behind the movie? Lanita: My crazy imagination and some of the what if’s in my life.

HCC: How long did it take you to finish the film?Lanita: It was originally a book written three years ago. When I decided to turn it into a screenplay it took me about one year to complete.

HCC: So now that the movie is completed are there any other projects in the works for Ms. Lanita Joseph?Lanita: Soooo many projects. First I have several dance shows and plays that have been on hold because of the movie. I am going away to graduate school, while still continuing my dance company here in Chicago, and I will be completing the book Genderblind.

HCC: Is there any talk about Genderblind being available on DVD? Lanita: It won’t be on DVD for a while, largely because I will be working thru film festivals.

HCC: I noticed that some of your cast features many HardCandy Calendar models. How did you go about your selection in cast and characters for the movie?Lanita: It was very hard to find someone (to play the lead). I searched and searched and actually a friend of mine recommended Danielle Jones from Hard Candy. She auditioned and I knew she was the one. I was just blessed to have the perfect Grace for my movie. The other main character was really hard to find, I actually found her on craigslist two weeks before shooting. She totally pulled it off.

HCC: Will you buy the latest Hard Candy Calendar? Lanita: I will definitely be buying, 2011”s “The Rise Of The Stud” That is hott!!

HCC: If there was a mark that you could leave in the lesbian & gay community what would that mark be?Lanita: It would be to create a new term for a labeless class of people that goes beyond, gay straight or bi… it’s genderblind!

HCC: Well , well there you have it HardCandy fans.. I don’t know about you but I am looking forward to all the movie. Come back tomorrow where you’ll read part two of the interview with Hard Candy’s own, Danielle Jones.

GENDERBLIND: starring Robyn Daniels and Danielle Jones, written and directed by Lanita Joseph will premier tomorrow at the Portage Theater 4050 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL, 60641 (773) 736-4050
For more information: visit www.genderblindmovie.webs.com

Brandee Young is a recurrent Hard Candy Calendar model and correspondent. For more information write: brandeeyoung@hardcandycalendar.com or call 773.678.5464

welcome back bois and gyrls. please forgive my long delay between posts. as u can c, i had a great excuse. i’ve been preparing 4 the 2011 Hard Candy Stud Calendar (among other things). revamping the website to go along with this year’s theme: Future Stud. no, not young ones who r on their way 2 being studs, but fully formed womyn of the future. sure the calendar might say 2011, but it’ll b more like 3011. so hold on 2 your seats we’re about to travel in time… and i can’t wait!

i’ve remixed the site to contain some thing old, some thing new, some thing borrowed and there’s even a tint of blue. not only can you pre-order your calendar now (and it’s advised that u do, cuz this year will b the hottest one yet), but u can find some fun stuff, some fluff and some valuable resources. all stud related, of course. i had a great time putting it 2gether and am proud of the results.

speaking of proud….while i was time traveling in my mind over these past few months, some of the Hard Candy Calendar models have been breaking ground in ways that i never saw coming. first there’s Brandee, she’s a supporting femme in both the ‘09 and ‘10 calendars. she has been signed to a modeling contract with Four Yours Truly modeling agency. and she’s become a correspondant with Hard Candy Calendar. so expect 2 c and hear from her a lot this year.

my premier model Milon (Ms. March), never ceases 2 amaze as she is hosting the first ever LGBT fashion show and competition here in Chicago. it’s going to be awesome. there’s a link on the homepage of the Hard Candy Calendar site that will give you more information. please check it out and check back here to this blog for more inside details regarding the show.

and then there’s Danielle, my inspiration and always Ms. December of the calendar. she has actually made a movie! it premiers this Friday at the Portage theater in Chicago. check the link on the homepage for more info and of course right back here to this blog for interviews and insight with the Danielle herself and director/writer, Lanita Joseph.

so many great projects and great stud strides have come from the Hard Candy Calendar family, i’m proud, i’m excited and.. whew! i’m exhausted LOL is is gonna b one incredible journey. i invite everyone 2 come with me and enjoy!

-Jenn-

By TIMBERLY ROSS, Associated Press Writer Timberly Ross, Associated Press Writer – Sat Mar 13, 6:32 pm ET
Jene Newsome played by the rules as an Air Force sergeant: She never told anyone in the military she was a lesbian. The 28-year-old’s honorable discharge under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy came only after police officers in Rapid City, S.D., saw an Iowa marriage certificate in her home and told the nearby Ellsworth Air Force Base.

Newsome and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a complaint against the western South Dakota police department, claiming the officers violated her privacy when they informed the military about her sexual orientation. The case also highlights concerns over the ability of third parties to “out” service members, especially as the Pentagon has started reviewing the 1993 “don’t ask, don’t tell” law.

“I played by ‘don’t ask, don’t tell,’” Newsome told The Associated Press by telephone.

“I just don’t agree with what the Rapid City police department did. … They violated a lot of internal policies on their end, and I feel like my privacy was violated.”

The “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy has come under renewed debate after Defense Secretary Robert Gates called for a sweeping internal study on the law earlier this year.

As the review is under way, officials were also expected to suggest ways to relax enforcement that may include minimizing cases of third-party outings. In particular, Gates has suggested that the military might not have to expel someone whose sexual orientation was revealed by a third party out of vindictiveness or suspect motives.

The Rapid City Police Department says Newsome, an aircraft armament system craftsman who spent nine years in the Air Force, was not cooperative when they showed up at her home in November with an arrest warrant for her partner, who was wanted on theft charges in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Newsome was at work at the base at the time and refused to immediately come home and assist the officers in finding her partner, whom she married in Iowa — where gay marriage is legal — in October.

Police officers, who said they spotted the marriage license on the kitchen table through a window of Newsome’s home, alerted the base, police Chief Steve Allender said in a statement sent to the AP. The license was relevant to the investigation because it showed both the relationship and residency of the two women, he said.

“It’s an emotional issue and it’s unfortunate that Newsome lost her job, but I disagree with the notion that our department might be expected to ignore the license, or not document the license, or withhold it from the Air Force once we did know about it,” Allender said Saturday. “It was a part of the case, part of the report and the Air Force was privileged to the information.”

He said his department does not seek to expose gay military personnel or investigate the sexuality of Rapid City residents.

Allender said the department was finishing its internal investigation and has determined the officers acted appropriately. They have not been placed on leave during the investigation.

Newsome’s partner is currently out on bail on one felony and three misdemeanor counts of theft stemming from an incident last year, court officials in Fairbanks said. More information was not immediately available, and Newsome said she didn’t know the status of the case and didn’t provide more details about it.

In the complaint filed last month with the department, ACLU South Dakota said police had no legal reason to tell the military Newsome was a lesbian and that officers knew if they did, it would jeopardize her military career.

Newsome, who was discharged in January, said she didn’t know where the marriage license was in her home when police came to her house on Nov. 20 and claims the officers were retaliating because she wouldn’t help with her partner’s arrest.

“This information was intentionally turned over because of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ and to out Jene so that she would lose her military status,” said Robert Doody, executive director of ACLU South Dakota. The ACLU is focusing its complaint on the police department, not the military, and Newsome said she and her attorney have not yet decided on whether to file a lawsuit.

“The ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ piece is important and critical to this, but also it’s a police misconduct case,” Doody said.

A U.S. Air Force spokesman, Senior Airman Adam Grant, said Ellsworth follows all laws set out by Congress and the Defense Department, and he would not comment specifically on Newsome’s discharge, citing privacy policy.

More than 13,500 service members have been discharged under the law since 1994, according to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, which is lobbying for its repeal. Kevin Nix, communications director of the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, couldn’t speak about Newsome’s case, but said when “someone is outed by a third party, which it sounds like this was, or by a police officer, then, yeah … I’m not surprised the person was discharged.”

Though rare, third-party outing can be especially damaging to service members who wanted to keep their sexual orientation hidden, experts say.

Even though 80 percent of “don’t ask, don’t tell” discharges come from gay and lesbian service members who out themselves, third-party outings are “some of the most heinous instances of ‘don’t, ask, don’t tell,’” said Nathaniel Frank, a research fellow with the Palm Center think tank at the University of California, Santa Barbara and a New York University professor.

Newsome, who is originally from Harrisburg, Pa., is currently on the road, driving to Alaska. She said she’d been looking forward to the time when the military would alter its policies regarding gays and lesbians. But that change didn’t come in time to save her career.

“I felt like it was getting close,” she said. “I was really hopeful.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDQdFIrrM7Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlGyzfUWKg0

Meanwhile, in another part of our country:
JACKSON, Miss. – A northern Mississippi school district will not be hosting a high school prom this spring after a lesbian student sought to attend with her girlfriend and wear a tuxedo.

so bascially, they’ll ruin it for everyone just cuz they don’t like what one gyrl is doing. seriously? the hate runs that deep. they don’t stop marriage cuz some(most) couples get divorced. but they’ll shut down a prom cuz they don’t want one gay couple 2 b there. un-freakin-believeable!