While checking out an article on LOGOonline's NextNowNextBlog(NNNB), which I am checking out more often, I ran into an article http://www.newnownext.com/2008/08/rahsaan-patters.html that was published just a few days ago regarding singer Rahsaan Patterson. While I don't think that the article made it clear that Rahsaan was out, the singer's responses were enough to make me dig a little deeper to find that Patterson indeed came out in a BET exclusive on 10/7/2007.

In doing some research, I also discovered that NNNB interviewed Donnie, yet another one of my favorites shortly after he came out in July 2007. In looking at the AfterElton archives, I found that Donnie's coming out was referenced here with a link to NNNB. Since I began my visits and contribution post July 2007, I missed that one.

With all this talk about black men on the down-low and the recent full court press of book that some feared would out some well known hip-hop/R& B performers, I am amazed that two of the biggest talents in R & B are out, and that most of the major press did not mention it as both artists (especially Patterson) are among of the most critically acclaimed neo-soul (I hate music labels) singers bar none. The names may not be as familiar as someone like D'Angelo, but they are as good without the hype/buzz. 

So why the post? To give NNNB/AfterElton a big thumbs up and to let the average neo-soul fan know that these guys are amazing irrespectively of their sexual orientation. It also made me think of the economic stakes that they risked as most of their fan base is African-American, which is perceived as a while as being even more homophobic than the "white" population as a while.

They also were not likely candidates to receive the mostly open embrace that the gay and gay friendly audience/press would have probably given less talented or even lesser profile white artists. It's kind of cool to know that there are two names that I can add to the way too small group of artists who are out. I also assume that their respective openness was not due to tabloid pressure that played a part in the coming out of Lance Bass or Chad Allen. Nothing against Bass or Allen as coming out should be a personal choice, but I have a great deal of respect for those who (I am assuming) did so to live more honest lives and did so not knowing if they could possibly be career enders.

Donnie, a pastor's son to boot, was the featured performer at Los Angeles Black Pride and Patterson is obviously getting some love by AfterElton's parent company. Go Logo!! Running into these tidbits reminds me of yet another reason why it's important to try to dig through gay-centric fora as the mainstream media tends to either sensationalize some one's sexual orientation or ignore it, thus fostering the perception that everyone is straight until proven "guilty."