Tal ki ngLoveatTheLi ne
LGBTLoveCanHappenToo!
Si ngl ei nt heCi t y&Conf used J AN| FEB201 8 |VOLUME4 |I SSUE1
Edi t or ’ sLet t er Thewor stpar taboutJanuar y,i st hatFebr uar yi sar oundt hecor ner .Justki ddi ng!Butwhydoest hemont hoft he“l ovehol i day” orVal ent i ne’ sDayi l l i ci tsomuchanxi et yi npeopl e?ImeanI ’ vehear d ever yt hi ng f r om “Idr unkmysel ft hr ought heday,Isent mysel ff l ower sorevenIst ayedof fsoci almedi at heent i r edayt oi gnor ei twashappeni ng. Butagai n,whydoest hei deaofl oveorr omanceshakepeopl et ot hei rcor e?I si tbecausei t ’ st hatonet hi ngt hatyoucan’ tcont r ol , buyorst udyf or ? Thi smont hweexpl or e“Bl ackLove, ”t hosewhof oundi t ,andt hosewhowanti t .Cont r i but orLaur enspeaksper sonal l yonhow shedeal swi t ht hepr essur eofbei ngmar r i edbyacer t ai nage,Raj ahbr eaksdownt hebestdat i ngappsi nt hegameandAki lhas candi dconver sat i onwi t hsomef r i ends,get t i ngt heyoung,bl ackbachel or sper spect i veonwhati t ’ sl i kenavi gat i ngl oveandr omancei nW ashi ngt on,DC. Asf orme,I ’ m nott hel eastbi twor r i edaboutVal ent i ne’ sDay,i fi twi l lbespeci al ,oranyoft hoset hi ngs.I fyou’ vehadonegr eat Val ent i ne’ sDayyou’ vehadt hem al l .Andi fyou’ vebeenorcur r ent l yt r ul yl oved,youknow t hat ’ senough. Sar af i naW r i ght Edi t or i nChi ef W IBr i dge I nt er est edi ncont r i but i ngt ot heBr i dge?Cont actmeatswr i ght @washi ngt oni nf or mer . com or@Sar af i nasai d.
Web:Was hi ngt onI nf or mer . c om/ news / wi br i dge Emai l :WI Br i dge@was hi ngt oni nf or mer . c om
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Fac ebook:WI Br i dgeCommuni t y Twi t t er:@I nf or mer Br i dge I ns t agr am :Was hI nf or mer Br i dge
Publ i s her:Deni s eRol ar kBar nes Edi t or i nChi ef:Sar afinaWr i ght Phot ogr aphy&La yout:Laf a yet t eBar nes Cont r i but i ngWr i t er s: Aki l Wi l s on, Laur enPot eat &RaJ ahKel l y
Si ngl ei nt heCi t y &Conf used
ByLaur enPot eat W IBr i dgeCont r i but i ngW r i t er
I ’ m youngands i ngl ei nt heci t y,butwhatt heheckdoest hatevenmean?I ‘ ve gotf r i ends .Okay,Idon’ thaveanact ualboyf r i endoranyt hi ng,butatmyage us i ngt hatt er m woul dbecons i der edpol i t i cal l yi ncor r ectanyhow andamaj or gener at i onalf auxpas .I t ’ sal mos tVal ent i nesDay,whi cht omei sj us tanot her dayoft heweek. . . unt i lt heact ualdaycomesandIs ees t ar cr os s edl over shol di nghandswhi l epr et endi ngt hei rr omant i cni ghti sgoi ngt ol as tf or ever . Onl yt o l at erfindoutt hatheors hei scheat i ng.Yep,t hat ’ sexact l ywhat ’ sgoi ngoni n ndasIpr oudl ypr ancear oundt het owni noneofmyf avor i t efloorl engt h mymi peacoat s( al lt her ave)ands how t hos ei di ot swhat ’ swhat .
How dot heydoi t ?How dopeopl efindcommi t t edr el at i ons hi pswher eeach par t ypul l st hei rf ai rs har eofwei ght , s t ayr omant i cands t i l lpus hesoneanot her i nt o t hei r ul t i mat e dr eams and des t i ni es ?I si t pos s i bl et o r eal l y have ever yt hi ng?Doest hatr eal l yexi s t ?Ij us twantt obeaj our nal i s t , s ol vi ngmys t er i esandchangi ngl i ves ,whi l evol unt eer i ngatt hehumanes oci et yf r om t i met o t i me.I st hatt oo much t o as k?Ipr omi s eIwon’ tf eed t hedogswi ne( Il ove wi ne) .Becaus ef r ankl yt hewhol ei deaofhavi ngever yt hi ngs car esme.Whati f yt hi ngandt heni tgoeswr ong?ThenI ’ l loffici al l ybe“ t hatgi r l ”who Ihaveever had ever yt hi ng and l os ti tal lbei ng dumb.Coul d you i magi net hepr es s ur e? Goodwi nei ss ohar dt ofind,t oomanyopt i ons .Okyouknow what ,f or gett he wi neandt hedogs . What ’ si tl i kebei ngyoungands i ngl ei nt heci t y?Conf us i ng. Conf us i ngashel l .Ar eyouconf us ed?Becaus eIam.: /
“HolyChrist!!! Ar et heyput t i ng ket chupover pr i mer i b?!
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Idon’ thavet o bemar r i ed by 30. . . Iwon’ t .Iwantt o ber i ch fir s t ,t hen mar r i ed. . . duh.Imeandon’ tt hes epeopl egeti t ?Iknow IdoandInevert hi nkt wi ce abouti t .Wel l , okays omet i mesIdo. Butonl ywhenIfindmys el fpr es s edhands andf acefir s tagai ns tadi ml yl i twi ndow ofaf ancyr es t aur ant ,wat chi ngi nt er t wi nedl over st wi nkl ei nt hemoonl i ghtovermedi um r ar epr i mer i b.Ibett hey haveki dsi nani cewar m homes omewher ei nPot omac, Mar yl and. Hol yChr i s t ! ! ! Ar et heyput t i ngket chupoverpr i mer i b?!Hel p!Hel p!Emer gency!Somebody cal lt hepol i ce!Igues smoneycan’ tbuyyoucl as s .
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Bl ackLove. Yes,t her e' sanappf ort hat ! ByRaJahSKel l y W IBr i dgeCont r i but or Foryoung bl ack pr of essi onal s,st udent sand non pr of essi onal s,ear ni ng a l i vi ngandhavi ngaheal t hydat i ngl i f ei nt heDi st r i ctatt hesamet i mecanbe a chal l enge.So i nt he t r adi t i on ofmi l l enni al sf r om ever ywher e we br i ef l y t est ed and r at ed someoft hemostpr omi nentdat i ng appsi ncl udi ng some speci f i cal l yai medatpeopl eofcol or . Her ei show wer at et hem: Ti nder- I fyou’ veexper i encedonl i neorappdat i ngt hi si spr obabl yyourr ef er ence poi nt .Ti nderget sa bonusf orpr obabl y havi ng t he gr eat es tvol ume of dat er satanyonet i measwel lasbei ngr el at i vel ydi ver .I fyou’ veal r eadygi ven uponbl ackl oveandar eopent oi nt er r aci alr el at i ons hi psorhookupst hi si st he appf oryou. Pl us:Lot ’ sofdat i ngopt i ons .Pos s i bi l i t yf ori nt er r aci alhookups . Mi nus:Expens i ve. Pos s i bi l i t yf orunwokei nt er r aci alhookups . Zoosk- Havi ngbeenf oundedi n2007byI r ani ani mmi gr ant sShayanZadehand Al exMehr ,Zoos ki s n’ tr aci al l yt ar get ed.However ,i tdoescat ert oawi derr ange ofet hni ci t i est hanyouraver agedat i ngappt hef ol l owi ngnot wi t hs t andi ng.One ofZoos k’ ss i gnat ur ef eat ur esi saf aci alver i ficat i on opt i on t hatal l owspr ofil e phot ost obever i fiedbyr eal t i mevi deo.Yes !Nomor ecat fis hi ng! Pl us:Lot ’ sofdat i ngopt i ons .Pos s i bi l i t yf orr aces peci fichookups . Mi nus:Over s har emuch?Someus er schoos enott os har eaccur at epi ct ur esas t heywor ki ns ens i t i vecommuni t i es( gover nment ,l aw fir ms ,s chool s ,et c) . Bl ackPeopl eMeet- You’ vet r i edt her es t ,now t r yt hebes t .BPM i st hemos tr enowneddat i ngwebs i t eandappt hatf ocus esexcl us i vel yonbl ackcommuni t i es . Pl us:TheOG oft hi sbl ackdat i nggame. Mi nus:Secur i t y.BPM and Peopl eMedi ahavehad s ever alhi ghpr ofil es ecur i t y br eachesovert heyear sr es ul t i ngi nupwar dsof30 mi l l i onus er sver ys ens i t i ve per s onali nf or mat i onbei ngexpos ed. Mel dApp. com - Mymot heral wayss ai dqual i t yoverquant i t yamot t oMELD t akess er i ous l y.Al t houghal lt heappsl i s t edgi veyouanoppor t uni t yt ochatand ul t i mat el ymeetwi t hyourpot ent i alpar amour ,Mel di st heonl yappt hatpr omi s est of ocusonas peci fics oci oeconomi ccl as s t her ar eandexot i c,s i ngl eyoung bl ackpr of es s i onal . Feat ur ed i nFas tCompanyand Ebonyamong ot her sMel d appear st obel egi t . Pl us:Peopl eyoufindat t r act i vewi t ht heact ualfinancest odat el i keanadul t . Mi nus:Pr of es s i onalwhat ?Excl us i onar ymuch? Bae- Wel ll et ’ sgets peci fic.Baewascr eat edbyt hr eeAf r i canAmer i canmal es Br i an,28,Jus t i nGer r ar d,30,and Jor danKunzi ka,22,t ot ar getwhatt heyf el t wasbi asi not herdat i ng apps .“ Forusbyus ” -mor et hanj us tas emiext i nct cl ot hi ngl abel .Buti ti sal s oas ucces s f ulmar ket i ngs t r at egyasBaewasr ecent l y pur chas edby“ i f ( we) ”oneoft hehot t es tt echcompani esi nSi l i conVal l ey.Al s o Baei st heonl ydat i ng app wi t hs t r eetcr ed ast heywer el aunched atHowar d Uni ver s i t yi n201 4! Pl us:Devel oper swor keds peci fical l yt oel i mi nat ei s s uesdat er sofcol orhadon ot herl ar gers i t es . Mi nus: Al t hought hei rgr owt hhasbeenexponent i alus er swi l ls t i l lf aceas mal l er dat i ngpoolt hant hatofi t scompet i t or s . TheVer di ct :Dat i ng appshavecer t ai nl yputt het r ansact i oni nt r ansact i onal r el at i onshi ps!Butwi t ht heaver agemi l l enni ali nt heDi st r i ctwor ki ng much mor et hant hest andar d40hour saweek,somet i mesqui ckeri sbet t er . Cal lmeol df ashi on,butIsuggestabar ,cof f eeshoporbookst or east henext pl aceyoushoul dl ogi nt of orr omant i cpr ospect s.
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HasaniMal col m
LGBTLoveCanHappenToo! ByLaur enPot eat W IBr i dgeCont r i but i ngW r i t er
ForHas aniMal col m,as el f i dent i f yi nggay,bl ackmanl i vi ngi nWas hi ngt on,DCl ovei st heai r .For manyofHas ani ’ scount er par t si nt heLGBTcommuni t yt heycan’ ts ayt hes ame,butt hi sHowar d al um i s convi nced t hataf t erki s s i ng many f r ogs and now havi ng a s ucces s f ull ongt er m r el at i ons hi p,hehast hei ns i ghtyou’ r el ooki ngf or .Icaughtupwi t hHas aniatUni onMar ketaf ew weeksbef or eVal ent i ne’ sDayt odi s cus shi svi ewsonr omanceanddat i ngt i ps ,f r om t heLGBT per s pect i ve. Laur enPot eat :Hel l oMr . Mal col m, t hankyous omuchf ordoi ngt hi si nt er vi ew, I ’ m exci t edt ohear yours t or i esandexper i ences . HasaniMal col m:Ohnopr obl em,t hepl eas ur ei sal lmi ne. LP:Gr eat , wel li nl i euofVal ent i ne’ sDay, how doesl ovet r ans cendr ace, r el i gi on, pol i t i csors exual or i ent at i on? HM:Wel lbas i cal l y,l ovei sadeepaffini t yf ors omebody.Youneeds omebodyt hatyou' r er eal l y at t r act edt ophys i cal l yandment al l yandt ogett hat , youneedt oover comewhat everbar r i er sar e pr es ent edt oyou,whet heri tber ace,r el i gi onors exualor i ent at i on.Youmakei twor kandyou compr omi s e.Whenyoul oves omebodyyoul oves omebodybecaus eofwhot heyar e. LP:Tel lme,how hasyourexper i encebeendat i ngi nD. C.asabl ackLGBTmal e? HM:I t ' sbeendi fficul t ,buthones t l y,It hi nkt hehar des tpar thasbeenwor ki ngonme.Fi gur i ng outwhatyouwantandgoi ngt hr oughal loft hef r ogst ofindyourpr i nceorpr i nces s .That ’ st he har des tpar tofdat i ng.Onceyou' r ecomf or t abl ewi t hyour s el fandal l ow your s el ft obet r uet o whoyouar e,t her es ti seas y. LP:Di dyouf eell i ket her ewer et i meswher ei ts eemedl es sl i kel y,ort hatyouhadmor edi fficul t y findi nganadequat el overi nt heci t ybecaus eofyours exualpr ef er ence? HM:If eelt odayt her ear es o manyopt i ons ,maybet oo many.Ineverr eal l yhad anydi fficul t y findi ngs omeone,Ihaddi fficul t yfindi ngs omeonewor t hwhi l e.
Do: Hygi ene - Just pr esent your sel f l i ke you’ r e pr epar i ng t o be on a t . v. show. Put your best f oot f or war d. BePunct ual-Ir eal l ymessedupa dat eoncebei ngt enmi nut esl at e. BeYou-Enoughsai d.
Don’ t : Dr i nk t oo much -Iwenton an amazi ng dat e once,but once I wassoberIhad t o quest i on i fi t r eal l ywas?
LP:Whatadvi cewoul dyougi vet os omeonebl ackt r yi ngt odat ei nt heci t yandwhatwoul dbe yourt opt hr eeFi r s tDat eDo’ sandDon' t s ?
Be t oo st r i ct-Be open t o new i deasand t he exper i ence ofj ust bei ngont hedat e.
HM:Li keIs ai d,wor konyour s el ffir s tanddon’ tbeaf r ai dt os t at eyourneeds ,becaus epeopl e ar en’ tmi ndr eader s ,es peci al l ymen.
Be i nsecur e -Love your sel f ,be your sel f !
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Tal ki ngLove atTheLi ne W heni tcomest odat i ngi nW ashi ngt on,DC
mostsi ngl eswi l lt el lyou t her e’ sno shor t age ofchal l enges,opt i onsand opi ni onsont her omant i cl andscapeoft heNat i onsCapi t ol .W ecaughtup wi t hGr oovyGene,30,asoci almedi amar ket i ng speci al i stand Mar coKay, 29,agover nmentcont r act or /phot ogr apheratt henewl yopenedLi neHot el i nAdamsMor gan.Her e’ swhatt hemenhadt osayaboutl ove…
ByAki lW i l son W IBr i dgeCont r i but or
Aki lW i l son:So her e we ar ei n 201 8 on t he dat i ng s cene i n Was hi ngt on,DC.Whatar e we as men r eal l yl ooki ng f ori na womanouther e? Mar coKay:Iwoul dr eal l yj us ts ayi tdependsont heman.Iknow a l otofpar t ypeopl e,butIwants omeones t abl et ocomehomet o, gooutwi t hand t ogener al l yhaveagood t i mewi t hbuti tr eal l y dependsont hei ndi vi dual .Someguysmaybe,butI ' m notr eal l y i nt er es t edi nt hegi r l si nt hecl ub. Gr oovyGene:I ’ mi n as i mi l arpos i t i on ofwhatI ’ ml ooki ng f or .I t r avel al otandmyl i f ei sbas edont hehus t l e, s oIdowantt hatone per s onwhoi sas t abl eent i t yt ocomehomet o.But ,If eell i kei n D. C.t her e’ ss uch a l ar ge popul at i on ofs t r ong,educat ed s i s t er s whoj us tar en’ tr eadyt os et t l edown.
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Iwantt osi tdown andgett oknow you, seeyourf aci alexpr essi ons, et c.If eell i kej umpi ngi nt he DMsi sver yi mper sonal .
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Mar coKay,29 Gover nmentCont r act or&Phot ogr apher
AW :Whodoyout hi nkhasahar dert i me findi ngamat ei nD. C. ?Menorwomen? GG:Women defini t el y have a l ot of obs t acl es t o over come on t he dat i ng s cene.It hi nkt hatwomenhaveahar der t i mefindi ngamani nD. C. ,butIt hi nki t ’ s equalwheni tcomest ofindi ngamat eof acer t ai ncal i ber . eell i kewomenhavet hi swhol el i s t MK:If ofs t andar dsandmenj us tki ndawantt o keepi ts i mpl e. AW :Doess oci almedi a hel p orhur ti n t hedat i ngwor l d?How? tt hi nki thel ps .Iwoul dn’ tus e MK:Idon’ t hatpl at f or mf oranyoft hat . Iwantt os i t down and gett o know you,s ee your f aci alexpr es s i onset c.If eell i kej umpi ng i nt heDMsi sver yi mper s onal . GG:Formei t ’ sdi ffer ent ,becaus eIt r avel s omucht hateveni fIdat edagi r lher e,I woul dn’ tgett hes amel ear ni ng pr oces s t hatot herpeopl egetwhi l edat i ng.Soi t i ss omet hi ng Ipay at t ent i on t o.Our r el at i ons hi p can’ tl i ve on s oci almedi a, buti tcans t ar tt her e. AW :So i nt heend,whatdoesahappy, heal t hyr el at i ons hi pl ookl i ket oyou? GG:Bei ngabl et ocons i der at el ys ayhow If eelt o my l ady and know t hats he knowsi t ’ sf ort hebet t er mentofusasa uni t . deal l yyouwanthert obeyourbes t MK:I f r i end,t her api s t ,comedi an and al lt he t hi ngsyoudes i r e.Idon’ twantt obei na r el at i ons hi p wi t hs omeone noton t he s amepageasme.
Gr oovyGene,30 Soci alMedi aMar ket i ngSpeci al i st
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LET’ S LI NK W IBr i dgei sl ooki ngf orl ocalmi l l enni alvoi ces, phot ogr apher s,andcr eat i vest ocol l abor at ewi t h. Cont ac tourEdi t or : SWr i ght @Was hi ngt onI nf or mer . c om
Web:Was hi ngt onI nf or mer . c om/ news / wi br i dge Emai l:WI Br i dge@was hi ngt oni nf or mer . c om
Fac ebook:WI Br i dgeCommuni t y T wi t t er:@I nf or mer Br i dge I ns t agr am :Was hI nf or mer Br i dge