Features

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  Michael Jackson: The Man in Our Mirror

  Black America's eulogies for the King of Pop also let us resurrect his best self

  What Black American culture—musical and otherwise—lacks for now isn't talent or ambition, but the unmistakable presence of some kind of spiritual genius: the sense that something other than or even more than human is speaking through whatever...

  By Greg Tate

  Wednesday, July 01

  What Black American culture—musical and otherwise—lacks for now isn't talent or ambition, but the unmistakable presence of some kind... More >>
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  In Defense of Michael Jackson's Magic

  A heartbroken rapper channels her grief into a solo Bed-Stuy dance party

  A year ago, I tried to convince a stranger that, yes, magic does indeed exist. I wasn't talking about David Blaine, Criss Angel, or street magic—no. I meant the magic in creativity, in manifesting things at will, in . . . in . . . aggh! I was...

  By Jean Grae

  Wednesday, July 01

  A year ago, I tried to convince a stranger that, yes, magic does indeed exist. I wasn't talking about David Blaine, Criss Angel, or street... More >>
• Why Michael Jackson's Past Might Be Gary, Indiana's Only Future

  The first thing I noticed was that Michael Jackson was gone. Downtown Gary, Indiana's main drag hosted a wide-scale mural project in 2002, fantastic possible futures for the city's boarded-up buildings painted directly onto the boards, with an MJ adorning...

  By Jessica Hopper

  Wednesday, July 01

  The first thing I noticed was that Michael Jackson was gone. Downtown Gary, Indiana's main drag hosted a wide-scale mural project in 2002,... More >>
• Letters: July 1, 2009

  Your issue was so gay!

  Re Winnie McCroy's 'The Butch Is Back' [The Queer Issue, June 24–30]: What is this, a Voice piece...

  By Various writers

  Wednesday, July 01

  Your issue was so gay! Re Winnie McCroy's 'The Butch Is Back' [The Queer Issue, June 24–30]: What is this, a Voice piece from 1992? Hello!... More >>
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  The Queer Issue: Rachel Maddow, the New Sexy

  The Butch is back, with a poster girl

  On a balmy spring night at the Stonewall Bar, Ellie Conant sizes up the competition with a quick glance, rolls up her shirtsleeves, bellies up to the pool table, and plunks down four quarters. In the dim light, Conant's iridescent yellow eye shadow...

  By Winnie McCroy

  Wednesday, June 24

  On a balmy spring night at the Stonewall Bar, Ellie Conant sizes up the competition with a quick glance, rolls up her shirtsleeves, bellies up to... More >>
• The Queer Issue: A Conversation with Rachel Maddow, Reluctant Sex Symbol

  We caught up with MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow as she was being made up for our Voice photo shoot in a midtown photography studio. Dressed down in a black Western shirt and jeans, and squinting as a makeup artist powdered her face, the hottest...

  By Winnie McCroy

  Wednesday, June 24

  We caught up with MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow as she was being made up for our Voice photo shoot in a midtown photography studio. Dressed down in... More >>
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  The Queer Issue: Gay Motorcycle Clubs in New York

  The wild ones, a new cycle of cruising

  Something unexpected pops up while I'm riding bitch on a motorcycle: an erection. I'm on the first run of the season to Cold Spring, New York, with members of the City Cruisers, one of two gay motorcycle clubs in New York City. It's a cool, gray morning...

  By Tony Phillips

  Wednesday, June 24

  Something unexpected pops up while I'm riding bitch on a motorcycle: an erection. I'm on the first run of the season to Cold Spring, New York,... More >>
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  The Queer Issue: The Rise of Rentboys

  Hustling goes legit

  Only 19 and barely out of high school, Jason Pitt looks like a typical small-town Georgia youth. But this good ol' boy is making a lot more than the stocker at Wal-Mart or a Starbucks barista. Cute, smooth, and blond, he has the twinkie good looks...

  By Steve Weinstein

  Wednesday, June 24

  Only 19 and barely out of high school, Jason Pitt looks like a typical small-town Georgia youth. But this good ol' boy is making a lot more than... More >>