About Kenyon Farrow
Kenyon Farrow has been working as an organizer, communications strategist, and writer on issues at the intersection of HIV/AIDS, prisons, and homophobia. A current Policy Institute Fellow with the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), Kenyon will be working on a report about the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Black gay men in the U.S. As the National Public Education Director for Queers for Economic Justice, an organization dedicated to leadership development, organizing and advocacy for class issues for the LGBT community. He’s building a national network of grassroots LGBTQ racial and economic justice organizations. Kenyon also served as press coordinator with a US delegation of advocates at the 2008 International AIDS Conference coordinated by Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP) to advocate for a National AIDS Strategy with other advocates from the US, which resulted in international press on the issue.
While the Director of Communications for CHAMP, Kenyon lead the strategic communications efforts for the Prevention Justice Mobilization, and helped launch Project Unshackle—a network of AIDS activists and prison activists from across the country to work more strategically together at the intersection of mass imprisonment and HIV risk.
Kenyon has also led successful campaigns to tackle homophobia in the Black community. While with the New York State Black Gay Network, he launched a faith-based project—the REVIVAL! Initiative, help shut down a performance of homophobic dancehall artists, and launched a groundbreaking social marketing campaign challenging homophobia in the Black community, which has now been replicated in several cities across the country. He has also a founding board member with FIERCE!, served as Board Co-chair for Queers for Economic Justice, on the National Organizing Body for Critical Resistance, and was CR’s first Southern Region Coordinator based in New Orleans.
In addition to his political work, he is the co-editor of “Letters From Young Activists: Today’s Rebels Speak Out” (Nation Books 2005) and the upcoming “A New Queer Agenda” (NYU Press). His work has appeared in publications such as Utne Reader, Black Commentator, Left Turn, POZ, The Indypendent, City Limits, and in the anthology, “Spirited: Affirming the Soul of Black Lesbian and Gay Identity” (Red Bone Press 2006).
Kenyon has been a panelist, lecturer and keynote speaker at many conferences and universities including New York University, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Wisconsin/Madison, and Hamsphire College, Antioch College, and Macalester College.
He has been honored as one of the “Movers and Shakers” in HIV/AIDS Activism in the African-American Community by The Body.com, and was named as one of Out Magazine’s Out 100 for 2008.
Kenyon is a native of Cleveland, OH, but has lived in New Orleans, and currently resides in Brooklyn, NY.
To read more of Kenyon’s writing, please visit the Selected Writings page.
Cool, bruh!… Do the damn thang!
I never did get around to e-mailing you my thoughts of your thoughts on gay marriage…lol
-One time caller from the STL- (Uhh…that’s St. Louis for all you less-than-impressed non-midwesterners)
Interested in how I can get at you to give some talks for some progressive youths.
Regards,
Frank L
Kenyon – thanks for your post on the lube survey yesterday! I am the chair of the International Rectal Microbicide Working Group and also the chief guy behind LifeLube.org and LifeLube.blogspot.com. I really, really appreciate you helping to get the word out about the survey, and writing about rectal microbicides.
Have a good one my friend. As a thank you, I am linking to you on our blog. Would be delighted if you linked back!
Jim
hey Kenyon. Great blog – loads of great information – thanks for getting the word out. The news in here needs to be covered even though some of it is so infuriating and sad. Please come and check out GBMnews.com – a page where I edit the political section. Hit me up if you think you may wanna contribute
Hello,
You don’t know me, but I have signed up to run the National Aids Marathon on November 25th to raise money for the San Francisco Aids foundation, one of the leading providers of AIDS services the Bay Area.
The AIDS epidemic is far from over. More than one million Americans, and 40 million others around the world, are now living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. In fact, approximately 1 in every 50 San Franciscans is living with HIV/AIDS. The money we raise will support HIV services and prevention programs in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties — to help keep people alive until there’s a cure. A portion of the funds will also support treatment access in the developing world.
This is why I am committed to raise at least $4200 before Auust 4th, although I would like to raise even more. I’m asking for your support. Any donation you can make to help me meet my goal would be most appreciated! It’s so easy to make a donation, just click on the link below. It only takes a few moments to make a contribution that could enhance the life of someone living with HIV/AIDS. Please forward this to anyone else you think may want to contribute.
Thank You,
Maryam Abrishamcar
Just click the link below to donate :
http://www.aidsmarathon.com/participant.asp?runner=SF-5271&EventCode=FL07
Kenyon,
I literally stumbled onto this website. You look great. I miss you and would love to talk to you. I am in NJ all the time so we definately have to meet up. I am so proud of you, I always knew how great you were and now it seems like the rest of the world does to. We definately need to talk I am a grant writer and would love to contribute to the new book in anyway I can.
Love & Kisses from Cleveland,
Chalana Seward-Gilliham
cgilliham@att.net
216-322-7422
Trying to make contact. Would like to chat with you about writing for us at Clik Magazine
404-885-6067
Am a white guy, 57, NW suburbs of Chicago. Seeking friendship with black gay man. Don’t know how to achieve this. Do not drink , smoke, or do drugs so don’t know how to meet such a person. Can you help me out with some suggestions? Interested in writing/dialougue to begin with. Meet at Starbucks or the like…after few times writing.
Jon
Hi Kenyon,
My computer died and I lost your email address… Sorry for being so late in replying! I would love to go to lunch sometime when you come to Philly.
I’ll get your email address from Dan, but until then, take care,
Suzy
Hey Kenyon,
I’m trying to send you an invitation to a gathering…what’s your email address?
Very nice writing. Glad to see this site.
Hey Kenyon, I happened to stumble across your blog, and I’m feelin’ your work. It’s always good to see young black progressives speaking the truth. I’m new to the blog community myself. So, feel free to stop by and check out my page when you get a chance.
~Chauncee
chaunceesmith.com
I typed in davina neo soul looking for something new from her and u poped up. I read your short bio and I must say this is great. Keep up the good work. DC is always having uplifting and functions that support causes such as yours. Check out Brave Soul. I friend of mines is part of it and I sure it may be something u may be interested in attending. Its all positive. Take care, d.
Hi, Kenyon. Hi, everyone. I’m trying to spread the word about this anti-LGBT madness:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/2/objection-to-dsm-v-committee-members-on-gender-identity-disorders
Hey, just stumbled upon the article you did on Davina’s latest album “Return To Soul – Vol.1″, she happens to be a friend of mine who I had the pleasure of meeting back in 2001 when this album was already half done. By this time I was already a huge fan of the first album and have kept in touch with her since. Should you ever like to involve her in any of your works, please feel free to hit me up, I’m kind of her vigilante press person/contact and would love to do anything to get the word of her latest album out there and since you dig her the way I do, I’d be glad to assist…….
Be Blessed
Johnb@rt
great blog! i an now officially a reader!can you send me your contact email?
best, kelly
Great post on Colombia and video
Viva El Frente/Verde[.org]
ok, so it is a color,? green,
who cares the color,
Colombian people are for me, the finest folks in the world, we are all the same in the eyes of God
Viva Colombia
I’m enjoying your blog and will add the link to my own. I’m a black lesbian who luckily happened to stumble onto your site.
[...] AIDS Institute. It featured original essays by E. Patrick Johnson, Tim’m West, David Malebranche, Kenyon Farrow, Thomas Glave, Rev. Osagyfeo Uhuru Sekou and many [...]
[...] via the internets from a brilliant, albeit (slightly) differing frame of reference in an essay by Kenyon Farrow. I stumbled upon “We Real Cool” when researching “cultural appropriation” [...]