Why Join the LGBT Recording Academy of the Arts?

• Be a part of the alliance of LGBT recording artists and performers who are dedicated to raising more awareness in supporting efforts to end homophobia and the stigma associated with being openly gay in the music and entertainment industry.

• Build a stronger alliance! There is strength in numbers. The Academy is dedicated to creating opportunities that offer members benefits as a collective. This year, we are embarking on attaining affordable life insurance and liability insurance as well as other services for our members.  (more information to come in September 2010)

• Support advocacy which help us to forge strategic community partnerships to offer members a better opportunity to be exposed to a broader audiences.

• Preserve the Legacy of OUTMUSIC – The LGBT Academy of Recording Arts (LARA). It is the premiere 501c3 non-profit grass root powered organization dedicated to promoting LGBT Recording Artists and Performers for 20 years. It is the ONLY organization of it’s kind in the world.

• Get your pre-sale ticket now when you join the Academy!! Participate in the biggest night in LGBT music entertainment! Receive 1 ticket to the 2010 OMAs and entry for 1 to the official 20th Anniversary after party when you join now!

• Receive collective discounts as we build our international constituency.

• Be a part of making CHANGE in building a stronger future! Support the 100% volunteer staff working towards building a bright future for openly LGBT Recording Artists and Performers. All proceeds go towards administrative costs and production of the OUTMUSIC AWARDS.

Be A Part of Giving Back Through The Gift of Music!

PAY IT FORWARD! - The OUTMUSIC Foundation will launch the ‘Sponsor A Young Person’ initiative to help combat the epidemic rate of homeless youth in America.

There are several ways in which members of the Academy can participate in community programming through the OUTMUSIC Foundation initiative.

• Join our efforts when you upload your music to be sold in the NEW! OUTMUSIC online store. The only online music store dedicated to promoting and selling the music of openly LGBT artists.
  

• As  a member of the Academy, you will have the opportunity to participate in the ‘Sponsor A Young Person’ initiative via our music store PAY IT FORWARD program. This program is designed for you to donate 50% of your music or music video download. 100% of these download proceeds will go to organizations like Hetrick-Martin Institute home of the Harvey Milk High School.

As a member of the Academy, you will have the opportunity to help in building a Community Fellowship Program to create opportunities for young people in our community to study music, vocals, performance and production. Sign up and join the Academy for more information on this amazing opportunity E-mail us at contact@outmusicawards.com

7/3/2010 – The Gay Warrior Song is #1 on CDBaby’s Out & Proud, Reggae, and  Smooth Reggae Charts, its also #5 on the Neo-Soul chart.

7/2/2010 – The Gay Warrior Song is #1 on CDBaby’s Out & Proud, Reggae, and  Smooth Reggae Charts, its also #6 on the Neo-Soul chart.

6/30/2010 – GWS is #1 on CDBaby’s Out & Proud and Smooth Reggae Charts, #2 on the Reggae Chart, and #8 on the Neo-Soul chart.

If you haven’t downloaded The Gay Warrior – I invite you to click the link below and download it today.  You’ll be helping out a great cause.

A big thank you to everyone at Black Gay Gossip for all the support they have given me over the past year.  Every time something special happens in my career.  Black Gay Gossip is there to cover it and share it with their readers.  I really appreciate this.   Thank you again and enjoy the stories below…

Nhojj on Pandora 8/5/2010

NYC Gay Parade 6/26/2010

Gay Warrior Song 6/17/2010

Gay Pride Tour 5/3/2010

LOGO Video Premiere 2/16/2010

Blueprint Video Release 2/15/2010

Nhojj Wins Out Music Award for “Love” 12/30/2009

New Video: Nhojj “Love” 11/30/2009

Dope Music Monday 08/09/2009

(Billboard Publicity Wire/PRWEB ) June 24, 2010 — President Barak Obama proclaimed June Gay Pride Month. In celebration and as a song of strength and hope for the Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender (LGBT) community, Nhojj presents “The Gay Warrior Song,” which he will debut in New York City at The Heritage of Pride Parade on June 27.

Already #3 on CDBaby’s Out & Proud Chart, proceeds from the sale of “The Gay Warrior Song” will be donated to the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD), an LGBT rights organization based in Nhojj’s homeland of Guyana. SASOD is committed to eradicating discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation.

Nhojj will perform “The Gay Warrior Song” before tens of thousands of people lined up along the NYC Gay Pride Parade route on the Glo TV float. Glo TV is the first urban LGBT Television Network of its kind in the world.

On June 19th Nhojj performed his new gay anthem in Providence, RI at their Rhode Island Pridefest; on June 20th at a church service at the historic St. Marks in the Bowery in the East Village section of New York; and on June 21st at an upper east side Manhattan awards ceremony—the 7th Annual Fresh Fruit Festival Awards at Jan Hus Playhouse.

He received the Music Award of Distinction at the Fresh Fruit Awards. The awards honor outstanding performances and recognize community leaders whose achievements include supporting the arts and the LGBT community. Special honorees included the first openly gay NY State Senator, Tom Duane, Off Broadway legend and pioneering LGBT playwright Doric Wilson, and Under the Pink Carpet producer, Tony Sawicki. This marks the 2nd time Nhojj has won the award.

The parade will wrap up a string of American gay pride performances for Nhojj. His tour covered heartland cities – Fort Collins, CO; Providence, RI; Lexington, KY; Kansas City, MO; and Indianapolis, IN, where he opened the pride festivities with an a cappella rendition of the Star Spangle Banner. On July 17 Nhojj will headline in Germany at the Christopher Street Day Munich gay pride festival.

Nhojj, son of a Minister, grew up in Guyana , and went to high school in Trinidad prior to coming to the United States to attend college. Before he could read or write he sang at his father’s church, and eventually on radio and television shows. Twice he sang in large stadiums – once for the President of Guyana, and once for the President of Trinidad. After graduating with honors from New York University with a Bachelors Degree in Economics, he returned to his passion—singing—and began recording.

To date Nhojj has released 6 album releases, and a DVD directed by Emmy nominated Bill Cote. He is the first black male to win an OutMusic Award, and also the first gay artist to top the mainstream MTV Music charts with a gay music video. His music has been compared with such luminaries as Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Sade, Bobby McFerrin, and Maxwell.

Nhojj wrote “The Gay Warrior Song” as an affirmation to LGBT people everywhere. “War is usually related to physical territory” Nhojj explains. “But today’s gay warrior is not fighting for physical territory, today’s gay warrior is fighting for mental, emotional, and spiritual territory. Today’s gay warrior is fighting for acceptance… for inclusion… for equality… and ultimately for the well being that winning this war brings.”

I had a great time talking with Helen & Sean from BloomingOUT – your mid west queer connection, out, loud, and proud. You can listen to the interview at BloomingOUT WFHB site by clicking the pic above:)

However the gay warrior is not fighting for physical territory, the gay warrior is fighting for mental, emotional, and spiritual territory. The gay warrior is fighting for acceptance… for inclusion… for equality… and ultimately for the well being that winning this war brings.

I’m donating the proceeds to SASOD (The Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination) – an LGBT Rights organization in Guyana, the country I grew up.

I hope you will support this song by clicking the link below.

Love & Light

Nhojj

When you download this song, you will be helping to raise money for a Gay Community Center in Guyana where teens and adults could find refuge, safety and the support they need.

When you buy this song, you will helping change laws that have oppressed us. I want change, don’t you?

You don’t have to decide to download this song now, you can decide later – but whenever you do decide remember to always live your truth! My love is your love… its all One Love. Share this message of hope – happy Pride.

Love & Light
Nhojj

Chorus 1
I am a warrior preparing for war
I am a warrior I step through this door
The enemy is ignorance
The enemy is hate
I am a warrior
I’m fighting for… I’m fighting for…
I’m fighting for Love

Verse 1
On the right, they claim the victory
But I can see the fear they try to hide
They push the future out in the streets
Of depression and disease
My own people, some so abused
Some don’t recognize the God in you
Youth try suicide – we have to help them live
The world needs love – that’s what I have to give
Love’s what I have to give

Verse 2
Open your hearts and let Love march in
Courage will free the minds of many today
Knowing the truth of how God made you
Just embrace your true soul
Jah said to love one another
Even as I do love you
Jah said love one another
Because in love you find the truth
Love is the truth

Chorus 2
I am a warrior preparing for war
I am a warrior I step through this door
The enemy is ignorance
The enemy is hate
But our weapon is our love
Love’s stronger than hate
Love barricades

Our weapon is our Love
Love’s stronger than hate
Sooner or later truth will prevail
I know it will

Our weapon is our love
Love’s stronger than hate
The beauty in our love
Will soon liberate
Love elevates

Your weapon is your love
Love’s stronger than hate
The power in your love
Will conquer someday
Love finds a way

Background Vocals
My Love is your Love
Our Love is pure Love
Its all One Love

Words & Music by Nhojj