This millennium has ushered in a vast number of articles on and about a relatively new catch phrase "Down Low" or "DL", that decades old lifestyle, (if not centuries old). It's been no secret that for an awful long time men have been sleeping with other men while perpetrating a fraud that they were heterosexual. Some were even married with wives who appeared clueless. Men on the other hand, in the past, have revealed that they could spot a "closet sissy"; it's just that those conversations were "closeted".

With the on set of HIV/AIDS, there's no time to play silly games, for if one is going to behave as an adult, partaking in adult behaviors, then one need to fess up and act with integrity and honor.

However, the price of integrity and honor is all too often, too high to pay. To "come out," means for many, a lost, be it a financial or social one. Being faced with ostracism from friends, family and society. What's done behind closed doors for some is just better kept there.

"But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress. For men will be lovers of self……….For men shall be lovers of their own selves….II Timothy, The Holy Bible (whichever version you prefer).

And no matter how often Minister Farrakhan gives the "final call," not being anti-gay, but upholding that homosexuality is an abomination to God. As in the last, last days, a warning to the not so wise doesn't quite cut it.

So now, do sisters feel that what's good for the goose is good for the gander that two can play? There are brothers out here who say that sisters are on the DL. They have been called "lipstick lesbians". They're not the old-fashioned "Butch" looking type female, in fact, one would never know just by looking at her. She may not broadcast or strut her stuff for all to see, but seems to keep hers like a cat, covered.

There maybe women whom, to us everyday folk feel may be bisexual or homosexual, but "we" only have those conversations amongst ourselves, you know, on the phone or hanging out with our buddies. There are some very heavy weight popular personalities that are "suspect", which if I named in this article, would lead me into litigiousness, so name, names, "not'!

I'd say about two or three times a year a gay/homosexual/bisexual/lipstick lesbian or just plain freak woman will hit on me. It's very subtle, (personally I want to smack them for it), but then I simply ignore it with my body language that says, Whatever you are thinking, I'm straight. So I forge ahead, wondering what has happened in our society, why DL women just don't hit on other DL women. Don't they have some sort of look they give each other like DL men or are they just feeling a little pushy, (some in the work place are more aggressive than men) overbearing, dominating, wanting to test new waters, or are they just plain horny. Whatever!

Whatever they are feeling, straight men ain't! They don't want to find or catch their woman or wife with Taneka, (unless they are real big freaks) just like us straight sisters don't want to catch our man or husband with Leon. And the beat goes on.

What has brought about this change in events, drugs, incarceration, finances, loneliness, the devil, the times? Whatever has caused it, I for one believe it's here to stay. Sex is no longer considered a sacred act by the masses of human beings (Question, has it ever?).

Humans don't believe that "What! Don't you know that your body is the temple of The Holy Spirit." (Quote from the same book.) We sell our bodies, abuse them, misuse them, bargain and negotiate with them. News flash, we don't get another one, not in this life- time.

Sex and money rule this world, not many have self-control and not many are practicing it. Being celibate is like being broke. And being celibate and broke is like sitting on your gold mine and dying poor. And all because you're trying to live a righteous and moral life. And in the end, we all know what that get's ya!

E. Lee Sullivan is a freelance writer and spiritual life coach living in Atlanta, GA, contact Lee at leesullivan2004@yahoo.com

© 2004 By Afromerica

Ms. E. Lee Sullivan will be keeping the Black community updated on the most current social issues effecting our lives. Visit regularly for new information that could help you pursue a more positive lifestyle.

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