{"success":"true","ddl":{"eventName":"Page Auto Load","eventInstanceID":"65156","eventInfo":{"page":{"pageInfo":{"authors":"Jillian Frankel","author":"Jillian Frankel","issueDate":"2016\/07\/31","sponsored":"Not Sponsored","influenceBanner":"No Influence Banner","pageId":"65156","pageTitle":"Turning Barbershops into Safe Spaces for Gay Black Men","pageUrl":"http:\/\/www.takepart.com\/article\/2016\/07\/31\/turning-barbershops-safe-spaces-gay-black-men","pageUrlAlias":"article\/2016\/07\/31\/turning-barbershops-safe-spaces-gay-black-men","siteSection":"article","template":"Article"}},"category":{"primaryTopic":"Culture","topics":"Culture,Gay Rights,Film,Lifestyle","series":"","freeTags":"LGBT,race,documentaries"}}},"output":"\n    \u003Cdiv class = \u0022article-wrapper fresh-content-wrapper clearfix autoloaded \u0022\u003E\n        \u003Cdiv class=\u0022advertisement\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cdiv class=\u0022mobile-article-ad\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n    \u003C\/div\u003E\n    \n  \u003Cdiv class=\u0022fresh-inner-content-wrapper clearfix\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Carticle class=\u0022col-xs-10 col-xs-offset-1 clearfix node node-openpublish-article view-mode-full view-mode-full\u0022 data-ddl-page-id=\u002265156\u0022 data-tp-og-title=\u0022Turning Barbershops into Safe Spaces for Gay Black Men\u0022 data-tp-og-description=\u0022The documentary \u2018Shape Up: Gay in the Black Barbershop\u2019 shows how getting a haircut isn\u2019t always a positive experience for guys who aren\u2019t straight.\u0022 data-tp-og-image=\u0022http:\/\/www.takepart.com\/sites\/default\/files\/black-gay-barbershop.jpg\u0022 data-tp-og-url=\u0022http:\/\/www.takepart.com\/article\/2016\/07\/31\/turning-barbershops-safe-spaces-gay-black-men\u0022\u003E\n\n      \u003Cdiv class=\u0022section\u0022\u003E\n                  \u003Ch1 class=\u0022title\u0022\u003ETurning Barbershops into Safe Spaces for Gay Black Men\u003C\/h1\u003E\n                 \u003Cdiv class=\u0022headline\u0022\u003EThe documentary \u2018Shape Up: Gay in the Black Barbershop\u2019 shows how getting a haircut isn\u2019t always a positive experience for guys who aren\u2019t straight. \u003C\/div\u003E\n           \u003C\/div\u003E\n      \u003Cdiv class=\u0022section\u0022\u003E\n        \u003Cdiv class = \u0022align-sticky\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n            \u003Cdiv class=\u0022row row-remove-xs\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cdiv class=\u0022main-media\u0022\u003E\u003Cpicture  class=\u0022main-image\u0022\u003E\n\u003C!--[if IE 9]\u003E\u003Cvideo style=\u0022display: none;\u0022\u003E\u003C![endif]--\u003E\n\u003Csource srcset=\u0022http:\/\/www.takepart.com\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large_responsive_desktop\/public\/black-gay-barbershop.jpg?itok=lx3QPHRV 1x\u0022 media=\u0022(min-width: 980px)\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003Csource srcset=\u0022http:\/\/www.takepart.com\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large_responsive_tablet\/public\/black-gay-barbershop.jpg?itok=VeMEt02I 1x\u0022 media=\u0022(min-width: 768px)\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003Csource srcset=\u0022http:\/\/www.takepart.com\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/large_responsive_mobile\/public\/black-gay-barbershop.jpg?itok=qIKpFQLj 1x\u0022 media=\u0022(min-width: 0px)\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003C!--[if IE 9]\u003E\u003C\/video\u003E\u003C![endif]--\u003E\n\u003C!--[if lt IE 9]\u003E\n\u003Cimg class=\u0022main-image\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/www.takepart.com\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/\/public\/black-gay-barbershop.jpg?itok=8hdJDHOl\u0022 alt=\u0022\u0022 title=\u0022\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003C![endif]--\u003E\n\u003C!--[if !lt IE 9]\u003E\u003C!--\u003E\n\u003Cimg  class=\u0022main-image\u0022 srcset=\u0022http:\/\/www.takepart.com\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/\/public\/black-gay-barbershop.jpg?itok=8hdJDHOl 775w\u0022 alt=\u0022\u0022 title=\u0022\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003C!-- \u003C![endif]--\u003E\n\u003C\/picture\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022caption\u0022\u003E(Photo: Sunny Miller\/Getty Images; insets: Vimeo)\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E       \u003C\/div\u003E\n           \u003C\/div\u003E\n      \u003Cdiv class=\u0022section\u0022\u003E\n                 \u003Cdiv class=\u0022row\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cdiv class=\u0022author-teaser col-xxs-12 col-xs-10 col-xs-offset-1\u0022\u003E\n  \u003Cdiv class=\u0022line line-style-2\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n  \u003Cdiv class=\u0022row author\u0022\u003E\n          \u003Cdiv class=\u0022published-at col-xxs-10 col-xxs-offset-2\u0022\u003EJul 31, 2016\u003C\/div\u003E\n    \t \n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022image col-xxs-2\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg class=\u0022img-circle\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/www.takepart.com\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/70x70_thumbnail\/public\/profiles\/photos\/web.Jillian.Frankel-bw_120.jpg?itok=2ZY6oqyl\u0022 \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n    \n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022about col-xxs-10 col-xs-7\u0022\u003EJillian Frankel is an editorial intern for TakePart. She is the features and student life editor at the UCLA campus newspaper, \u003Cem\u003EThe Daily Bruin\u003C\/em\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022links col-xxs-10 col-xxs-offset-2 col-xs-3 col-xs-offset-0\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cul class=\u0022menu horizontal-menu\u0022\u003E\n                  \u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/author\/jillian-frankel\u0022 class=\u0022btn btn-secondary\u0022 id=\u0022author_bio\u0022\u003EBio\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n                  \u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/twitter.com\/jillianfrankel\u0022 class=\u0022btn btn-secondary\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022icon i-twitter\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n              \u003C\/ul\u003E\n    \u003C\/div\u003E\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n  \u003Cdiv class=\u0022line line-style-1\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E       \u003C\/div\u003E\n                 \u003Cdiv class=\u0022main-content\u0022\u003E\n      \u003Cdiv class=\u0022field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022field-items\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022field-item even\u0022\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EDerrick Middleton remembers the wave of discomfort that washed over him as a child whenever he entered a local barbershop with his father.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI had to perform masculinity in these spaces,\u201d Middleton told TakePart. \u201cBlack barbershops are some of the most hypermasculine spaces in the world; at times they can remind you of a locker room. This was terrifying for me as a young boy who already felt that I was different from other boys.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERELATED: \u003Ca href=\u0022\/article\/2016\/07\/29\/gay-straight-alliances\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EFor LGBT High Schoolers, Gay-Straight Alliances Spell Safety\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ESome gay black men \u201care out and proud in every aspect of their lives, but they go back into the closet whenever they enter a barbershop,\u201d said Middleton.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHow influential barbershops are in black neighborhoods, as well as the difficulties gay men have with feeling accepted in them, is the subject of the documentary \u003Cem\u003EShape Up: Gay in the Black Barbershop\u003C\/em\u003E. The film, directed by Middleton, won the grand prize at the \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/marchonwashingtonfilmfestival.org\/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EMarch on Washington Film Festival\u003C\/a\u003E in Washington, D.C., in July.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cBarbershops are pillars in the black community that have \u003Ca href=\u0022\/article\/2014\/06\/20\/these-barber-shops-give-stylish-cuts-while-saving-lives\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ehistorically been safe spaces for black men\u003C\/a\u003E to gather and share ideas and information,\u201d Middleton said. \u201cI want to work toward ensuring that these sacred spaces are also safe for and inclusive of the LGBTQ community.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERELATED:\u003C\/strong\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/article\/2015\/04\/19\/black-barbershops-are-the-new-library\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EHaircuts and Harry Potter: Project Sparks Black Boys\u2019 Love of Reading\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe documentary follows black gay men, both clients and barbers, into barbershops in Harlem, New York, as they try to find a place there without sacrificing their identity. The film \u201calso addresses misogyny, which I discovered is very closely linked to homophobia in the ways in which it is expressed within these spaces,\u201d Middleton said. \u201cThere are a great number of women who are just as uncomfortable in barbershops as some gay men are.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERELATED: \u003Ca href=\u0022\/article\/2016\/04\/13\/what-perception-professional-hair-means-black-job-seekers\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EWhat the Perception of \u2018Professional\u2019 Hair Means for Black Job Seekers\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMiddleton grew up in New York City and began visiting barbershops with his dad when he was about five. As he got older, his fear of being excluded for being gay became a reality.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI have a series of personal experiences that have occurred throughout the years that have motivated me to direct \u003Cem\u003EShape Up\u003C\/em\u003E. One of the most impactful was when I was kicked out of a barbershop by a homophobic barber who referred to my asking for a specific haircut as \u2018sissy shit,\u2019 \u201d Middleton said.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EScenes filmed in barbershops give the documentary authenticity, and they also presented production hurdles.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe most challenging aspect of filming was trying to get more candid barbershop footage of what I\u0027d call men behaving badly. No business wants to be portrayed as a homophobic or misogynist space on film, even if that is the reality,\u201d Middleton said.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESo far, Middleton said people who have seen the film, both gay and straight men, have been receptive to it, and he hopes viewers will start talking about how to create inclusive spaces.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI truly believe that in order for us to effect change in these spaces, we must make ourselves visible as part of the LGBTQ community,\u201d Middleton said. \u201cI learned that a vast majority of men in barbershops naturally assume that every guy in the shop is heterosexual unless the person is extremely flamboyant. So what that tells us is that there are a lot of times when gay men are offended unintentionally by men who don\u2019t even realize that there may be LGBTQ people in the room that they are offending.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\t\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022inline-interactive-iframe-wrapper\u0022\u003E\n  \u003Ciframe src=\u0022https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/160968445\u0022 width=\u0022640\u0022 height=\u0022360\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022 webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\n\t\u003Cp\u003E \u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\u0022tap-action-wrapper align-center\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022tap-action\u0022 data-action-id=\u00229035590\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E \u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E       \u003C\/div\u003E\n           \u003C\/div\u003E\n            \n                     \u003Cdiv 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