It's been 13 years since James Earl-Hardy's masculine versus femme novel B-Boy Blues (which you're now making into a movie). Has the dynamic between masculine and feminine men changed in the last decade?

As much as B-Boy Blues seemed edgy and relevant in 1994; it's even more so now. When James wrote the book it was just the beginning of the hip-hopisation of the gay community—when we stopped playing house music and started listening to Lil' Kim.

And then going from that to really being a culture with this weird erotic fascination with thugs. There are men who don't appear to be gay or self-identify with being gay or, even worse, don't respect other gay men. And so, one of the things that I've been excited about is working on B-Boy Blues and updating the book to a relevant, sexy and powerfully dynamic film.

You're very vocal about how safe we are as a community. How can we push the boundaries?

I do think we are too safe. We're so concerned with what other people think. We're just going to have to push. I'm a big believer in pushing the boundaries and the envelope. If we don't, we'll always stay in a safe place.

There have to be artists who are bold enough to make new statements. There have to be people in our community who are brave enough to take that challenge, whether that be audiences that go see movies or pick up books to support authors. We have to think about what it is we value as a community.

There is such a fascination with men who are masculine.

I don't necessarily define masculinity by the type of shoes you wear, the language you speak or your physical characteristics. I define masculinity by your state of character as a man and who you are in essence. As black gay men, we really need to talk about what it means to be a man in our community. It's not about being a ruff neck at some lounge in Brooklyn standing up against the wall; it's about being the kind of guy who takes accountability, the kind of guy who is responsible, the kind of guy who's involved in his community and the kind of guy who advocates for his family. That, to me, is masculine.

So, is that the type of man that attracts Maurice Jamal's attention?

[laughs] It is. I've been single for a minute. People always ask me why I'm single. It's about finding folks who inspire me. I like a guy who makes me laugh and who's intelligent. I love a guy who has a great relationship with his family and has good friends. That's wonderful. I'm at a place in my life when those things mean a lot.

You've made many references to being a superhero and every superhero has a weakness. What's your Kryptonite?

A guy with a killer smile and beautiful eyes. [laughs] I'm also a sucker for a cause and I can't turn down a really good waffle. It's a problem.

Plain, with bananas or with whipped cream?

It really doesn't matter and that's the big problem.

Well, next time you're in New York I'll take you out for a waffle.

Done.

Maurice Jamal's acclaimed film Dirty Laundry hits screens nationwide December 28th.