Gospel singer Tonex interviewed on The Lexi Show recently. In the interview, now on the Internet, Tonex addresses homosexuality (his own) and the black church. When addressed together, these two subjects have always been taboo in the black community. This situation is no different.

Tonex submitted a statement on blackvoices.com about it and the question on the website is should homosexuality still be an issue in the black church? I can’t answer rather it should but I do know that it will be an issue because there’s always a conflict between what is biblically written and what actually takes place. I do hope that Tonex is able to maintain his career. The best part of life is being able to do what you love to do for a living.

Do you think it was a good idea for Tonex to come forward?

So, you’ve already heard about Mackenzie Phillips on Oprah this past week but just in case you’ve been under a rock, I’ll brief you. She went on the Oprah show to promote her book, High On Arrival. In the book and on the show, she talked about her drug use, as well as her 10 year “consensual” sexual relationship with her father, John Phillips from group The Mamas and The Pappas. It started when she was 18 years old. Obviously, this news has caused a media firestorm.

I cannot imagine what it must be like to have to live with something like that. For this reason, not only am I not surprised that she had an alcohol/drug problem for so long, I would not be surprised if she relapses off and on throughout her life. I suppose this is why she needed to go public. It must have been eating her alive.

Do you think going public about incest will help Mackenzie Phillips heal and overcome her alcohol and drug problems?

Singer Beyonce intends to try performing in Malaysia in October. She will be bringing her I Am Tour to them, according to her website. This is the same country that opposed her performing two years ago because of her revealing clothes and sexy image. Back then, they threatened to protest and disrupt her show.

I don’t know why she chose to revisit the idea of going to Malaysia but I do know it’s hard to change people, especially when they’re entrenched in conservative culture. She may want to let this one go.

Do you think Beyonce should try to do a concert in Malaysia?

Yes, I watch The Real Housewives of Atlanta. The women on the show (Nene, Sheree, Kim, Lisa and Khandi) are entertaining and educational. The show is a real eye opener about the way some people live. It also reminds me why I don’t keep too many female friends around. *shaking my head* Anyway, my favorite housewife (although she is not one) is Khandi, former member of Xscape. I like her compassion for Kim, even though Kim seems to talk about the other women a lot and lack real musical talent or drive. I think Khandi’s sincere and is the least likely to cause drama.

Do you watch the show? Who’s your favorite cast member?

I watched the MTV Video Music Awards tribute to Michael Jackson. Madonna opened talking about her experiences with him. Dancers performed his most recognized dance moves. After their performance, Janet Jackson performed Scream while the video that she and Michael shot together played on the screen behind her. It was a nice tribute.

I say “nice” because this is probably as good as it will get. Although I liked hearing Madonna talk about trying to get Michael Jackson to eat french fries and curse, I don’t think there’ll ever be a tribute that fully captures the impact he had on Pop culture. So for now, I’m sticking with “nice tribute.”

Have the Michael Jackson tributes you’ve seen done Jackson justice?

I remember watching In The House years ago. It’s funny how you watch TV/movies or listen to songs and never know that the people behind them are suffering. There have been reports for awhile that actress and daughter of author BeBe Campbell, Maia Campbell has been struggling with mental illness and drug addiction.

Recently, her grandparents released a statement saying that she is in a treatment facility after www.worldhiphop.com showed video of Campbell in an alleged drug induced rant. My experience with people who have mental illnesses is that you have to let them go through things on their own. The only thing you can do is try to support them and remember that there is still a real person in there.

Maia Campbell has struggled with this for awhile. She is now 32 years old. Do you think she’ll be able to find the help that she needs soon?

Singer Usher and his estranged wife Tameka Foster are now officially divorced. In Upscale Magazine, she talked about the marriage and the public’s treatment of her. People, in general, were not very nice to the couple and Tameka thinks it was because of the way that she looks. She basically chucks it up to self-hatred and believes that black women would have been happier, if Usher had married a more exotic looking woman.

I think it’s a little deeper than that. I once read that the relationship between a performer and their audience is very personal. Usher has been performing for over 15 years; he’s sold millions of records and has millions of fans. To his fans, he’s no longer a performer; He’s family. I think some of his fans really didn’t like the way Foster looked but I also think they were concerned about him due to some reports about her background. With that said, I do wish them both the best.

Why do you think people had a problem with Usher’s ex-wife, Tameka?

Rumor has it that actress Halle Berry is expecting her second bundle of joy. Her daughter, Nahla, is now a year old. Berry has said that she would like to have more children. If she is pregnant, this will be her second child with model Gabriel Aubry. I always thought motherhood would be good for her. So, if she is expecting again, I’m nothing happy for her.

Do you think Halle Berry has changed (for the better) since becoming a mother?