Jimmie Starr of Poets Artists & Madmen: An interview with Homer Gibbins better known as The Love Assassin:
Written by Jimmie Starr & Interviewed by April Marchello
PA&M: Why the alias love assassin?
HG: Because without a doubt there for the longest time in my life, if it felt like love, if it was heading that way, I would kill it. I would
either smoother it to death or all out murder any chance for something of significance. I was the infamous love assassin, not that it's
a name that I wanted but it seemed to fit me well. So if the shoe fits wear it well.
PA&M: I have heard that you feel, you are very hard to define?
HG: Oh yeah, I'm a walking contradiction for sure. I guess when you have so many passions battling with in you, it seems to get kind
of confusing to others and yourself even. I wouldn't have me an other way, I have grown very fond of me. It really has been a help
with the passions of an artist. It just gets crazy when you involve others.
PA&M: As an artist I have heard that you struggle with your inability to not see color?
HG: I wrestled with that in my earlier years but recently I have been able to except that not all the so called handicaps are really that much of a handicap. Every thing is perspective, I see the color pink real well and I love things that shine. Those things to me are beautiful, when I wear them or paint with them. To others they may be too bold or bright or too brilliant for someone who isn't as comfortable in their skin as I am. Some think I look like a flamer, and like I care. I've been misunderstood for most of my life. In high school I hung with the gals, not because I was gay but they had what I was addicted to. I didn't want to spend my time talking to the guys, like what was that going to gain me, a male perspective. I had that already.
PA&M: So you would say that your comfortable with your life?
HG: Most definitely. I have passions that burden me but other than that I would have to say I'm very comfortable. Every man has demons that he must conquer in life but in the end they define him. I'm no more, no less than the angel you would have me be.
PA&M: You say your no angel, is that the fighter that we have heard about?
HG: I'm going to say yes for argument sake.
PA&M: Your just saying yes to move forward with the interview or is it there is a secret subject that we are forbidden to tackle.
HG: Well as a poet you have read that, I have always struggled the inability to obtain that which continues to alude me. It could very well be the apparent, that I think of love differently than women do. I have always fought with the understanding of what love is. Being a man I would think it's more to do with the physical but there are so many other undefined things about love that have me perplexed by it. It's the emotional, spiritual, and relational areas of love that are what most of my writing revolve around. They are misguided attempts to obtain that which for me was unobtainable. If I can't master it, I would have to say that I am a slave to it, and that pierces the heart of my fragile ego.
PA&M: With so many poets they write out of the depth of hurt but that doesn't seem to be where you write from?
HG: Well then you have not understood my writings. It is all about my unyielding passion to possess passion but then, I always fail miserably.
PA&M: So what they say about "A fighter not a lover" is true?
HG: I wouldn't say that, ha ha, I'd rock your world. ha ha. No, I'm just kidding! Really I'm a person who would fight for your love. I'm the kind of man you want, you would never get bored. I think of myself as a person with a multiple personality disorder. I can't be put in a category because I wouldn't fit in just one, not just because I gained a few pounds either. Like I told my wife "I will love you so many different ways, your bound to like one of them."
PA&M: If you could reveal one thing to people that you don't think people know, what would it be?
HG: I really am straight! ha ha and for those that still question, ask you gal she knows the truth!
PA&M: Do you think your writings will every be published in a book?
HG: Well my wife hopes not that's for sure.
PA&M: Last Question, how do you want to be remembered?
HG: Well not as an artist, actor, boxer, comedian, carpenter, painter, or poet. I hope that people remember me as Homer, the Homer that you know in what ever area of life that is. I guess in the end I just want to be remembered. If I have worked for you I want you to always think of me before you do any thing else. If I boxed you, I hope you remember me as a fighter that humbly kicked your butt. If you saw me do stand-up or we met, I hope you think of me as someone that tried desperately to make you laugh, even if it meant making a fool of myself. If I was a lover, then I hope that my memory has been forever pressed on the pages of your mind and that I am the reason you are able to love greater today.
In 1995 after going the distance with Hector Mach Camacho, Homer fought Jake "the snake" Rodrigues for the WBU title. His neck had caused him to have no reflexes in his legs almost like being paralyzed. The doctors at LSU Medical told him he could not fight anymore that the fighting days were over. Homer now is willing to admit that he lied to doctors he was able to read the doctors faces and tell them what they wanted to hear. Just to be able to pursue his career after his marriage ended when his career did.
Homer went into other fighters hometown and fought any and everyone. He beat Chad Broussard in his hometown to win a second World title. Homer has been willing to tell me he was scared to death in a number of fights because he felt that he had no feeling in his legs. Dr. John "Jack" Griffin neurologist at John Hopkins was a friend of Homer's and send a letter to the commission exposing Homer because he cared about Homer. Homer now is willing to admit to his stupidity and is convinced that God watched over him during his rebellious stage. 2008 Homer walked away from the sport altogether to be a dad to his six children Matthew Hill, Heather Gibbins, Paten Gibbins, Josiah Gibbins, Gabriella Gibbins, and Naomi Gibbins. Ages from 21 to 2 years old.
Who's ever heard of a boxer that is a poet and an artist in and outside the ring.
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