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A Brutally Honest VOTE PSA (AUDIO)

This week I talked with activist Reverend Irene Monroe about appearing in our issue driven non-partisan VOTE PSA Campaign we’ve launched on social media & beyond to get the VOTE OUT. As early voting has begun in states across the country OUTTAKE MEDIA™ has spearheaded this timely & compelling VOTE PSA Campaign to bring our LGBTQ community & marginalized grassroots groups together about the importance of voting. Not only will this campaign get people to vote it will also address our issues. Whether you’re Christian, Muslim, Catholic, Jewish, Indigenous or LGBTQ we need to come together now or possibly lose our rights. In our VOTE PSA Rev. Monroe addresses these issues including women’s rights & the rise of hate crimes as we head into a presidential election questioning our Democracy. The campaign is directed by C. Fitz (Queen Sugar, One Perfect Shot), West Coast producer Lissa Forehan (More Beautiful for Having Been Broken) & performing the closing tagline song “Vote For A Working America” is Broadway/Cabaret Diva Ann Hampton Callaway. Produced in the historic Calderwood Studio at WGBH in Boston I want to thank our GBH team including Terry Quinn Director of Studio Operations, Phil Reilly Set design & Lighting Director, Howard Powell Cinematographer, Beth Godlin Lillis Post Production Manager, Editor Deb Holland & Juan José Cadena Duenas Studio Operations Manager. This is a full circle experience for me since I began my career decades ago at WGBH as assistant to Paula Apsell, Senior Executive Producer Emerita NOVA at GBH. I talked to Rev. Irene Monroe about the significance of this VOTE PSA Campaign & her spin on our LGBTQ issues. LISTEN

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Southern Florida’s LGBTQ Film Festival

OUTshine LGBTQ Film Festival’s 42nd edition kicks off in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Thursday October 17th through Thursday October 24th & then continues in Miami Friday October 25th through Sunday October 27th. There will also be select screenings available from Monday October 28th to Sunday November 3rd during the OUTshine at home extension. This is the first time in its event history OUTshine LGBTQ Film Festival will offer 62 acclaimed features & shorts including premieres & documentaries from 25 countries that inspire, entertain & educate audiences in both Broward & Miami-Dade counties during one run. Allen Martello, festival co-director, OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival stated, “We are thrilled to introduce the newly reimagined OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival to South Florida. Film is better with friends & our vision is to bring our community together to celebrate inspiring LGBTQ+ cinema with a fall & a spring festival in Miami & Fort Lauderdale. We’re also thrilled to welcome back FREE Uber rides to & from select film screenings in Miami making it easier for our Fort Lauderdale neighbors to travel to Downtown Miami via rail. By connecting our community, we’re also adding on extra viewings, parties & special events, increasing the festival’s run dates in theaters & at home.” Joe Bilancio, director of programming, OUTshine LGBTQ+ Film Festival concluded, “Film lovers can expect a lineup of international, North American, U.S. & East Coast premieres stacked with notable award-winning & up & coming directors, actors & writers sharing creative visions & personal experiences that excite, exhilarate & uplift the human spirit. At a time when diversity & acceptance is in the spotlight, it’s paramount for us to present films & programs with balanced viewpoints that promote tolerance, equality, understanding & empathy.” 
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GLSEN To Honor Sheryl Lee Ralph

GLSEN the fabulous org dedicated to creating safe & inclusive K-12 schools & learning environments for our LGBTQ youth announced that Emmy winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph will be honored with the Champion Award at its annual fundraising event Rise Up LA. The event hosted by comedian & former educator Joe Dombrowski will also feature a special appearance by Alison Brie. Rise Up LA takes place at NeueHouse Hollywood on October 18th. Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, Executive Director of GLSEN stated, “Sheryl Lee Ralph’s lifelong dedication to advocacy, from telling the stories of Black women to breaking the silence, shame & stigma around the HIV/AIDS epidemic through her DIVA Foundation, is a testament to her commitment to justice. In a time when our community faces unprecedented attacks, her advocacy is a powerful reminder of the strength we draw from each other. We are honored to recognize her at Rise Up LA for championing the rights & dignity of LGBTQ+ youth across the country." Sheryl Lee Ralph is recognized for her portrayal of "Barbara Howard" in ABC's hit comedy Abbott Elementary earning the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 2022 & nominations for the show's second & third seasons. GLSEN will present Ralph with the Champion Award for her dedication to supporting our LGBTQ community. Each year the Champion Award is given to a role model & icon whose advocacy has inspired millions of parents, educators & LGBTQ youth. Ralph’s leadership serves as a beacon of hope our LGBTQ youth facing harmful discrimination & legislation across the country. 
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NCLR & National LGBTQ Womens Survey

NCLR announced they'll be the new home of the National LGBTQ Women’s Community Survey created by the late Urvashi Vaid. Imani Rupert-Gordon, President of the National Center for Lesbian Rights stated, “NCLR is proud to be the permanent home of the LGBTQ Women’s Community Survey. This groundbreaking report is the most inclusive, comprehensive & diverse of its kind. Too often, decisions about the LGBTQ community have been made based on a limited collection of perspectives. Having access to this wealth of data will allow us to better advocate for our entire community.” The survey finally chronicled that LGBTQ women are rich in diverse experience but due to systems of oppression such as sexism, homophobia, transphobia & racism within our culture are severely under-studied & resourced. The comprehensive data set of 5,002 completed surveys is organized around twenty thematic areas & examined through eight demographic lenses. Several reports have been written as a result of the data including the Health Findings Brief released today. This data finds that LGBTQ women experience high rates of trauma, barriers to care, higher rates of arthritis, asthma & cervical cancer & a shorter lifespan than their non-LGBTQ counterparts. Despite these challenges survey respondents also articulated resiliency & community as ways to help them survive & thrive. The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) is a national legal organization committed to advancing the human & civil rights of the LGBTQ community through litigation, public policy advocacy & public education. In one of her last interviews, I had the opportunity to talked to Urvashi about her career & establishing the National LGBTQ Women’s Community Survey in this exclusive podcast. LISTEN  
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Rita Mae Brown Provincetown Event

Women’s Week is celebrating its 40th anniversary in Provincetown now through October 20th with fabulous must-attend events including author Rita Mae Brown in conversation with Felice Cohen on Friday October 18th. Whether you're a life-long fan or new to Rita Mae this event promises to be a truly memorable experience & a rare opportunity to hear firsthand stories & insights from a trailblazer in our LGBTQ community. Don't miss out on this chance to connect with one of the most influential voices of our time. Felice Cohen stated, "Growing up on Cape Cod, I had never heard of Women's Week & now, to be part of the 40th celebration is an honor. The first book I read toward understanding my sexuality was 'Rubyfruit Jungle'. Rita Mae Brown inspired me with her writing, but also her poetry. I put two of her poems in my memoir, Half In. So, to be able to sit down with her, author to author, (for the second time!) & talk about writing & books is a dream come true." Rita Mae will be interviewed by Cohen author of “Half In: A Coming-of-Age Memoir of Forbidden Love” which won the 2023 Goldie Award for nonfiction & the 2022 Book of the Year for Outstanding LGBTQ from the Independent Author Network. Half In was also endorsed by Rita Mae Brown & chosen by Lambda Literary for their Most Anticipated LGBTQ Literature List of memoirs. Rita Mae Brown in conversation with Felice Cohen takes place October 18th from 1 - 2:30P at Provincetown Town Hall located at 260 Commercial Street in Provincetown, MA. Tickets run from $35 up. 
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National Coming Out Day 36th Year

Since 1988 National Coming Out Day is acknowledged on October 11th which is the day that if you haven’t come out yet about your LGBTQ sexual orientation to your family, friends & colleagues it’s time to live as your authentic self & be counted. As Harvey Milk stated, “Burst down those closet doors once & for all, stand up & start to fight.” So here we are in 2024 still living in America without federal protection for our LGBTQ community as we deal with over 400 anti-LGBTQ bills pending across the country & book bannings are a national reality. Just think how refreshing it would be for our next generation to be able to be themselves without these constant attacks. To begin with there needs to be an open dialogue within our school systems & our community so that young people can grow up without this stigma. We also need workplace national protections so that we can’t be fired because of who we love. Congress still needs to pass The Equality Act so our children can grow-up in a world where it’s safe to be themselves instead of dealing with the fact that more than half of LGBTQ K-12 students reported feeling unsafe at school as a result of their sexual orientation & more than one-third reported feeling unsafe because of how they express their gender. As we head towards the 2024 presidential election let's not allow the bullies to win & stand up & vote for candidates who support total equality. Also Spirit Day is next week on Thursday October 17th against LGBTQ bullying & so make sure you wear purple to show your support. 
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MBCC 27th Party For Prevention Event

The 27th Annual Lesbians & LGBTQ Friends Dance to benefit Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) will take place in-person & virtually on Saturday October 26th from 6P to 9:30P EDT. The in-person event will be held at Club Café in Boston, MA & virtually via Zoom. Cheryl Osimo MBCC’s Executive Director stated, “We are grateful to the many people who have supported the Dance for the past 26 years. For the 27th year, we will be honored to acknowledge some of the past & present volunteer MBCC Board Members who have greatly supported MBCC & this special event." Hosted at the fabulous Club Café, Boston's landmark LGBTQ venue this event promises a memorable evening filled with high-energy music by guest DJ Christina from San Francisco, delightful hors d'oeuvres & a vibrant dance lesson by Liz Nania founder & director of OUT to Dance. Attendees rave about the incredible atmosphere, fabulous music & the joyous sense of community. This is not your typical benefit—it's a lively celebration where you can dance the night away & create lasting memories. Funds raised from the Lesbians & Friends LGBTQ Dance help support MBCC’s education programs designed to provide our communities with vital health information on ways to reduce exposure to toxic chemicals in the products they use & in the environments in which they live, learn & work. MBCC’s mission is to prevent breast cancer. Tickets to attend the in-person event at Club Café in Boston, MA are $40 in advance & $45 at the door. Walk-ins are welcome! If you are a student over the age of 21 tickets are $20 in advance & $25 at the door with student ID. To enter Club Café you must be 21 or older. 
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A Brutally Honest VOTE PSA (AUDIO)

This week I talked with activist Reverend Irene Monroe about appearing in our issue driven non-partisan VOTE PSA Campaign we’ve launched on ...

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