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Women’s Week Celebrates 41 Years

Women’s Week is celebrating its 41st anniversary in Provincetown now through October 19th with fabulous must-attend events. There will be over 300 individual events during the 2025 line-up from the numerous venues, performers, producers, organizations, artists, authors, tour operators & individuals who will be hosting events all week on for Women’s Week. Some of the highlights include a Conversation with Janis Ian on October 17th at Town Hall 260 Commercial Street at 2P where you can spend the afternoon with the legendary singer-songwriter whose music has defined generations. This special program will feature an intimate live interview & an audience Q&A offering insight into Janis’s music, her activism & her remarkable life journey. Then on Saturday on October 19th comedian Kate Clinton will perform “Afternoon Delight” at Town Hall for a 3P show of unforgettable laughter, wit & unapologetic humor. There will also be Cris Williamson’s 50th Anniversary of The Changer & The Changed album concert & Suede will be part of the Town Hall Series. Comics, singers, musicians come to Ptown to delight & entertain attendees including Zoe Lewis, Suzanne Westenhoefer, Vickie Shaw, Melissa Crispo, BETTY, Jennie McNulty, Mimi Gonzalez & Judy Gold among others. Provincetown has hosted this festival in October in celebration of Women sponsored by the Women Innkeepers that turns this vibrant seaside haven at the tip of Cape Cod into a Women’s Festival that has over 150 different events for every taste & interest. Whether it’s getting to see the best performers & comics in our LGBTQ culture today, attending a great workshop, seeing a Women At Waters Edge Film or just walking down Commercial Street for fabulous shopping or restaurant cuisine there’s something for everyone in Provincetown during Women’s Week. 
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Elizabeth Taylor Passion Strives (AUDIO)

This week I talked with Tim Mendelson who was the longtime executive assistant to legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor & is currently a trustee & officer of The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF). Tim worked fulltime for Taylor from the early 1990s until her death in 2011 beginning as a freelance production assistant in 1984 but after assisting with Taylor's "White Diamonds" perfume tour in 1991 she hired him as her secretary. He eventually became her executive assistant & worked with her closely on her charitable endeavors including her fight against AIDS. Mendelson & Taylor developed a close & trusting relationship over their decades together. As a trustee of her estate & The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation he continues Taylor's humanitarian work. Taylor co-founded The Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) in 1985 & The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) in 1991. Tim personally witnessed Elizabeth’s passionate drive to help people affected by HIV/AIDS with an immediacy that she felt was crucial for this fight. Currently Tim remains dedicated to keeping Elizabeth’s voice & spirit pre-eminent in HIV/AIDS activism for the purpose of ensuring it is at the forefront of current actions concerning this global pandemic. Mendelson has appeared in documentaries related to Elizabeth Taylor including the fabulous film “Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes” (2024) on MAX. With thousands of Gen Z & Gen Alpha fans newly discovering Elizabeth through Taylor Swift’s new album it’s a perfect time to highlight what this fierce ally brought to our LGBTQ community through her lifetime. I talked to Tim about what he would like to accomplish with Elizabeth Taylor’s legacy & his spin on our LGBTQ issues. LISTEN 

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Voices Rising Film Festival New Home

Voices Rising Film Festival runs November 8th to 15th kicking off at its new home The Kumble Theater on Long Island University’s Brooklyn, NY Campus in partnership with the Media & Film Department. Continuing its mission to elevate underrepresented voices the festival explores identity, resilience, love, family & freedom through storytelling that pushes boundaries. Each screening weekend will feature panel discussions, live performances & collaborations with advocacy partners creating spaces for healing dialogue & grassroots connection. Partner organizations this season include New York State Youth Leadership Council, Mothers & Daughters & volunteers from the American Cancer Society all dedicated to driving grassroots impact through art. Jaret Martino Voices Rising Festival Founder stated, “This season is more than just a showcase of captivating films; it's a call to action. At a time when authentic voices are too often silenced or overlooked, our mission to uplift underrepresented filmmakers, screenwriters & artists is more vital than ever. This festival is a celebration of bold storytelling, diverse cultural perspectives & the power of cinema to spark meaningful dialogue, shift perceptions & foster a sense of community. We invite you to be moved, to be challenged & to be inspired. Partnering with New York State Youth Leadership Council (NYSYLC) is the heartbeat of Voices Rising. Their grassroots leadership & fearless dedication to immigrant youth mirror everything we stand for. Together, we’re not simply screening films—we’re building movements & creating room for voices that deserve to be heard.” Voices Rising Film Festival is a platform for bold storytelling, advocacy & community celebration merging film & activism to amplify the voices of underrepresented individuals. 
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National Coming Out Day 37th Year

Jean O’Leary & Dr. Robert Eichberg organized the first National Coming Out Day on October 11th in 1988 & artist Keith Haring who I had the pleasure of meeting contributed his 1988 iconic image. On National Coming Out Day in Boston we’re attending a celebration at Boston City Hall Plaza. Remember that coming out isn’t just a moment it’s a story, your story. In 1993 the National Coming Out Day org merged with HRC then known as the Human Rights Campaign Fund which created the National Coming Out Project in 1996. Kelley Robinson HRC President stated, “Everyone deserves the freedom to live authentically & unapologetically. Coming out to one’s community, family, friends & loved ones should be a joyous event, a recognition that a person is entering a new chapter in their life & in their journey of self-discovery. At a moment when the nation’s most powerful people long for a future that dims our light & forces us back into the closet, coming out is also an act of defiance. But for too many others, coming out is still challenging, difficult & even unsafe. That’s why those of us who are able to be ourselves publicly must continue to do so, to live loudly & proudly, so we can create a world where all people can be free–no matter what.” National Coming Out Day (NCOD) is marked each year on October 11th exists to celebrate those who are living their truths as members of our LGBTQ community. HRC & the HRC Foundation build power through partnerships, storytelling & action working to create a future rooted in equity, freedom & belonging for all LGBTQ people. 
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Pink Martini All Stars American Tour

Pink Martini is touring America now through December featuring the debut of the Pink Martini All-Stars led with the mastery of Thomas Lauderdale & powerhouse singers from the group’s extended musical family. The All-Stars include longtime Pink Martini collaborators & guest vocalists Ari Shapiro, Edna Vazquez, Jimmie Herrod & on occasion Massachusetts native Storm Large each bringing their own signature sound & show-stopping presence to the stage. Catch them this week in New England October 8th at Shalin Lui Performance Center in Rockport, MA, October 10th Hanover Theatre in Worcester, MA, October 11th at The Park Theatre in Cranston, RI & on October 12th at Cary Hall in Lexington, MA where OUTTAKE MEDIA will attend. Storm Large stated, “New England, perfect for spooky season, my favorite time of year, love it. I played with Pink Martini years ago in Rhode Island & played there with my own band, but it's been a while, so it'll be nice to get back. It's just joyful, fun music. It's so good in such a difficult time." Then Pink Martini All-Stars are on to Nashua Center for the Arts in Nashua, NH October 13th returning to Plymouth Memorial Hall in Plymouth, MA on October 15th before heading to the Tarrytown Music Hall in Tarrytown, NY on October 16th. Then they’ll be returning to the West Coast & Texas before concluding in Chicago, IL December 17th. Following that they’ll embark on a string of “Holiday Shows” in December. Other vocalist & instrumentalists include Timothy Nishimoto (percussion), Antonis Andreou (trombone), Thomas Barber (trumpet), Dan Faehnle (guitar), Phil Baker (double bass), Miguel Bernal (percussion), Anthony Jones (drums), Nicholas Crosa (violin) & of course Thomas Lauderdale (piano). 
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Ann Hampton Callaway Best In Boston

Ann Hampton Callaway brings her new show “The Best of Ann Hampton Callaway” Friday October 10th to Scullers Jazz Club in Boston, MA. The Tony nominated singer-songwriter will dazzle with highlights from her hit shows The Streisand Songbook, Ann Hampton Callaway Sings the ‘70s, The Linda Ronstadt Songbook, To Ella with Love, From Sassy to Divine: The Sarah Vaughan Project & Finding Beauty: Inspired Classics & Originals. Callaway stated, “Boston friends, I can’t wait to spoil you with “The Best of Ann Hampton Callaway” on Friday, October 10th at 7P at Scullers Jazz Club. On the heels of my NYC run at 54 Below I’ll be giving my all to you in this one-woman show- nothing left by the end of the night!” In “The Best of Ann Hampton Callaway” Ann draws the audience attention to the women singer-songwriters who have inspired her because being inspired by women singer-songwriters is a part of the Callaway’s passion. This fabulous musical smorgasbord includes tributes to Peggy Lee, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Carole King, Barbra Streisand & more creating a spectacular setlist that also includes Callaway’s original songs & don’t be surprised if she creates a song taken from the live audience’s participation. Nothing is more soothing than music in these challenging times so come see a superbly intelligent, singularly creative pop-jazz stylist who can stand shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Streisand & Ronstadt for the sheer vocal beauty. Ann escorts her audience through the decades, the albums, the live shows, the people & the emotions proving why she’s always in demand. 
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Faith Leaders Address Healthcare Crisis

Members of MCAN a faith & values grassroots org are calling on elected leaders to choose long-term justice over short-term fixes addressing the government shutdown. Rev. Emmanuel Daphnis of Restoration Community Church stated, “While we grieve the harm a shutdown causes for workers, families & communities, we know from our scriptures & traditions that choosing what is expedient over what is just leads to deeper suffering. We cannot accept a budget that locks in devastating cuts from the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill, stripping resources from our schools, health care, housing & the safety net that so many of our families depend on.” Rev. Nathan Ives added, “We are encouraged by senators & legislators who are boldly standing with the millions who would be devastated by cuts to health insurance tax credits. No one welcomes a shutdown, but keeping the government open by forcing huge hikes in health insurance premiums on our most vulnerable is not liberty & justice for all.” Janine Carreiro-Young, Co-Executive Director of MCAN concluded, “Scripture calls us to care for the widow, the orphan & the stranger — those most vulnerable among us. Passing a budget that sacrifices their wellbeing for political gain is nothing less than a moral failure. A temporary shutdown is painful, but passing a cruel budget locks us into permanent injustice.” MCAN has a 35+ year history as a faith & values rooted org rooted in diverse spiritual traditions. MCAN centers equity & justice to lead our nation towards truly being a “more perfect union” in partnership nationally with Faith In Action. 
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Women’s Week Celebrates 41 Years

Women’s Week is celebrating its 41st anniversary in Provincetown now through October 19th with fabulous must-attend events. There will be ov...

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