LA Art Show Premiere Party Event

The LA Art Show has announced that actress Kate Beckinsale will be the official host of the 2019 Opening Night Premiere Gala that takes place at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Wednesday January 23rd from 7P to 11P. Gavin Rossdale lead vocalist & songwriter from the band Bush has joined the roster as the evening’s Art Ambassador. Proceeds from the event will benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for the fifth year in the row. At St. Jude thanks to generous donors families never receive a bill from for treatment, travel, housing or food. SABER will also be creating a new painting live over the course of the evening in partnership with 1849 Wines. It will be auctioned off at the end of the night with all proceeds going to St. Jude. Confirmed celebrity attendees will also include Jessica Szohr, Emma Roberts, Brigitte Nielsen, Kevin Zegers, JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Ashley Tisdale, Barry Sloane, Erin Cummings, Poppy, Ian Bohen, Lance Bass, Denim Richards, Jorge R. Gutierrez, Shepard Fairey, Tristan Eaton, Kassandra Voyagis, Onch Movement, Titanic Sinclair, Danny Carey, Rynne Stump, Bruce Helford, Camille Rose Garcia, Brandi Milne Dosshaus, Sheila Silber, Lauren Willow White, Spencer & Nancy Hunt, Mark Sovel, Skip Heller & Mc¢. In addition to food, beverages, live music & art, gala attendees will be given a special sneak peek of the LA Art Show’s 200,000 sq. ft. of programming featuring over 100 galleries from 18 countries. They will have first dibs to try Marta Minujín’s “Rayuelarte” hopscotch installation, see special performances by Dorian Wood & Sarah & more.
For Info & Tix: laartshow.com
LISTEN: Civil Rights Advocates Dispute Barr AG Nomination
Hear Audio Chats w/ LGBTQ Leaders @OUTTAKE VOICES™
OUTTAKE VOICES™ ON HUFFINGTON POST
SUPPORT OUTTAKE™ @ OUR EQUALITY STORE

America Stalled On MLK Day

Here we are celebrating Martin Luther King Day as the Trump administration continues its brat attack, refusing to reopen the government & placing thousands of federal workers on breadlines. Adding insult to injury Trump addressed the nation on Saturday not once mentioning the plight of what the shutdown has caused so many hardworking American families. Vanita Gupta, President & CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights stated, “Trump continued with his lies, stoking fear & pushing misinformation. He created this shutdown & every day it continues, federal workers, contractors, their families & their communities are left unpaid & are being harmed. Key civil rights enforcement actions are being ignored. Trump has the power to end these crises of his own making. He & Leader McConnell have no further excuses for blocking bipartisan bills that passed the Senate last month & the House this month to end this shutdown. We are deeply skeptical of Trump’s so-called offer on Dreamers & TPS holders, as those too are crises of his own making. Nothing he announced is a compromise or a deal, as evidenced by his lack of discussions with any leaders outside his own party. We also need to see if he changes his mind as he did a year ago when he told legislators to pass a ‘bill of love’ on immigration, but then proceeded to attack Dreamers, refugees & TPS holders & ripped children from the arms of their parents.”
For More Info: civilrights.org
LISTEN: Civil Rights Advocates Dispute Barr AG Nomination
Hear Audio Chats w/ LGBTQ Leaders @OUTTAKE VOICES™
OUTTAKE VOICES™ ON HUFFINGTON POST
SUPPORT OUTTAKE™ @ OUR EQUALITY STORE

Trump’s LGBT Bias Continues

The Fenway Institute of Fenway Health in Boston, Massachusetts has released a policy brief demonstrating that in his second year in office Trump has continued to promote discrimination against our LGBT community & people living with HIV. In some cases these policies are built upon anti-LGBT measures begun in 2017 & in other cases the Trump administration has found new ways to negatively impact U.S. citizens & federal contractors as well as the family members of LGBT foreign diplomats. This administration has also engaged in practices that will increase anti-LGBT stigma & HIV stigma around the world. Sean Cahill, PhD, Director of Health Policy Research at The Fenway Institute stated, “In just two years, we have witnessed the rollback of rights & protections that took decades to win. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to estimate the full extent of harm now taking place. It is undeniable that LGBT people & people living with HIV are now much more vulnerable to discrimination in health care, social services, employment, education & access to basic government services.” Since 1971 Fenway Health has been working to make life healthier for the people in Boston neighborhoods, the LGBT community, people living with HIV/AIDS & the broader population. The Fenway Institute at Fenway Health is an interdisciplinary center for research, training, education and policy development focusing on national and international health issues. Fenway’s Sidney Borum Jr. Health Center cares for youth & young adults ages 12 to 29 who may not feel comfortable going anywhere else, including those who are LGBT or just figuring things out; homeless; struggling with substance use; or living with HIV/AIDS. In 2013, AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts joined the Fenway Health family allowing both organizations to improve delivery of care & services across the state and beyond.
Read Policy Brief…
LISTEN: Civil Rights Advocates Dispute Barr AG Nomination
Hear Audio Chats w/ LGBTQ Leaders @OUTTAKE VOICES™
OUTTAKE VOICES™ ON HUFFINGTON POST
SUPPORT OUTTAKE™ @ OUR EQUALITY STORE

New York Passes Trans Civil Rights

New York’s legislature passed GENDA the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act that will ensure New Yorkers  protections from discrimination on the basis of gender identity & expression in employment, housing & public accommodations. The legislature also passed a ban on the dangerous & discredited practice of conversion therapy. Mel King, Development and Operations Manager at Equality Federation stated, “As a transgender New Yorker, I couldn’t be more proud of my state. All of us, including transgender people & our families, should be able to get a job, rent an apartment & be in the world without the fear of discrimination.” Glennda Testone, Executive Director of The LGBT Community Center added, "This hard-fought victory is a result of more than a decade of dedicated activism, bravery & persistence, led by transgender, gender nonconforming & nonbinary advocates & allies across New York State & beyond. We applaud our legislature’s steadfast leadership & commitment to civil rights as we look forward to continuing our work to build a stronger, more inclusive New York State where all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender & queer people are welcomed, affirmed and fully protected." Dina Marie, Executive Board of the New York Transgender Advocacy Group (NYTAG) concluded, “Transgender & non-binary people need to feel safe within their own communities where they live & work & are contributing & vibrant members. While Governor Cuomo affirmed his support for trans people with an executive order in 2015, today’s passage of GENDA is the final step to the reality that for the State of New York, human rights really do include everyone.” (Graphic by Richard Emmanuel)
LISTEN: Civil Rights Advocates Dispute Barr AG Nomination
Hear Audio Chats w/ LGBTQ Leaders @OUTTAKE VOICES™
OUTTAKE VOICES™ ON HUFFINGTON POST
SUPPORT OUTTAKE™ @ OUR EQUALITY STORE

Deborah Cox At Sin City Sports Event

Grammy-nominated, multi award-winning singer & LGBTQ advocate Deborah Cox will perform at the Sin City Classic Sports Festival, the world’s largest annual LGBTQ sporting event that takes place January 17th to January 20th in Las Vegas, Nevada. Cox will perform during the Festival’s Toyota Sin City Classic Closing Party. Ken Scearce, Sin City Classic Tournament Director stated, “We are thrilled to have Deborah Cox performing at this year’s closing party during the Sin City Classic. She has been a strong ally for the LGBTQ community for decades & we can't wait to hear her dazzle the crowd with all our favorite songs on Sunday night at the Brooklyn Bowl.” The 2019 Sin City Classic presented by Toyota & hosted by The Greater Los Angeles Softball Association (GLASA) brings together LGBTQ sports associations from around the world in order for LGBTQ athletes, fans & allies to enjoy a weekend full of competition, companionship & fun. This year the festival has adopted a new initiative “Play You.” The tournament welcomes all athletes, regardless of sexual orientation & promotes an open environment for everyone to participate in sports through the “Play You” initiative. The Sin City Classic encourages athletes to attend, participate & live authentically. The Sin City Classic is proudly hosted at Flamingo Las Vegas & additional sponsors include the Los Angeles Dodgers, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Athalonz, Caesar’s Entertainment, Charlie’s Las Vegas, Cheers to Las Vegas, Compete, Human Rights Campaign, Piranha Nightclub, GayVN, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Topgolf & White Claw.
For Info & Tix: sincityclassic.org
LISTEN: Civil Rights Advocates Dispute Barr AG Nomination
Hear Audio Chats w/ LGBTQ Leaders @OUTTAKE VOICES™
OUTTAKE VOICES™ ON HUFFINGTON POST
SUPPORT OUTTAKE™ @ OUR EQUALITY STORE

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus Event

The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus is presenting Bobby Jo Valentine in a benefit concert also featuring SFGMC's two ensembles The Lollipop Guild & Homophonics with 100% of the proceeds go to the Campfire Relief Fund & the music programs of Paradise High School. The event takes place on Sunday January 27th at 170 Valencia Street in San Francisco at 5P. Bobby Jo Valentine stated, “I’m performing with the amazing San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus & their two chorales for an unforgettable evening of music raising money for the relief efforts after the Camp Fire last year, in the biggest fire in California history. Even if you’re not in the area, please consider buying tickets in advance to support – 100% goes towards helping the fire relief victims & sending a friend who is in the area.” Bobby Jo Valentine is a nationally touring singer/songwriter who grew up on the seaside of Northern California. His songs are both earthbound & mystical & speak of the gentle, everyday spiritual awakenings of an openhearted life. He’s given a Ted Talk, been awarded Song of the Year three times at the West Coast Songwriter’s Association & performed all over the globe. For 40 years, the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus has served as an international standard bearer for a powerful mix of extraordinary musical excellence and mission-driven activism. Founded in 1978, SFGMC was the first choral organization to courageously proclaim its orientation in its name & is credited with helping start the LGBTQ choral movement that now spans the entire globe, galvanizing & changing the course of LGBT history.
For Info & Tix…
LISTEN: Evangeline Weiss On Motown Creating Change Conference
Hear Audio Chats w/ LGBTQ Leaders @OUTTAKE VOICES™
OUTTAKE VOICES™ ON HUFFINGTON POST
SUPPORT OUTTAKE™ @ OUR EQUALITY STORE

Massachusetts LGBTQ Kids Unsafe

GLSEN has released state-level data from its benchmark National School Climate Survey which shows that Massachusetts schools are not safe for most LGBTQ middle & high school students. In addition many LGBTQ students in Massachusetts do not have access to important school resources such as an LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum & were not protected by supportive & inclusive school policies. Trenda Loftin, Co-Chair GLSEN Massachusetts stated, “This research makes clear that many LGBTQ students in Massachusetts still face hostile school environments, many of which lack the resources to ensure their safety. In order to prioritize the safety & well-being of all students, leaders throughout the state of Massachusetts must support comprehensive policies & practices that are inclusive & affirming of LGBTQ students. ” Since 1999 GLSEN’s biennial National School Climate Survey has consistently demonstrated that specific school-based supports are related to a safer & more inclusive school climate, including supportive educators, LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum, comprehensive & affirming policies & student clubs, such as Gay-Straight Alliances or Gender and Sexuality Alliances (GSAs). Data released shows the majority of LGBTQ students in Massachusetts regularly heard anti-LGBTQ remarks with 72% of LGBTQ students reported regularly hearing homophobic remarks in school & 64% reported regularly hearing negative remarks about transgender people. Some students also regularly heard school staff make homophobic remarks (10%) & many regularly heard school staff make negative remarks about someone’s gender expression (29%). Nearly half of students (45%) experienced at least one form of anti-LGBTQ discrimination at school during the past year.
For More Info: glsen.org
LISTEN: Evangeline Weiss On Motown Creating Change Conference
Hear Audio Chats w/ LGBTQ Leaders @OUTTAKE VOICES™
OUTTAKE VOICES™ ON HUFFINGTON POST
SUPPORT OUTTAKE™ @ OUR EQUALITY STORE

HOME