Supreme Court Reviews LGBT Rights

It’s amazing that in 2019 our LGBT civil rights once again remain in the hands of a totally heterosexual U.S. Supreme Court with a proved bias against our community since Trump reinforced the bench with the appointments of Gorsuch & Kavanaugh. So as we go forward with the celebration of Stonewall’s 50th Anniversary in June we anticipate a judicial pendulum in October that could easily go either way. If the court rules in our favor Title VII of Civil Rights of 1964, which bars sex discrimination in the workplace will encompass protections for our LGBT community. If the court rules against equality for our LGBT community the fight continues. Regardless of the outcome we have 6 months to organize & mobilize something that we have been extremely successful with. This is not the time for complacency when so much is at stake. Laura Durso, Vice President of the LGBT Research & Communications Project at the Center for American Progress stated, “People should have the right to love who they love & be who they are without fear of losing their job. Too many lesbian, gay, bisexual & transgender people face bias in the workplace, making it harder to provide for themselves & their families. The Supreme Court should affirm the growing consensus of federal courts in recognizing the reality of this discrimination in order to ensure that LGBT employees are guaranteed the same protections afforded to other workers.” It’s time once again to make LGBT equality history “of the people, by the people & for the people.” (Graphic by Richard Emmanuel)
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LGBT Executive Networking Event

Boston Spirit Magazine’s thirteenth annual LGBT Executive Networking Night takes place on Thursday May 2nd at the Copley Marriott Hotel from 6P to 9P. The Keynote Speaker this year will be Rhode Island Congressman David Cicilline, Co-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus & the most senior gay member of Congress. Last month Congressman David Cicilline & Senators Jeff Merkley, Tammy Baldwin & Corey Booker reintroduced the Equality Act in the U.S. House & Senate. The Equality Act will prohibit discrimination across all 50 states by expanding the Civil Rights Act of 1964 & other existing civil rights laws & it will be very interesting to hear what he has to say about passing this overdue legislation. So join more than 1,000 LGBT corporate professionals & 50 exhibitors for a great night of networking. There will also be some incredible sessions on personal & professional development to check out. This is a very special event to meet with 50+ exhibitors & the opportunity to network with approximately 1,000 other LGBTQ professionals from the Greater Boston area. Many of the attending exhibitors are hiring so if you are in the market for a new career be sure to bring resumes & business cards. There will also be free appetizers & a cash bar. Boston Spirit Magazine’s thirteenth annual LGBT Executive Networking Night is sponsored by Boston Harbor Cruises, Citizens Bank, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Burns & Levinson, Rockland Trust, Santander, John Hancock, TD Bank, Keolis, Cambridge Savings Bank & Tufts Health Plan. There is a $15 admission fee at the door to attend the event.
For More Info & RSVP...
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Dining Out For Life April 24 (Audio)

Ted Allen, television personality & host of Food Network’s “Chopped” talks about Dining Out For Life the HIV/AIDS fundraiser that takes place in 60 cities across North America on Thursday April 25th. The event was conceived 28 years ago in Philadelphia & the concept is quite simple. More than 3,000 participating restaurants donate a generous percentage of that day’s proceeds to support service providers in their region to fund care, prevention, education, testing, counseling & other essential HIV/AIDS services. When asked what he would like Dining Out For Life to accomplish this year Allen stated, “Well I think the model has long been proven, it raises a lot of money. What I think we would like to accomplish this year is to raise more money than we ever had before & we are talking about millions & millions of dollars that you are helping to raise that stays in your community. The money that is raised in Houston is spent in Houston helping your own neighbors, people down the block & I think that’s another thing that people feel really good about with this technique of fundraising.” This year over 3,000 participating restaurants, thousands of volunteers & an expected 300,000+ diners will be served to raise over $4 million for people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States & Canada. Dining Out For Life is hosted by Subaru® & this is the fifth year OUTTAKE VOICES™ has supported this fab event. LISTEN
For More Info: diningoutforlife.com
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National LGBTQ Give OUT Day

Hundreds of nonprofits are participating across the U.S. for Horizons Foundation’s Give OUT Day the only national day of giving for our LGBTQ community. The 24-hour online fundraising event brings together the LGBTQ communities & their allies across the United States April 18th now until Midnight. Roger Doughty, President of Horizons Foundation stated, “We are thrilled to be working with over 600 organizations on Give OUT Day. Participating organizations rely on the support of our community & this year we hope that Give OUT Day will make history & break the $1M mark for the first time. We continue to live in turbulent times for LGBTQ people, from the courts to the streets, but this year, as we mark 50 years since the Stonewall uprising, attention to our past, present & future remains critical. Give OUT Day has grown annually & this year we plan to break through the $1M dollar ceiling as we raise more funds & increase visibility for all of our participating organizations. This year, we will again reach thousands of LGBTQ individuals & our allies & support the organizations at the front lines of pride, dignity, justice & joy.” Give OUT Day has provided vital unrestricted operating funds to organizations since its inception in 2013. Over 45,000 individual donors have contributed nearly $5million & supported more than 600 different organizations in every part of the country. Give OUT Day is a project of Horizons Foundation. Founded as a community foundation of, by & for LGBTQ people, Horizons has been supporting LGBTQ nonprofit organizations, leaders & donors for nearly 40 years.
For More Info: giveoutday.org 
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Trans Asylum Seeker Must Succeed

There will be a press conference calling to free Alejandra a transgender asylum seeker to stop her deportation on Wednesday, April 17th at Scales of Justice by the District Court 400 Lomas Blvd NW in Albuquerque, NM at 10A MST. Bekah Wolf, attorney to Alejandra stated, “Alejandra should have been released on parole over a year ago. It is outrageous that she faces deportation after being denied fair access to protection & being kept in inhumane conditions. There is no reason why she should be in this devastating situation today. Alejandra spent over ten years defending the rights of trans people in El Salvador. It is time for all of us, including the local community & human rights activists, to come together to support her. She should be free to do the life-changing work she has done for so many years.” A coalition of national & local organizations including TransLatin@ Coalition, Amnesty International & the New Mexico Immigrant Law Center have called on Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) to stop the deportation of Alejandra, the longest detained trans woman at the Cibola County Correctional Center. Alejandra fled El Salvador in 2017 to escape repeated extortion, threats & attacks. She was sexually assaulted by members of a transnational criminal gang as well as the Salvadoran military because of her transgender identity. Fearing it is not safe for her to return to El Salvador, Alejandra has been exercising her right to seek asylum to stay in the United States. She hopes to be reunited with her trans niece, who has already won asylum in the US.
For More Info: nmilc.org
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Pete Buttigieg Makes It Official

Pete Buttigieg becomes the first LGBTQ Democratic presidential candidate in U.S. history & the second openly gay candidate to make a bid for the White House. In 2011 we talked to Fred Karger on OUTTAKE VOICES™ who was the first openly gay GOP presidential candidate in American history. He was on the GOP ballot in New Hampshire & Michigan & received confirmation that his name would appear on the ballot in California, New York, Maryland, North Carolina & Puerto Rico. Fred Karger announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for President of the United States on March 23rd 2011. Mayor Pete Buttigieg officially launched his presidential candidacy before a crowd of thousands in his hometown city of South Bend, Indiana Sunday afternoon. Mayor Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Fund stated, “Mayor Pete shattered a lavender ceiling once thought unbreakable, becoming the first openly LGBTQ Democratic presidential candidate in American history & our first real shot at the Oval Office. There is enormous power in an openly gay presidential candidate stumping at town halls in Iowa & speaking to Americans from the presidential debate stage – it changes perceptions of our community & raises the bar for candidates who seek LGBTQ support. While Mayor Pete’s candidacy is historic & a milestone moment for our community, his meteoric rise is most notable for the support he’s receiving from diverse groups of voters. There are enormous minefields & hurdles to running as an openly LGBTQ candidate & so far, Mayor Pete has gracefully leapt over them on the world’s largest political stage. He’s the real deal.”
For More Info: victoryfund.org
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“Cabaret” Rocks The Footlight Club

There is a performance of “Cabaret” at The Footlight Club in Jamaica Plain in Boston that shouldn’t be missed. Unfortunately tonight is the last night of this stellar production. The Footlight Club is America’s oldest community theater that has produced performances every year since 1877. I was totally wowed by this production. The set was perfect, the actors were flawless & the orchestra rocked. The play began with the Emcee performed by David Rodrigues that set the tone. From there it just got better & better & could have rivaled any New York production. The story is a bit too close to our current political climate set in 1931 Berlin as the Nazis are rising to power. Cabaret focuses on the nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub & revolves around young American writer Cliff Bradshaw & his relationship with English cabaret performer Sally Bowles. There are three versions of Cabaret based on the book by Joe Masteroff & the play by John Van Druten & Stories by Christopher Isherwood. In the Original 1966 version there is no suggestion that Cliff might be gay or bisexual. Then in the revised 1987 version where his bisexuality begins to emerge but in the 1998 version that Alan Cumming brought to life Cliff is clearly gay or bisexual. This was definitely the 1998 version. The play also stared Alexander Boyle as Clifford Bradshaw & Perry Albert as Sally Bowles. The featured cast included Matthew Finn, Susan Picillo, Jim Foster, Gill Lovegood, Todd Rinehart, Hugo Lindsay, Ally Rzesa, Nick Osborne, Lucas Brooks, Julia Bandini, Heather Jue-Wong, Alicia Powell & Stacy Sherman. It was directed by Vincent S. Ratsavong & Music Director was David Wright.
For Info & Tix; footlight.org
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