Trevor Gala Saving LGBTQ Youth

The Trevor Project the largest suicide prevention & crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people hosted their 2019 TrevorLIVE Los Angeles fundraising gala Sunday November 17th at The Beverly Hilton. This year’s honorees were Cybill Shepherd, Hayley Kiyoko & the PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc., which announced a $6 million investment in The Trevor Project’s mission. Zazie Beetz & Sasheer Zamata hosted the event that raised over $1.2 million. Jane Lynch presented the Champion Award to Cybill Shepherd who stated, “My sister did not have the support that these young people will be getting from this wonderful, wonderful organization; & so, I want to thank everyone here tonight, because we all have in our lives people that we would have liked to have saved. My sister lived the life she wanted to live, but she didn’t live it openly. Gladys Terry Shepherd, I thank you from the bottom of my heart, for the honor of being here tonight.” Amit Paley, CEO of The Trevor Project concluded, “There is still so much more to do. We recently put out research that there are more than 1.8 million LGBTQ young people in the US who seriously consider suicide each year. One day, we will reach every single one of those young people in crisis. But we’re not there yet & we don’t have the luxury of growing slowly. We are literally talking about life & death. That is why we need to build a global movement to end suicide among LGBTQ young people NOW." Sponsors of this year’s TrevorLIVE LA were the PwC Charitable Foundation, Inc. & Abercrombie & Fitch. In addition, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants serves as the official hotel partner; & AT&T was the official VIP Reception Sponsor.
For More Info: thetrevorproject.org
Joshua Lyon Talks New Edie Windsor Memoir (AUDIO)

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PFLAG To Honor George Takei

PFLAG National will honor actor & fierce LGBTQ advocate George Takei with the 2019 Betty DeGeneres Advocate Award. The award will be presented at the PFLAG Gives Thanks reception that takes place in NYC on Monday, November 18th. Takei stated, “I am proud & honored to receive the Betty DeGeneres Advocate Award from PFLAG, an organization that has done so much to move equality forward for LGBTQ+ people over the last 46 years. I’m especially grateful for their work within the API community & their commitment to supporting people of Asian & Pacific Islander descent with chapters dedicated specifically to those families.” The Betty DeGeneres Advocate Award honors a person who uses their visibility to help advance PFLAG’s vision of a world where diversity is celebrated and all people are respected, valued & affirmed inclusive of their sexual orientation, gender identity & gender expression. The award is named in honor of DeGeneres, mother of Ellen DeGeneres, a longtime member of PFLAG who has used her public stature to educate about the vital role PFLAG plays in providing parent, family & ally support & affirmation of people who are LGBTQ+. PFLAG National is strongly committed to elevating the voices of people of Asian & Pacific Island descent, particularly those who are or love someone who is LGBTQ+. Takei has long served as a beacon of hope for these PFLAG families, including those who participate in the PFLAG chapters in Southern California & New York dedicated entirely to this community PFLAG is the first & largest organization for LGBTQ+ people, their parents & families, & allies with over 400 chapters & 200,000 members & supporters.
For More Info: pflag.org 
LISTEN: Joshua Lyon Talks New Edie Windsor Memoir

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Memoir "A Wild & Precious Life" (AUDIO)

This week I talked with author Joshua Lyon about Edie Windsor’s memoir “A Wild & Precious Life” published by St. Martin’s Press. Lyon began collaborating with Windsor prior to her passing in 2017 & completed the memoir with cooperation from Edie’s spouse Judith Kasen-Windsor who provided Edie’s extensive archive of personal papers dating back to the 1940s. “A Wild & Precious Life” shares intimate fascinating details of Windsor’s personal life, career pursuits & loves from her adventures in Greenwich Village lesbian bars in the 1950s while pursuing a master’s degree in mathematics at NYU to her extensive work at IBM as well as her activist awakening & epic love affair with Thea Spyer. Edie met Spyer in the 1960’s & their partnership lasted 44 years until Thea’s passing in 2009. With the federal government refusing to acknowledge their Canadian marriage Windsor was then required to pay $363,053 in federal estate taxes on her wife's estate which led to the 2013 Supreme Court case United States v. Windsor that successfully overturned Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act leading to marriage equality becoming the law of the land in 2015. Edie found love again marrying Judith Kasen-Windsor in 2016 who stated, “With irreverent & unexpected stories this memoir chronicles the struggles and passions that drove her extraordinary life. It’s an important part of her legacy, a gift to all who will continue her message of hope, strength & courage. Edie proved that love does, in fact, win.” I talked to Joshua about what he hopes to accomplish with this book & his spin on our LGBTQ issues in this exclusive audio interview. LISTEN:
For More Info: us.macmillan.com

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Honoring Trans Day of Resilience

Ten trans & non-binary visual artists & poets of color from across the country have collaborated to honor Trans Day of Resilience (TDOR) by creating original artwork to celebrate their communities. The TDOR art project is an extension & re-imagining of Transgender Day of Remembrance that takes place on November 20th. The project’s goal is to expand the conversation towards honoring & supporting trans people while they are alive & not just in memoriam. Micah Bazant, Forward Together Artist in Residence stated, “Forward Together is honored to present this project to the world for the sixth year in a row. At a time when white supremacy & anti-trans oppression are killing trans women of color, we offer this art to share our vision of trans freedom. Trans communities of color have always existed & have always used art to survive. As the government tries to erase trans people from laws & policies, art & culture are especially critical. There is no way to erase the beauty and power of trans resistance.” Led by Forward Together a national women of color-led organization whose mission is to unite communities to win rights, recognition & resources for all families. The TDOR art project acknowledges how violence disproportionately impacts trans people of color. The art project simultaneously uses visual art & poetry to uplift trans power & resilience. Trans artists & poets of color are telling their own stories of resistance, hope & liberation. Everyday Heroes by Shea Coco.
For More Info: forwardtogether.org
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Trump & Pence Latest LGBTQ Attack

The Human Rights Campaign reacts to Vice President Mike Pence’s address commemorating National Adoption Month with a reminder of the Trump-Pence administration's track record of attacking our LGBTQ children & adults in the adoption & foster care systems. Alphonso David HRC President stated, “Trump & Pence relentlessly marginalize LGBTQ people & attempt to erase our existence. Their disturbing worldview extends into the adoption & foster care systems, where they support giving federally-funded foster & adoption agencies a license to discriminate against LGBTQ children & prospective parents, religious minorities & other vulnerable groups. LGBTQ youth are tragically overrepresented in foster care & this White House continues to exacerbate the marginalization, harassment & discrimination that LGBTQ youth in foster care & families face.” As we head into impeachment hearings Trump & Pence have proposed a federal regulation that would strip away nondiscrimination requirements & permit all HHS grant recipients, notably adoption & foster care agencies, to discriminate against LGBTQ people & in many circumstances religious minorities & women & still receive federal funding. As you remember in April we reported that HHS announced a proposed federal rule that would abandon data collection on the sexual orientation of youth in foster care & foster and adoptive parents & guardians in the Adoption & Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS). Just be aware as we head into 2020 that nothing is so bad that it can’t get worse.
For More Info: hrc.org
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LGBTQ People Attacked In Uganda

LGBTQ activists in Uganda confirmed that on Sunday November 10th an LGBTQ+ friendly bar in Kampala was raided & 125 people arrested & charged with drug possession, indicating an intentional & growing persecution of LGBTQ people in the country. Kasha Jacquelin, a Ugandan LGBTQ activist stated “The past has shown that it is difficult to prosecute anyone for being LGBT. Using trumped-up drug charges is a new & frightening tactic; one which is really hard to tackle & will make our battle even tougher.” Jessica Stern, Executive Director of OutRight Action International added, “The resurfacing of the anti-homosexuality bill in a country which already prescribes life imprisonment for same-gender relations could only have had one intention - to increase hate and stigma against LGBTIQ people, putting them at heightened risk of arbitrary detention & attack. That is exactly what is happening. The growing intensity of arrests, the clear targeting of an LGBTIQ friendly bar, makes it painfully clear that a witch hunt is being mounted against LGBTIQ Ugandans.” Persecution of LGBTIQ people has increased in Uganda in recent months, as rumors of the so-called “Anti-Homosexuality Act” which would impose the death penalty for same-gender relations have resurfaced. At least four people have been killed in suspected hate-motivated attacks. Arrests of LGBTQ+ people have also increased. Prior to the raid carried out on November 10th, 16 people were arrested & charged with “trafficking in persons” & “carnal knowledge against the order of nature” at the end of October.
For More Info: outrightinternational.org
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Revisiting ‘The Laramie Project’

Stetson Theatre Arts will present Moisés Kaufman’s “The Laramie Project” about Matthew Shepard who in 1998 was kidnapped, severely beaten & left tied to a prairie fence simply because he was gay. Shepard died days later as a result of his injuries. The play will run from Nov. 21st to 24th at Stetson University’s Second Stage Theatre located at the Museum of Art in Deland, Florida. Kaufman & fellow members of the Tectonic Theater Project conducted more than 200 interviews with residents of Laramie, Wyoming. The play is comprised of those first-hand accounts collected by the theatre company. Julie Schmitt, PhD, Director of this production & Creative Arts Department chair at Stetson University stated, “The play’s rehearsal & design process have been really unique and rewarding. Since a number of actors are playing well over eight parts, I have asked them to think of their different characters in relation to a long list of archetypal characters & we're working on finding different ways to embody those archetypes through physical & vocal characterization. It’s a challenge, but the students are up for it & it’s clear that this play means a lot to them. 'The Laramie Project' showcases a tragedy that is disturbingly prevalent today. Even though it has been more than 20 years since the death of Matthew Shepard, there are many moments in the play that really resonate with me & with fellow cast members. I feel that discussions about hate, empathy & compassion will always be relevant & the play certainly feels as though it is of this time."
For Info & Tix…
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