Marriage Equality USA LA Event

Marriage Equality USA's 17th annual Los Angeles Garden Party & Awards event takes place Sunday March 1st at Traxx Restaurant & Courtyard from 1P to 4P PST. The event will celebrate the work of hundreds of their grassroots volunteers in the Greater LA area while honoring the contributions of Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, RSVP Vacations & the internationally acclaimed She4ME multimedia project. The Los Angeles Garden Party & Awards event also brings together community, corporate & political leaders & celebrities to celebrate & raise funds to move the issue of marriage equality forward. Brian Silva MEUSA Executive Director stated, "Marriage Equality USA has a long & proud history that documents our growth from an idea in 1996 to the vigorous, national grassroots movement it is today. At this moment of historic change, I look forward to bringing our community together to celebrate & to honor the leaders & stories that are making marriage equality a reality." Special guests will also included Jeffrey Prang, Los Angeles County Assessor, Mekahlo Medina, Anchor at NBC L.A., Bryan Safi & Erin Gibson, Hosts of Throwing Shade, Gert Crawford, drag celebrity, Mike Manning, producer & actor & our good friends Nicole Conn, producer & director, Jen Foster, singer, songwriter & producer, Barbara Niven, actor & producer just to name a few. The event is a celebratory afternoon of cocktails, light food, entertainment & a silent auction. Traxx Restaurant & Courtyard Union Station is at 800 N. Alameda Street in Los Angeles.
For More Info & Tix: marriageequality.org
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“Breaking The Code” The Play

In San Francisco the play Breaking The Code by Hugh Whitemore will be at Theatre Rhinoceros for a limited engagement of 15 performances from March 4 to 21. Breaking The Code is a gripping biographical drama about gay scientist Alan Turing, the eccentric genius who played a major role in winning the World War II & then battled with British morality laws. Turing was also the first to conceive of & basically invent the computer, the machine that forever altered our modern world, was convicted of the criminal act of homosexuality & sentenced to undergo hormone treatments, which left him physically & mentally debilitated. He died a suicide, forgotten & alone.  This play is about who he was, what happened to him & why. Over 49,000 other gay men & women were persecuted in England under the same law. Turing was pardoned by Queen Elizabeth II in 2013. The others were not. Breaking The Code features Bay Area actors Michael DeMartini (Smith), John Fisher (Turing), Val Hendrixson (Knox), Justin Lucas (Ron), Celia Maurice (Sara), Heren Patel (Chris), Kirsten Peacock (Pat), Patrick Ross (Ross) & is directed by the Glickman & Critics’ Circle Award-winning John Fisher. The play was originally performed by openly gay British actor Sir Derek Jacobi in London in 1986 & Broadway in 1987 with 3 Tony nominations. This is an exceptional biographical drama. Breaking The Code was also produced by the BBC in 1996 & shown on PBS in the USA. Currently the Oscar nominated must-see film The Imitation Game about Alan Turing is in theatrical release.
For Info & Tix: therhino.org
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Boston Gay Men’s Chorus In March

Stephen Schwartz the award-winning lyricist & composer of the Broadway hits Godspell, Pippin & Wicked will take the stage with the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus (BGMC) for Wicked Awesome a celebration of Schwartz’s music. The concerts will take place at New England Conservatory’s Jordan Hall on March 21st & 22nd. Rueben M. Reynolds, III, BGMC Music Director stated, “Stephen Schwartz’s music has long been an inspiration to the Chorus, just as it has to generations of people, young & old the world over. We’re thrilled to share the stage with Stephen & celebrate the many gifts he has given us. I promise that Wicked Awesome will live up to its name & so much more.” Schwartz added, “One of my greatest musical pleasures is singing with a chorus, so I am very much looking forward to these concerts with the 200 voices of the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus. It’s always fun for me hearing songs usually sung by one or two voices interpreted in a big choral arrangement & I expect it to be an entertaining and exciting evening.” The Chorus will also reprise a newer piece by Schwartz called “Testimony” with lyrics taken directly from videos recorded for the It Gets Better Project which aims to prevent LGBT youth suicide. “Testimony” is a powerful composition that reflects the resilience of LGBT people in the face of harassment, violence & discrimination. In addition BGMC will perform songs that Schwartz composed for the Disney films Enchanted, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Prince of Egypt & Pocahontas.
For Info & Tix: bgmc.org
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LGBT Human Rights Special Envoy

Veteran diplomat Randy Berry has been appointed as the first Special Envoy for the Human Rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender (LGBT) persons by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. In this newly created role Berry will lead efforts by the U.S. government to defend the rights of LGBT people worldwide. Randy Berry is a veteran diplomat with the U.S. State Department who was previously the consul general to the Netherlands & has overseen the United States’ consulates in the Netherlands since 2012. Before that he was stationed in New Zealand & Nepal & has also served in anti gay Uganda & Egypt. Currently in more than 75 countries having same gender relations is still illegal & in several of those countries LGBT people can be put to death. Along with the establishment of the envoy position the International Human Rights Defense Act would direct the State Department to make international LGBT rights a foreign policy priority & would require the State Department to devise a strategy to promote LGBT rights internationally. By this appointment President Obama & Secretary Kerry have made history sending a clear message that the human rights of our LGBT community globally is a priority of the United States government. Of course we would still like to see ENDA pass as a priority in this country to insure workplace protections for our LGBT community.
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Fenway Health Men’s Event

The Men’s Event black-tie fundraiser for Fenway Health is New England’s largest gala for gay & bi men, trans people & LGBT allies. It takes place on Saturday, February 28th from 6P to 1A at the Boston Marriott Copley Place. More than 1,300 people come together to raise over $600,000 in support of the life-saving programs & services for Fenway Health. This year Fenway honors James Morgrage with the Congressman Gerry. E. Studds Award. Morgrage has managed Boston’s premier LGBT gathering spot Club Café for the past twenty years & is a strong supporter of LGBT civil rights & HIV/AIDS causes. When we asked what his personal commitment is to LGBT civil rights, Morgrage stated, “My personal commitment is that I will work in any capacity that I can to help ensure that marriage equality & equal rights are something that are afforded every LGBT individual across the country. I won’t rest until marriage equality is recognized in all fifty states & all the same benefits and protections afforded our heterosexual counterparts are afforded to all of us.” Morgrage is also President & Co-Founder of "Harbor to the Bay" the annual bike ride from Boston to Provincetown that raises money to support Massachusetts HIV/AIDS programs & services & has ridden each year since the ride started in 2003. "Harbor to the Bay" returns 100% of the proceeds raised by every rider to its 4 beneficiaries every year, including Fenway Health. Comedian Jimmy Tingle will serve as Men’s Event emcee while Boston funk superstars Booty Vortex & DJ Gay Jim from Kiss 108 will provide the entertainment. This year’s event is made possible thanks to the hard work of event chairs Justin T. Isaac, Brian Ramos & Joblin C. Younger, Esq.
For Info & Tix: mensevent.org
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GLAD Happy Hour Event

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders are having their next GLAD Hour, a happy hour event for fans of equal justice for all this Wednesday February 25th from 6P to 8P at Club Café in Boston. This is an opportunity to mix & mingle with fellow supporters of LGBT equality & get an inside look how the important work this fabulous organization is doing is changing our world. GLAD Legal Director Gary Buseck will talk about GLAD's work with the Michigan team of lawyers as they prepare for the hoped-for, ultimate resolution of the marriage question at the Supreme Court. You'll also learn about their preparations to ask the Supreme Court to review the case of a transgender Massachusetts prisoner who won the right to gender affirming surgery from the federal district judge & a panel of the First Circuit Court of Appeals, only to have the victory taken away on further review by all the active judges of the First Circuit. There will be complimentary hors d'oeuvres & a cash bar. Club Café is located at 209 Columbus Avenue Boston in Boston. MA. The GLAD Hour Series is sponsored by Reproductive Science Center & there is a suggested donation of $5 to $20.
TO RSVP: glad.org
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Annual Pre-Oscar Dinner Party

Sony Pictures Classics hosted its 2015 Academy Awards nominees & 2015 Film Independent Spirit Awards nominees & winners at its annual Pre-Oscar Dinner Party on Saturday, February 21st at STK Steakhouse in Los Angeles. Celebrity & nominated guests included: Julianne Moore (nominated for Best Actress for STILL ALICE) Mark Ruffalo (nominated for Best Supporting Actor for FOXCACTHER) J.K. Simmons (nominated for Best Supporting Actor for WHIPLASH) Wim Wenders & Juliano Ribeiro Salgado (nominated for Best Documentary for THE SALT OF THE EARTH) Damian Chazelle (nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for WHIPLASH) Tom Cross (nominated for Best Editing for WHIPLASH) Dick Pope (nominated for Best Cinematography for MR. TURNER) Jacqueline Durran (nominated for Best Costume Design for MR. TURNER) Dennis Liddieard (nominated for Best Hairstyling, FOXCATCHER) Andrey Zvyagintsev (nominated for Best Foreign Film for LEVIATHAN) Damián Szifrón (nominated for Best Foreign Film for WILD TALES) Augustin Almodovar, Producer David Lancaster (WHIPLASH) Singer Taylor Dane & Model Selita Ebanks. The event was also generously hosted at The ONE Group’s STK restaurant as part of A-List Communication’s Supper Suite by STK culinary platform events as well as Ketel One Vodka & the new KIA K900. The 87th Annual Academy Awards airs on Sunday Feb 22nd on ABC at 5:30P PST & 8:30P EST with openly gay Neil Patrick Harris hosting & iconic gay producers Craig Zadan & Neil Meron producing the Oscars show for their third year. Updates to Come…:)
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Gay Blood Donors Dilemma (Video)

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) new policy for gay & bisexual men to be qualified to donate blood is totally discriminatory. It was recently announced that gay & bisexual men would finally be allowed to donate blood after being banned for life since the ’80s but only if they remain celibate for one year. This discriminating policy mean that heterosexual guys can have safe sex with woman after woman & still donate blood but gay & bi men who have had safe sex for an entire year even with a monogamous partner would still be banned. Sarah Kate Ellis, GLAAD President & CEO stated, “Stereotypes have no place in saving lives. The FDA’s proposed change still means that countless gay & bisexual men will be turned away from blood banks simply because of who they are. GLAAD is proud to stand alongside GMHC & Saatchi & Saatchi NY to shed light on this important issue.” GLAAD & Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) launched a new PSA & social media campaign starring Alan Cumming to raise awareness about the FDA’s blood donor deferral policy for gay & bisexual men. Created by Saatchi & Saatchi NY & Bullitt, #CelibacyChallenge urges the FDA to implement a blood donation system that screens all donors based on risk for HIV transmission, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Sign Petition… 
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Massachusetts Transgender Laws

Currently in Massachusetts there aren’t statewide laws that prohibits discrimination based on gender identity in public places, including grocery stores, restaurants, movie theaters, museums & many other public settings. It’s has become a city-by-city issue. Recently the town of Swampscott became the 12th jurisdiction in Massachusetts to include gender identity in public accommodations policy. Carly Burton, Interim Co-Executive Director of MassEquality stated, "We're proud to have Swampscott as the 12th jurisdiction in the Commonwealth to approve a policy that provides protections in public settings based on gender identity. Thank you to the Swampscott Board of Selectmen, transgender visitors & residents will be safe & protected. A big thanks goes out to the Anti-Defamation League of New England for taking on a leadership role in helping this policy come to pass. This revision of the town policy is another bold step towards progress & we look forward to working with Swampscott on its implementation." Other cities in Massachusetts that have similar policies included Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Northampton, Salem, Amherst, Brookline, Medford, Melrose, Worcester & Newton. Legislators in Massachusetts are about to address transgender policy in statewide bills. To support House Docket #3072 (An Act Relative to Gender Identity & Non-Discrimination) & Senate Docket #398 (An Act Relative to Transgender Non-Discrimination) please contact your state senator & state representative today & ask them to support this critical legislation.
Contact State Reps Now…. 
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Lesbian TV Series Fundraiser

As fans clearly don’t want to let go of the hugely popular crime fighting lesbian couple in America’s oldest party town, tello films, Nancylee Myatt & the cast of Nikki & Nora have launched an Indiegogo fundraising campaign to bring Season 2 to computer screens around the world. The campaign will be running until March 16th & is expected to break its previous record. The fundraising campaign for Nikki & Nora Season One was the largest funded campaign for a series with lesbian lead characters raising $65,00, surpassing their goal by 30%. They’re on their way to raise $95,000 for Season 2. Nikki & Nora TV series revolves around two professional & romantic female partners who worked for the Special Crimes Unit of the New Orleans Police Department. It was originally produced for the now defunct UPN network but the lesbian production company tello films snatched it up & made it into a web series sensation. Nikki & Nora follows New Orleans locals Nikki Beaumont (Liz Vassey) & Nora Delaney (Christina Cox), former NOPD cops turned private investigators in the Big Easy post Katrina. They navigate the channels of their personal life together alongside their dedication to uncovering the truth in the one city that really likes to keep its secrets. The original lead actresses are joined by a super cast of other familiar faces including Janina Gavankar (best known as “Papi” on Showtime’s The L Word) & Aasha Davis (Pariah, South of Nowhere), among others.
For Info & Pledge: indiegogo.com 
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Lesley Gore In Rock & Roll Heaven

Lesley Gore was not just another chick singer that emerged from the sixties. I knew her as a feminist & never shied away from being gay with her partner of 33 years Lois Sasson at her side. Lesley Gore died from lung cancer at 68. I grew up listening to Lesley on the radio belting out hits like “It’s My Party”, “Judy’s Turn To Cry” & “You Don’t Own Me” but it was in the late 80’s in NYC that I met her while she was performing with Lou Christie singing a medley of "Since I Don't Have You" & "Only Make Believe" on the nostalgia circuit. I remember she once told me this story when she was performing in London at the beginning of her career while she was making the interview rounds just after pop singer Darlene Love had come through & the Brit media kept calling her Lesley love to the point when she started believing Lesley Love was actually her name. Gore continued to perform for decades. In 2005 after she formally came out, she was one of the hosts of “In the Life” the PBS LGBT newsmagazine series stating, “I decided to host a couple of the 'In The Life' programs. And I did that really as a result of meeting a lot of young gay people in the Midwest who really had nothing to relate to. At least I felt this program is presenting them with some options.” WATCH VIDEO
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Snowbound On Presidents’ Day

Presidents’ Day is a US federal holiday that was a concept created in the 1950’s by the travel industry to create a three-day holiday weekend. It falls between Lincoln’s birthday on Feb 12th & George Washington’s birthday which is actually Feb. 22nd on the third weekend in February. Some people still call it Washington’s Birthday. It has become a huge sale day especially for the car industry. However this year there will be little traveling or shopping for Bostonians. In Boston it has become “Shovel The Snow Day”. The temperature hovers in the single digits with a brutal wind-chill of below zero. Our cars are cover with snow but even if you can dig them out the side streets are almost impassable. In South Boston they’ve make all streets one-way until May since the streets have become treacherous with snow-covered cars banks. So this year we celebrate the holiday hunkered down until the roads become safe for travel. We made a fabulous roast turkey dinner with roasted vegetables & for entertainment we’ll finally watch Boyhood with the fabulous Patricia Arquette & Ethan Hawke. Time to catch-up on some work, watch some serial TV shows, perhaps read a book & spend the rest of the time snuggled in bed listening to wind howl which can be very romantic on this cold snowbound holiday…:)
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Boston Snowed In Again

We can’t even get out of our front door as seen in this picture. The snow has dropped another 2 feet of the white stuff on our Boston neighborhood with winds gusting over 50 miles an hour. Yesterday being Valentine’s Day they’re calling this the Valentine’s Day Blizzard of 2015. All public transportation has been suspended & Logan Airport is closed until at least noon. The last two days we spend socializing & enjoying friends knowing that it will be days again before we see another soul except fellow abutters digging out their cars once again in the historic third worse winter of snow in Boston’s history. It began snowing yesterday afternoon where traffic throughout the city was horrendous as its citizens made their last dash to the supermarkets for supplies. As we hunker down for the next 24 hours of this brutal snowstorm we’re totally prepared to make a fabulous roast turkey dinner with roasted vegetables & sweet potatoes topped off with a bottle of French Burgundy. Entertainment will come in the form of finally watching Boyhood with the fabulous Patricia Arquette & Ethan Hawke. Time to catch-up on serial TV shows, perhaps read a book & spend the rest of the time in snuggled bed listening to wind howl which as we all know can be very romantic…:)
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New Gay Relationships Report

With Valentine’s Day love, romance & the yearning for a satisfying relationship often becomes more magnified than any other time of the year. If you are in a committed relationship it’s not unusual to wonder if it will last. If you can’t seem to make that perfect connection, you may ask yourself what you’re doing wrong & if you are the type of person to go from one romantic hook up to the next, finding a partner who will rescue you from what you may think is a road to nowhere may seem impossible. In this new report Charlotte Markey, a professor of psychology at Rutgers University-Camden recently studied the relationships of 72 gay & 72 lesbian couples to help us understand which relationships seem to work, why others don’t & how to look at your partner in a realistic light. Markey stated, “We found that women with partners who are domineering overwhelmingly report low satisfaction in their relationships. Women value equality & don’t want to be bossed around. This finding suggests that over time assertiveness doesn’t wear very well with women. If your partner is domineering now, they likely will be that way 10 years from now.” For men the study found that any extremes in their partners’ personalities – whether they were overly passive or domineering, for example – led to discord in the relationship. Markey therefore suggests that you spend some time working on yourself before jumping into the next relationship. Working with a therapist may have long-term benefits for both you & your future significant other.
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Gay Provincetown Valentine's Day

Provincetown for Valentine’s Day is a preferred LGBT destination. There are still a few inns & hotels available with fabulous V-Day specials including the Provincetown Hotel at Gabriel's, the White Porch Inn, the Sage Inn & Lounge, the Crowne Pointe Inn & Spa, the Crown & Anchor Inn & Land's End Inn. Gabriel’s was recently named one of the top 10 B&B’s in the nation. The Valentine's Package at Gabriel's includes: a bottle of Truro Vineyards wine delivered to your room, a $50.00 Gift Certificate to Napi's Restaurant, breakfast served to you in bed on Sunday morning, a professional printed photo of you & yours to take home & a late check out on Sunday morning. Also Gabriel’s is one of the sponsors of Sage Inn's first annual Valentine's Day Party on February 14th from 8P to midnight. DJ Shelly Cullen will be spinning. Combine that with divalicious cocktails & giveaways it's the perfect way to spend your special night. Red & black attire is encouraged with a cover charge of only $5. The event is also supported by Admiral's Landing B&B, Roux, Sage Inn & Lounge & Women Innkeepers of Provincetown. For dinner & cabaret The Crown & Anchor is offering their “Aphrodisiac Menu for Two” at The Central House on February 13th & 14th with a four-course prixe fixe menu & lots of entertainment including Suede in Concert on February 14th at 7P & our favorite cabaret man, Bobby Wetherbee will be singing love songs from 9P until midnight. So have a Fabulous Gay V-Day!
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Alabama Homophobia Must End

On Monday when Alabama became the 37th state for marriage equality over half of the state’s counties probate judges began refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay & lesbian couples. Big surprise that this state famous for hatemongers going back to slavery & the KKK would attempt to deny their gay & lesbian citizens from the pursuit of happiness. In Washington Congressman Mark Pocan (D-WI), Co-Chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, criticized Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore for asking local authorities to ignore a federal court’s order to issue marriage licenses to gay & lesbian couples. Pocan stated, “Chief Justice Roy Moore’s actions threaten the legal foundation our country is built on – equal justice under the law. Courts in states across the country have ruled discrimination in any form has no place in our democratic society. The U.S. Constitution protects all civil & human rights & it is up to the courts to apply those protections equally for every citizen. It’s disappointing to see Judge Moore’s judicial activism block marriage equality for the people of Alabama & his blatant disregard for our legal system. The country has recently made great strides to ensure equality for all & our progress will not stop in Alabama.” Updates to Come…:)
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Boston Snow Lockdown

Yes that is a mound of snow over a car. We’re totally snowed in here in Boston & doing everything possible to not go bonkers. Who needs to get to the gym when you have mountains of snow that has to be shoveled? The problem is there’s no place to put the snow when you do shovel it. Presently the sidewalks remain unplowed. We can use our parking lot entrance to get out but the front entrance is in a massive snowdrift. Boston snow emergency will stay in effect most of Tuesday. I just took a walk around my neighborhood & it’s all snowed in. The only people I saw on the street were carrying cross-country skis over their shoulders. The streets are actually pretty clear but the cars are totally snowed in. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said the city’s snow emergency & parking ban will stay in effect throughout all of today. We should be able to get out at least to walk to a store for supplies. Fortunately we did prepare somewhat for this leg of the storm. All MBTA subways & trains have been canceled but the buses are running on a limited schedule. Back-to-back-to-back storms have dropped almost 80 inches of snow on Boston in the last 17 days. About 2 feet fell Monday with more snow is possible for later this week. Governor Charlie Baker declared a State of Emergency stating, “Mother nature makes the rules."
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Sam Smith Wins Grammys

Finally an openly gay artist dominated the mainstream music industry with four Grammy wins including Record of the Year. Sam Smith also picked up Song of The Year for "Stay With Me", Best Pop Vocal Album for "In the Lonely Hour" & Best New Artist. With his groundbreaking wins for our LGBT community he even stated in his acceptance speech, "I want to thank the man who this record is about. Thank you so much for breaking my heart because you got me four Grammys!" It was also an evening for fierce gay allies including Lady Gaga & Tony Bennett winning Best Traditional Pop Album for "Cheek to Cheek." It’s fun to see the word ‘traditional’ attached to Lady Gaga’s win. However it is a fabulous album & I’m sure she’s definitely adding years to Bennett’s life. Even Joan Rivers won a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album for "Diary of a Mad Diva" which her daughter Melissa Rivers accepted. There were also some great performances including Madonna & Annie Lennox. Even President Obama dropped in at the Grammys via video with a message about “It’s On Us”, calling on musicians to help stop the violence against women. Singer Katy Perry then sang "By the Grace of God" after a survivor of domestic violence told her story.
For Full Winner List…
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Brian Williams Faking News

Within weeks of Brian Williams Comcast on demand promotion campaign that was so contrived it made you switch channels, Williams steps down from his NBC Nightly News anchor position in the midst of scandal. Williams was caught enhancing an experience he had while covering the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. Initially he reported that a helicopter in front of his was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. However in a 2013 interview & during the NBC Nightly News broadcast on January 30, 2015 Williams inaccurately recounted the incident, stating that it was the helicopter he was on that was "hit & crippled by enemy fire." Lance Reynolds, a flight engineer who was on board one of the 3 helicopters that had been attacked challenged his story & Williams apologized & owned up to his discrepancy. Up until Williams was called on his story fabrication he probably believed his story. Most likely as he has told the story over the last 12 years each year it got a little more enhanced to the point that he actually believed his helicopter had been hit. Williams will join the disgraced Dan Rather who also stepped down from the anchor desk after his fabrication about President George W. Bush's military record. But don’t feel bad about Williams. He’s been earning a cool 10 million dollars a year for his gig at NBC News. That comes out to about $192,000 a week. While Williams & NBC claim this is a temporary position until they decide what permanent action will occur weekend anchor Lester Holt will assume Williams anchor seat.
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ArtPoint Annual Gala Event

In San Francisco the annual ArtPoint Gala is celebrating graffiti artist & gay activist Keith Haring on February 7th. Haring first gained fame in the 1980s in NYC for his drawings throughout the NYC subway system & other public spaces featuring his own unique graffiti-styled imagery. Soon his art & its messages promoting love for each other & for our planet were recognized around the world. Haring believed “Art is for Everyone.” I met Keith in the late 1980’s at the Palladium Night Club in NYC. He was an amazingly sweet person. It just was after he was diagnosed with AIDS. Haring died on Friday February 16, 1990 of AIDS related complications. ArtPoint for February the “month of love” is celebrating the life & work of gay pop icon Keith Haring in the exhibition entitled Keith Haring: The Political Line with their gala Saturday, February 7th from 8P to Midnight at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the de Young in Golden Gate Park & the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park. Guests will enjoy a live performance by Tainted Love - the best of the 80s, live, music by DJ Matt Haze, a thematic photo booth by Jonathan Saunders & more! The Herbst Special Exhibition Galleries will be open to all for late-night viewing. Specialty cocktails & classic American appetizers will be served. VIP tickets include tours of The Political Line, a pre-party from 7P to 8P with a champagne toast, an expanded menu & all-night access to a deluxe lounge.
For More Info: deyoung.famsf.org
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Matt Shepard Film Release (Audio)

Filmmaker Michele Josue's must-see documentary “Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine” will begin a theatrical release in 12 cities starting during February 6th. This follows a year of acclaimed film festival appearances & recent accolades at the Side by Side Film Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia. A winner of 4 Best Documentary awards, “Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine” will first open in New York & 2 other cities on February 6th followed by Los Angeles on February 13th & continue expanding into select markets across the United States & Canada. Josue met Matt Shepard while they were attending The American School in Switzerland. As you know Matthew Shepard was kidnapped, tortured, tethered to a fence & left to die never regaining consciousness because he was gay. He succumbed to the severe injuries from the attack & died on October 12, 1998. In 2009 President Obama signed the LGBT inclusive Matthew Shepard & James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. “Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine” is showing in NYC at AMC Empire 25- 2/6, in Portland at Clinton St. Theater on 2/6, Houston at AMC Studio 30 on 2/6, Los Angeles on NOHO- 7 on 2/13, in Toronto at Carlton Cinemas on 2/20, Edmonton at Princess on 2/22 for 2 shows only, in New Orleans at Zeitgeist on 2/27, in Denver at AMC Cherry Creek on 2/27, in Palm Springs at Camelot on 3/6 & in Montreal Marquee Cinespotlight at Dollar Cinema on 3/28.
Listen to our exclusive interviewed with Michele Josue talking about the film which she directed.

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Palm Springs Museum Art Event

Michael Petry is performing his archery performance Libation to Eros at the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert on Friday February 6th at 5:30P. Libation to Eros was originally commissioned by the Alentejo Triennial in Portugal in 2014. In his performance Petry fires 54 arrows into a wall of cork while telling the story of the Greek God of desire & love. Petry carries the performance further by investigating the contemporary aspects of the classical world. The works references William Burroughs gunshot paintings on wood from the late 1980’s but as Burroughs’ work was violent Petry’s is minimized & historicized by the bow. Petry wants viewers of the performance to experience up close the power of an arrow piercing the flesh of a wall. For classical people, the notion of being struck by Eros’ arrow was a life & death event. Eros was always depicted as a virile male youth, unlike the Roman version of the god, Cupid, who was depicted as a baby. The arrow was the height of military technology & if you were struck by one in a battle, you almost certainly died. If you could remove the barb the amount of flesh torn from your body usually became infected resulting in death. Petry aims to restore the original meaning of the Greek story where the metaphor for love is being struck by a deadly weapon, the arrow, only to be reborn anew, in love. The Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert is at 72-567 Highway 111 Palm Desert, California. Portrait by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders
For More Info: psmuseum.org
Listen: Michael Petry Talks Art & LGBT Equality
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Transgender Homeless Youth

You’ve heard the buzz about Olympic Gold Medalist Bruce Jenner transitioning to a woman. Well Jenner should take this opportunity to help our transgender youth. The Center for American Progress released a report that transgender youth homelessness in America is at epidemic levels. At least 1 in 5 transgender young people have experienced homelessness & many of them have encountered discrimination, harassment & abuse in shelters & other services meant to serve as safe spaces when there is nowhere else to go. Hannah Hussey, Research Associate for LGBT Progress at CAP & author of the report stated, “Transgender young people who are homeless face significant challenges to their health, safety & well-being & these disparities often begin before they leave home. In order for these young people to reach their full potential, we need a comprehensive approach that provides equal & adequate access to services & that addresses the systemic problems of poverty, violence & discrimination that cause housing instability in the first place.” To begin with the report recommends: 1) Provide the resources needed for homeless & at-risk transgender youth to stabilize their lives, including shelters & transitional living programs, skill-building opportunities, health promotion programs & family intervention services. 2) Implement strong nondiscrimination policies & eliminate barriers to services in shelters, health care, vital records & law enforcement. 3) Address the root causes of homelessness through changes to the interlocking systems that hold transgender youth back from reaching their full potential, including housing, employment, education, public accommodations, juvenile justice & foster care. Expand data-collection efforts to include gender identity in respectful & confidential ways.
Read Full Report:americanprogress.org
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Snow For Groundhog Day

Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow predicting six more weeks of winter which is far from shocking considering here in Boston we’re in the midst of another snow storm that will dump another 8-12 inches on the Commonwealth. However nothing can hinder the amazing victory for the New England Patriots winning the Super Bowl last night over the Seattle Seahawks 28 to 24 in NFL Super Bowl XLIX. So we’re hunkering down once again in New England but for us at OUTTAKE VOICES we’re going to celebrate the end of the cold brutal winter this year by heading to the 25th anniversary of The Dinah in Palm Springs April 1st through 5th with twenty thousand lesbians. As the largest & biggest lesbian event in the world, The Dinah has been continuously delivering a spectacular slate of legendary headliners, rising pop stars & celebrities alike. Already confirmed to headline the 25th Anniversary of The Dinah are international Billboard Top 40 superstars Meghan Trainor & Christina Perri as well as pop music’s new “it” girls Bebe Rexha & Ivy Levan & old school legends Crystal Waters & Rose Royce. Katy Perry last night’s Super Bowl halftime Diva made one of her first appearances at The Dinah along with other superstars alumni’s Lady Gaga, Mary Lambert, Tegan & Sara, Kesha, Chaka Khan, Colbie Caillat, India Arie & The Pussycat Dolls.
So don’t miss out.
For More Info: thedinah.com
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