Transgender Affirming Surgery Study
Biden Speaks LGBTQ Leaders Respond
South Carolina Trans Student Athletes
The South Carolina House Judiciary Committee has voted down H.4153 a bill that would prohibit transgender youth in middle & high school from participating in student athletics. This vote marks the third time nearly identical measures have been rejected in South Carolina’s 2021 legislative session. This vote marks another major step forward in the ongoing fight against anti-LGBTQ policies in South Carolina. SC United for Justice & Equality stated, “We are relieved & grateful that, once again, lawmakers have rejected their colleagues’ blatant attempts to discriminate against transgender student athletes. Today’s vote sends the message that H.4153 - just like its predecessor, H.3477 - & any other bill that discriminates against transgender people has no place in South Carolina. For months, transgender young people & the many South Carolinians who love them have been making their voices heard to oppose these discriminatory bills & we won’t stop until we have ensured a South Carolina where trans students are included, affirmed, & afforded the same opportunities as any other student. Every South Carolinian deserves an equal opportunity to thrive, no matter who they are & we will remain vigilant until that day comes.” SC United for Justice & Equality envisions a South Carolina where everyone can thrive with a focus on the lived & legal equality of LGBTQ people. The coalition advocates for the passage of legislation to protect LGBTQ community members & opposes anti-LGBTQ legislation. The coalition also works on intersecting issues of social justice, including racial justice, reproductive justice, voting rights & health care access. For More Info…
Vicki Barbolak & Jason Stuart Live
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Tyler Clementi Foundation Online Event
The Tyler Clementi Foundation whose mission is to end bullying in schools, workplaces & faith communities is celebrating Mitchell Gold’s 70th Birthday with a star-studded event on April 29th at 8P EDT. This milestone birthday fundraiser will consist of a series of toasts, celebrity entertainment & a raffle auction to fulfill Mitchell’s lifelong dream to end bullying nationwide to create a kinder world. The virtual gathering takes place in April the anniversary month of the American Psychiatric Association removing “homosexuality” as a mental disorder from the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1973. Next step: to remove “homosexuality” from the sin list. Entertainment provided by Carly Simon with an appearance by Alan Cumming & Tipper Gore. The host committee includes Mitchell’s husband Tim Gold, Judith Light, Actress, Producer, Advocate, George Takei, social justice activist, social media superstar Grammy-nominated recording artist, New York Times bestselling author & pioneering actor, Allison O’Connor, President & CEO, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Bob Williams, CoFounder & President of Design, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, Paul Boskind, PhD, Activist; Owner & CEO, DeerOaks, Wally Brewster, Former US Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Jane Clementi, Co-founder & CEO, Tyler Clementi Foundation, Eloise Goldman, Vice President of Public Relations, Cambria, Steven Guy, Social Impact Amplifier; Brand Builder, Michael Marriott, Vice President at Compass; Director at BW Bastian Foundation, David Mixer, Political Activist; Author, Katherine Rice, Board Director, MG+BW & Bob J. Satawake, Author, Speaker, Human Rights Activist. For More Info... I spoke with Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams in 2014 about their spin on our LGBTQ issues & more in this exclusive interview. LISTEN:
Boston Design Week Outside & Virtually
Boston Design Week returns for its 8th annual festival from April 28th to May 9th featuring over 50 virtual & outdoor events including the annual Design Week Awards on Friday May 7th. With the theme “Spring Forward!” this 12-day design festival offers a range of virtual programs featuring nationally-known guest speakers, panel discussions, behind-the-scenes tours & more. A special festival section titled “Landscape Design & Outdoor Life” will offer live outdoor events such as walking tours, architectural site visits & landscape design explorations. All events are open to the public & almost all are free. Tony Fusco, Boston Design Week Co-Producer stated, “We are thrilled to be able to offer 50+ virtual & outdoor events over the 12-day festival -- all Free & open to the public. Our goal is to both highlight the best design that Boston has to offer & to introduce new concepts & ideas to Boston's already rich design community. Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever that we find ways of celebrating our world-class city.” Live Outdoor events include a Victorian Walking Tour of Back Bay presented by the Gibson House Museum & virtual programs focusing on our landscapes, outdoor environments & design of public spaces include an art & architecture tour by the MIT List Visual Arts Center. The 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Miguel Gómez-Ibáñez: a master furniture maker & President Emeritus of the North Bennet Street School & the Producers Choice Award will be presented to The Society of Arts & Crafts. More awards will be announced & presented on Friday May 7th with event details to be announced. For Complete Schedule & More…
Lesbian Visibility Day Virtual Event
The National LGBTQ Task Force, National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) & the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) are presenting a virtual event for Lesbian Visibility Day entitled "What the L?" on Monday April 26th from 7P ET to 8:30P ET. This is a fabulous opportunity to join a diverse panel of queer women & talk about topics that range from the paradox of lesbian visibility vs. lesbian erasure to gender critical & anti-trans sentiment in the lesbian community to the role feminism is playing in the larger queer movement. Panelists will include Urvashi Vaid Icon LGBTQ Leader & Activist, Alise Maxie student activist & organizer & Charlotte Clymer activist, press secretary & writer. The online event will be moderated by Merryn Johns longtime editor at Curve Magazine & presently Editor in Chief at Queerforty.com. Urvashi Vaid, The Vaid Group President stated, "52 Years post Stonewall activism hasn’t solved the mystery. Who is a lesbian? How do lesbians partner & make family? What are the obstacles to surviving & thriving as a lesbian in 2021? How has COVID, racism, policing, economic vulnerability & sexism impacted our health & our families over the past year? Over the past decade? I am looking forward to talking about the historic National LGBTQ+ Women's Community Survey as these extraordinary lesbian leaders chart a path forward for our movement." There will also be a special introductory message from Imani Rupert-Gordon, NCLR Executive Director, Ashawnda Fleming, National LGBTQ Task Force Development Director & Ellen Kahn, Human Rights Campaign Senior Director, Programs & Partnerships. The April 26th free event will be from 7P to 8:30P ET but you must register. To Register & Info…
Celebrate Virtually With Pride In A Box
Chauvin Guilty LGBTQ Leaders React
LGBTQ Victory Institute Hall of Fame
LGBTQ Victory Institute will launch its new LGBTQ Victory Hall of Fame to honor the LGBTQ elected officials & candidates who made a lasting impact on LGBTQ political history at their virtual 30th anniversary celebration on May 2nd. During a ceremony at the event 20 members will be inducted as part of the Founding Class & U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin will be inducted as a Lifetime Achievement honoree. The ceremony will include short interviews with many of the inductees. Chris Abele, Chair of the One Victory Board of Directors stated, “The founding class of the LGBTQ Victory Hall of Fame represents the vanguard of a revolution in U.S. & global politics – the people who stood up to serve openly when it meant harassment, threats or worse. These courageous leaders were the first out leaders in their cities or agencies, the first to sit for grilling by the U.S. Senate & the first to lead state legislatures or countries. The launch of this Hall of Fame is an opportunity to ensure their contributions are forever remembered & to honor the future leaders who will advance representation for our community.” I have had the honor to work with a few of the inductees including Barney Frank U.S. House of Representatives (1981 – 2013), Elaine Noble Massachusetts House of Representatives (1975 – 1979) & the first out LGBTQ person elected to a state legislature, Neil Giuliano Mayor of Tempe, AZ (1994 – 2004) & the first out LGBTQ mayor of a city in the U.S. & Senator Tammy Baldwin who was a frequent guest on OUTTAKE VOICES™. The virtual ceremony to honor the inductees takes place during LGBTQ Victory Fund’s 30th Anniversary Celebration & will also include special guests, entertainment & more presented by DaVita on May 2nd from 7:30P to 8:30P ET. For More Info…
No Way, They Were Gay? (AUDIO)
Author Tyler Gillespie Virtual Event
Curve Foundation For LGBTQ Women
The Curve Foundation building on 30 years of the world’s best-selling lesbian magazine will empower & amplify voices of lesbians, queer women, trans women & non-binary people of all races, ages & abilities. The Curve Foundation will encourage & support active storytelling & cross-generational dialogue by supporting journalism in the tradition of Curve magazine, investing in the next generation of intersectional leaders & bolstering existing community archives as a resource to ensure LGBTQ+ women’s culture & history can be known. Curve magazine founder Franco Stevens has reacquired the publication & donated it to the Foundation to leverage the iconic name & brand to amplify the Foundation’s mission. Jasmine Sudarkasa Founding Executive Director stated, “Telling fearless stories has always been the heart of Curve’s mission. The opportunity to invest in intersectional queer stories & celebrate lesbian visibility feels fearless in the face of twin pandemics – true to the spirit of Curve & an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I am so excited for the future of this Foundation.” The Curve Foundation’s initial programs will include the Curve Award for Emerging Journalists & the Curve Archive. In partnership with NLGJA, the Association of LGBTQ Journalists the Curve Award will recognize & support emerging journalistic writers who are focused on raising the visibility of LGBTQ+ women by telling their stories & elevating their voices. The Curve Archive will archive the existing 30 years of the iconic Curve magazine issues that document the history & historic voices of the lesbian movement. Co-founders Franco Stevens & her wife, philanthropist Jen Rainin concluded, "We are thrilled to have Curve magazine back home & excited for the work The Curve Foundation will do to continue the mission of Curve magazine that began in 1991.” For More Info…
Boston Pride New Advisory Committee
Boston Pride has named seven members to their the new Transformation Advisory Committee (TAC) that will advise the organization during the ongoing transformation process to ensure that its vision, mission & values are in alignment & in the best interest of the LGBTQ+ community. One of the primary responsibilities of the TAC is to oversee the recruitment of new Boston Pride board members to ensure that the board is reflective of the diversity of the LGBTQ+ community & to ensure that the board is inclusive of all people in the community. Linda DeMarco, President of Boston Pride stated, “This is an important step in our ongoing transformation process. We are looking forward to working with the Transformation Advisory Committee to help us build a better Pride. We continue to listen to members of the LGBTQ+ community, especially from Black, Brown, transgender people & others about making sure our work is inclusive to all. We have empowered the TAC to make recommendations for new Boston Pride board members & we look forward to implementing their suggestions. We thank them for their service to the community & we welcome others to join as well.” The TAC is comprised of members of the Greater Boston LGBTQ+ community including: Sheika Babin, Sam Chambers, Patty Haggerty, Shelita Hayes, Ed Hurley, Ryan Roy & Lee Santos Silva. Boston Pride produces events & activities to achieve inclusivity, equality, respect & awareness in Greater Boston & beyond. Fostering diversity, unity, equity, visibility & dignity they educate, communicate & advocate by building & strengthening community connections. For More Info…
Trans Sports Ban Heats Up In Florida
Colton Underwood Reveals Yep I’m Gay
Trans Youth Launch Book Collection
Transgender & non-binary youth influencers have launched a book collection with Kids Media Disrupter “A Kids Book About”. While many teens took e-learning as an opportunity to level-up their gaming skills a group of young people chose instead to write a collection of books about their lives. The Gender Cool Project a storytelling campaign turned global movement led by 18 young people known as the “Champions” has teamed up with “A Kids Book About” the company making kids media that matters to create a collection of books hoping to bring clarity & positivity to a national conversation that’s in need of support. The three books in the collection are: A Kids Book About Being Transgender, by Gia Parr, A Kids Book About Being Non-binary, by Hunter Chinn-Raicht & A Kids Book About Being Inclusive, by Ashton Mota & Rebekah Bruesehoff. Jelani Memory, co-Founder & CEO of A Kids Book About stated, “A Kids Book About is incredibly proud to partner with The GenderCool Project to help bring these topics to kids everywhere in a relevant & honest way. This is the first time A Kids Book About has ever partnered with a non-profit to create a themed collection. We felt it was critical to educate on & elevate topics around inclusivity, gender & identity for the next generation, using our unique publishing model & writing process to highlight the underrepresented voices of transgender & non-binary teens with real, lived experiences, conveyed through compelling stories that people connect with.” At a time when the nation is seeing an unprecedented level of harmful legislation targeting transgender & non-binary youth this book collection will help bring to communities everywhere the real stories of Gia, Hunter, Ashton & Rebekah written by these young people who are thriving. For More Info…
Equality Florida Honors Monica Cepero
Coming Out For Love Virtual Live Event
Nicole Conn Films Global is presenting a live virtual Happy Hour fundraiser for their new show “Coming Out For Love” hosted by comedian Jennie McNulty, Nicole Conn & the NCFG team with special guests on Saturday April 24th at 12P PST / 3P EST via Zoom. “Coming Out for Love” is a new online streaming series from award-winning LGBTQ filmmaker Nicole Conn & promises a fresh & often hilarious romp. Season one will feature contestants who identify as female ages from 24 to 38 while future seasons will cover other age groups & identities in the LGBTQ community. Nicole Conn stated, “I’ve been trying to make this show in one way or another for 15 years. It’s going to be fun, unpredictable & smart. It will be progressive & inclusive where our newly coming-out lead dates 18 women of all stripes, living in one house, eliminating all but one by the final episode.” So come drink, mix & mingle with Nicole Conn, Jennie McNulty & guests all to entertain & enlighten those attending as the team gives you the first opportunity to hear about Nicole Conn's new reality show. There will also be a special sneak peek at Nicole Conn video retrospective of her work with a live Q&A. A donation link will be provided during the event so that all attendees can easily make additional donations & contributions for this fundraising event. They will be hosting a live auction via Zoom Chat during the Happy Hour. A zoom link will be sent to you once you have secured your ticket & during the event so you will have opportunities to chat with Nicole, Producers & the performers. Tickets for this entertainment cocktail event range from $15 to $35. For Info & Tix…