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Jodie Foster Awarded Radcliffe Medal

Oscar winner Jodie Foster added the Radcliffe Medal to her stellar career of accolades on Radcliffe Day 2025 in Cambridge, MA. Since 1987 the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University has awarded the medal annually to an individual who embodies its commitment to excellence, inclusion & social impact. Tomiko Brown-Nagin, Dean of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard stated, “Jodie has used the power of art to engage with existential questions that define the human experience. She’s also harnessed her craft & the resources it affords her to focus our attention on critical issues & overlooked voices.” In these challenging times Foster who I had the pleasure meeting & congratulating concluded, “What I hope for people now is that they take the gloves off & Harvard has shown that recently & right on. This group of thinkers in these rarified places, where the intellect & the ability to connect really are revered above all else, to really understand that you have the power to use love as a guiding principle & be strategic.” Last year’s award went to Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor with other notable past honorees including Melinda French Gates, Billie Jean King, Hillary Clinton & Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Foster was awarded this year’s prize for her barrier-breaking career & contributions in front of & behind the camera as well as for her support of our LGBTQ community. Following a riveting film industry panel & fabulous testimonial by Diana Nyad, Foster engaged in this keynote conversation with Henry Louis Gates Jr. (Photo by Stacy L. Smith) WATCH   
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International AIDS Candlelight Memorial

Boulder County AIDS Project announced their 42nd Annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial event will take place Sunday May 18th in Boulder, Colorado. The Interfaith AIDS Coalition (IAC) & Boulder County AIDS Project (BCAP) are hosting an in-person Candlelight Vigil remembering people living with HIV. This event is one of thousands of events organized across the world on this day. It is open to the public & participants are invited to arrive at the covered porch of the First United Methodist Church (FUMC) located at 1421 Spruce Street in Boulder at 6P. The program will begin shortly afterwards including live music, short reflections by Rev. Amy Ostwald the retired minister of the First Congregational Church & the reading of names of people living with HIV who have died. Musicians for the evening are harpist Susan Conceicao, singer-guitarist Matt Nicodemus & opera singer Alex Sierra. There will then be a silent walk leaving from the covered porch of First United Methodist Church (FUMC) past BCAP on 14th Street to the Boulder County Historic Court House on the Pearl Street Mall then east along Pearl Street to 15th Street ending back at the FUMC’s porch area at 15th & Spruce Streets. Participants will carry signs reminding the public that until there is a cure there is work to do to improve the lives of people living with HIV to minimize transmission & to end HIV-related stigma. After the last names are read aloud participants will be invited to share names of loved ones they would like to remember. The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial brings together people in more than 100 countries to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS & highlight the importance of HIV prevention, treatment & support. 
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US Nonprofit Organizations In Jeopardy

The US House Ways & Means Committee reconciliation markup under H.Con.Res. 114 was released yesterday that includes language from HR 9495 aka the "Nonprofit Killer Bill" from the last Congress. Lia Holland, Campaigns & Communications Director at Fight for the Future stated, "The House is about to hand the Trump administration the ability to strip nonprofits of their 501(c)3 status without any reason or recourse. This is a 5-alarm fire for nonprofits nationwide. If the text of last autumn's H.R. 9495 is passed in the budget, any organization with goals that do not line up with MAGA can be destroyed with a wink from Trump to the Treasury. This terribly thought-out legislation means that under the current administration every environmental, racial justice, LGBTQ+, gender justice, immigration justice & particularly any anti-genocide organization throughout the country may be on the chopping block & in the future, the same shadow will fall on organizations that sit outside of more liberal ideological lines. This is a first amendment issue—no President should have the right to destroy nonprofits for no reason. We urge lawmakers to insist that section 112209 is struck from the FY 2025 budget reconciliation before it moves forward.” A previous version of the "Nonprofit Killer Bill" set the Internet on fire this last fall with 100+ organizations condemning it & demands for action from the NAACP to Greenpeace. Democratic Committee members Reps. Brad Schneider (IL), Tom Suozzi (NY) & Jimmy Panetta (CA) need to reverse their previous "Yes" vote on H.R. 9495 & recognize the dire threat that their support of section 112209 would pose to all the causes they say they support. The budget that includes this language goes to markup on today May 13th at 2P EST.
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The Prom Musical Revival Rocks Boston

Last night I attended a fabulous sold-out performance of The Prom at America’s oldest community theater The Footlight Club founded in 1877. It was a brilliant production directed by Jill Tokac with music direction by Evelyn Tomaro & choreography by Chad Flahive. The Prom is based on a true story following 4 Broadway actors lamenting their days of fame as they travel to the conservative town of Edgewater, Indiana to help a lesbian student banned from bringing her girlfriend to high school prom. While The Prom is based on one specific story unfortunately similar discriminatory practices continue today across our country. The stellar cast rivaling anything I’ve seen on Broadway includes Samantha Hughson as Emma Nolan, Nick Panagiotou as Barry Glickman, Cynthia Krebs Lee as Dee Dee Allen, Matty Finn as Trent Oliver, Melinda Mogel as Angie Dickinson, Liv Bartolomei as Alyssa Greene, Paul Murphy as Principle Hawkins, Jocelyn Hesse as Mrs. Greene, River Armstrong as Sheldon, Emma Salinas as Kaylee, Maria Barrett as Shelby, Lucas Coura as Kevin & Dom Pappagallo as Nick. The Prom was written by Chad Beguelin & Bob Martin with a score by Chad Beguelin & Matthew Sklar with the original concept by Jack Viertel. The Footlight Club run continues on May 11th, 16th & 17th & tickets are extremely reasonable at $30. I talked to Caitlin Kinnunen who originated the role of Emma on Broadway in this exclusive podcast about making history when she performed a scene from the play at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade & kissed her co-star during the live performance. LISTEN  
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Nashville Love & Acceptance Concert

Groundbreaking country star Ty Herndon announced a new round of performers including Ingrid Andress, Billy Gilman, Tiera Kennedy & Runaway June confirmed to take the stage for the 10th anniversary of the Concert for Love & Acceptance. They join previously announced performances by pop-country sensation Dasha as well as David Archuleta, Brooke Eden, Lindsay Ell & Sam Williams. The annual event takes place in partnership with GLAAD Monday June 2nd at 7:30P at Category 10—formerly the Wildhorse Saloon. Herndon stated, “CMA Fest is such a sacred week for country music lovers & we’re honored to be able to kick the week off for the fans with a night of music that brings us together & reminds us that we have a whole lot more in common than what divides us. This is a night about putting differences aside & coming together to say we’re all God’s children & our job is to love & accept one another.” Founded in 2015 the Concert for Love & Acceptance has become a premier event during the week of CMA Fest dedicated to fostering a more inclusive country music community. Proceeds from the event support Ty Herndon’s Foundation For Love & Acceptance which focuses on supporting the LGBTQ community alongside support for mental health, addiction & trauma recovery. Orgs that have benefited from the Foundation include GLAAD, MusiCares, ACM Lifting Lives, the Oasis LGBTQ Youth Center in Nashville, Bianca Page Day & more. The 10th anniversary Concert For Love & Acceptance is presented in partnership with Music City PrEP Clinic, Rooted Recovery Stories with Patrick Custer & Southern Pride Process, LLC with additional support from Chris Watson Travel.
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Provincetown Film Festival 27th Year

The Provincetown International Film Festival is celebrating 27 years & runs Wednesday June 11th to Sunday June 15th in Provincetown, MA. This year’s Filmmaker on the Edge is director Ari Aster. Aster will be in Provincetown to receive the award in conversation with resident artist John Waters on Saturday June 14th ahead of the nationwide release of his new film “Eddington” on July 18th. Anne Hubbell, PIFF’s Executive Director stated, "Ari Aster’s films weave grief, beauty & dread into unforgettable cinematic experiences. We’re excited to welcome Ari to Provincetown for a thrilling conversation about his dynamic filmography.” It was also announced that Emmy Award-winning actor & Provincetown local Murray Bartlett will be honored with this year’s Excellence in Acting Award. The star of “The White Lotus” is known for his expansive work in HBO’s “The Last of Us”, “Looking” & Hulu’s “Welcome to Chippendales”. Murry will receive the honor in conversation with Academy Award-nominated producer & prior PIFF Filmmaker on the Edge honoree Christine Vachon on Saturday June 14th. Andrew Peterson, PIFF Director of Programming added, “Murray Bartlett has distinguished himself as a remarkable talent, bringing depth & authenticity to every role. Murray demonstrates a rare ability to connect with audiences through vulnerability, humor & strength. We’re thrilled to honor him this year." PIFF also announced that Eva Victor & River Gallo will receive this year's Next Wave Awards. Lisa Viola PIFF Artistic Director concluded, “Eva Victor & River Gallo represent the very essence of independent artistry. With our Next Wave Awards, we are incredibly proud to celebrate their diverse talents as both creators & powerful leads in each of their original debut features." 
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SCOTUS Purges 15K Service Members

The Supreme Court of the United States has granted the current administration’s April 24th motion for an emergency stay in United States v. Shilling allowing the purge of transgender service members from the military to proceed while the case is still being heard in the courts. Now thousands of transgender Americans will now lose their jobs, their commands, their promotions, their training, pay & benefits & careers. Their units will lose key players & missions will be disrupted causing irreparable harm. Jennifer Levi GLAD Law Senior Director of Transgender & Queer Rights stated, “The Supreme Court’s decision to allow the military ban to go into effect is devastating for the thousands of qualified transgender servicemembers who have met the standards & are serving honorably, putting their lives on the line for their country every single day. Today’s decision only adds to the chaos & destruction caused by this administration. It’s not the end of the case, but the havoc it will wreak is devastating & irreparable. History will confirm the weight of the injustice done today.” Shannon Minter NCLR Legal Director concluded, “The Court has upended the lives of thousands of servicemembers without even the decency of explaining why. As a result of this decision, reached without benefit of full briefing or argument, brave troops who have dedicated their lives to the service of our country will be targeted & forced into harsh administrative separation process usually reserved for misconduct. They have proven themselves time & time again & met the same standards as every other soldier, deploying in critical positions around the globe. This is a deeply sad day for our country.” 
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Franklin E. Kameny Centennial Event

In honor of Frank Kameny’s 100th birthday 100 demonstrators will raise candles in activism & remembrance on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court on May 21st from 11:15A to 2P. They will be joined by prominent national LGBTQ leaders carrying picket signs, many of which will include messages from the early iconic LGBTQ protests. This event is a historic celebration organized by LGBT History Month in collaboration with national partner organizations. Franklin E. Kameny was the chief strategist & founder of the LGBTQ civil rights movement. A first-generation American who was born in NYC May 21st 1925 Kameny became a decorated World War II veteran & earned a Ph.D. from Harvard University. He made enumerable lifelong contributions to LGBTQ equality. Kameny fought to overturn the ban on gay & lesbians in federal employment & filed the first LGBTQ equality brief with the United States Supreme Court. He cofounded organizations that would become the National LGBTQ Task Force & the Washington Blade. He led seminal protests & coined the slogan “Gay Is Good” at a time when LGBTQ people were vilified as deviants. He waged a successful effort to declassify homosexuality as a mental illness. He remained a prominent activist until his death in 2011. Honorary National Co-Chairs of this event are Senator Tammy Baldwin the first out U.S. Senator & Jim Obergefell the Supreme Court Marriage Equality Plaintiff as we celebrate the 10th Anniversary of marriage equality this year. 100 activists & national leaders will hold vintage picket signs and 100 flameless birthday candles at the Supreme Court to honor Kameny & demonstrate the unity of the LGBTQ Civil Rights movement. WATCH  
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NEA Future Funding Challenged

The current administration proposes the full elimination of the National Endowment For The Arts (NEA) in their budget to Congress for 2026. The Creative Coalition, dedicated to advancing the arts as a fundamental pillar of American society opposes this shortsightedness & urges Congress to reject it by preserving funding for the NEA for the upcoming fiscal year. Tim Daly, President of The Creative Coalition stated, “The arts are not a luxury; they are a necessity for a thriving society. Alongside preserving & spreading our cultural heritage, arts exposure results in higher academic achievement, social cohesion & mental wellness. NEA-supported programs bring these benefits through visual arts, music, theater & dance to American communities. Slashing arts funding would endanger not only these benefits but also the cultural legacy we pass on to future generations.” Robin Bronk, CEO of the Creative Coalition concluded, “Defunding the arts isn’t just a cultural loss — it’s a fiscal mistake. When the NEA makes a $1 investment, it returns $9 to the community in lipstick, lumber & light bulbs. If we eliminate the NEA, we risk losing the community centers & arts entrepreneurs, not in big cities, but on Main Streets in small towns all across this country. We urge lawmakers to protect this essential investment in our identity, economy & future.” Additionally, the NEA is a grassroots investment in the arts & culture industry as well as one of America’s highest-value exports that results in a $22.6 billion trade surplus. Founded in 1989 The Creative Coalition is the nation’s premier nonprofit org dedicated to advancing the arts as a fundamental pillar of American society. For More Info… 

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HHS Report Challenges Trans Youth Care

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services has released a 400-page report entitled “Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria” attempting to discredit gender-affirming care for transgender youth. The report comes at the request of the new administration through an executive order seeking to ban lifesaving medical care for transgender people. Sinead Murano-Kinney, Health Policy Analyst at Advocates for Trans Equality stated, “This report, initiated by the Trump administration’s January 28th Executive Order, is a deeply ideological & politically motivated distortion of scientific evidence. It lacks the substantial time, rigorous & objective assessments & strong methodological tools that literature reviews require & it fails to maintain even a thin veneer of intellectual rigor or objectivity. Public health policy should be achieved through evidence-based constructions of policy, not policy-based constructions of evidence. Although it has become nakedly clear that scientific integrity is not valued by this administration.” Caleb Smith, Center for American Progress added, “This report wants so badly to be mistaken for expertise—but that’s impossible for 400 pages of rambling, incoherent, dangerous propaganda that waxes poetic about conversion therapy & anti-trans activists. Let’s follow the science here. Gender-affirming care is evidence-based, life-saving care. No politically motivated MAGA report can change that.” Sarah Kate Ellis GLAAD’s President & CEO concluded, “A report in the suggestion that someone’s authentic self & who they are can be ‘changed’ is discredited junk science. This so-called guidance is grossly misleading & in direct contrast to the recommendation of every leading health authority in the world. This report amounts to nothing more than forcing the same discredited idea of conversion therapy that ripped families apart & harmed gay, lesbian & bisexual young people for decades.” 
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Jodie Foster Awarded Radcliffe Medal

Oscar winner Jodie Foster added the Radcliffe Medal to her stellar career of accolades on Radcliffe Day 2025 in Cambridge, MA. Since 1987 th...

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