About Me

"My First Ex-Husband" Coming To Boston

The Huntington’s Calderwood Pavilion will host the hilarious new comedy “My First Ex-Husband” by Joy Behar weekends only from September 12th to September 28th at the BCA 527 Tremont Street in Boston, MA. The cast will feature stars from theatre, television & film including Behar, Veanne Cox, Judy Gold, Jackie Hoffman & Tonya Pinkins. The play is a bold & heartfelt adaptation of true stories by Behar the legendary comedienne & co-host of The View. So prepare yourself for razor-sharp wit with no filters as it explores the messy, hilarious truths of love, sex & relationships. Joy Behar stated, “The stories are very relatable. Even if you never got a divorce, you still have problems with in-laws, let’s say, or sex, or kids, or money — everybody has problems. Marriage is a work in process all the time.” Behar crafted the evening of monologues based on interviews with friends & colleagues who endured breakups. “My First Ex-Husband” was first presented at Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor before opening the new Off Broadway MMAC Theatre in NYC last January. Outrageous yet deeply relatable this show will resonate with anyone who has navigated the turbulent & often titillating seas of love. Times Square Chronicle says that My First Ex-Husband “appeals to men, women & anyone who has ever been in a relationship.” Each weekend a cast of 4 stars will bring their unique personalities to tell these tales that may be eerily familiar. Directed by Randal Myler & produced by Caiola Productions & Cyrena Esposito this North American tour plays weekends only at The Huntington’s Calderwood from September 12th to September 28th. 
No comments:

ART On Broadway For Limited Return

Bobby Cannavale, James Corden & Neil Patrick Harris are the cast of the first Broadway revival of Yasmina Reza’s play ART that begins previews August 28th at the Music Box Theatre in NYC for a limited run September 16th to December 21st. Directed by Scott Ellis ART is about 3 longtime friends & one ridiculously expensive painting. Question being is it art or is it just the world’s priciest inside joke. What begins as a polite debate over aesthetics & taste devolves into a clash of egos & resentments that challenges their friendship in 100 minutes of minimalist art, maximalist laughs & a moving look at what we really see & forgive in the people we love. Corden stated, “This is it. My ideal play. Art is a spiky, provocative, delightful show, unusually durable: one of the most produced plays in the world & translated into 30 languages. The Broadway version, wittily & urbanely translated from French by Christopher Hampton, won the Tony for best play. I still quote from it. That’s how hard Art hit. Do we really love our friends, or do we just love the flattering version of ourselves they reflect back? Is every friendship, at bottom, a power struggle? Funny, fast & tragic—100 minutes with no intermission. ‘The perfect evening.” Cannavale concluded, “It’s really less about the art than it is about what this painting does to the friendship. I don’t know how anybody could sit in that theater & not think about how they’ve experienced something similar with a friend. I know I have. I’ve been all three of these guys at some point in my life.” Read Vogue Article…  
No comments:

Open Space Arts New London Drama

Open Space Arts in association with Emmy-winning Chicago producer G. Riley Mills & Kate Garassino (GB Productions) will co-produce the American premiere of GANGSTA BABY. The drama that premiered at London’s Hope Theatre in January 2024 will again be directed by Rikki Beadle-Blair who was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to drama & will star its playwright Cameron Raasdal-Munro. A Chicago cast will join Raasdal-Munro for the 3 weekend run of GANGSTA BABY to play September 19th through October 5th in Open Space Arts at 1411 W. Wilson Avenue in Chicago, IL. Mills stated, “Chicago’s stages have long been home to fearless storytelling, making it the ideal home for a narrative that pushes boundaries & challenges societal norms. It’s an honor to share our story in a city that values bravery & creativity as deeply as we do & we couldn’t imagine a more fitting home for GANGSTA BABY." The play is about Junior a young gay sex worker in the struggling city of Hastings who faces the return of his homophobic gangster father that once sent him to an elite school in hopes of lifting him into the middle class. Reflecting on his upbringing—marked by poverty, classism, bullying, violence & the guidance of his older trans stepbrother Junior recounts how these forces led him to where he is today. This powerful drama by Cameron Raasdal-Munro, directed by Rikki Beadle-Blair MBE examines the oppression faced by marginalized communities through economic hardship & rigid gender roles. Tickets are $30 for general admission & $25 for students & seniors. 
No comments:

Dallas Unleashed Conference & Festival

The third annual Unleashed Conference takes place September 19th to 21st in Dallas, Texas in the heart of Oaklawn. The 3 day event will host speakers, panels & performances from some of the biggest names in LGBTQ film, television, music, business & tech. Wesley Smoot Unleashed LGBTQ+ Founder stated, “We look forward to building a safe space for anyone in business, entertainment & LGBTQ+ culture to discuss current trends. We love that artists can use our platform to promote new albums, books, series, films, as well as business ideas & non-profit endeavors & they can do it all in one place.” Speakers will include Iconic Director John Waters, HRC President Kelley Robinson, Television Personality Carmen Carrera, DMA's Brad Pritchett, HRC's Melodía Guitérrez, House of Juicy's Naomi Green & more. This year’s Unleashed events will continue shining a light on LGBTQ trailblazers over Pride in Dallas weekend providing a platform to educate & entertain attendees. Previous celebrity honorees & talent have included LGBTQ Allyship Appreciation Award winner Mark Cuban, Lifetime Achievement Award winner Melissa Grove, Excellence in Journalism honoree Steven Romo, Billy Eichner (Bros), Indya Moore (Pose), Antoni Porowski (Queer Eye), Daniel Franzese (Mean Girls), Dyllón Burnside (Pose) & Nico Tortorella (City on Fire) have also participated. Unleashed LGBTQ+ is the premier conference & festival celebrating LGBTQ professionals, entrepreneurs & creators across entertainment, business & technology. Through engaging panels, keynote speakers, live performances & interactive experiences the event brings together thought leaders, celebrities & innovators shaping the future of LGBTQ culture. Unleashed LGBTQ+ 2025 with Legendary Director John Waters, HRC President Kelley Robinson & more is brought to you by Mark Cuban Foundation. 
No comments:

Out & Equal Annual Workplace Summit

Out & Equal’s 2025 Workplace Summit takes place in Seattle, Washington from October 13th to 16th. This year’s event is not just timely it’s essential at a moment when inclusion is being tested. At this conference over 4,000 leaders across industries, geographies & functions will gather to advance what's next for LGBTQ workplace inclusion. This is the opportunity to gain the tools to navigate today’s complexity from global policy shifts & next-gen talent readiness to the evolution of allyship & ERG strategy across 5 dynamic learning tracks with over 100 curated sessions & a full-day Leadership Lab. This year’s Summit features speakers including Kenji Yoshino, Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional Law at NYU School of Law & Director of the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging. Yoshino will deliver a keynote & premier session based on his acclaimed book “Say the Right Thing” equipping attendees with practical tools to navigate identity, diversity & justice in the workplace. Harper Steele the Emmy-winning comedy writer & former head writer at Saturday Night Live will also join this year’s Workplace Summit as a keynote speaker. From shaping comedy at SNL & Funny or Die to sharing her personal journey in the acclaimed Netflix documentary “Will & Harper” she brings creativity, authenticity & the kind of lived experience Out & Equal aims to amplify at Summit. There will also be more than 100 strategic sessions across five learning tracks delivering real-time learning for real-world complexity. Out & Equal is the premier organization working on LGBTQ workplace equality. Through their worldwide programs, Fortune 500 partnerships & annual Workplace Summit conference they help LGBTQ people thrive. 
No comments:

Musical Film "Kiss of the Spider Woman"

Global superstar Jennifer Lopez & breakout talent Tonatiuh star in Bill Condon’s upcoming musical film “Kiss of the Spider Woman” this October are featured in OUT mag's new issue. Fierce LGBTQ ally Lopez who performed at WorldPride DC last Spring stated, “I was there for no other reason than just to show my support & love & solidarity [during] everything that’s going on in our country right now — not just for the LGBTQ community but for the Latino community. As an artist, you show up in the ways that you can. As an artist, you show up in the ways that you can & when they asked me to do it, I was like, I will absolutely f**king be there.” About starring in “Kiss of the Spider Woman” Lopez added, “It was really a dream come true. I’ve dreamt of doing a musical for so many years. For it to be one that is a movie about love & acceptance & community, especially in this time, to me it couldn’t have been a better thing to happen.” Tonatiuh concluded, “There is no difference between me or Jennifer or Diego, who are in this film, from the people who are hardworking & are trying to provide for their families. It’s just been breaking my heart to see their agony & to see people separated from their families & I think that, especially for first-generation people like myself, it’s activating a sense of fear that we are next & so I hope that this film gives people a space for some catharsis & a little escape & a win.” 
No comments:

New Welcoming Schools Book Series

The Human Rights Campaign has launched its first-ever Welcoming Schools Book of the Month series beginning this month through early 2026. The series will highlight a book each month aiming to inspire people in both red & blue states to bring LGBTQ inclusive these stories into libraries, schools, community centers & other youth-friendly spaces to push back against the erasure of our books. The series kicks off with New York Times bestselling author Chasten Buttigieg’s “Papa’s Coming Home” a celebration of unconditional love in a family emphasizing that stories featuring LGBTQ families are stories that celebrate belonging for everyone. Kelley Robinson, HRC President stated, “We are living at a time when censorship is being valued over love & acceptance. The Supreme Court’s recent Mahmoud decision reminds us why we must push back against efforts to silence LGBTQ+ stories. Through this series we hope to show that inspiring tales are beautiful no matter who the characters are & that themes of family & acceptance connect us all. Through these monthly readings, we hope every child & family can see themselves celebrated in the pages of these books.” Chasten Buttigieg concluded, “As a father & teacher, there’s nothing more powerful than watching a child’s eyes light up when they see themselves reflected in a story. I’m proud to partner with the Welcoming Schools program to bring Papa’s Coming Home to more students & families, especially at a time when stories like these are under attack, ensuring every child feels celebrated, every family feels embraced & the unifying theme of love shines through.”
No comments:

NGLCC 2025 Global Business Conference

NGLCC is presenting its 2025 International Business & Leadership Conference August 19th t0 22nd in Las Vegas, NV. This is the world's largest LGBTQ & allied business event where innovation meets opportunity & where entrepreneurs & businesses leaders unite for a brighter more connected future. There will be fabulous speakers & events to attend as well as networking opportunities. NGLCC is the business voice of our LGBTQ community & the only national advocacy organization dedicated to expanding economic opportunities for our business community. Justin Nelson NGLCC Co-Founder & President stated, “Back in 2002 we realized that too few government leaders & corporate executives had considered the economic equality of LGBTQ people or the impact economics could have on the future of the equality movement. So with a few forward-thinking corporate partners & a small network of LGBTQ business owners willing to tell their story, NGLCC was born. We can’t wait to welcome you to Las Vegas for the 2025 NGLCC International Business & Leadership Conference! As we approach the big week, we ask that you please take a moment to RSVP for our Closing Awards Brunch on Friday, August 22nd. This celebratory event is one of our most cherished traditions—don’t miss your chance to close out the week with inspiring honorees, a few final surprises & plenty of fabulous fare.” New this year is The Capital Connect Zone hosted by Macy’s, Inc. This curated space within the Marketplace Expo is designed specifically for one-on-one conversations between financial institutions & entrepreneurs seeking access to capital, funding resources & grants. For More Info… 

No comments:

Florida Key West Womenfest Event

Key West’s annual Womenfest is back for 5 sun-soaked late-summer days of fun September 3rd to 7th. This year’s theme is “Decades of Divas” paying tribute to the queens who’ve ruled our radios, hearts & history books from disco on with this year's the lineup louder & the vibes unmatched with poolside parties, retro proms, soulful sunset cruises, inspiring art & more. Womenfest is more than themed outfits & tropical cocktails. It’s a celebration by women for women spotlighting the power of visibility, community & joy. It's a place to be seen, supported & celebrated & where every diva gets to take center stage. Rob Dougherty, Executive Director at the Key West Business Guild which produces Womenfest stated, "This year’s theme, Decades of Divas, is our love letter to the bold women who’ve defined generations & redefined what it means to shine. We’re not just celebrating pop icons, we’re celebrating sisterhood." It’s kicks off Wednesday September 3rd with the official Welcome Party at Birdcage Cabaret hosted by the fabulous Chantal P. Thursday brings the fan-favorite Cornhole Tournament, a poetry & art showcase featuring women poets of the Key West Poetry Guild & local artists at Tropic Cinema then a scenic Argo Navis sunset cruise. Friday leads up to a throwback 90s Alt-Rock cover concert headlined by Marjory Lee & The Misspellings at Rams Head Southernmost. Saturday turns up the heat with a pool party & a glitter-drenched Decades of Divas 80s Prom. Sunday winds down concluding with the beloved Tea Dance at La Te Da featuring DJ Rude Girl. 
No comments:

New Board Members Join CenterLink

CenterLink announced the appointment of 4 new members to its Board of Directors bringing accomplished leaders with valuable experience & expertise to strengthen their national network. Denise Spivak CenterLink CEO stated, "We are thrilled to welcome these exceptional leaders to our board. Their diverse backgrounds & proven track records will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen & expand support for LGBTQ community centers everywhere." The new Board Members include Jasper Liem, Executive Director of The Attic Youth Center in the Philadelphia, PA area & Daniel Penchina, President of Penchina Partners bringing over 22 years of experience navigating the intersection of nonprofit management, public policy advocacy & strategy on behalf of social justice organizations. Also joining the board are Joli Robinson, CEO, Center on Halsted & Adrian Shanker, Shanker Strategies who most recently served as a senior political appointee in the Biden-Harris administration as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Policy & Senior Advisor on LGBTQ Health Equity at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Marvin Webb & Michelle Kristel, Co-Chairs of CenterLink’s board of directors concluded, "We’re excited to welcome these new voices & visionary leaders to CenterLink’s Board. Their passion & perspective will help shape the future of LGBTQ community centers & the lives they touch every day.” Founded in 1994 CenterLink is the national association of LGBTQ community centers serving as the central coordinating body for LGBTQ centers throughout the United States & globally working to strengthen existing centers & help establish new ones. The organization provides capacity-building assistance facilitates the sharing of strategies & resources as well as advocating for funding for LGBTQ centers & programs. 
No comments:

Massachusetts New Health Shield Act

Governor Maura Healey has signed into law the Massachusetts Shield Act which will strengthen state protections for reproductive health care & transgender health care amidst a rapidly shifting political landscape that threatens access to care. The bill updates Massachusetts’ 2022 Shield Act that protects providers of reproductive & gender-affirming care from out-of-state investigations & prosecutions & other liability for providing or assisting patients in accessing such care which is legal in the state. Governor Healey stated, “Massachusetts will always be a state where patients can access high-quality health care & providers are able to do their jobs without government interference. From the moment Roe was overturned, we stepped up to pass strong protections for patients & providers & with President Trump & his allies continuing their assaults on health care, we’re taking those protections to the next level. No one is going to prevent the people of Massachusetts from getting the health care they need.” Polly Crozier, GLAD Law Director of Family Advocacy concluded, “Faced with political headwinds from the federal government & hostile states, the Healey administration & the State Legislature today ensured that, in Massachusetts, health care will continue to be based on science & people’s need for care. GLAD Law is grateful to the Governor, the Attorney General & the legislature for taking these critical steps as part of our deep commitment to maintaining access to reproductive health care & transgender health care for the people of the Commonwealth. Political threats or intimidation should never deny people the health care they need & we will continue to work with government leaders & other partners to anticipate & protect Bay Staters.”
No comments:

Carly Ozard Chain of Love Release Party

Carly Ozard presents a one night only show concert with friends to kick off the release of her “Chain of Love A Broadway Album” on Monday August 18th at GRNHS Gallery + Studio in San Francisco, CA. With musical direction by Baker Peeples, Ozard will perform the singer’s deep love for showtunes from classics, unknowns & fiascos. Featuring rarely-heard gems like "Chain of Love" from The Grass Harp a 1971 musical that ran just 7 performances based on Truman Capote’s novel the album showcases works by legendary composers including Kander & Ebb, Stephen Sondheim, Jerry Herman, Irving Berlin & Charles Strouse. A number of songs are reimagined with new arrangements by Ozard herself. Each track is paired with personal stories from her life in NYC & San Francisco including encounters with Broadway stars & casting directors. The album also highlights vocal talents from the Bay Area’s Lamplighters Music Theater now in its 78th year performing Gilbert & Sullivan titles in duets, trios & including a full ensemble number. It's a heartfelt tribute to musical theater & an invitation to become a link in the "Chain of Love." Carly’s San Francisco nightlife appearances include Feinstein’s at the Nikko, Oasis, Martuni’s Piano Bar, Act II in Puerto Vallarta, Crazy Coqs in London & in NYC at Don’t Tell Mama, The Metropolitan Room, Stage 72 at the Triad, Room 623, Birdland & Feinstein’s 54 Below. The August 18th One Night Only Show concert is $20 for general admission as a suggested donation & the 7P show runs 70 minutes without an intermission. 
No comments:

Provincetown Swim For Life 2025 Events

Celebrating 38 years as a community tradition the Provincetown Community Compact is presenting their annual Provincetown Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla fundraiser. First on Friday September 5th there will an optional swimmer’s orientation at 1P & a kayak orientation at 2P & at 8P there will be a celebration of Life Concert at the UU Meeting House at 8P. Then on September 6th swimmers will swim 1.2 miles along the East End shoreline from Breakwater Hotel at 716 Commercial Street that begins at 2:20P & a half mile swim from the Town Landing at Atkins Lane also starting at 2:30P. There will also be a fresh water swim in Wellfleet’s Great Pond on September 6th beginning at 9A. Jay Critchley, Director of The Compact stated, “We are thrilled to be back at the town’s spectacular waterfront park & welcome swimmers, kayakers, volunteers, safety boaters & our fans from across the country.” The Provincetown Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla fundraiser has raised over $6M for AIDS, women’s health & the community. Over 100 volunteers are invited to assist on land & sea including kayakers. There will be Watch Parties for the public along the shoreline to cheer on the swimmers & the famous Mermaid Brunch will be catered by Far Land Provisions with the world-traveling Zoe Lewis providing the music. Walkers are also invited to participate with a walk along the beach route & Commercial Street & the public is invited to share this post-Labor Day tradition along the shore & greet swimmers at the finish line where there will be food, beverage & entertainment. 2025 Swim design Four Moons by Paul Resika. 
No comments:

Modern Southern Art Contest Extended

The Gibbes Museum of Art established in 1858 in Charleston, SC announced the extension of their deadline to September 7th for artists to submit for the 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art. The 1858 Prize is recognized as one of the leading artist competitions in the Southeastern United States & awards $10,000 each year to an artist whose work contributes to a new understanding of art in the South. Artists must reside, work in or be from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia or West Virginia. Dr. H. Alexander Rich, Gibbes Museum of Art President & CEO stated, “Year in & out, the prestigious 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art stands as a testament to & celebration of, the amazing talents of artists living & working in the American South. Since its origins in 1858, the Gibbes Museum has been a champion of groundbreaking art & the emerging & established artists whose diverse voices speak powerfully to the full breadth of the American experience and American creativity. Keeping with this legacy, 2025’s 1858 Prize candidates promise to posit new & eye-opening ways to reflect upon our individual & collective worlds & we cannot wait to be in awe once again of our region’s incredible artistic talent.” Since the inaugural prize of 2008 the 1858 Prize for Contemporary Southern Art recognizes the highest level of artistic achievement & welcomes applications from artists working across all media. Past winners have gone on to receive major national awards including the Guggenheim Memorial Foundation, the Joan Mitchell Fellowship, the United States Artist Fellowship & the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant. 
No comments:

Actress Loni Anderson Passes (AUDIO)

Very sad to hear that actress Loni Anderson has passed away. Anderson will always be remembered for her iconic role from the hit sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati” but I will remember her as a beautiful woman always trying to do the right thing. I talked with Anderson in 2017 about her sitcom on tello films & her spin on our issues. As a fierce ally when asked how she sees our community moving forward in the last Trump administration Anderson stated, “Needless to say I’ve had my hysterical moments over the election & I have a granddaughter who’s a junior at UCLA & we have had many spirited discussions about our feelings. I think after you get over being hysterical, but I don’t know if you do, that you try and move forward the best you can & hope that we do not slip backwards. I was a 60’s girl; I went to high school and college in the 60’s. So I marched and I always said my political party is I’m a card-carrying member of the civil rights party. So I didn’t think as a grandmother I would be facing this. Somehow when I was a college student I didn’t think this would come up when I got to be a grandmother. I naively I guess thought it would be all taken care of but as I said to my granddaughter, if need be I’m still ready to march.” Loni earned 2 Emmy nominations & 3 Golden Globe nominations. Anderson was married 4 times & was happily married to Bob Flick from the folk music group The Brothers Four since 2008. She had 2 children. Anderson's autobiography My Life in High Heels was published in 1995. LISTEN
No comments:

Ty Herndon & Ashley McBryde Sing Out

Country music icon Ty Herndon has teamed up with Grammy winning powerhouse vocalist Ashley McBryde to breathe new life into his 1998 hit “A Man Holdin’ On (To a Woman Lettin’ Go)” a haunting ballad about love, loss & the moment two hearts go their separate ways. The track is set for release on Friday August 8th & is the second single from Herndon’s highly anticipated new double album “Thirty” a landmark project honoring his three-decade journey through country music set to be released in two installments. Herndon stated, “This song has always been one of the most emotional songs in my catalog. To revisit it with someone as fearless & gifted as Ashley was both humbling & electric. We didn’t just sing the song — we lived it.” Volume One will be out this fall & feature reimagined versions of Herndon’s most beloved hits each reinterpreted as collaborations with some of the genre’s most dynamic voices. Penned by Gene Dobbins, John Ramey & Bobby Taylor “A Man Holdin’ On” became one of Herndon’s signature songs in the late ’90s. With McBryde’s raw edge & Herndon’s trademark heartfelt delivery this new rendition brings even greater emotional depth to the classic, capturing the pain, poetry & power of letting go. Released through Club44 Records the track also marks Herndon’s next step in an exciting new chapter with the Nashville-based label known for championing bold vocalists & genre-defying artistry as part of a 3-album deal announced recently with the label. I talked to Ty about his annual Concert for Love & Acceptance in Nashville in this exclusive podcast. LISTEN
No comments:

Fenway Institute Health Partnership

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) has partnered with Fenway Institute to further enhance the visibility, availability & usefulness of educational resources & training for licensed healthcare professionals serving the LGBTQ population. The DPH/Fenway Health Training Initiative will offer educational & training opportunities focused on delivering culturally competent affirming care for LGBTQ individuals & others who rely on these services. Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein, MD, PhD stated, “As a physician, I have seen firsthand that gender-affirming care is more than just affirming – it can be lifesaving. Far too often, LGBTQIA+ individuals experience stigma, bias & discrimination when seeking care. Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity & to have access to health professionals who are knowledgeable, respectful & prepared to meet their specific needs. These training materials will help reinforce & embed those standards of care across the workforce in Massachusetts.” Jordina Shanks, Chief Executive Officer of Fenway Health concluded, “This initiative represents a powerful step forward in ensuring that LGBTQIA+ people receive care that is not only competent but deeply affirming. At Fenway, we know that training is not an optional enhancement - it’s an essential component of equitable care. We’re proud to partner with DPH to bring this work to scale across Massachusetts & set a national example for inclusive health education.” The Fenway Institute has over 25 years of experience training healthcare staff on providing skilled & affirming healthcare. Founded in 2001 Fenway Institute is one of the most preeminent LGBTQ health & HIV research, education & policy orgs in the world. 
No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Featured Post

"My First Ex-Husband" Coming To Boston

The Huntington’s Calderwood Pavilion will host the hilarious new comedy “My First Ex-Husband” by Joy Behar weekends only from September 12th...

Popular Posts